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starman_
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Joined: Jun 16, 2007
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 Posted: Fri Sep 26, 2008 1:06 pm Post subject: The Meaning of Existence |
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The Meaning of Existence
Everything except language
knows the meaning of existence.
Trees, planets, rivers, time
know nothing else. They express it
moment by moment as the universe.
Even this fool of a body
lives it in part, and would
have full dignity within it
but for the ignorant freedom
of my talking mind.
from
Poems the Size of Photographs, 2002
Is the meaning of existence without knowable truth? Is there any knowable truth to existence? Are all the things we think we know, just a shadow of a higher plain? A shadow of the ultimate reality of higher moral truths which Socrates spoke of. A reality of intangibles, such as justice and goodness. Is this not the full dignity the poet speaks of? Is this not the meaning of existence; justice, goodness? I believe Socrates thought so. He said he lived with one foot already in the grave. The meaning of existence may just be, one heartbeat away. Maybe there's something to this NDE after all. I believe that most NDEs probably do live the rest of their lives with one foot in the grave. If what they say is true, they've seen the light, maybe justice and goodness too. Just a thought. |
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"Isn't Life Strange" ... A book without light
Unless with love we write
... Moody Blues
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Personanongrata
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| Posted: Sat Sep 27, 2008 12:25 am Post subject: |
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That was beautiful, starman, thank you for sharing that.
People often seem to think that this reality is "concrete", "absolute" ...but what if, as I think your post suggests, this reality is actually an insubstantial shadow of some far greater reality... that we are only capable of a vague approximation of "seeing", sensing, while alive... |
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__________________________________________
"The obstacle is the path." -- Zen Proverb.
"**ck it, we'll do it live." -- Bill O'Reilly.
"...................................." -- Harpo Marx. |
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Questioner101
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| Posted: Sat Sep 27, 2008 3:10 am Post subject: |
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The living body (regardless of animal, insect or plant) is insubstantial.
It has more holes in it than a black hole. Perhaps all the "dark matter" is what's in between the atoms of light matter. |
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\\\"I´m disenclined to acquiese to your request...\\\" |
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screamzero
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| Posted: Sat Sep 27, 2008 7:25 am Post subject: |
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| ....yuppers......here's the catch. Awareness of It. You are; and it is so nice to see that... . ...so very reassuring.....I see my other foot on a banana peel...... |
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Personanongrata
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| Posted: Sun Sep 28, 2008 6:25 am Post subject: |
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_________________
__________________________________________
"The obstacle is the path." -- Zen Proverb.
"**ck it, we'll do it live." -- Bill O'Reilly.
"...................................." -- Harpo Marx. |
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starman_
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| Posted: Tue Sep 30, 2008 12:53 am Post subject: |
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| Personanongrata wrote: |
That was beautiful, starman, thank you for sharing that.
People often seem to think that this reality is "concrete", "absolute" ...but what if, as I think your post suggests, this reality is actually an insubstantial shadow of some far greater reality... that we are only capable of a vague approximation of "seeing", sensing, while alive... |
Thank you Personanongrata for your kind words. Your thoughts are very much in tune with mine. I've been a staunch believer in science for most of my life. But in my autumn years I've come to realize that science cannot deal with the questions I have relating to the metaphysical. There are people who believe that existence is divine destiny derived from God's creation. Some say to love and be loved is the meaning to existence. Are these people right in their thinking? Maybe they are. Does a person who lives his or her life, respecting all life and contributing to the goodness of humanity, have anymore meaning to existence, than say, the loner who lives his or her life in solitude? I don't believe anyone knows for sure.
The ultimate reality of higher moral truths can only be imagined. The meaning of existence, I believe, has two aspects. We live and we die. The universe we live in and all of it's wonders, does, in my opinion, give our lives meaning. But perhaps, just perhaps, death is the icing on the cake.
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_________________
"Isn't Life Strange" ... A book without light
Unless with love we write
... Moody Blues
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Questioner101
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| Posted: Tue Sep 30, 2008 1:45 am Post subject: |
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_________________
\\\"I´m disenclined to acquiese to your request...\\\" |
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starman_
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| Posted: Fri Oct 03, 2008 12:18 am Post subject: |
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_________________
"Isn't Life Strange" ... A book without light
Unless with love we write
... Moody Blues
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TNuke
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| Posted: Fri Oct 03, 2008 12:06 pm Post subject: |
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If the "meaning of existence" is the same as asking why we are here in this universe then... Perhaps we are here to be immersed in a universe that is defective so that we can learn the difference between good and evil and we can learn to choose good. Or, more correctly, we should learn that the default condition is the absence of good, which we call evil, and it is our challenge to create good. Being a defective universe it will not last forever.
"Everything that has a beginning has an end."
"These heavens will be rolled up in your sight."
"He, then, the father, wishing to reveal his wealth and his glory brought about this great contest in this world, wishing to make the contestants appear, and make all those who contend leave behind the things that has come into being, and despise them with a lofty incomprehensible knowledge, and flee to the one who exists."
Damn, that's some profound sh*t. Guess who the contestants are? "What" are the the things that had come into being? Who is the one who exists?
"Step right up and place your bet." |
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"Sic semper evello mortem Tyrannis."
Welcome to 1984 citizen! |
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starman_
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| Posted: Sun Oct 05, 2008 9:45 am Post subject: |
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| Perhaps there is no meaning to life other than the sheer will of survival. This is far from the meaning of life as justice and goodness. But then again, there is life itself. Wonderful life with the ability to love, feel happiness, eat cake, and smell the fragrance of beautiful flowers. T.S.Eliot says that LIFE = MEANING. A comforting thought I might add. |
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"Isn't Life Strange" ... A book without light
Unless with love we write
... Moody Blues
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tarsustom
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| Posted: Mon Oct 06, 2008 3:15 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| Perhaps there is no meaning to life other than the sheer will of survival. This is far from the meaning of life as justice and goodness. But then again, there is life itself. Wonderful life with the ability to love, feel happiness, eat cake, and smell the fragrance of beautiful flowers. T.S.Eliot says that LIFE = MEANING. A comforting thought I might add. |
Very deep! Keep it coming!
"I think I am.
Therefore, I am!
....... I think."
"Of course you are, my bright little star.
...
And now to suit our great computer...
You're magnetic ink."
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You'd be better off reading the Bible and then you'd know first hand what the Bible says and wouldn't have to ask others for their opinion.
- Okiejack |
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Nesaie
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| Posted: Tue Oct 07, 2008 11:18 am Post subject: |
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| Hey TNuke, no swearing please. Of all the forums, this is the last one that should have profanity. Thanks. |
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Soma: All the advantages of Christianity and alcohol; none of their defects.
Have you had your Soma today? |
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Personanongrata
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| Posted: Tue Oct 07, 2008 11:46 am Post subject: |
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| Infinity is always becoming! |
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_________________
__________________________________________
"The obstacle is the path." -- Zen Proverb.
"**ck it, we'll do it live." -- Bill O'Reilly.
"...................................." -- Harpo Marx. |
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fortwynt
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| Posted: Tue Oct 07, 2008 12:58 pm Post subject: |
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As far as the physical is concerned (in my mind) the "meaning" of "life" is survival...or rather in terms of human beings (to be more specific), all purpose of a living being is to provide a functional framwork of life support for the brain....the purpose of the physical brain being replication through propagation of the species, through sexual reproduction....hence, the brain, in it's "physical" state, is driven by a concept of infinite replication, to "live forever" in a manner of speaking....through genetics.
Now as for the "spiritual" aspect or "energetic" aspect behind the physical, I WOULD SAY that the mind is the creator...the physical has its birth first in the "mind"...the "mind" literally kick starts the creative process which ends in the physical body....the body then becomes "spiritually" speaking, the outgrowth of the interaction between the energy of the "mind" and the physical world...the body being the literal manifestation of the "mind" as necessity requires it to be so...the body, and physical brain, being the "flesh" interface between the physical reality and the etheric "mind".
Purposes though? The spiritual purpose is the creation of the physical through the interface of the brain, and then conversely the "hope" that underlies it all is that the being will achieve a certain "aloof"-ness from the physical and recognize that the "mind" is the only reality.
So I suppose my point is that the physical brain is designed (by the "mind") to live as many generations as possible in an attempt to arrive at the conclusions necessary to achieve the proper mentality that recognizes that all the physical is really not physical at all. |
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there would be no flowers at all, without a compost pile
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Personanongrata
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| Posted: Tue Oct 07, 2008 5:02 pm Post subject: |
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Survival is impossible! Impossible, I say!
The meaning of existence is individuation through a process of subjective experience and decision-making.
Physical reality and spiritual reality are one. There is nothing truly "separate" out there to perceive, but it is not an illusion, either. It's too easy to dismiss those insubstantial, abstract qualities of reality. People can't grasp the dynamic interplay, and the hand that reaches for solidity is fading.
Forever means you are inevitable!
Personally, I see no reason why I shouldn't enjoy being human... And I am the universe, the universe is my home. I am my home! 
What about you, fort?
Will the "end result" of your telescoping genetic brain be your home? Will you finally be satisfied, having acquired sufficient aloofness from reality, then?  |
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_________________
__________________________________________
"The obstacle is the path." -- Zen Proverb.
"**ck it, we'll do it live." -- Bill O'Reilly.
"...................................." -- Harpo Marx. |
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