Posts by Maria Robinson2

Thomas Nelson25 said:Not everyone is free—hardly anyone can honestly claim that.

That's the truth right there.

And you know how it goes—people call those who are "free" slaves to one thing or another. I might agree to a point, but... these aren't exactly shackles you can just slip off whenever you feel like it.

Humans get tied to things globally before they even realize they're connected. Still, I often find myself thinking about that old saying, "bad company ruins good character." I guess I've heard enough about human suffering, so I figured we might as well flip the script—see if there's anything else out there. If there happens to be something positive, we might as well focus on that.

Well, if you get what I mean, you get it.

Thomas Nelson25 said:Because usually, people try to nudge the lost souls back onto the "right path."

Interesting. Are there free people wandering down the wrong paths, then?
Look, everyone is free—even those following the rules, I suppose.

From the time we're kids, we're taught to be self-sufficient. Then eventually, we run into people who actually want to "take care" of us—which, naturally, feels intrusive, so we just dig our heels in. Isn't that how it works?

Thomas Nelson25 said:Wait, so you're actually worried about me? 😁

Why would I? Do you honestly think you're the one looking out for me? As if my problems aren't significant enough compared to yours—though, I suppose, who can really rely on anyone else when you're left out in the cold by someone else's indifference, shivering away before you even have a chance to freeze...
(like I said, people are just scattered in drawers, though the drawers aren't even shut—since I'm not exactly one of those long-haul truckers, you know, driving across the States with frozen cargo) and all that nonsense.

Thomas Nelson25 said:man, you're totally labeling this as religion. 😉 you basically shoved me into a little box and now I'm just "Buddhism" to you 😁

look, I know what's real, I just can't put it into words—I'm just over here scribbling things down to swap ideas with folks who give a damn, same as me. everyone's got their own thing going on.

Actually, I don't label anyone by religion—not even when it comes to those online theology forums—I'm always telling them to stay out of those certain spheres, but apparently, nobody listens to me. So be it.

Anyway... I don't put people in boxes. Or, if I do, I leave the drawer open—so they can step out whenever they feel like it, of their own accord.

As for that attachment to suffering... there's that old saying, "if you go looking for storm clouds, you'll surely find them." Seems pretty accurate, doesn't it?

Thomas Nelson25 said:haha, maybe tomorrow 😁
how can you be so sure?

not tomorrow—more like today, I suppose 🙂
perhaps you assumed there aren't any non-Buddhists who understand this better than actual Buddhists?

clinging to suffering... isn't exactly a great recommendation for people actually living their lives.

Thomas Nelson25 said:You know why I dig that philosophy—it’s because they claim there's no soul and nothing lasts. Honestly, isn't that like the ultimate peak of human insight?

Maybe it's the Tibetan thing—they've got extra steps involved and it gets super complicated... lots of stuff about death and reincarnation on demand...

I get it.
Look, I'm not a Buddhist, so it's not even about belief for me—I just know that once you're dead, it's over. It's basically just "you did what you did while you were alive."

Thomas Nelson25 said:In the long run, whether it's suffering or just general dissatisfaction, it hits everyone the same way—even the most hardcore materialists or the die-hard theists.

There are tons of different versions of Buddhism out there. Not sure which ones you ran into, but personally, I'm only interested in the actual philosophical, ontological side of things.

That video gets some points right, but a lot of it is just propaganda born from a total lack of understanding of the philosophy. 😁

Where exactly did I say they were proselytizing? It seems people rarely bother to actually read my posts properly. I guess.

As for why there are various forms of Buddhism—perhaps it is because of those "eight stages" Buddhists can never quite reach, so they just decided to change their business model?

Thomas Nelson25 said:Suffering is just part of being alive... sooner or later, we all figure that out.

Usually, they're just busy meta-philosophizing about the origin of everything—you know, suffering, attachment, impermanence, blah blah blah...

Suffering as an inherent part of existence? Hmm—an interesting thought, I suppose.

I assume you're already aware of this... I suppose this video attempts to make a point—though whether it actually succeeds is debatable. It’s fine, I guess.
I suppose I'll just post it anyway—it probably won't hurt to have a bit more clarity regarding what we're actually discussing, I guess.

I've had several encounters with Buddhists over the years—they'd show up at my door offering books, and I'd actually sit and listen, read their material, and even engage in dialogue with others in the community. Yet, it always seems to boil down to the same thing—either they don't quite grasp what they’re saying to others, or perhaps they don't fully understand themselves while they're talking. Not to be rude, obviously, but that's just the impression I get when they start philosophizing about various "existences." It isn't much surprising, though—Buddhism is essentially agnosticism, which is basically just "let's speculate about the cosmos because we might be a tiny speck within it." Whether we are part of some grand cosmic design or not—well, I guess that will remain a mystery; people seem to crave mysticism, and Buddhism provides exactly that.

Justin Garcia7 said:Some people say you shouldn't get attached to anything you're afraid of losing.☕

We feel the sting when we leave a job we actually loved, when a relationship ends, or whenever we lose anyone or anything we were emotionally invested in.

Buddhism suggests that life itself is suffering because we are beings driven by desires—which cause pain—and fueled by emotions that lead to even more attachment.

So, what’s the actual lesson here?

How do we avoid getting attached to people or things? Is it even possible to remain completely detached? Maybe it all comes down to how we frame things in our minds—our perception of what we hold dear. Or should we just let logic override our feelings?

Is the "right" way to be empathetic without letting ourselves become overly emotional?

I’ve noticed something interesting about some elderly, deeply religious folks I've met—people who carry their prayer beads everywhere. They’ve outlived their own children, yet they don't seem to grieve with the overwhelming intensity a "typical" person might. It's almost as if they possess this profound sense of peace, fully aware of how fleeting life is.

But would that mean happiness and laughter are just the flip side of the coin? We know many famous comedians struggle with depression behind closed doors. Should we spend our lives in an emotional "flatline," avoiding the highs and lows? Is a state of total emotional neutrality the only way to truly grasp the Truth?

If you follow that logic, I guess Buddhist thinkers are just people projecting their own misery onto everyone else. They don't seem particularly interested in helping followers move past that negativity—it's almost as if they want them stuck in it. So, followers end up endlessly debating spirituality while it slips through their fingers—asking pointless questions instead of just walking away from Buddhism altogether.

rapidbear65 said:Don't worry, God is right there with you...

That would certainly produce a miracle far more significant than the 'miracles' mentioned in that link—though, I suppose, it happens quite often in daily life.
It’s somewhat similar to those 'lost souls'—which don't actually exist, since they're really just ghosts.

rapidbear65 said:The most obvious thing, day, year... if those two ever show up in your name, I'll make sure they get a taste of their own medicine...

They don't exactly come in my name; they sort of drag themselves along—you know how it goes—she’s present, but he isn't really there (not quite)—exchanging thoughts at a picnic, if you want to call that kind of maneuvering "tactics."

I'd bet they heard what you said. Maybe save the iron—let it wait until things get heated when they swing by to do the ironing. Then we can see what kind of disbelief they've managed to cause, God knows.

rapidbear65 said:Everything has an origin, a flow that moves out and eventually circles right back to where it started...

What kind of "origins" are we even talking about here?

You really need to provide an example (not just some vague template). For instance, regarding spiritual matters—these days, I’m being targeted by jealousy from two rather obnoxious "characters." One insists my account isn't a troll but a clone, while the other refuses to acknowledge someone is female, despite them clearly being a woman in a tie (if you catch my drift). So, how would you explain where these two actually crawled out from—so they might return to their "source" and leave me alone? Any advice? Don't worry, they'll show up to read this eventually; they follow my every move like rabid dogs. There's no reason to fear them, since I certainly don't.

rapidbear65 said:The soul just wants to break free from the body and all those material needs. I don't really buy into death either, because once that whole complex system of living particles stops working together, they just keep going on their own, forming new kinds of life... where do you even get the proof for that? And what about that old idea—that every soul becomes one with God once it reaches heaven?

Well, you can find endless variations of that thought—it’s always the same old "let's all become gods" routine, I guess.

"belief in miracles makes gods"

rapidbear65 said:there's no such thing as a ghost, especially after the body's gone

Once a living soul dies, it's just gone.

As for people fantasizing about becoming angels after they pass... I guess you should ask them why they're so desperate to play God—if not now, then eventually.

electrictinker26 said:What kind of agreement are you implying? Are you suggesting that souls make a pact before they are even born—deciding exactly when to meet so that God's will can be carried out at that specific moment?

I wasn't referring to dead souls—more like living ones. You know, those people who take action during their lifetime, making deals among themselves before stepping onto the stage for their scheduled 'presentation,' just like that link implies.
Does that seem strange to you? I suppose it shouldn't. It’s really just about profiting off the superstitious.

rapidbear65 said:People always credit God or divine grace for all these healings—both the real ones and the ones that might just be luck. Believers see these rare, unexplainable moments as a sign from above, a way to show we aren't alone... Even though I call myself a believer, I don't really go looking for miracles or buy into the hype, but hey, unexplained things happen, and eventually science catches up to what we can't wrap our heads around today. It makes you wonder, though—if someone hits the jackpot on a Powerball ticket, shouldn't we call that a miracle too? And if we did, would everyone just start betting their lives away thinking it's the cure for poverty? How long is it going to take us to actually figure out where we fit in this universe? Is it more important to push scientific boundaries, or focus on spiritual growth, or maybe find a way to do both at the exact same time...

Or perhaps there's some sort of 'arrangement' happening between people?

goldentrucker11 said:I am being completely serious here.
Neve031 claims that I can actually ask God for knowledge—and if that’s really the case, then surely He, or someone else up there, should be able to provide some sort of roadmap on how to go about doing that.

Look, I’m telling you—nothing of the sort has ever been offered to me. And even if it was, I clearly missed the signal. If that's the case, I honestly find myself blaming God for it; if He's going to offer something, shouldn't He present it in a way that a person can actually recognize? It seems a bit counterproductive, doesn't it?

So, a question for you: how are one supposed to recognize something when God is offering it?

then it's obvious why you aren't getting anything, considering you're blaming God for it.🙄
that's a dangerous path to take—you have to fix your mindset first, only then will the actual need for knowledge arise.
just remember, you can't pull the wool over God's eyes; He only gives to those who sincerely seek... if you're one of those people, I guess you'll know what to do.

goldentrucker11 is just messing with us... I guess it might be vacation season again—you know how people start cracking dumb jokes when they're off—so maybe we students can finally get a break from all this studying🙄

goldentrucker11 said:Personally, I’ve yet to see an offer on the table.🤷

Oh, please—that simply can't be right.
Unless you're trying to claim you're some kind of one-of-a-kind specimen—which, I guess, is an option. 😁

William Williams7 said:Right there with you😍.

Honestly, looking at how people talk back home in Canada, you aren't much different—you're right in that same vein.

Catch you later, God willing. 🙂🙂

Honestly, people claim God doesn't distribute wisdom, yet here He is, handing us intuition too, I guess.🙂

For instance, I had a feeling ahead of time that the two of us would take over this site in record time 😉.
The two of us—wherever we go, if we actually want to, it becomes ours 😁.
If this isn't some kind of comedy, then I don't know what is
.
It seems others have realized that arguing with us is pointless—one should just talk to us instead
. Since nobody really feels like having a conversation, they just let us enjoy our peace... honestly, "understatement" doesn't even cover it 🤷.

No, seriously—sometimes when I tell people, "let's just talk like humans," they immediately bolt because they see there won't be any intense debate or fighting 🤣 😂.

Who else has God granted wisdom, besides knowledge of Him?
Well, look—He gave it to people like us; He offered it, we accepted it, and now we operate this way because anything else isn't an option
. And it's unlikely people like us would just pick a fight with each other—I can't imagine what the reason would even be
.
So, my conclusion is that perhaps others should follow our lead 🙂.