When Ramakrishna arrived, a certain theosophist supposedly remarked something along the lines of: "I came to this garden to enjoy some mangoes, not to sit here counting every single tree." What that really means is that God's "garden" is far too vast to be captured by mere philosophy; instead, one simply needs to immerse oneself in God. Theosophists tend to talk a lot, philosophize extensively, and grasp concepts intellectually, but they lack actual practice. All that chatter won't get you anywhere. Ramana had a similar reaction when a well-known member of the theosophical circles approached him in a state of obvious agitation. She admitted herself that she hadn't found what she was looking for, despite being quite prominent in those circles. Anyone who has ever met someone of his caliber can probably guess what Ramana told her—because, honestly, the greatest souls are often as straightforward as anyone else. God is simple; everything else is just unnecessary complication. People get so intoxicated by spheres, planes, esoteric knowledge, and mysticism that they lose sight of the original goal, and eventually, that mystical world becomes an end in itself. If a person dwells on spirits, they will become one; if they obsess over esoterica, that is exactly what they will start seeing; but if they are consumed by God and the truth of God, then that is what they will perceive. In my view, Theosophy marked the beginning of the degradation of primal wisdom. It started the trend where people with barely any real experience feel entitled to speak and write loudly about these matters. That was the dawn of the New Age.🙂 Now, don't get me wrong—there is certainly good to be found there, and plenty of truth. They did a tremendous amount of work in bridging cultures and religions and translating essential texts. It just seems to me that these are things not worth exhausting oneself over. Perhaps it's just a matter of taste.
Treat activity as your medicine, not pills. Sports are great. And I’m not talking about some casual jog through the neighborhood or hitting a treadmill at a big-box gym—I mean joining a legitimate club where you actually have to commit, set milestones, and hold yourself accountable. A solid hobby helps too; music, for instance. You could dive headfirst into a band... Or throw yourself entirely into your career... Basically, anything that sparks genuine motivation and ambition. But sports definitely take the edge because of that raw physical component.
And regarding that point about cutting back on sleep—it's good, but I’d go a step further: getting to bed earlier is far more beneficial. The quality of rest you get before midnight is vastly superior to tossing and turning in the early hours. For example, an 10 PM to 4 AM window is perfectly fine.
Music matters. I don't know how everyone else processes it, but it has a massive impact on my headspace. If I listen to those depressing, tear-jerker ballads, I find myself feeling weak and sluggish. My go-to for staying mentally sharp and healthy? Heavy metal.
I don't eat meat regularly because honestly, just the thought of it makes my stomach turn; it’s one of those things you can just avoid if you have the choice. But I wouldn't go betting my life that cutting it out entirely is the absolute peak of health. In my view, it’s probably better to just have some chicken or something similar once or twice a week. I mean, damn, if eating meat were actually the ultimate key to health, we’d all be cannibals by now, wouldn't we? I’ve noticed myself, for instance, that I catch colds much less often than I used to. Though, I suspect a huge part of that is because I’ve drifted into this sedentary lifestyle, spending way too much time glued to a computer screen, which—from my own experience—is terrible for your system. Then there's the modern availability of supplements—things like probiotics, algae, and whatnot—that can replenish whatever nutrients you might be missing. We likely have plants with similar properties right here in the States, though I couldn't tell you which ones. If someone sticks to a traditional diet but simply cuts out meat, I’m not entirely convinced it’s necessarily a win for their health. (That said, the truth remains that despite all this, I get sick incredibly rarely—much less often than before. My only trips to the doctor are for actual physical injuries).
A friend of mine has a son who started running into issues because of a vegetarian diet. The father was weighing his options, considering just giving him meat anyway, but before doing anything, he went to consult a woman who specializes in that kind of nutrition. After that, everything with the kid seemed fine, even though I think he still avoids meat (except for those times he visits his aunt and she sneaks him little bits of food just so his poor stomach doesn't suffer)😁. He never actually asked what they did to adjust his diet 😢.
The last few films I sat through: -Yojimbo (Kurosawa)... hmm, I honestly don't get why everyone raves about it so much.😕 -Austin Powers (1)😁 😁 😁 I absolutely love that total shit-tier, toilet-humor style of comedy. -Dark City... it was okay, I guess. An interesting flick, decent acting 🙄 -The Two Towers
I managed to snag a copy of Hero, but the quality is absolute garbage (DVX). Those damn pixels are driving me insane—it’s practically unwatchable.😢
I’m trying to wrap my head around what she actually meant by that—it sounds like one of those comments aimed at people who are just being incredibly difficult or have some sort of chip on their shoulder, if you catch my drift.😁
P.S. (And honestly, I just hope the mainstream media doesn't try to spin this phrase into some kind of progressive agenda nonsense)😉
Solaris said:[BAko, you're laughing way too much (pay attention to the word TOO) for this to be anything other than a can.ind. 😉 😁
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As for me, I ended up getting hit with some kind of tuberculosis—tuberculin, or whatever they call it... just a side note, my mom went in for a checkup and mentioned how it might be hereditary, those spikes and such, since we all seem to be on the same wavelength in our family, probably because we're all a little bit unhinged 😉 so she wanted to be safe... But that doctor was actually cool, not one of those types who goes hunting for symptoms. Well, she does look for them, obviously, but at least she doesn't do it out loud. It’s that professional bias, I suppose, when you get so deep into the field that you start seeing everything through that lens. What do you think, did she nail it with that tuberculosis diagnosis?😕 😁
Look, ladies, please don't just focus on homeopathy.😲 😢 ... A whole crowd of older women are obsessed with this stuff, and frankly, I can't even wrap my head around it anymore... the second they spot you, they’re ready to prescribe some remedy. If you happen to wear black, oh, that’s a symptom. If you’re too shy to say one thing or if you dare to laugh at another, that’s a symptom too. If you glance upward, it’s a sign; if you look down, it’s the same story... It honestly makes me wonder, people, would anyone actually be considered "normal" in their eyes??? I suspect they could find some fancy little homeopathic little pill even for God Himself—maybe something to soothe an ego, if nothing else...🙄
I’m of the mindset that service is the highest, most noble calling one can answer. There is a certain truth to the idea that those who humble themselves will ultimately be exalted. That is precisely why I choose to serve humanity in my own unique way—by providing the space, the opportunity, and the constant encouragement for everyone around me to serve me. In doing so, they find their own path toward becoming better, more refined versions of themselves. Of course, it is all done strictly for their own benefit.😁 😁 😁
Christian Sanchez44 said:Alright, look, I’ll just be brutally honest here. That one track by Shakira, Underneath Your Clothes.
It actually caught me totally off guard when I realized I was humming it under my breath... way more than I care to admit.
Well, I’m almost embarrassed to admit it myself, but that song definitely gets stuck in my head too... (or maybe it just gets stuck in my soul, if you know what I mean 😕 😁 ).
Billi said:I think Dakini appears in Buddhism and is some kind of female demon (?).
The term Dakini, much like most Tibetan nomenclature, actually stems from India and is Sanskrit in origin. However, because the approach here differs from what you'd find in India—specifically regarding Tantric Buddhism—as well as differences in climate and general mindset, many beings that were viewed as demonic in India have evolved here into something more akin to "wrathful deities." It might be more accurate to say that all these beings simply represent various forces and characteristics of both humanity and nature; calling them demonic is a bit of a stretch. In reality, Dakini are essentially (semi)divine inhabitants of the heavens, much like the Apsaras.
shadowjackal88 said:13. What was Mithra to the Persians? The god of the sun, light, and truth.
So, I guess he didn't actually drift *that* far from the Vedic Mithra after all... I was under the impression he had morphed into some sort of war god. Honestly, I feel a bit foolish now. I’m heading out for a bit.😢 😢 😢
A wing with a fin??😕 I honestly thought that was the main part... And did it even have any teeth???😕 Man, the news these days is just something else. There’s absolutely zero respect left for tradition... These people aren't even half of what they used to be back in the day..😢 😢
2. The Greek moon goddess who used to soothe away pain was called? Eowyn? 🙂
3. Ares to the Greeks, Mars to the Romans, and to the Indians? Please, Jack Harris3, whoever is sending you these questions, tell them to stop mucking about with Indian mythology... It seems like your questions are just being plucked blindly from some book, though they probably mean Skand (Subramani, Kartikeya), Ganesha's brother. In earlier periods, you might look toward Indra. Mithra also stems from Vedic India, even if he wasn't associated with war back then.
4. The Roman goddess of the rainbow was called? Eowyn? 🙂
5. Poseidon to the Greeks, and to the Babylonians? Damir Milos?
6. What does Vade Mecum mean? I'm asking doctors not to answer Let me take this one. (Can lawyers weigh in?)
7. The connection between Re and Ra in Egyptian mythology? I can't stand Egyptian mythology; it's the typical nonsense peddled by those delusional New Age types. Of course, since there isn't any living Egyptian faith, they can make up whatever nonsense fits their narrative and nobody can call them out for being ridiculous. Though, perhaps they aren't wrong, considering how much of a tourist trap Egypt has become. I bet the New Age crowd has multiplied there too.😉
8. The goddess of death in American mythology? Eowyn? 🙂
9. Which god said to the American tribes: "Perun will overthrow you, but do not worry, I protect you. Therefore, you shall forget your origins and all other gods except me." Once again, you're bringing up the supreme leader and father of the nation, Dr. Frank.
10. Dionysius to the Greeks, Bacchus to the Romans, and to the ancient Slavs? Zeljko Malnar
11. To the Greeks it's Helios, and to Americans? Solaris
12. Which modern movie is essentially based on Odysseus's voyages? Well, you caught me red-handed now.....
13. To the Persians, what kind of god is Mithra? Wasn't it that bull?, probably the god of war
14. Where did Perseus rule? In Persia?
15. In which mythology is the being Dakini mentioned? I know, I know, I know—I really know this one, it's definitely Buddhists👋 👋
16. The sun god to the Phoenicians? Solaris
17. Which "person" slept with Poseidon in the Parthenon and thus disgraced him? It was Eowyn teaching him Tantra and how true love is more than just sex, and how even a god isn't complete without understanding human love, even if he isn't even aware of it himself.
19. A Daughter fell in love with her father and tried to sleep with him. When he found out, he wanted to kill her, but the gods turned her into a bush. From that bush, the person Aphrodite fell in love with is later born... who? Once again, it all starts with some girl causing trouble... but later everyone forgets and pretends to be clueless...
20. How did the goddess of Earth in Aztec mythology get pregnant? Caught in a rain shower? (I doubt the technology for making such things was at a high level back then)
22. What happens when the Phoenix bird dies? I know it has something to do with ashes and rising up, but the phoenix always survives in the end, right?
23. With whom can the character of King Midas be personified? I know, I know—a miser.
24. What was Daedalus's son's greatest mistake? It doesn't say anywhere, but in a stupidity like that, a woman must be involved... either she was trying to impress girls with those flying gimmicks, or some girl dumped him and he got spiteful, or he had a bad mother, or his old man wouldn't let him see girls so he acted out....
25. The relationship between Isis and Osiris. Siblings?
26. Which hero carried Achilles' body after his death (= the name of a certain football team)? Hmm, Spartak?
27. Which of these wasn't one of the Muses: Clio, Erato, Thalia, Urania, or Dione? Dione
28. Who among these was not a lover of Aphrodite: Phidias, Hephaestus, Dionysus, Poseidon, or Hermes? He actually was, it just hasn't been officially revealed yet.😉
29. What tool does the Roman god of the sea use to present himself, and what is its name? Well, let's not be uncivilized here...😁
It all stems from this deep-seated delusion that we’re somehow immortal.... The absolute greatest comedy in existence is how, despite the undeniable fact that we’re all heading toward the grave—that even tomorrow a distracted driver could end it all—everyone lives as if death is a myth. If people actually sat down and contemplated their own mortality, their entire perspective on life would shift. Their values would transform. Nothing transient would carry weight anymore, whether we're talking about material wealth, emotional entanglements, or mental pursuits like hoarding knowledge.... There is no desire for what isn't possessed... But then again, if you refuse to want anything, you won't end up possessing anything either, because everything you currently hold is simply the result of having once wanted something...
And if you try to cling to what you have? That’s even more pathetic than the initial desire. When you want to acquire something, you move forward; you’re active, perhaps even optimistic in a way. But when you focus on holding onto something, you live in a state of constant fear and tension, which is the worst way to exist. You realize that everything can be snatched away tomorrow, and that realization is where suffering begins. You become terrified of loss, and in your desperate attempt to prevent it, you end up destroying yourself. You start making compromises with your own conscience just to maintain the status quo.
At the very least, consider life itself...
And eventually, even life will slip away... You might manage to live a happy, idyllic, perfect life, but in the end, death will claim its due regardless. And if you are too deeply attached to your physical existence and your body, death will be an agonizing struggle. Every form of attachment breeds suffering, and the more primal the attachment, the more brutal the pain. Physical and material greed is the most destructive. Emotional ties are more subtle, followed by intellectual vanity. The highest form is spiritual devotion, though even that ultimately needs to be released; however, it is the only type of connection that can lead a person toward freedom from all other attachments... It works like pulling one thorn out with another. Therefore, if one cannot completely escape the cycle of attachment, one should at least direct that devotion toward the highest ideal, toward God, or whatever name we choose to give that ultimate reality.