Posts by jademarlin26

Alex Walker5 said:I don't see them anywhere.

Then they simply aren't there. 🙂

Alex Walker5 said:Are angels and demons something outside of us, or are they within?

And where exactly do you see them?

Edward Flores4 said:Sure thing... though "reason" feels like a bit of a clunky way to put it... I’d probably lean toward saying "mind" instead... but hey, you know what I mean!

Since everything we actually perceive exists within our own minds as an interpretation of some sort of "external signal"—and considering the "self" is really just another part of that very same interpretation—there isn't actually any real distinction between the "observer" and the "observed." That whole construct we call the "I" is really just a linguistic shortcut to make communicating with others easier. But if you try to actually point a finger at that "self"... there’s honestly nothing there. 🙂

Pokusavajuci to catch smoke as it slips through your fingers only creates a lifetime of frustration—what some people label as suffering.🙂 To "offset" an OCD tendency characterized by constantly grasping for something non-existent, leverage neuroplasticity. Repeat... and repeat... condition yourself... and repeat the mantra. You aren't lying to yourself; you aren't those thoughts, because that concept simply falls into other frameworks where you find solace in your own impermanence.

wearyowl29 said:We can't survive without water, food, or sleep, but we also can't thrive without a little magic. We crave miracles just as much as a thirsty plant craves a drink.
Sure, we could technically stumble through life without ever knowing love or being loved. We could manage to navigate an alienated, lonely world... but the moment we reach out for something miraculous, everything changes. We need them. But why?

Whether it’s overnight healings, sudden spiritual awakenings, undeniable physical signs, saints with a heavenly scent, weeping statues, the sun itself defying physics, the Shroud of Turin, or even a freshly unearthed relic from Noah's Ark—it doesn't really matter what the specific event is. What matters is that they carry that essence of wonder meant specifically for us.
That sense of wonder is pure soul food!

Miracles actually happen—they really do—but they aren't for everyone. One psychologist I know says you have to be truly open to them by maintaining a positive mindset. Honestly, in this day and age, staying positive is a miracle in itself! Looking at life through a hopeful lens and seeking out the good... maybe it sounds a bit naive, but hey, it might just work. Action creates reaction.

Positive thinking plus a belief in miracles equals... well, miracles. Miracles don't have hands, so they can't exactly walk up and turn our doorknobs for us. We have to leave our doors wide open. 😲
I just hope we don't accidentally let something else slip in instead...☕
I mean, how can someone who refuses to believe even expect a miracle to show up?

Miracles have used their own kind of alchemy to turn skeptics into believers; they take root
whenever faith starts to flicker and fade, recruiting a whole new following. You could say miracles are a heavenly flick of a magic wand that transforms our lives—if we let them... 🤷 or perhaps miracles are just the ultimate expression of our longing for proof, a desperate search for meaning... or who knows, maybe it's something else entirely...

What are miracles to us, if not the very thing we thirst for most?

And what exactly defines a miracle for you? Is it simply anything you fail to comprehend?🤷

brisktiger56 said:Now we’re drifting into deep philosophical territory 😉... and honestly, philosophy has already proven that nothingness is actually SOMETHING

jademarlin26, when you say: Hey, smart guy...
Are you actually aware of how condescending you're being?

Hey counselor, do you even know what "sapienti sat" means?

Listen, geniuses, emptiness is just empty. So this supposed "I" that "emerges from the void" is equally hollow. No essence, no God, and certainly no truth.

Jerry King11 said:I agree, though I’d argue that by serving others, we also build ourselves up and move beyond our own narrow egos—and I don't mean using busyness as an escape from a sense of inner emptiness. Too often, even "spirituality" can become a form of self-delusion, a way for people to inflate their own importance in their own eyes.

The key to identifying our true motives and finding the right balance lies in the integrity of our actions, which helps mitigate self-deception. Practicing introspection paired with self-criticism allows you to catch yourself when you are acting out of extreme, false motivations, or compromising your values for personal ambition. That kind of self-delusion is ultimately damaging to both the individual and society at large.

You're right; spirituality isn't immune to that.

Edward Flores4 said:Just to get this conversation moving, I’ll play dumb for a second and pretend my question isn't purely rhetorical.

To be honest, I was pretty floored by how poorly some "spiritual leaders" responded to such a straightforward question. It almost leaves you feeling like nobody in the entire "spiritual community" is actually "spiritual" enough to even attempt to grasp the true essence of what's being asked here.

I'm willing to risk looking a bit foolish, so let me try to ground this question with a concrete example.

Picture this: I'm sitting at my kitchen table, looking out the window at a spectacularly ordinary sunset. From my perspective—if I didn't exist, there wouldn't even *be* a sunset. But since I am right here, watching this damn sunset unfold, I can't find a single way to distinguish myself from the experience of seeing it.

In fact, the very moment I try to pinpoint the difference between "me" and the sunset, the actual experience of the sunset vanishes. Instead, I'm just experiencing my own struggle to differentiate myself from something I'm no longer actually perceiving... and that honestly triggers a sense of anxiety almost instantly.

Looking at this through a layman's lens—as a bit of a "spiritual amateur"—I'd say that during the actual experience of the sunset, the "observer" and the "observed" ARE one and the same. Trying to draw a line between them just results in fracturing the "observer," who then spends all their energy fruitlessly trying to "catch" themselves in the act of observing, while the "observed" ceases to be a sunset in that moment.

Essentially, for the "observer" and the "observed" to be distinct, I would have to stop observing entirely, split myself in two, and then somehow "lend" one half of myself to the other to perform the observation (which sounds like a nightmare of a process).

The more effort I pour into that mental gymnastics, the more anxious I get, because I lose track of who is watching whom and why. Both halves feel equally real—both as the "observer" and the "observed"—so the whole experiment starts feeling like a mild schizophrenic episode.

I only find any peace when I give up on trying to tear the "observer" away from the "observed." Mostly, I just try not to ruin a perfectly beautiful sunset by making useless attempts to detach myself from it, which only serves to break the peaceful Unity that exists in the simple act of perceiving the light fading.

But hey, maybe I've finally lost it... since I'm just a "spiritual amateur," I have to assume there's some deep "spiritual" complexity in this division that keeps slipping through my fingers.

Hey Edward Flores4, it’s been a while. 🙂 I must say, after enduring all the emotional outbursts from those who struggle to reason because they prefer to think with their hearts, their backsides, and whatever else, I truly missed your precise and concrete reasoning.

As for the response to the question, you cannot expect much from followers. It isn't their job to think. It would be interesting if one of the magicians managed to summon a true Brahmin to this forum—someone who actually understood the concept of Atman—so we could explain that he could have simply read some unlearned Shastras and skipped the theatrics. Then again, from their perspective, it’s probably easier to just fantasize about being detached from the body and these thoughts while getting screwed over. 🤷
Pardon my french

wearyhawk83 said:@jademarlin26 I'm gonna try to be way more specific regarding my original post!

Can the observer ever really be separate from what's being observed? Aren't they two sides of the same coin?

The split between the observer (subject) and the observed (object) is just an illusion. Real ignorance is falling for that illusion and trying to take sides.

Isn't this all just talking about the exact same thing when we bring up the observer versus the observed? (especially regarding observing thoughts and critical self-reflection)

Look, at least that's how I've interpreted it through some reading I've done—not as two separate worlds, which is what you're getting at if I'm not mistaken.

What I'm trying to get at is that the stuff people are "clashing" over here, including those questions from Edward Flores4, might actually all be the same core idea, just wrapped up in different terminology.

😁

One of us two is clearly delusional. The illusion lies in the belief that a distinction exists. In plain English, there is no difference.

Jerry King11 said:I actually find your perspective pretty compelling. There’s something to be said for that idea of discovering yourself within the absolute—the notion that you're fundamentally part of the same thing as the "You" standing right next to you. It's that concept of us all being pieces of one massive, universal spirit. 🙂

I honestly don't think we should be inflating our egos or playing judge when it comes to someone else's spiritual journey. To be blunt, I’ve always had an issue with the whole "self-improvement" cliché. It implies that everything is about focusing inward on yourself rather than actually showing up for others. If all we're doing is working on ourselves, then what we're building is ultimately hollow.

I’ve already posted this somewhere else, but I figured it belonged here too:

A student once posed a question to Dai Sui:
What exactly is my "self"?
Dai Sui responded:
That’s just who I am.
How is it even possible that my "I" is actually your "I"?
It’s just like you.

🙂🙂🙂

The issue arises when you attempt to serve others without having resolved your own internal conflicts. In doing so, you end up failing those around you, creating a ripple effect that impacts people for generations. Introspection is necessary to find that inner clarity, which is a prerequisite for actually being of service to others.

hiddenhound3 said:Here lies the core of a profound paradox—since change itself, acting as an eternal cycle, is the
only constant in this universe, then we truly become ourselves precisely through those very
(trans)formations.🙂

Precisely, except we never actually "are." When you claim that we exist in some fixed state, you are merely freezing a snapshot that contradicts constant flux. Along with the rest of the universe, we are in a continuous state of becoming. We are constantly revealing ourselves, whether we realize it or not.

wearyhawk83 said:Sometimes you can be a little too blunt, you know? If someone isn't totally tuned in to what you're doing, they might miss the point entirely. You end up sending the wrong signal, or worse, all those heavy, meaningful words just fall flat because they don't actually "land." At least, that’s definitely what happened to me!

Let me wrap this whole thing up with one final observation. Honestly, I’m just fascinated by the sheer absurdity you see in the spiritual world. It’s wild. On one hand, you have people talking about realizing Unity, striving to connect with the One depending on their tradition, preaching how everything alive is interconnected, and pushing for tolerance and acceptance. But then, on the flip side, you’ve got these totally manufactured ideological divides—groups of people demanding you pick a side in conflicts that don't even exist, forcing opinions based on nothing but division. What’s really interesting is that the exact same "school of thought" pushes both extremes, regardless of which tradition they claim to follow. The only exceptions are those rare folks actually walking the middle path. It’s crazy to watch: at the same time people are reaching for Unity, they're also using belief systems that push the individual as far away from the One as possible!

Do you think true authenticity—and staying away from all those labels—is actually the secret sauce? I’m talking about acting in a way where any "labels" we use are just names on a page, rather than things that actually drive a wedge between people's core values. It’s all about making sure our actions don't create more division than just the words themselves!
Look, let’s be real—our brains are hardwired to slap a label or a nickname on everything we see. It's just how we're built! But honestly, things get messy fast when we start making moves that hurt ourselves or someone else just because we're trying to be all unique and colorful.

There you go. Honestly, nothing beats just sitting out in the woods and getting lost in thought—especially when you catch yourself mid-shave. Unity! And at the same time, you’re just totally overwhelmed by all the drawers, categories, divisions, and constant conflicts!

Look, categories and labels aren't inherently bad—they’re actually pretty necessary for making sense of things. They only become a problem when people start using them to judge someone's worth, like saying, "Oh, he belongs in this group, so he's less important than us." That's where you lose the plot.

Does this actually hold water?

Hey Privat, do you ever find yourself deep in thought about Unity or something like that? 😎

So, are you the one who isn't "fully informed"? Why are you speaking in the third person?
If everything I wrote is worthless, then the message was successfully delivered.

wearyhawk83 said:Sometimes you can be a little too blunt, you know? If someone isn't totally tuned in to what you're doing, they might miss the point entirely. You end up sending the wrong signal, or worse, all those heavy, meaningful words just fall flat because they don't actually "land." At least, that’s definitely what happened to me!

Let me wrap this whole thing up with one final observation. Honestly, I’m just fascinated by the sheer absurdity you see in the spiritual world. It’s wild. On one hand, you have people talking about realizing Unity, striving to connect with the One depending on their tradition, preaching how everything alive is interconnected, and pushing for tolerance and acceptance. But then, on the flip side, you’ve got these totally manufactured ideological divides—groups of people demanding you pick a side in conflicts that don't even exist, forcing opinions based on nothing but division. What’s really interesting is that the exact same "school of thought" pushes both extremes, regardless of which tradition they claim to follow. The only exceptions are those rare folks actually walking the middle path. It’s crazy to watch: at the same time people are reaching for Unity, they're also using belief systems that push the individual as far away from the One as possible!

Do you think true authenticity—and staying away from all those labels—is actually the secret sauce? I’m talking about acting in a way where any "labels" we use are just names on a page, rather than things that actually drive a wedge between people's core values. It’s all about making sure our actions don't create more division than just the words themselves!
Look, let’s be real—our brains are hardwired to slap a label or a nickname on everything we see. It's just how we're built! But honestly, things get messy fast when we start making moves that hurt ourselves or someone else just because we're trying to be all unique and colorful.

There you go. Honestly, nothing beats just sitting out in the woods and getting lost in thought—especially when you catch yourself mid-shave. Unity! And at the same time, you’re just totally overwhelmed by all the drawers, categories, divisions, and constant conflicts!

Look, categories and labels aren't inherently bad—they’re actually pretty necessary for making sense of things. They only become a problem when people start using them to judge someone's worth, like saying, "Oh, he belongs in this group, so he's less important than us." That's where you lose the plot.

Does this actually hold water?

Hey Privat, do you ever find yourself deep in thought about Unity or something like that? 😎

I don't follow. The key to what?

wearyhawk83 said:Sometimes you can be a little too blunt, you know? If someone isn't totally tuned in to what you're doing, they might miss the point entirely. You end up sending the wrong signal, or worse, all those heavy, meaningful words just fall flat because they don't actually "land." At least, that’s definitely what happened to me!

Let me wrap this whole thing up with one final observation. Honestly, I’m just fascinated by the sheer absurdity you see in the spiritual world. It’s wild. On one hand, you have people talking about realizing Unity, striving to connect with the One depending on their tradition, preaching how everything alive is interconnected, and pushing for tolerance and acceptance. But then, on the flip side, you’ve got these totally manufactured ideological divides—groups of people demanding you pick a side in conflicts that don't even exist, forcing opinions based on nothing but division. What’s really interesting is that the exact same "school of thought" pushes both extremes, regardless of which tradition they claim to follow. The only exceptions are those rare folks actually walking the middle path. It’s crazy to watch: at the same time people are reaching for Unity, they're also using belief systems that push the individual as far away from the One as possible!

Do you think true authenticity—and staying away from all those labels—is actually the secret sauce? I’m talking about acting in a way where any "labels" we use are just names on a page, rather than things that actually drive a wedge between people's core values. It’s all about making sure our actions don't create more division than just the words themselves!
Look, let’s be real—our brains are hardwired to slap a label or a nickname on everything we see. It's just how we're built! But honestly, things get messy fast when we start making moves that hurt ourselves or someone else just because we're trying to be all unique and colorful.

There you go. Honestly, nothing beats just sitting out in the woods and getting lost in thought—especially when you catch yourself mid-shave. Unity! And at the same time, you’re just totally overwhelmed by all the drawers, categories, divisions, and constant conflicts!

Look, categories and labels aren't inherently bad—they’re actually pretty necessary for making sense of things. They only become a problem when people start using them to judge someone's worth, like saying, "Oh, he belongs in this group, so he's less important than us." That's where you lose the plot.

Does this actually hold water?

Hey Privat, do you ever find yourself deep in thought about Unity or something like that? 😎

I have no answer for you. I am not preoccupied with this complex of "more or less value." 🤷

Pigeonholes become a problem when you mistake them for reality. For instance, a dichotomy (splitting a whole into two non-overlapping parts, where something belonging to one half cannot possibly belong to the other) is one such common, often politically correct, substitution for reality. If you compare mystical teachings intended for those within the temple to religious teachings meant for the masses outside the gates, the former exist in mutual interdependence, while the latter exist in conflict. It is clear that the latter must be internally conflicted and divided to be capable of fighting and dying for the former when required. To go out and kill, you must believe that good and evil exist as independent entities. You must believe in an illusion.

Am I being too blunt?

wearyhawk83 said:Sometimes you can be a little too blunt, you know? If someone isn't totally tuned in to what you're doing, they might miss the point entirely. You end up sending the wrong signal, or worse, all those heavy, meaningful words just fall flat because they don't actually "land." At least, that’s definitely what happened to me!

Let me wrap this whole thing up with one final observation. Honestly, I’m just fascinated by the sheer absurdity you see in the spiritual world. It’s wild. On one hand, you have people talking about realizing Unity, striving to connect with the One depending on their tradition, preaching how everything alive is interconnected, and pushing for tolerance and acceptance. But then, on the flip side, you’ve got these totally manufactured ideological divides—groups of people demanding you pick a side in conflicts that don't even exist, forcing opinions based on nothing but division. What’s really interesting is that the exact same "school of thought" pushes both extremes, regardless of which tradition they claim to follow. The only exceptions are those rare folks actually walking the middle path. It’s crazy to watch: at the same time people are reaching for Unity, they're also using belief systems that push the individual as far away from the One as possible!

Do you think true authenticity—and staying away from all those labels—is actually the secret sauce? I’m talking about acting in a way where any "labels" we use are just names on a page, rather than things that actually drive a wedge between people's core values. It’s all about making sure our actions don't create more division than just the words themselves!
Look, let’s be real—our brains are hardwired to slap a label or a nickname on everything we see. It's just how we're built! But honestly, things get messy fast when we start making moves that hurt ourselves or someone else just because we're trying to be all unique and colorful.

There you go. Honestly, nothing beats just sitting out in the woods and getting lost in thought—especially when you catch yourself mid-shave. Unity! And at the same time, you’re just totally overwhelmed by all the drawers, categories, divisions, and constant conflicts!

Look, categories and labels aren't inherently bad—they’re actually pretty necessary for making sense of things. They only become a problem when people start using them to judge someone's worth, like saying, "Oh, he belongs in this group, so he's less important than us." That's where you lose the plot.

Does this actually hold water?

Hey Privat, do you ever find yourself deep in thought about Unity or something like that? 😎

What is this supposed to mean, Privat?

wearyhawk83 said:So, you're basically saying that this specific way of "working on yourself" is generally bad or at least totally unhelpful as a type of introspection when trying to fix our "negative" traits. (Even though, let's be real, sometimes you need that distinction to make sense of things.)

But isn't this actually the only way we can truly change how we act? I mean, if we're talking about acting purely in the moment based on what's inside us—without some middleman like a psychologist, psychiatrist, therapist, doctor, spouse, parent, guru, celebrity, or whatever else gets in the way.

(And I'm not even talking about those clinical psychology methods where they work on specific areas but the "patient" doesn't really get why they're doing it, which usually means the results are pretty weak or just don't last.)

Or maybe I completely misread you. I totally get the vibe of being against overcomplicating things when there's no solid ground to stand on.

You misinterpreted me. 🙂

The ability to create distance and observe one's own thoughts—critical self-reflection, essentially—is the very foundation of self-work and conscious growth. It allows for the shifting of attitudes and the cultivation of healthy relationships.

What I actually criticized is the behavioral pattern found in certain schools of thought. In an attempt to validate a fictional "ultimate reality" or a supposed "True Self," they demand that the individual identify with the observer at the expense of the observed. They justify this dichotomy through "intuitive knowledge" gained during meditation, which, in this instance, is nothing more than pure ideology and nonsense. Simple observation shows that the observer and the observed exist in a state of mutual interdependence. You cannot have one without the other. There is no dichotomy.

To conclude this post, I will offer one final observation. I find the absurdity within spiritual circles fascinating: on one hand, there is the realization of Unity, the pursuit of connection with the One, the interconnectedness of all living things, tolerance, and acceptance. On the other hand, there are ideologically manufactured dichotomies and mindsets that demand people take sides in non-existent conflicts, forcing views based on division. It is interesting how the same "school" pushes both extremes, regardless of tradition (unless, of course, one follows the middle path). Simultaneously, the drive toward the One is undermined by belief systems that push the individual as far away from that Unity as possible.

There you have it. It is quite useful to sit in silence and contemplate why you find yourself preaching Unity while being simultaneously cluttered with labels, categories, divisions, and conflict.

Lisa Morales4 said:jademarlin26, if you aren't working on yourself, you're basically just an amoeba at this point
that’s not really a big deal
even an amoeba can become something more 🙂

Self-work isn't just about your own ego; it's about honoring the Absolute that you're actually a part of 🙂
it's all for the sake of Unity
but look, if someone hasn't reached that realization yet—seeing themselves within the Absolute (within Unity)—then they're just stuck focusing inward on themselves
and that's okay too

I am an integral part, a single fragment, of an eternal force
and that force is no illusion

force is energy
and energy is indestructible
you can store it, accumulate it, or manifest it, or you can transfer it

energy is eternal
I was born from the eternal
It's up to me whether I choose to nurture that spark and grow it into a flame
or if I'll just smother it until it's gone

I am The Flame and the Keeper

I am The Keeper

When your ambitions exceed your capacity—specifically your capacity for actual insight—this is the kind of error that occurs.

Lisa Morales4 said:jademarlin26, if you aren't working on yourself, you're basically just an amoeba at this point
that’s not really a big deal
even an amoeba can become something more 🙂

Self-work isn't just about your own ego; it's about honoring the Absolute that you're actually a part of 🙂
it's all for the sake of Unity
but look, if someone hasn't reached that realization yet—seeing themselves within the Absolute (within Unity)—then they're just stuck focusing inward on themselves
and that's okay too

I am an integral part, a single fragment, of an eternal force
and that force is no illusion

force is energy
and energy is indestructible
you can store it, accumulate it, or manifest it, or you can transfer it

energy is eternal
I was born from the eternal
It's up to me whether I choose to nurture that spark and grow it into a flame
or if I'll just smother it until it's gone

I am The Flame and the Keeper

I am The Keeper

Perhaps before you dive even deeper into conceptualization, you might want to study the mechanics of perception. Work on yourself a little.

Lisa Morales4 said:jademarlin26, if you aren't working on yourself, you're basically just an amoeba at this point
that’s not really a big deal
even an amoeba can become something more 🙂

Self-work isn't just about your own ego; it's about honoring the Absolute that you're actually a part of 🙂
it's all for the sake of Unity
but look, if someone hasn't reached that realization yet—seeing themselves within the Absolute (within Unity)—then they're just stuck focusing inward on themselves
and that's okay too

I am an integral part, a single fragment, of an eternal force
and that force is no illusion

force is energy
and energy is indestructible
you can store it, accumulate it, or manifest it, or you can transfer it

energy is eternal
I was born from the eternal
It's up to me whether I choose to nurture that spark and grow it into a flame
or if I'll just smother it until it's gone

I am The Flame and the Keeper

I am The Keeper

Beliefs are usually just a sign that someone has taken advantage of you. Hang in there.

Ethan Johnson said:Anyone here actually self-aware enough to have a sense of their own "Self"? I’d love to hear a few thoughts from you guys. Once you start digging into your "Self," this weird phenomenon happens where the "Self" starts observing "itself." We basically have to step into the shoes of the thinker—but can the thinker actually know who they are? It's kind of like asking if a knife can cut itself, right?

This whole thing actually popped up from that other thread about "being what you are." But here, I really want to figure out if we can even talk about our "Self" in any meaningful way. Are we just a collection of our thoughts—those random ideas floating through our heads? Probably not, since thoughts just drift in and out whenever they feel like it. So, are we our bodies? Nah, because our bodies are constantly shifting, cells are swapping out, and we're all just getting older. So... what the hell is the "Self" actually?

The general trend in many American schools has been to hunt for some form of an "absolute," which is nothing more than pure metaphysical speculation. If we aren't something subject to change, time, or pain, then people assume there must be an immutable essence—a "true self," a Great I, or a *svabhava*—that remains eternal and absolute.

However...

If everything in existence is in flux, then an unchanging essence cannot exist. One could attempt to shunt this concept into another realm, claiming it exists elsewhere under different laws of consciousness, but that is simply unverified hearsay. People will find comfort in such delusions if they must. If *svabhava* exists, it must belong to an existing entity, meaning it would have to be conditional and dependent on other things. Yet, by definition, *svabhava* is unconditional and absolute; it doesn't depend on anything else, which renders it non-existent.

Based on the logic above regarding organic detachment ("I am not this body") and the dynamics of daily life ("I am not these thoughts"), I see why someone might feel compelled to "work on themselves" for the rest of their lives. Unless this focus is strictly about non-attachment, it places the individual in direct conflict with the world—a perfect recipe for suffering.

The dichotomy between the observer (subject) and the observed (object) is an illusion. Ignorance lies in trying to take sides within that illusion.

Can the observer truly be separated from the observed? They seem inextricably linked, much like two sides of the same coin.

Susan Price30 said:Which specific religions—meaning those centered around moral dualism—don't fit that description?
I can't recall a single one.😉

Believe me, the statistics aren't even up for debate here. I was just reading that in the USA—with a population of around 330 million—there are only about 100,000 to 200,000 followers of paganism or witchcraft.🤷

And what about the Celts? Famous? Regarding that matter...

There is a dedicated subforum for religious discussions.

Susan Price30 said:They aren't part of the same package,
nor do they follow the same set of rules.🙏

To be honest—they represent diametrically opposed consciousnesses (and worlds).

More accurately: all spiritual teachings provide a crystal clear definition of Evil as the direct antithesis to Good—every single teaching except for witchcraft.

But those groups are statistically so small that their take on spirituality is considered marginal and
extreme...

The moral dualism you're unfairly forcing into "all spiritual teachings" is typical of certain religions, much like that statistical argumentum ad populum.

Michelle Adams45 said:"Everything that lives possesses a spirit, for it is the spirit that brings life" (John 6:63)
When we pass away, our spirit simply detaches from the physical body, because the spirit itself is immortal
At that point, we will all face judgment based on our actions
Those who have been saved—the spirits of the righteous—will "rise in the resurrection of life," whereas
those who lived in sin will undergo the "resurrection of judgment"
They will endure eternal torment in hell

The soul represents our emotions, our reasoning, our intellect...
Therefore, one arrives at the conclusion that a human being is a spirit, possessing a soul, while living within a physical body😁

Jesus is He !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Let us enter into victory and breakthrough alongside Him!

We lack any empirical basis to conclude that spirit and body (matter) are separable—that one can exist independently of the other. It is much like how the poles of a magnet cannot exist in isolation; you either have both or neither. To bridge the gap between the spirit, which binds us to eternity, and the body, which binds us to transience, there exists a bridge: the soul, comprising our mental and emotional states. All three elements constitute a human being.

That which remains eternal, or appears to be immortal, is not the individual, but rather the principle of life itself.

Hell, heaven, judgments, punishments, and rewards are merely states of the soul while the triad remains compact, rather than being permanent dwellings for the spirit once the triad is dismantled.

Michelle Adams45 said:"Everything that lives possesses a spirit, for it is the spirit that brings life" (John 6:63)
When we pass away, our spirit simply detaches from the physical body, because the spirit itself is immortal
At that point, we will all face judgment based on our actions
Those who have been saved—the spirits of the righteous—will "rise in the resurrection of life," whereas
those who lived in sin will undergo the "resurrection of judgment"
They will endure eternal torment in hell

The soul represents our emotions, our reasoning, our intellect...
Therefore, one arrives at the conclusion that a human being is a spirit, possessing a soul, while living within a physical body😁

Jesus is He !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Let us enter into victory and breakthrough alongside Him!

No one can save you in your stead. Not even Chuck Norris, who is arguably a better choice than AC/DC when it comes to securing a victory.

driftingfox15 said:I don't want to be judgmental or anything, but when you're able to write a comment like that, I guess it just makes me realize you probably didn't even like the book in the first place.

If you don't want to judge, why are you judging? 😉

More importantly, what specifically did you find so captivating about this book that you feel compelled to defend its supposed value? It clearly didn't teach you how to think, given the way you phrased your previous sentence—no offense. It seems the book fails to teach cause and effect, which is evident from your logic. What exactly is it meant to teach?