Wed, Apr 2, 2008 Permanent linkThis link was not intended as a religious advertisement, I thought it was interesting...
Thu, Apr 3, 2008 Permanent linkI really enjoyed the short film and the Kabbalah site it leads to. Obvious either didn't watch the film - or more likely didn't believe the film's claim ;) - that true Kabbalah is divorced from religion.
In my opinion, this sort of exploration is critical for a community such as ours. Not understanding consciousness is not an acceptable alternative, especially as we endeavor to create silicon beings in whom we might one day accidentally infuse with that light which inexplicably shines in us.
Nothing should be banished. What thought is not welcome? Let's talk it out.
Is there not some thing in me which strives to reach some thing in you, yet is trapped within the box of the senses, continually looping in the karmic cycle with little relief? There is. As we approach the universal "namaste" awareness, the quality of our existence changes.
For me the best part of the film was discussion of the higher dimensions, in which physical distance has no meaning and things are close or distant based on their qualities of form. Insight into the higher dimensions has taken on an important role in my life lately (been reading a lot of Steiner) and for me this truth resonates strongly.
Like it says in the tao te ching, "without going out of my door, I can know the ways of heaven." If any one of us sits at a piano and learns to play, even on our own with no guidance, we have on some level for which there is little vocabulary, brought ourselves "closer" in quality to every other musician in the past and future.
There is a place where time and space are not. If we intend to cover the vast territories of physical space, we have got to get hip.
Thu, Apr 3, 2008 Permanent linkI did watch the video, it made sense for about 30 seconds and then it trailed off into incredibly vague notions of 'unlimited pleasure' and 'complete perception' and 'the will to bullshit'.
It really didn't mean anything after that.
Tue, Apr 8, 2008 Permanent linkYeah man, not trying to diss. As I figured you *did* watch the vid, but you *didn't* believe the claim that kabbalah isn't religious. I find it useful vocabulary for discussing levels of consciousness. We do seem to have an inner/outer issue going on - we're something in a box, hoping to make contact with something outside of our box. The only tools at our disposal are the system of receptors that touch the outside and the process we use to turn that information into working knowledge.
I wouldn't say that insight "didn't mean anything."
Tue, Apr 8, 2008 Permanent linkSame shtick, different century. After being married into the Transcendental Meditation movement, I have to say that red flags go up when someone offers religious text and says, "This is not a religion."
They also go up when they try to use science to bolster their claims. Intelligent design ring a bell? We all know how that ended (feels good to say that it ended, doesn't it?).
Wed, Apr 23, 2008 Permanent linkI actually don't agree that we are 'something in a box'. That view is isolationist and denies somewhat the holistic nature of reality. I am not just in the universe, or even a part of the universe, I am (composed of) universe.
Check out Max Velmans' theory of Reflexive Monism.
Mon, Apr 28, 2008 Permanent linkIt actually isn't the same schtick, different century. One of the primary aims of every religion has been understanding the REASON for BEING and existence. This process afforded to us by sentience, imagination, logic, contemplation, and intelligence has taken myriad forms. There are of course similarities and "perennial wisdom" (coined by Aldous Huxley) although the view has been changing for quite some time. Part of the work of future generations will be making meaning out of our ever expanding view of the "Kosmos" (term used often by integral philosopher Ken Wilber) in an "integral" way.
What we are seeing now is often an attempt of old philosophies and religions updating themselves with newer information. Is this good? Yes. Why? Because if you think religion should merely be erased from the planet and the minds of all humans then you have no clue of what you're actually talking about or the role that religion has played in human societal/cultural/technological/everything evolution.
Religion will never go away, it will transform. And what it transforms into will be very interesting to witness indeed and has everything to do with what we want in the future and what we hope to accomplish in space. I'm not preaching anything here, I hope I'm just stating what's obvious.
Thu, May 8, 2008 Permanent linkI actually don't agree that we are 'something in a box'. That view is isolationist and denies somewhat the holistic nature of reality. I am not just in the universe, or even a part of the universe, I am (composed of) universe.
oh, all it feels so great!
Thu, May 8, 2008 Permanent linkObvious - I see your point about us not being something in a box based on scientific fact and what we know to be true. However, I think ParanoidMystic's point was valid and worth thinking about. While all we are is 'matter' that is flowing through the universe, scientifically, do you not feel as if the spark inside you is in some way isolated from the rest of the matter in the universe? It is not that we are not 'one with the universe' but there is some form of isolation that comes with the solitary existence of our minds not being intertwined with each other's. We are very much isolated brains that all work at different paces and have different desires and ambitions. I think it is close minded to rule out this concept, which is practically undebatable, on the basis of scientific fact. Do you feel what I'm saying?
Fri, May 9, 2008 Permanent linkIt's one thing to have a philosophical debate about the nature of self, the qualia of consciousness or the illusion of free-will. It is quite another to invoke a kabalistic bunch of mumbo-jumbo and claim it as an insight into the human mind.
Fri, May 9, 2008 Permanent linkI don't get it.
Kaballah is a map of consciousness, as relevant as the chakra system, tarot, the ten-circuit model, yantras, labyrinths, mythic cycles, and Freud's id-ego-superego.
If the map isn't useful to you, don't use it. Why even bother to call it mumbo-jumbo? Especially when you're using terms like "qualia of consciousness" and "illusion of free will" without qualification. Have some respect. What on earth makes you feel qualified to censor discussion about consciousness? Thanks for hijacking what could have been a real conversation.
Fri, May 9, 2008 Permanent linkgreat conversation. every philosophy of life that turns into blind belief - a religion - vanishes. we've seen this happen, we see it in an accelerated model in modern day's spiritual-scientific movements and we all know how much it costs... and it is necessary to happen in order to improve. having a holistic, integral approach is needed if you want to get the whole picture so that it makes sense and in the same time resulting on you through the others. trying to pay attention to all this new information that comes daily through this modern reductive (scientific) approach by simply allowing us to transform matter seen as content in more and more newer subforms just tires us more and even harms us...
If we intend to cover the vast territories of physical space, we have got to get hip.
understanding the simple principles is a key to a life lived simple and happily
"The softest thing in the universe overcomes the hardest thing in the universe. That without substance can enter where there is no room. Hence I know the value of non-action. Teaching without words and working without doing are understood by very few."
sorry if i sound a bit confusing, it's hard sometimes to find the best way to say something in a foreign language. but let our deeds point to our words, if we walk the same way, but do not share out talk, sooner or later we would find a common language. i've experienced that and the opposite. second one is also interesting as it gives you opportunity to experiment by trying to inspire the other side share your point of view as you would enjoy his, but not just persuade it... anyway
i'm sorry to say that, but spending too much time in theory and trying to express something in a more complex and exact way is pointless and even selfish... and maybe dangerous.
and besides, fractals bring simple joy and natural euphoria when gazing at them ;-) especially when there's motion.
Sat, May 10, 2008 Permanent linkKaballah is a map of consciousness, as relevant as the chakra system, tarot, the ten-circuit model, yantras, labyrinths, mythic cycles, and Freud's id-ego-superego.
If the map isn't useful to you, don't use it
I won't
Personally I think this sort of nonsense should be banished from Space Collective. Be careful what you post here, religious advertisements are not welcome.