Posts by coastalskipper92

Is inertia considered one of the symptoms? For me, that's easily the most painful part.

I suppose I'm just an "indigo" type, and OCD just isn't built for people like us...

It feels impossible to truly get rid of this—the depression and everything else—because it all just piles up on top of the OCD. We are essentially made of it. Perhaps there's a way to ease the burden, though.

Hypochondriac

You have no idea how well I can
play the part, or how deeply I can love
you don't realize how quickly I change
you'll never know what I have in store
depression is nothing new to me
it runs in the family, from my mother

So be kind, be careful
be good to me
because I am a Hypochondriac

chorus 2x
Your love is what keeps me alive
let me drink you in
at seven, at twelve, at five
your love is what keeps me alive
love is the only cure

You don't realize how quickly I change
you'll never know what I have in store
depression is nothing new to me
it runs in the family, from my mother

chorus 2x

My head aches, my soul aches
oh, I could sleep forever

chorus 2x

Love is the only cure
(3x)

I suppose I struggle with cleaning, too. 😍

But when I do clean, I CLEAN.

My hands are actually raw from all the scrubbing... and I have these odd little rituals, asking myself certain "questions" every single day... and counting everything I can, even if it means counting the bills in my wallet (since I stopped counting calories).

Then there’s the business of making the bed, where I sit there contemplating whether I’ll actually get enough sleep... only to end up wide awake.

And then...
checking the stovetop just to make sure the dial isn't lying to me.

And...
Well, before, there was the habit of checking the closets just to be absolutely certain things were still inside them—or perhaps because I’d forgotten where something was located (even though I know exactly where everything is, even if it doesn't look tidy... it’s more of a "bohemian chic" sort of order, really). If I couldn't find something, I'd go searching in the middle of the night... once, I dropped something, and a friend saw me hunting for it at all hours, even when there was practically no hope of finding it.
It’s all quite overwhelming. 😬
Now my stomach is aching, I lost a scarf recently, and well... ☕

It seems to be dwindling over time

Besides, if you look back, some of history's greatest minds were actually dealing with OCD...

It serves as a catalyst 👍 for productivity, providing a meticulous 😂

😈

it's just how things are here

but I suppose I've grown accustomed to it 🥳

I want to say... I don't think there are any actual steps here, no sharp edges or sudden thresholds...

It’s more about learning to navigate this "universe," this sense of balance that is CONSTANTLY SHIFTING AND REFORMING!!

No sacrifices required, no long distances to travel.
Someone was telling me that in Buddhist traditions, the final test before reaching "Nirvana" is the refusal to be enslaved by the very act of not being enslaved—and apparently, that's where so many people stumble...
In my own journey so far, I haven't leaned on a single spiritual technique or even finished a whole book—honestly, I suspect that TECHNIQUES, FORMS, and things like that are precisely what lead to stagnation.

Spirituality is simply living life to its absolute fullest.
For instance, I’ve never sat in a lotus position for long periods; if I have, it’s been with my eyes open, maybe with some music playing or something... yet I am progressing perfectly... because progress needs to happen R E A L L Y from within.
Take me now, for example; I’m not doing anything particularly "smart," and I could probably meditate quite well, but my free-spirited nature just gets in the way.
And I’ve made peace with that. Now I see that it’s actually BECAUSE OF THAT that I’m moving forward—because I don't force myself into something that feels unnatural.

I don't doubt that one day I might sit in a lotus position for an entire hour, but that will only happen when it feels COMPLETELY natural. Until then, I don't need it.

ironharbor8 said:Our little back-and-forth discussions here are just as pointless, yet we persist. 😉 There is an answer buried somewhere in that contradiction, but what good does it do when the "I" keeps popping up? "I want this," or "I feel that." This persistent, annoying "I" constantly insists there is a connection between myself and everything "outside" of me, even though I haven't the slightest clue who I actually am. It's pure madness. 🙂

Last night, I dreamed I was homeless, and once again, I felt that familiar anxiety about where I’d sleep and how I’d survive. No matter how much or how little one possesses, there always seems to be some trivial distraction preventing true freedom of being. It feels like every resistance is futile. If only one could simply let the current take them, wherever it might lead...🤔

In my estimation, that is perhaps the wisest thing said in this entire thread.
The moment you find yourself dwelling on those thoughts—even if they come wrapped in questions—I suspect there is no fear left to be found...

ironharbor8 said:Our little back-and-forth discussions here are just as pointless, yet we persist. 😉 There is an answer buried somewhere in that contradiction, but what good does it do when the "I" keeps popping up? "I want this," or "I feel that." This persistent, annoying "I" constantly insists there is a connection between myself and everything "outside" of me, even though I haven't the slightest clue who I actually am. It's pure madness. 🙂

Last night, I dreamed I was homeless, and once again, I felt that familiar anxiety about where I’d sleep and how I’d survive. No matter how much or how little one possesses, there always seems to be some trivial distraction preventing true freedom of being. It feels like every resistance is futile. If only one could simply let the current take them, wherever it might lead...🤔

you will eventually reach that point 😉
even without reading Rhonda Byrne

I am actually reading *The Secret* for the first time... it is quite interesting how she speaks from her own lived experience.
For her, as it was for me once upon a time, that process unfolded entirely spontaneously... back when I would go looking for something destructive... some nonsense on the internet that would only plant seeds of doubt in my mind... and then, out of nowhere, my computer would simply shut down... just like that...
Yet, at other times, positive links from my favorites would open up seemingly by accident... truly, one time, a link opened itself... a mouse click occurred when I hadn't even touched the device... how? Who knows.
To me, all of this felt perfectly normal. ☕
Had it been someone else, or perhaps myself in the past, such things might have caused a shock.

What I mean to say is, once that "liberation" begins, it moves forward effortlessly... and seeing as you possess these internal impulses, I see there is no fear.😉

Edward Flores4 said:You can label it however you like, but when it comes down to actual "spiritual work," dealing with your own psyche is really the first—and honestly, the only—thing you can do to "develop" the spirit.

And sure, that path can absolutely lead to "liberation"... I’d go so far as to say there isn't really any other way around it. You see spiritualists constantly bashing the mind, often using their own lack of understanding as an excuse by claiming spirituality is somehow "beyond rationalization"... but unfortunately, that couldn't be further from the truth.

People tend to memorize metaphors and pieces of wisdom, yet they can't say anything meaningful about them other than repeating them verbatim while rambling about how the mind is simply incapable of grasping the spiritual. As long as that's the case, it's pretty obvious the person hasn't actually integrated those "sacred" insights into their perception—because once you truly grasp a concept, you can talk about it until you're blue in the face.

The only things that feel "incomprehensible" are the things we don't have the slightest clue about, but that doesn't stop certain spiritual "experts" from practically bragging about their confusion. They act as if being spiritual means you shouldn't think at all, just accepting everything blindly... without any thought, integration, or genuine understanding.

Besides... the "path of unification" is known (as I'm sure you know) as Yoga. And as far as I'm aware, one of the specific paths within yoga is Self-actualization, or "The yoga of knowledge."

It used to be called the "royal yoga," mostly because only a king could afford to spend all day in contemplation without having to actually *do* anything. It was a similar story with philosophy back in the day—hardly anyone could afford to sit around philosophizing before the Industrial Revolution hit.

And you've probably heard of a guy named Nagarjun... he wasn't exactly a fan of meditation as a substitute for "self-work." He believed all spiritual concepts are quite easy to grasp once you stop making excuses and decide to actually turn your brain on. They say he could "enlighten" someone in a single conversation—provided, of course, the person actually wanted to figure out what their problem was in the first place.

Most people actually cling to their problems... it makes them feel special, unique... it gives them an identity that others recognize and judge by. It's like saying, "You know... his dad was an alcoholic and used to beat him when he was a kid... he turned out to be a pretty good guy despite all that"... stuff like that.🙄

👍

An obsession with the ego... even when we claim to despise it. It’s a curious thing, isn't it? As long as we aren't truly indifferent, we're still tethered to it. No matter how much vitriol we throw its way, if there's still passion left—even if that passion is pure resentment—we haven't actually moved past it. Are we really free if we're still fighting the shadow?

I feel like I should probably mention this once more, though I suppose it's redundant... this whole idea that one can somehow weaken the ego before being permanently struck by the force of enlightenment? It’s nothing more than a fairy tale. A bit of a fantasy, really. Is it even possible? Probably not.
The ego... it’s in a constant state of expiration, isn't it? Always dying. It feels like a repetitive cycle, almost exhausting if one thinks about it too long. Does it ever truly stay gone, or is it just waiting for the next moment to resurface? Constant dissolution. Quite curious, really.
And so, the NEW one arrives... regardless of how enlightened you might believe yourself to be.

Is it just rusting away, or is it actually evolving? It’s hard to say, really. But there it sits, laid out with all its vital organs intact.
Temperament remains unchanged. Is it not simply a fixed constant? One wonders if we ever truly move beyond our innate nature, or if we merely learn to mask it behind various social pretenses. It seems, quite frankly, that who we are at our core stays exactly the same.
I recall a time when I was lost in my own little cinematic universe—completely self-absorbed and perpetually gripped by anxiety. I was that person, you know? The one who simply refused to listen to anyone else's input. It was quite a state of being. Interestingly enough, when I finally sat down for a temperament assessment, my "phlegmatic" score came in at a mere 8%. Just a tiny fraction.

Today I find myself playing the role of the "second person," yet the congestion remains absolutely relentless...
Even when my entire worldview shifts... even when behavior patterns start to drift... I remain what I was designed to be. Born. Created. Always, fundamentally, already defined.

For instance, I find myself rarely moved to excitement lately. Others... they don't quite grasp what's happening beneath the surface, my sense of enlightened peace. They see only the stillness. Why should they? 🥳 ...because, honestly, when it comes to the subjects I actually care about, I’m still going to speak my mind—loudly and without any apologies.

As long as I keep moving and evolving, my temperament stays exactly the same. Does anything ever truly change? Or do we just rearrange the furniture while the core remains untouched?
I suppose I am not quite free from the ego just yet. Is that not always the case? One tries to step aside, to let go, only to find the self still lingering in the corner of the room, watching. It’s a persistent thing, isn't it?

Of course, one could simply blend into the crowd of some xy people and spend the rest of their days sitting in a Lotus... but then again? 😂

So... regarding this "problem" I wanted to bring up for discussion...
Is there truly such a thing as final enlightenment? Or some permanent escape from our problems... forever?
So, you can certainly choose to lock yourself away in some sanctuary or temple if that’s your preference... but let’s be honest: that isn't a permanent fix, is it?

When you live among people, you’re constantly bumping into one problem after another. It’s just the nature of things. Anyone claiming they’ve ascended to some level where they sit entirely above life's troubles? They’re lying. Or worse—if that were actually possible, wouldn't it be incredibly bleak? To limit oneself like that... there would be nothing left to learn.
If you find yourself dragging some sort of heavy baggage along everywhere you go... if that weight is constantly riding shotgun... then what you’re calling "problems" aren't actually problems at all. They're just your reality. Is that even a problem? Or is it just life?

Everything was perfectly normal then. Or so it seemed.

So, here is an example:

They’ve been accusing me of being egocentric lately. And then there's this whole business regarding my... let's call it a "closed-off" perspective. A sense of exclusivity, they say. Is that what it is? Or am I just seeing things through a different lens than everyone else? Perhaps. It's all quite curious, really.

Through all of that, there was this one constant, unchanging part of me—this deep-seated hyper-emotionality. It just sat there, right at the core.

I change everything negative... yet she remains exactly as she was. It’s as if her only mission is to refine her flaws—which, in this case, means cultivating an endless capacity for understanding everyone, regardless of how much it costs me.

How does one actually outgrow their own ego? Is there even a roadmap for that, or are we all just wandering blindly through our own delusions? I find myself wondering if it’s possible to truly move past the self, to reach a point where the "I" stops being the center of the universe. Is it an achievement, or more like a quiet surrender?

I am, you jerk.

Well, now I have another one...

It’s this persistent, nagging contrast that keeps weighing on me. I find myself grasping the nuances of people—truly seeing them—yet somehow, they fail to see me. Why is it that the connection always seems to be one-sided? 😂
Not quite so much when it's just the two of us. Because that would imply I’m actually... well, engaging in such activities, and that I am still, somehow, preoccupied with my own self. 😉
Honestly, when I find myself speaking in front of an informal group... well, I know I can't exactly be my full self. I have to leave certain parts of me behind—keep them tucked away—otherwise, their brains might just short-circuit from the weight of my topics. Is that even possible? To truly be known? I suppose I’m far from perfect myself, much like the people I’m talking to.

Now, when I listen... I am listening one hundred percent. Truly. It’s because I’ve learned to follow my intuition—to trust that inner compass—simply because I finally understood what I needed to learn about myself.
I’m starting to see the core essence in everyone...
Of course, I can’t interpret them as distinct individuals—it's not like I have psychic powers—but I perceive this underlying essence that defies description.
And then people start giving me grief because they notice how ten different people around me all perceive my own essence in ten completely different ways.
It’s all quite disorienting... perhaps if I actually paid attention to the thread title, I’d realize there is no such thing as liberation. 😉

It’s like that old saying, "accept what you cannot change."

That really is the hardest lesson to learn...
Once you finish balancing the books with your ego, you're left with the task of meeting your true essence and finally accepting it.

There isn't a single soul out there who doesn't feel at least a flicker of shame regarding their true self; that's where the lack of freedom begins.
You don't necessarily need to develop a complex about your ego, but in the end, that raw essence is what remains.
It's that feeling—that sudden hair-raising sensation when someone crosses a line into your private intimacy. No one can put a clinical label on it like a psychological complex, yet it's undeniably there.

The true self is immutable... and one must learn how to live with it.
That is what enlightenment actually is, rather than all those spiritual textbooks or "gadgets designed to assist astral projection." 😂😂

I had a bit of a vision today involving that old Asclepius staff.
But it wasn't straight.

Everything was twisted—both the staff and the serpent...

It strikes me as quite profound, really: the eternal transformation of the ephemeral.

They used to depict it similarly to Zeus, though with Asclepius, there were always those snakes; because they shed their skin, they served as symbols of rejuvenation. It was especially revered back in Asheville, over in North Carolina. Its festivals were held just a day before the Dionysian celebrations.

Anthony Watson24 said:Inspired by the theme of reconciliation following a genocide, I want to hear what you philosophers here think about this topic.
I’ve read that "reconciliation" is a philosophical concept falling under practical philosophy (specifically regarding reconciliation and forgiveness). I haven't been able to find much on it from a purely philosophical perspective in the library—if anyone has a good book recommendation, please let me know.

Now, consider the dilemma of reconciliation. Take the case of Rwanda: a man loses his wife and three children in a genocide, and now his former killer lives right next door. The system expects him to forgive his enemy and reach out for reconciliation. This also implies that in Rwanda, the killer won't face traditional local justice.Instead, he will be forgiven because forgiveness is considered fundamental to reconciliation in Rwanda and serves to prevent future genocides. Of course, the killer must admit to his crimes and can then be pardoned.

Under this principle, true justice isn't served since the killer isn't punished. So, does this mean that forgiveness and justice are mutually exclusive? Is it actually possible for justice and reconciliation to coexist, or does justice inherently preclude reconciliation?

In my view, the very concept of "justice" is incredibly murky.

It’s always defined by just one side, based on their own specific standards or simply whatever the majority decides is right, so.... 🤷

I’ve come to the conclusion that everyone has their own personal nigredo.
Of course, it doesn't necessarily result in "special effects" for everyone—let’s call them that—in the form of some grand catharsis. But the outcome is always the same: improvement, and finally stepping onto the right path.

What I’m curious about is this albedo stage we touched upon. It sounds fascinating to me; I assume it’s the dawn of the soul? It’s a concept that has always captivated me... I spent so much time waiting for that moment. We usually only recognize an experience once we've already lived through it, but that idea of the "soul's dawn" fascinated me immediately following my own nigredo. I began noticing the word "dawn" appearing everywhere—not even in spiritual texts, just in literature, music, photography... and I knew mine was coming.

And I suppose it's nearly impossible to truly DEFINE things of this nature...
I think I'll go Google if there's more on this, though if anyone else feels inclined to expand the discussion toward rubedo and albedo... I'd love that.🎉

Earlier today, I was reading a thread where someone mentioned that the devil resides in the spine—not in a physical sense, but as an energetic one.

It might actually make sense if we compare it to this topic... specifically, once you move into the throat chakra, above the spine... the nigredo—that fear of the devil—simply ceases to exist.

Is that a fair parallel? 😈

I used to feel that way myself... until I eventually realized it was all just a bit much

The truth is, you aren't actually settling for less; you simply refuse to settle for people who don't meet your standards, even if it feels like luck isn't on your side lately.
There really isn't a complex situation out there that we haven't manufactured ourselves, is there? We tend to gravitate toward certain types of people—people our intuition immediately CATEGORIZES as either incredibly simple or impossibly complicated.

In the end, everyone finds exactly what they are looking for.

And regarding this mental fog... I'm not joking here.

It’s quite simple, really. When you brush against the beyond—and I mean via the "wrong" way (though perhaps there is no wrong way, at least not on the PATH we are discussing...)—your very foundations begin to erode.
The thoughts linger, certainly, but they lose all grip on reality.
In fact, madness is born precisely from the attempt to rationalize it.

When a person finds themselves amidst such phenomena, the brain instinctively weaves a narrative... an automatic defense mechanism just to survive.
But in truth? There is nothing there.

Yet, I suppose that is simply the price of clarity.

The more you pay, the more music you get, wouldn't you agree?

Andrew Sanchez572 said:I was just about to bring up Nigredo—Jung actually spent quite a bit of time exploring those specific concepts. You have to view Nigredo as that initial stage of spiritual growth; it’s essentially a process of decay, where you strip away the coarsest material aspects of yourself (much like the scorpion or the Death card in tarot). From there, you move toward Rubedo, eventually reaching the final state of Albedo 🙂

Nigredo seems straightforward enough... clearly that's what we're discussing here.

But could you elaborate on Rubedo and Albedo? I've had at least four other significant experiences following this, and they weren't Nigredo by any stretch of the imagination.😍 So, I'm curious...

Does it perhaps have anything to do with a breakup? It almost certainly does.
The past, the present, and then "the future."

That’s the whole thing, guaranteed.

casualtiger2 said:Yes, casualtiger2, please do elaborate 🙂. I have some familiarity with the concept of the "Dark Night of the Soul," but I don't quite see how it relates specifically to that energetic shift...

Nov 24, 2008 - This is such a fascinating subject that it really deserves its own dedicated thread...

Yes, casualtiger2, please do elaborate 🙂. I have some familiarity with the concept of the "Dark Night of the Soul," but I don't quite see how it relates specifically to that energetic shift...

Nov 24, 2008 - This is such a fascinating subject that it really deserves its own dedicated thread...
Unfortunately, I can't speak from personal experience—every Crisis I've dealt with so far has been pretty surface-level.
The Dark Night of the Soul is likely just another version of that—a crisis occurring when you shift from one level of consciousness to the next.
In Christian terms, Saint John of the Cross describes it as Dark Night of the Soul.

You can find similar ideas in this book, where the author references Assagioli—he was basically the pioneer of transpersonal psychology and focused heavily on spiritual crises and stages of development.

And here’s a more modern, and honestly quite authentic, description of the process (it's all in German, unfortunately, and my translation skills are non-existent).

It’s essentially that moment where Jesus cries out during a crisis, "My God, why have you forsaken me?" The old personality has dissolved, but God hasn't taken His place in the soul yet—so the person is left "alone" in the "darkness." Probably a pretty brutal experience.
1. initiation—moving from the root to the sacrum
2. from the sacrum to the navel
3. from the navel to the solar plexus
4. from the solar plexus to the throat (which would correspond to the crucifixion)
Each of these transitions brings its own share of crises, pain, and joy.
At the heart level, we're still working on personal achievement, which tends to be pretty unstable.
Throat energies align with devotion to the divine—that feeling of being moved, awestruck, or stunned by the mystery of life; that's what we feel right in that center.
Unfortunately, I can't speak from personal experience—every Crisis I've dealt with so far has been pretty surface-level.
The Dark Night of the Soul is likely just another version of that—a crisis occurring when you shift from one level of consciousness to the next.
In Christian terms, Saint John of the Cross describes it as Dark Night of the Soul.

You can find similar ideas in this book, where the author references Assagioli—he was basically the pioneer of transpersonal psychology and focused heavily on spiritual crises and stages of development.

And here’s a more modern, and honestly quite authentic, description of the process (it's all in German, unfortunately, and my translation skills are non-existent).

It’s essentially that moment where Jesus cries out during a crisis, "My God, why have you forsaken me?" The old personality has dissolved, but God hasn't taken His place in the soul yet—so the person is left "alone" in the "darkness." Probably a pretty brutal experience.
1. initiation—moving from the root to the sacrum
2. from the sacrum to the navel
3. from the navel to the solar plexus
4. from the solar plexus to the throat (which would correspond to the crucifixion)
Each of these transitions brings its own share of crises, pain, and joy.
At the heart level, we're still working on personal achievement, which tends to be pretty unstable.
Throat energies align with devotion to the divine—that feeling of being moved, awestruck, or stunned by the mystery of life; that's what we feel right in that center.

Could you please clarify what the root is... oh wait... chakras 😕

@volver: from "no longer" to "not yet" .... an interesting description

I couldn't define these transitions... because I'm trying to force them now... trying to make them fit... and I honestly haven't a clue if it happened during that brief, turbulent period or if it's a longer process... though I suspect it's a short window.. a Calvary

But I certainly remember those dark nights... it happened even after I had emerged from the darkness... specifically, it occurred and I was flooded with peace... and then, completely unexpectedly, I woke up that night feeling... Satan (not in human form, just the sensation)...

I have never felt more humbled

It's curious how we don't actively seek to play games with demons and have them play back with us... we assume it's only "bad" people who do that... but fears and such... Satan thrives on those, and we all have them, more or less😉

It all feels so long ago now.....

Dammit, everything looks beautiful once it's passed😂

p.s.

I don't know, perhaps a day or two fall under that..... and for me, maybe the week before that too🤣

Or is that the transition........... ....hmm, I actually felt that "sacrum" for the first time about two weeks prior

Well, in that case, I could say my Dark Night lasted two weeks

I love conclusions
bullet points 😍

p.s.2

I also have my own term, "the morning of the spirit"😁

Could someone please explain their vision of the "great nothingness" after death to me? And please, leave all the Buddhist teachings and whatnot out of it

As much as I find the idea of rolling meadows and fountains a bit surreal, it feels just as strange to think that someone could be absolutely certain there’s nothing waiting on the other side
For me, the only certainty is that the mind itself doesn't simply vanish... though who's to say if the entire psyche dies? If we consider the part of the mind serving consciousness—that pure, raw WILL—then to me, that seems entirely eternal

?

I’m not particularly interested in discussing what happens after death, or things like past lives... that feels more like organized religion to me.

But regarding life itself... I’ve come to feel that true spirituality exists in total opposition to living. Because life is inherently, necessarily "messy."

And honestly? I don't even want that kind of spirituality. Is there anything less spiritual than craving absolute detachment, or longing for death while you're still alive?
If one were to live life in a constant trance, kept at arm's length, there would be no lessons left to learn. No real growth.

That doesn't mean those things shouldn't happen, of course; it just means I’ve chosen to stay present rather than retreat.

For instance, it’s quite frustrating when my current hormonal cycle feels much stronger than my spirit... when I'm feeling completely overwhelmed, when in reality, I just need a good night's sleep.🤣
A life without these shifts would be abnormal, frankly unthinkable.

There isn't a greater spiritual experience than, say, finding yourself doing things you never actually believed you were capable of doing.
And that is achieved through living, not by locking yourself away in a monastery or sitting in a lotus position for ten hours a day.

That’s how I experience it too, though perhaps it shouldn't be phrased quite so bluntly 🙏

wiredcanyon6 said:@mistybison
I think I get what you're asking. My take is pretty simple: that sounds like Buddhism. They see breaking the cycle of birth and death and merging with God as the ultimate goal. But through my own research, I've realized that isn't the end game for me. Merging with a formless, omnipresent energy means losing your individuality and personality too. To me, that just feels like another way the ego tries to maintain control.
The nature of living beings is to want and to act. Like my guru used to say, I believe people eventually return to the material world to keep growing.
This creation exists so there’s room for every desire... which includes the possibility of merging with Him. But true liberation, at least how I see it, is being freed from the false ego, the fruits of your actions, and selfishness by knowing His personal form. That way, you can escape reincarnation while still entering a spiritual dimension where your character keeps evolving... where you can want and act without limits or conditions, other than love itself.
The Tao Te Ching is a great guide for breaking karmic cycles and such, but its ultimate purpose is debatable for the individual. So... just keep reading, exploring, and thinking. I have a feeling you'll find the answers you're looking for when the time is right.
Pranam

We will never truly grasp what it is like "there" while we remain here, and in a sense, is it even 😉 worth pondering? What we feel within our own spiritual realms is beautiful; and it is beautiful because it is connected to Him.. so nothing bad could possibly be waiting for us there ☕

driftingraven122 said:Enlightened Teddy Bear 😁

There aren't any voids regarding existence, non-existence, or nothingness—I guess. It’s just that, momentarily, the diversity gets lost along with the entity observing the "infinite contents." And that's really the only ultimate way to grasp those "infinite contents"—it isn't an either-or situation, maybe.

end of question😁

amberbadger8 said:..so, is life itself absurd?

Susan Kim18 said:...well, isn't it?

I don't know. Is there even much to say? Perhaps not. I find myself wondering if we are all just circling the same drain, waiting for a sign that never comes. Or maybe we are simply looking in the wrong direction entirely. Who can truly say? It seems a bit futile to dwell on it too long, doesn't it? Just more noise in an already crowded room. The user says:
Perhaps from our perspective—given that certain inherent dose of pessimism we carry around—it feels that way. But I suspect you sense it isn't quite like that. Is it possible? 🙂

😍

She’s right. 😉

Pessimism doesn't actually stem from absurdity... rather, it comes from the expectation that there is some inherent meaning waiting to be found—which, let’s face it, you aren't going to find.

Absurdity is a bit like a jigsaw puzzle... you piece together something grotesque, and yet, there is a certain fascination in it. Truth shouldn't be a source of sorrow, nor should the absurd. When things feel heavy or depressing, isn't it just because we are clinging to illusions?

I don't know... I suppose I find myself dwelling on this topic as well.

I have a certain sense of how this might unfold... and I certainly wouldn't say it requires a total shutdown.
It all depends on how you define a deity, or even a creator... does it?
If the Creator fashioned you in His own image and "loves" you... then consciousness becomes everything. If consciousness is the ultimate reality, don't you think you eventually transcend into that state? And once you're there, isn't it true that you simply manifest whatever you desire?
Is death merely an act of imagination? A concept we conjure up to make sense of the void? One wonders if we are simply dreaming ourselves into non-existence. It is a curious thought, isn't it? To consider that what we perceive as the ultimate finality might just be a trick of the mind—a mental construct rather than a physical certainty. Is it possible that our consciousness creates the very end it fears? Perhaps. Or perhaps we are just overthinking the inevitable. 😉
I suppose I’m an optimist, though I can't help but feel that life itself is fundamentally absurd. Is there even a point? Perhaps not.
That is precisely why I am doing this. No amount of absurdity has managed to break me, nor has any shock left me paralyzed. It simply doesn't work on me.

One ought to strive toward being a more primal sort of person, I think. Not in the sense of physical savagery, of course—that would be quite uncivilized—but rather in the cultivation of one's own inner wildness. To nurture that specific, untamed side of the soul... a true free spirit. Is that not what we are all searching for?

Mark Torres14 said:Does consciousness, regardless of where it comes from, need to have similar or identical characteristics to even qualify as consciousness?
If so, then the whole "I think, therefore I am" thing still holds water.🤷
☕

I am not suggesting that having an opinion isn't a hallmark of a conscious, living being... but rather, that thought is what gives rise to these rigid CATEGORIES. Categories that exist only in our perception. Is it not more real—more fundamentally true—to focus on the sensation of what I am chewing or the scent in the air than on the act of thinking? In terms of rationalization, I mean. Thought is often just a layer we add over reality.