Posts by Anthony Rivera17

Noah Sanchez7 said:I won't berate you; I'm just going to talk this through with you, son. 😉
I’m going to take this apart piece by piece, paragraph by paragraph, until your whole theory falls apart. A tripod has more stability than that.
First off, marijuana isn't some synthetic chemical, though it does contain THC. No one invented THC or cooked it up in a lab; it’s been around just as long as humanity itself, if not longer.
Everything we eat contains various substances, like lycopene, and each one plays its own specific role in how our bodies function. 😍That’s exactly how it should be. God doesn't make mistakes.
Your theory—which seems to be the current consensus among governments worldwide and, unfortunately, most people—is that substances affecting the physical body are useful and necessary (not all of them, obviously), while anything that touches the psyche, the soul, or the spirit is considered harmful and should be banned, destroyed, and the users arrested or even beaten.
What else can I say besides, forgive them God, for they know not what they do? If you take even a moment to look closer, you'll see how upside down everything in this world really is. It’s all backwards.
I figured that out back when I was fifteen. It cost me quite a few gray hairs before I finally realized that on a global scale, our spiritual evolution has only just begun—up until now, it’s mostly been about physical progress. It’s really just a matter of time before everything falls into place.
A little something.
I'm as certain about what I'm saying as I am that I have five fingers on my left (and right) hands. And I'm just as sure that you're wrong.
I’m not trying to talk myself up here—don't get me wrong—it's just the reality of it. I think I might just be an old soul compared to you, that's all.
Look, you’re starting to build this argument based on some pretty narrow, old-school conservative scientific viewpoint.
I have several different sources of information on this topic, but I trust my own experience above all else—which mostly involved a lot of trial and error through self-experimentation.
THC definitely has a specific effect, and one of its main manifestations is heightened sensory perception—unless, of course, you’ve never actually tried it. My logic is that by sharpening the senses, we're taking in more information and sensations, which essentially trains the brain to handle atypical situations. It's like a workout where you aren't building biceps, but rather strengthening the brain itself.
Bodybuilders can obviously lift heavier weights than non-bodybuilders, so there’s really nothing negative about that.
Then you have religions, like the Rastafarians, who use marijuana as a tool to reach truth or enlightenment, or whatever you want to call it. Bob Marley was probably the most famous representative of the Rastafarian movement, and I think it’s pretty redundant to comment on what kind of man he was.
Indian hemp originates from India. Indian religion—or philosophy, if you prefer—is perhaps the closest thing to the truth; it’s also quite psychedelic, which makes me wonder if they leaned into it a little too hard. 😛
I heard somewhere (though I don't know if it's true) that even the Bible mentions marijuana as a plant that boosts intelligence. Personally, I think Jesus smoked.
Native Americans, who mastered many disciplines that we still respect today, used herbs as frequently as an average American smoker uses cigarettes nowadays.
Not to mention the Mayans, or maybe even earlier civilizations.
What were Native Americans like? I don't know everything, but I know they were at least peaceful, and I believe they followed ethical codes at least three times more strictly than we do today.
And the Rastafarians? They are "Peace Brothers." Just take it easy. Isn't that enough?
As for the "India" crowd, I won't even go there. Deep meditation. Maybe they were the ones who invented skanking?! 😁
Finally, I know what I become when I get high. In an era where mere existence has taken priority over the meaning of life, weed, by its very nature, isn't just a "friend"—it can be a savior, provided you are incredibly strong.
Weed, "likely" due to heightened senses, made me a more sensitive being,
which implies empathy and many other naturally good qualities, though from a superficial modern perspective, weed made me a weaker being. That is why
I say it's all a paradox. You need the strength to avoid blindly following the "masses" and instead remain true to your own critically acquired knowledge.
That's when the whole "me against the world" thing starts; whoever pulls that off, more power to them.

Humanity has made great progress, but regarding consciousness and awareness, it feels like we've been walking a path of reverse evolution.

I'm inviting everyone to learn, or if they can't, to trust those who actually know, rather than everyone making up their own stories and creating confusion that produces nothing new, leaving the status quo unchanged. I believe this is for the ultimate benefit of everyone on this planet.

I wouldn't go that far... I think a more accurate way to describe the state's agenda would be "substance"...
What could actually provide people with genuine support without spiraling into addiction... those are the things we need to stop prioritizing...
The market, much like those independent dealers operating outside the reach of federal oversight, continues to find its own ways of profiting...
"Getting everything just for oneself"... because, let's be honest, do you really think the government isn't pulling the strings behind the scenes...
The connection between those shady deals involving hard drugs? I am absolutely certain it’s happening, and frankly, the profit margins on that kind of business are impossible to ignore...
The scale of these deals is staggering... drugs have become an absolute necessity in today's society because they provide...
People seem content to live in this state of perpetual "satisfaction," regardless of whether they are completely wasted...
Or perhaps they simply lean on those substances as stimulants... most of the news coverage we see regarding the matter...
The whole spectacle surrounding those massive drug seizures... it’s nothing more than a calculated distraction designed to pull the public's attention away from what's actually happening, or perhaps just a way to keep us from looking too closely at the real players...
The competition... those who actually had the audacity to operate outside the lines of control...

Noah Sanchez7 said:I won't berate you; I'm just going to talk this through with you, son. 😉
I’m going to take this apart piece by piece, paragraph by paragraph, until your whole theory falls apart. A tripod has more stability than that.
First off, marijuana isn't some synthetic chemical, though it does contain THC. No one invented THC or cooked it up in a lab; it’s been around just as long as humanity itself, if not longer.
Everything we eat contains various substances, like lycopene, and each one plays its own specific role in how our bodies function. 😍That’s exactly how it should be. God doesn't make mistakes.
Your theory—which seems to be the current consensus among governments worldwide and, unfortunately, most people—is that substances affecting the physical body are useful and necessary (not all of them, obviously), while anything that touches the psyche, the soul, or the spirit is considered harmful and should be banned, destroyed, and the users arrested or even beaten.
What else can I say besides, forgive them God, for they know not what they do? If you take even a moment to look closer, you'll see how upside down everything in this world really is. It’s all backwards.
I figured that out back when I was fifteen. It cost me quite a few gray hairs before I finally realized that on a global scale, our spiritual evolution has only just begun—up until now, it’s mostly been about physical progress. It’s really just a matter of time before everything falls into place.
A little something.
I'm as certain about what I'm saying as I am that I have five fingers on my left (and right) hands. And I'm just as sure that you're wrong.
I’m not trying to talk myself up here—don't get me wrong—it's just the reality of it. I think I might just be an old soul compared to you, that's all.
Look, you’re starting to build this argument based on some pretty narrow, old-school conservative scientific viewpoint.
I have several different sources of information on this topic, but I trust my own experience above all else—which mostly involved a lot of trial and error through self-experimentation.
THC definitely has a specific effect, and one of its main manifestations is heightened sensory perception—unless, of course, you’ve never actually tried it. My logic is that by sharpening the senses, we're taking in more information and sensations, which essentially trains the brain to handle atypical situations. It's like a workout where you aren't building biceps, but rather strengthening the brain itself.
Bodybuilders can obviously lift heavier weights than non-bodybuilders, so there’s really nothing negative about that.
Then you have religions, like the Rastafarians, who use marijuana as a tool to reach truth or enlightenment, or whatever you want to call it. Bob Marley was probably the most famous representative of the Rastafarian movement, and I think it’s pretty redundant to comment on what kind of man he was.
Indian hemp originates from India. Indian religion—or philosophy, if you prefer—is perhaps the closest thing to the truth; it’s also quite psychedelic, which makes me wonder if they leaned into it a little too hard. 😛
I heard somewhere (though I don't know if it's true) that even the Bible mentions marijuana as a plant that boosts intelligence. Personally, I think Jesus smoked.
Native Americans, who mastered many disciplines that we still respect today, used herbs as frequently as an average American smoker uses cigarettes nowadays.
Not to mention the Mayans, or maybe even earlier civilizations.
What were Native Americans like? I don't know everything, but I know they were at least peaceful, and I believe they followed ethical codes at least three times more strictly than we do today.
And the Rastafarians? They are "Peace Brothers." Just take it easy. Isn't that enough?
As for the "India" crowd, I won't even go there. Deep meditation. Maybe they were the ones who invented skanking?! 😁
Finally, I know what I become when I get high. In an era where mere existence has taken priority over the meaning of life, weed, by its very nature, isn't just a "friend"—it can be a savior, provided you are incredibly strong.
Weed, "likely" due to heightened senses, made me a more sensitive being,
which implies empathy and many other naturally good qualities, though from a superficial modern perspective, weed made me a weaker being. That is why
I say it's all a paradox. You need the strength to avoid blindly following the "masses" and instead remain true to your own critically acquired knowledge.
That's when the whole "me against the world" thing starts; whoever pulls that off, more power to them.

Humanity has made great progress, but regarding consciousness and awareness, it feels like we've been walking a path of reverse evolution.

I'm inviting everyone to learn, or if they can't, to trust those who actually know, rather than everyone making up their own stories and creating confusion that produces nothing new, leaving the status quo unchanged. I believe this is for the ultimate benefit of everyone on this planet.

He definitely smoked, if not more, considering he spent a full seventeen years in India...

Noah Sanchez7 said:I won't berate you; I'm just going to talk this through with you, son. 😉
I’m going to take this apart piece by piece, paragraph by paragraph, until your whole theory falls apart. A tripod has more stability than that.
First off, marijuana isn't some synthetic chemical, though it does contain THC. No one invented THC or cooked it up in a lab; it’s been around just as long as humanity itself, if not longer.
Everything we eat contains various substances, like lycopene, and each one plays its own specific role in how our bodies function. 😍That’s exactly how it should be. God doesn't make mistakes.
Your theory—which seems to be the current consensus among governments worldwide and, unfortunately, most people—is that substances affecting the physical body are useful and necessary (not all of them, obviously), while anything that touches the psyche, the soul, or the spirit is considered harmful and should be banned, destroyed, and the users arrested or even beaten.
What else can I say besides, forgive them God, for they know not what they do? If you take even a moment to look closer, you'll see how upside down everything in this world really is. It’s all backwards.
I figured that out back when I was fifteen. It cost me quite a few gray hairs before I finally realized that on a global scale, our spiritual evolution has only just begun—up until now, it’s mostly been about physical progress. It’s really just a matter of time before everything falls into place.
A little something.
I'm as certain about what I'm saying as I am that I have five fingers on my left (and right) hands. And I'm just as sure that you're wrong.
I’m not trying to talk myself up here—don't get me wrong—it's just the reality of it. I think I might just be an old soul compared to you, that's all.
Look, you’re starting to build this argument based on some pretty narrow, old-school conservative scientific viewpoint.
I have several different sources of information on this topic, but I trust my own experience above all else—which mostly involved a lot of trial and error through self-experimentation.
THC definitely has a specific effect, and one of its main manifestations is heightened sensory perception—unless, of course, you’ve never actually tried it. My logic is that by sharpening the senses, we're taking in more information and sensations, which essentially trains the brain to handle atypical situations. It's like a workout where you aren't building biceps, but rather strengthening the brain itself.
Bodybuilders can obviously lift heavier weights than non-bodybuilders, so there’s really nothing negative about that.
Then you have religions, like the Rastafarians, who use marijuana as a tool to reach truth or enlightenment, or whatever you want to call it. Bob Marley was probably the most famous representative of the Rastafarian movement, and I think it’s pretty redundant to comment on what kind of man he was.
Indian hemp originates from India. Indian religion—or philosophy, if you prefer—is perhaps the closest thing to the truth; it’s also quite psychedelic, which makes me wonder if they leaned into it a little too hard. 😛
I heard somewhere (though I don't know if it's true) that even the Bible mentions marijuana as a plant that boosts intelligence. Personally, I think Jesus smoked.
Native Americans, who mastered many disciplines that we still respect today, used herbs as frequently as an average American smoker uses cigarettes nowadays.
Not to mention the Mayans, or maybe even earlier civilizations.
What were Native Americans like? I don't know everything, but I know they were at least peaceful, and I believe they followed ethical codes at least three times more strictly than we do today.
And the Rastafarians? They are "Peace Brothers." Just take it easy. Isn't that enough?
As for the "India" crowd, I won't even go there. Deep meditation. Maybe they were the ones who invented skanking?! 😁
Finally, I know what I become when I get high. In an era where mere existence has taken priority over the meaning of life, weed, by its very nature, isn't just a "friend"—it can be a savior, provided you are incredibly strong.
Weed, "likely" due to heightened senses, made me a more sensitive being,
which implies empathy and many other naturally good qualities, though from a superficial modern perspective, weed made me a weaker being. That is why
I say it's all a paradox. You need the strength to avoid blindly following the "masses" and instead remain true to your own critically acquired knowledge.
That's when the whole "me against the world" thing starts; whoever pulls that off, more power to them.

Humanity has made great progress, but regarding consciousness and awareness, it feels like we've been walking a path of reverse evolution.

I'm inviting everyone to learn, or if they can't, to trust those who actually know, rather than everyone making up their own stories and creating confusion that produces nothing new, leaving the status quo unchanged. I believe this is for the ultimate benefit of everyone on this planet.

The motto of the wise and the strong is: "SHOW YOUR WEAKNESS TO HIDE YOUR STRENGTH"

Noah Sanchez7 said:I won't berate you; I'm just going to talk this through with you, son. 😉
I’m going to take this apart piece by piece, paragraph by paragraph, until your whole theory falls apart. A tripod has more stability than that.
First off, marijuana isn't some synthetic chemical, though it does contain THC. No one invented THC or cooked it up in a lab; it’s been around just as long as humanity itself, if not longer.
Everything we eat contains various substances, like lycopene, and each one plays its own specific role in how our bodies function. 😍That’s exactly how it should be. God doesn't make mistakes.
Your theory—which seems to be the current consensus among governments worldwide and, unfortunately, most people—is that substances affecting the physical body are useful and necessary (not all of them, obviously), while anything that touches the psyche, the soul, or the spirit is considered harmful and should be banned, destroyed, and the users arrested or even beaten.
What else can I say besides, forgive them God, for they know not what they do? If you take even a moment to look closer, you'll see how upside down everything in this world really is. It’s all backwards.
I figured that out back when I was fifteen. It cost me quite a few gray hairs before I finally realized that on a global scale, our spiritual evolution has only just begun—up until now, it’s mostly been about physical progress. It’s really just a matter of time before everything falls into place.
A little something.
I'm as certain about what I'm saying as I am that I have five fingers on my left (and right) hands. And I'm just as sure that you're wrong.
I’m not trying to talk myself up here—don't get me wrong—it's just the reality of it. I think I might just be an old soul compared to you, that's all.
Look, you’re starting to build this argument based on some pretty narrow, old-school conservative scientific viewpoint.
I have several different sources of information on this topic, but I trust my own experience above all else—which mostly involved a lot of trial and error through self-experimentation.
THC definitely has a specific effect, and one of its main manifestations is heightened sensory perception—unless, of course, you’ve never actually tried it. My logic is that by sharpening the senses, we're taking in more information and sensations, which essentially trains the brain to handle atypical situations. It's like a workout where you aren't building biceps, but rather strengthening the brain itself.
Bodybuilders can obviously lift heavier weights than non-bodybuilders, so there’s really nothing negative about that.
Then you have religions, like the Rastafarians, who use marijuana as a tool to reach truth or enlightenment, or whatever you want to call it. Bob Marley was probably the most famous representative of the Rastafarian movement, and I think it’s pretty redundant to comment on what kind of man he was.
Indian hemp originates from India. Indian religion—or philosophy, if you prefer—is perhaps the closest thing to the truth; it’s also quite psychedelic, which makes me wonder if they leaned into it a little too hard. 😛
I heard somewhere (though I don't know if it's true) that even the Bible mentions marijuana as a plant that boosts intelligence. Personally, I think Jesus smoked.
Native Americans, who mastered many disciplines that we still respect today, used herbs as frequently as an average American smoker uses cigarettes nowadays.
Not to mention the Mayans, or maybe even earlier civilizations.
What were Native Americans like? I don't know everything, but I know they were at least peaceful, and I believe they followed ethical codes at least three times more strictly than we do today.
And the Rastafarians? They are "Peace Brothers." Just take it easy. Isn't that enough?
As for the "India" crowd, I won't even go there. Deep meditation. Maybe they were the ones who invented skanking?! 😁
Finally, I know what I become when I get high. In an era where mere existence has taken priority over the meaning of life, weed, by its very nature, isn't just a "friend"—it can be a savior, provided you are incredibly strong.
Weed, "likely" due to heightened senses, made me a more sensitive being,
which implies empathy and many other naturally good qualities, though from a superficial modern perspective, weed made me a weaker being. That is why
I say it's all a paradox. You need the strength to avoid blindly following the "masses" and instead remain true to your own critically acquired knowledge.
That's when the whole "me against the world" thing starts; whoever pulls that off, more power to them.

Humanity has made great progress, but regarding consciousness and awareness, it feels like we've been walking a path of reverse evolution.

I'm inviting everyone to learn, or if they can't, to trust those who actually know, rather than everyone making up their own stories and creating confusion that produces nothing new, leaving the status quo unchanged. I believe this is for the ultimate benefit of everyone on this planet.

🧐

Noah Sanchez7 said:I won't berate you; I'm just going to talk this through with you, son. 😉
I’m going to take this apart piece by piece, paragraph by paragraph, until your whole theory falls apart. A tripod has more stability than that.
First off, marijuana isn't some synthetic chemical, though it does contain THC. No one invented THC or cooked it up in a lab; it’s been around just as long as humanity itself, if not longer.
Everything we eat contains various substances, like lycopene, and each one plays its own specific role in how our bodies function. 😍That’s exactly how it should be. God doesn't make mistakes.
Your theory—which seems to be the current consensus among governments worldwide and, unfortunately, most people—is that substances affecting the physical body are useful and necessary (not all of them, obviously), while anything that touches the psyche, the soul, or the spirit is considered harmful and should be banned, destroyed, and the users arrested or even beaten.
What else can I say besides, forgive them God, for they know not what they do? If you take even a moment to look closer, you'll see how upside down everything in this world really is. It’s all backwards.
I figured that out back when I was fifteen. It cost me quite a few gray hairs before I finally realized that on a global scale, our spiritual evolution has only just begun—up until now, it’s mostly been about physical progress. It’s really just a matter of time before everything falls into place.
A little something.
I'm as certain about what I'm saying as I am that I have five fingers on my left (and right) hands. And I'm just as sure that you're wrong.
I’m not trying to talk myself up here—don't get me wrong—it's just the reality of it. I think I might just be an old soul compared to you, that's all.
Look, you’re starting to build this argument based on some pretty narrow, old-school conservative scientific viewpoint.
I have several different sources of information on this topic, but I trust my own experience above all else—which mostly involved a lot of trial and error through self-experimentation.
THC definitely has a specific effect, and one of its main manifestations is heightened sensory perception—unless, of course, you’ve never actually tried it. My logic is that by sharpening the senses, we're taking in more information and sensations, which essentially trains the brain to handle atypical situations. It's like a workout where you aren't building biceps, but rather strengthening the brain itself.
Bodybuilders can obviously lift heavier weights than non-bodybuilders, so there’s really nothing negative about that.
Then you have religions, like the Rastafarians, who use marijuana as a tool to reach truth or enlightenment, or whatever you want to call it. Bob Marley was probably the most famous representative of the Rastafarian movement, and I think it’s pretty redundant to comment on what kind of man he was.
Indian hemp originates from India. Indian religion—or philosophy, if you prefer—is perhaps the closest thing to the truth; it’s also quite psychedelic, which makes me wonder if they leaned into it a little too hard. 😛
I heard somewhere (though I don't know if it's true) that even the Bible mentions marijuana as a plant that boosts intelligence. Personally, I think Jesus smoked.
Native Americans, who mastered many disciplines that we still respect today, used herbs as frequently as an average American smoker uses cigarettes nowadays.
Not to mention the Mayans, or maybe even earlier civilizations.
What were Native Americans like? I don't know everything, but I know they were at least peaceful, and I believe they followed ethical codes at least three times more strictly than we do today.
And the Rastafarians? They are "Peace Brothers." Just take it easy. Isn't that enough?
As for the "India" crowd, I won't even go there. Deep meditation. Maybe they were the ones who invented skanking?! 😁
Finally, I know what I become when I get high. In an era where mere existence has taken priority over the meaning of life, weed, by its very nature, isn't just a "friend"—it can be a savior, provided you are incredibly strong.
Weed, "likely" due to heightened senses, made me a more sensitive being,
which implies empathy and many other naturally good qualities, though from a superficial modern perspective, weed made me a weaker being. That is why
I say it's all a paradox. You need the strength to avoid blindly following the "masses" and instead remain true to your own critically acquired knowledge.
That's when the whole "me against the world" thing starts; whoever pulls that off, more power to them.

Humanity has made great progress, but regarding consciousness and awareness, it feels like we've been walking a path of reverse evolution.

I'm inviting everyone to learn, or if they can't, to trust those who actually know, rather than everyone making up their own stories and creating confusion that produces nothing new, leaving the status quo unchanged. I believe this is for the ultimate benefit of everyone on this planet.

If only the status quo were actually staying put... unfortunately, things seem to be trending downward in that regard
and in plenty of other ways too, which makes it quite interesting how DRUGS are used specifically to
"blur" reality for the masses... and I’m not talking about anything natural
but rather the kinds that systematically degrade the quality of human life, including media brainwashing
via TV shows and movies, and the manufactured DESIRE
for material possessions, which is elevated to one of the most valued human
traits... they are all forms of drugs, and they're incredibly dangerous because they breed ADDICTION...

casualwolf12 said:Honestly, I didn't think I'd ever encounter an article quite this blatantly biased in my lifetime...
But then again, why should I be surprised? Given the current social climate, this kind of rhetoric—this outright denial of systemic issues—is exactly what thrives. It’s all part of the effort to continue peddling this myth of America as some flawless "land of opportunity" where poverty simply doesn't exist if you just work hard enough...

"it's called the american dream cause you have to be ASLEEP to believe it"

http://it.youtube.com/watch?v=2nvbetio4fI

If anyone here still hasn't grasped how all this absolute garbage came to be, I am imploring you
to actually educate yourselves, because this isn't just an American issue—it's the dominant trend in almost
every society currently existing on this planet... to make your search a little easier:

http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...24550497129264

For a more extensive analysis of the "current state" and the historical facts behind how we arrived at this point:

Right now, I find it "interesting" to track these familiar, recycled economic manipulations:

casualowl1 said:Man, there's so much to unpack there! "Progress" is such a loaded term. It really all just depends on how you look at things.

I am not entirely sure what perspective you are operating from, but it seems to me that your focus has narrowed exclusively toward them...
He uses what essentially amounts to a direct byproduct of "progress"... but my focus lies elsewhere...
Everything we truly need to survive is slowly unraveling, and honestly, it’s all just slipping through our fingers...
The standard of living for the average individual continues to erode, steadily sliding toward a future defined by an ever-widening chasm between the ultra-wealthy elite and everyone else...
Just more of the same idiocy from people cut from the exact same cloth... It’s a grim tale regarding the erosion of human liberty...
Equality and parity... coming from those who wouldn't have the slightest clue what to actually do with wealth if it were ever placed in their hands...
They sit there clutching hundreds of millions while people of the exact same kind are starving to death... it’s just senseless...
Don't kid yourself about any kind of real progress... there is only that supposed "advancement" which will eventually...
It’s all going to cost us dearly... perhaps not even us, but the generations that follow will certainly pay the price...
We might just end up destroying ourselves through this relentless, obsessive drive for progress... sliding from the high-tech comfort of a modern internet cafe straight back into the dark ages, if we aren't careful...
The caves will still be there... 🙄

The current situation is undeniably a mess, but there’s no reason to descend into total pessimism... things have a way of shifting eventually...
I could attempt to change things, though I find it unlikely to actually come to fruition if most people remain preoccupied with nothing more than the illusion of "progress"...
It’s much like the shift we saw at Progress... I suspect there is immense power hidden within that specific pivot in focus, and perhaps...
I wonder if people will ever truly grasp that the future being depicted in the Matrix movie is actually unfolding right before our eyes...
It’s unlikely to happen outright, though one could argue they are already caught in a milder version of that same illusion...
If they don't catch on before it's too late... well, it wouldn't be a bad idea to open up some betting lines on the whole situation...
Will the Matrix actually manifest itself... or is that just another pipe dream? Honestly, it seems like a losing bet, especially when I consider how impossible it would be to actually track down the real ones...
I wonder if I’ll actually make any money once we’re all living in some digital wasteland... 😕 It’s somewhat akin to the notion that I might place a bet on...
It’s all just going to end in a total collapse... 😛

Donna Campbell6 said:Does suffering even mean anything if you don't have faith? How can anyone actually know for sure... I mean, since you (I'm assuming) are a believer, you aren't exactly in a position to experience suffering without faith anyway, right?
Just because I don't believe, and yeah, it hurts, doesn't mean my suffering is pointless... It might just mean I'm not obsessed with proving I've found some grand purpose behind it all. And honestly? It definitely means I'm not about to let some half-baked priest with a fancy degree lecture me on the deepest, most fundamental questions of what it even means to be alive...
Basically, yeah... Believe......not really... thoughts....
If you're the type who lives by faith, then everything needs to be crystal clear...🙄 If you actually give a damn about thinking for yourself... you’re the only one who can really afford to admit when you don't know something...

Good 👍

Anthony Rivera17 said:What are you even talking about?
Is it actually possible to start a single thread on this forum without some conspiracy-obsessed individual from some fringe news outlet dragging every topic into their delusions of grandeur...??
Some sort of global conspiratorial system?
Do you even grasp the sheer scale required for something like that to exist...??
You would need hundreds of millions of people involved, and you honestly believe every single one of them is disciplined enough to hold a secret like that...??
Give me a break.

To be more precise, roughly seven billion people are woven into this fabric, and there is no real need to
keep it hidden because it is quite obvious... the reason most people fail to notice is simply because they are part of the
"secret" itself, actively contributing to its realization... for the majority, it is difficult to admit that
something is wrong when what they have been doing—not just recently, but for generations—was also wrong, and they didn't see it because they were part of the machine... those who rule
don't operate within the constraints of a single lifetime or two; they plan with an objective that MUST
be fulfilled regardless of how much time it takes... the only things that shift over time are the specific guidelines within the agenda, depending on the state of
"affairs on the ground" and the availability of the "tools" used to reach the goal...!!!

The fundamental trick that people fall for today is the existence of political and special interest
"rivalries"... it is an illusion, just as real as the illusion of "competition" we see among our
politicians in D.C. or on the news, tearing each other apart one moment only to smile and grab a drink TOGETHER at a cocktail party a moment later... if you think that
Intel and
AMD are truly fighting for dominance in the processor market, then you are a victim of manipulation... if you believe religions "clash" because they are fighting for a percentage
of the population to "hypnotize" with their rhetoric, then you are a victim of manipulation...!!!

When viewed from the perspective of those who REALLY run this planet, there are NO actual
"rivals," the entire narrative exists solely to direct human focus toward trivialities, and that very concept of "rivalry" is the foundation for dividing the populace,
making them far easier to control when they are fractured...
that is the essence of the "secret," the grand conspiracy: keeping people trapped in an illusion and using them as tools for specific interests... I wouldn't go so far as to say that "good old dirty economics" and planetary dominance through capital is the ultimate end goal;
those are merely the means to achieve the objective... in a system where money dictates
influence and power, the logic is simple: whoever holds the most wealth determines the direction
in which the system and everyone living within it moves... to my mind, the true purpose of this "play" is much more sinister
and I draw that conclusion from the inherent conflict between the ruler's need for absolute power and the reality
where human survival on this planet is called into question... there is no sense in being the most powerful and
ruling a mass of seven billion in a way that pushes those seven billion to the brink of extinction
unless that very act of pushing them to the edge is the actual goal of ruling, isn't it...??

Of course, there are many seemingly different causes for wars, ranging from resources and nationalism
to religious affiliation, but these are again nothing more than illusions, often the byproduct of precisely
that illusion people swallowed long ago... even if we assume the foundation for war isn't a product of illusion, it remains that both winners and losers exist within the GRAND
conspiracy, meaning the war itself is insignificant and serves the ultimate goal simply by
fragmenting humanity into smaller groups... in other words, the only true victors are those at the top.

the "food supply chain"...

Kenneth Peterson5 said:Seriously, why the hell are you attacking me? What a jerk! Just wait until I make you ".......censured.........."—then you'll be seeing stars!

Trust me, I’ve been exactly where you are right now—and I’m emphasizing *been*—so I get you completely. One of these days, you'll end up right where I am, and then maybe you'll actually understand me.
And don't get it twisted, I'm not preaching here, just giving you a little reality check.

Translated into American English:
Stoned ones need love.
Straight ones make love.

Hey twin, honestly, reading some of your posts has been a total blast; you don't need some girl, or a zero-zero, or... whatever else... you're doing just fine, really.

But look, I haven't touched a joint in about two years, and my last one was maybe three years ago...
that whole phase of "smoke while it's available" ended a long time ago... I've seriously scaled back
my use because I've realized how much your surroundings and the situation dictate the "quality of the ride"...
I simply don't feel the urge to get high anytime, anywhere, or with anyone anymore...
and those specific scenarios that actually suit my headspace are becoming increasingly rare...
it's the same story with alcohol... eventually, you learn how to live without relying on
external "sources of wisdom," which are really nothing more than occasional desires rather than rules...

Speaking of external "sources of wisdom," I'm finding the whole "story" regarding mushrooms increasingly intriguing...
not that I'm planning to drop them right here and now, but the "option" remains open for other places, different times, and the right "crew"... just a little info:

http://h1.ripway.com/overkloan/James...andMankind.pdf (2.49 MB)

NOTE: I'm not encouraging anyone to use anything; this is merely an informative look at
history through the lens of mushrooms as tools for "attaining" wisdom and insight, things that have clearly
shaped various aspects of human civilization...

Kenneth Peterson5 said:If the whole "I think" thing is just a twin phrase, maybe you just thought you were being deeper or more spiritual because you were high... food for thought.

wiredmaker18, seriously, great post.

Thinking is a process we engage in at our own discretion... neither you nor a joint can force my mind to work if I don't want it to, right? So when I discuss the influence of the Marijuana Party,
I am talking about a shift in consciousness and the specific sensation that arises following consumption... you can't
falsely believe you’ve become inherently wiser or more spiritual, but you can certainly be aware that during the cognitive process while high, you tend to produce much more profound and spiritual "outputs"... I know for a fact
that I was more insightful and spiritually connected after smoking; I spent plenty of nights scribbling thoughts down on paper,
and later, once the effects wore off and I read what I had written, it became obvious to me that those
thoughts possessed a depth and spirituality far beyond the ones I produce when I am sober... which, of course,
doesn't mean one should be high constantly, because overdoing it leads to a diminishing return where the body builds up a tolerance to THC and the Marijuana Party starts hitting less and less effectively...

swiftdriver11 said:I get that, but I'm trying to figure out if there's some grander, singular reason sitting above all those petty motivations.
Something natural, or perhaps divine... I don't know. 🤷

The "freedom" of choice, provided we stay within those narrow little boundaries where we're allowed to act "freely"...?

wiredmaker18 said:Everyone’s gonna come for me after this, but honestly? I don't give a damn. Anyway.
How is nobody talking about the one obvious fact staring us in the face? Smoking, using any kind of chemical, weed (let's be real, it's just inhaling chemical compounds), whatever—it all messes with your brain. The brain reacts, either fighting back or just riding the wave of the chemical reaction between the substance and your brain chemistry. It changes how your neurotransmitters work, shifts your thought patterns, alters your perception. There’s nothing inherently wise or spiritual about it. It’s just basic chemistry. You get drunk and the room spins because your brain is reacting to the alcohol hitting your system. You overeat and get sleepy because your blood rushes to your stomach to handle digestion. It’s the exact same deal with marijuana or any other drug, hard or soft. Sure, the subjective experience might feel good or spark some "new" ideas, but calling it universal spiritual wisdom? Give me a break...

You can only claim that if you were actually less wise or spiritual while high...
it works the opposite way for me, which suggests there really is something to the "buzz," and it isn't surprising that those who
want to keep us ignorant are working so hard to ban it!!! Just think about it...

Noah Sanchez7 said:I’m being completely serious about this question.
In fact, just a few days ago, an old friend and I were debating this exact topic. He doesn't see it my way, but I definitely do.

I purposefully posted this under "Philosophy" because I feel like philosophers dive deeper into these things, and I tend to view Buddhism more as a philosophy anyway.

To be honest, if I hadn't started using weed when I was 14 or 15, I never would have encountered Buddhism... or rather, let me put it differently >> I never would have truly discovered myself and my own essence.
I don't think questions like "Who am I really?" would have even crossed my mind, or at least I wouldn't have spent nearly as much time searching for the answers to such big questions.

For me, marijuana provided insight into certain truths and knowledge that I doubt I ever would have realized or noticed in my everyday life.

It isn't the same for everyone, though. For instance, that friend of mine doesn't share my view on weed. Some people just relax, some laugh until they can't breathe, and others study or contemplate.
One buddy described the experience perfectly when he said, "The herb just shows you things."
Interestingly, that friend is a Sagittarius just like me, and the main trait of a Sag is searching for religious, philosophical, or psychological answers. A Sagittarius's phrase is "I understand," whereas a Taurus might say, "I possess." Maybe that's just one big trip—a stretch to try and connect metaphysical ideas. Doesn't matter.

I maintain that cannabis pushed me into higher states of consciousness that I wasn't prepared for, which caused me to lose my footing a bit; I have to admit, it actually scared me.

I'm curious to hear your thoughts on this.

Since the Gemini motto is "I think," there really is no better forum than this one...😵

swiftdriver11 said:Look, that’s not what this thread is about. I didn't start this discussion to sit here and listen to people whine about war profiteers; the whole point was to explore the connection between nature and conflict.

You can't truly grasp the consequences without fully understanding the catalyst... look,
there is no conflict that makes sense unless you dig into the psyches of those who
ignited it... there is always some underlying narrative, whether it's driven by capital,
ideological friction, or simple dominance... profit is an eternal constant, and one must
search for the true "purpose" behind these wars, even when the stated reason for fighting
seems perfectly obvious...

Donna Campbell6 said:We all have that aggressive, destructive streak in us... and honestly, those aren't always bad things. Like, try picking up a girl without being a little bit assertive at some point, you know? If you're too careful about not stepping on her toes, you'll never make a move. Impossible.☕ You’re always, even just at first, pushing your way into someone's personal space... even if it's just a tiny bit. Plus, self-defense is basically built on aggressive instincts.
Still, I can't really get behind the second half of your post. I don't think we can just write everything off as "relative," otherwise any conversation about human nature just becomes totally pointless after a while...

🎉🎉🎉

Donna Campbell6 said:Being as Rigid, superficial, and biased as I am, I can't help but feel like I'm right along with you and Arnin regarding Nualin's post. It's a struggle... First off, whenever someone tries to define or put death into neat little categories like she did, my internal alarm bells start ringing. Death is basically "unthinkable," according to Freud. Look, I'm not saying the old guy was always right, but he had some solid points there. We can talk about death all day, try to "deodorize" it or sugarcoat it, try to soothe ourselves however we want, or even pretend it isn't happening... but we'll never truly escape that nagging feeling that we're just putting on an act. None of us actually know anything about death—not me, being this shallow and Rigid, not you, who probably aren't, and certainly not Nuala when she's out here grandly announcing that death isn't even a tragedy.
And man, I've got thoughts on that whole violence thing too. It's pretty gutsy to take the concept of violence and stretch it to cover every single situation where someone just happens to yield to another person's will. Sure, it's worth reflecting on the ways we might be aggressive. But if you start linking cold-blooded psychopathic murder to the tiny daily annoyances—the little flaws we all have—you eventually end up with a version of science that uses relativism to label every single one of us as potential Jack Trbosjeks, Hitlers, or at the very least, rapists. The only difference would be whether the impulse actually turned into action or somehow miraculously didn't. I don't see how much good we'd get from that kind of "wisdom"...

But look, that really is the reality of it... how many times haven't you heard the phrase, "He was such a quiet young man,
full of life and always smiling..." followed by some description of a
mass shooting... everything is just relative to a perspective, which is constantly shifting...
We are all potential Hitlers and Jack Trbosjeks; it is merely a question of whether "fate"
drives us to realize that dark side of ourselves... NEVER SAY NEVER !!!

mistyfox812 said:Look, the people in the cave aren't staring at some "material" or "physical" world. They're looking at a fake version of reality. They're stuck watching inherited social fictions that stop them from seeing things for what they actually are. Those shadows on the cave wall? That's not the "physical world." That's just the spectacle—it's TV, gossip, politics, mindless chatter, grabbing coffee... just noise.

Post of the Week👍

Jose Miller3 said:There’s something that’s been weighing on my mind for a couple of days now, and I honestly wasn't sure how to even start this thread 🙂

therefore, a local priest in a small town said this during the memorial service for Kristina Šušnjar:

"This young woman risked everything to fight for her own dignity and to defend her honor. She proved she would rather die than betray her youthful ideals—rather lose her physical life than trample over her human dignity and leave her dreams unfulfilled. By her martyr-like death, Kristina has been counted among the great women of our era," emphasized Ćubelić.

Okay, putting aside the absolute horror and tragedy of the whole situation—and don't get me wrong, the facts of this horrific murder are devastating—but is Kristina actually a hero? How did this poor girl (please don't take this as an attack on her, that's not what I'm doing at all, I just want to understand why the priest would say something so... questionable, IMHO) become a hero or a heroine? How exactly was she defending her "honor"?
Why, in the end, can we count her among the great women of our time?

Am I the only one seeing this clearly?

And why are you even bothering to give this any weight? Don't you have more productive ways to spend
your time, which is already so limited? Honestly, if it weren't for the news networks, radio, and all the other
media outlets, you wouldn't even know about Christina or that priest...
can't you see how trivial this information is, being "served" to us as if it actually matters???

STOP TURNING THE PHILOSOPHY SECTION INTO A "Gloria" SESSION!!! Moving from hearsay to topics that
offer absolutely zero philosophical value is useless; these subjects belong in a psychology textbook...

Brenda Cook4 said:If I were looking at a rock, I think Heraclitus would agree that it’s just a rock. After all, he famously argued that our eyes are far better witnesses than our ears. When we're awake and alert, we rely on our senses to navigate the world around us—they're essential tools, certainly—but they can’t give us anything more than a fleeting impression of a universe that is constantly shifting under our feet. True wisdom doesn't come from staring at a single, isolated object. The Logos remains elusive to us; we can only grasp fragments of it. We only see pieces of the puzzle because we are confined to our own limited perspective within this reality. Language itself is a bit of a bottleneck, isn't it? Concepts in language tend to be static, which is exactly why Heraclitus chose fire as his primary metaphor. It captures that constant state of motion perfectly.

So, I'll say it again: existence is nothing but constant change. There’s just no such thing as some reality floating above the physical world—no "meta-physical" realm exists beyond what we can touch and see. It all comes back to Heraclitus.😁

Our senses can be incredibly deceptive—especially when we fail to perceive the world as a state of constant flux. There is an inseparable link between the Logos and our sensory perception. Ultimately, all is one. They are one and the same. This world of appearances? It is the only reality we have. We find unity through opposites: "...through the individual comes unity, and from unity comes everything individual."
Measurement within change—within the very dance of opposites—finds its true purpose in the Logos.

Heraclitus or ηρακλειτος in Greek, who famously pushed back against the notion that everything had a single starting point...
The universe... it’s a wild concept, isn't it? I've been thinking about those thinkers who flat-out rejected the notion that our entire existence is just some mental trick or a mere figment of the imagination. They weren't looking for an easy way out through pure idealism; they wanted to get their hands dirty with reality. It reminds me of how we try to grasp the sheer scale of everything around us—trying to find that solid ground when everything feels like it's shifting under our feet.
It really comes down to our own imagination—and specifically, those thinkers who dared to reject the idea that universal laws govern everything in nature.
Artificial, static distortions of what’s actually real. In one of the few pieces left standing...
He once remarked that simply piling up facts doesn't actually lead to true understanding—otherwise, we'd all be geniuses just by reading an encyclopedia.
It really would have been enough to teach even Hesiod and Pythagoras... Flux and Change itself is seen as more durable than universal laws.
Flux and Change itself is seen as more durable Than universal laws.

Process—that constant, restless transformation driven by opposites—is the very fabric of reality. With Heraclitus, there’s no such thing as that "higher reality" Plato talked about. There isn't some separate realm of "Ideas" where the material world is just a collection of shadows flickering on a cave wall. Hallelujah.

I find myself in complete agreement with those sentiments, which is why I rarely bother defending certain "laws"
that we humans have stumbled upon regarding the measurable, tangible things in our immediate surroundings...
for instance, claiming that the "Law of conservation of energy" holds true only until we realize it might not be
the case... there is really no need for the arrogance that comes from clinging to a handful of "knowledge"
that supposedly separates us from primitive beings... it would be far more intellectually honest to simply
admit our "understanding" is flawed and leave the door open for the inevitable correction
of everything we think we know... History tells us, quite
unambiguously, that we have been wrong about almost every single thing we once held sacred...

We are living in 2008, and while the sheer volume of "knowledge" we possess is vastly greater than
what existed a century or five centuries ago... if we aim for actual wisdom, we shouldn't pretend that
what we "know" today constitutes final, absolute truth... so, don't get too attached to "laws"
concerning the physical, measurable world, because they could easily be redefined tomorrow,
if they aren't discarded entirely... I'm not just making this claim; it's a lesson
taught by History itself, not to mention philosophers like Heraclitus who echoed these exact views... even the most profound maxims have an expiration date,
and they remain fluid... much like how Einstein famously suggested that
everything is relative...

Lawrence Robinson5 said:If we’re going to be super strict about semantics, then honestly, talking about anything being "always" just feels pretty pointless. I didn't even bring the word up myself until I saw it pop up in the comments. But fine, here it is: always. It’s kind of funny when you think about it—we’re just these tiny, fleeting beings, yet we still sit around arguing that things are permanent and unchanging! haha 😁

certain concepts are simply matters of reason and logic... which is precisely how some people define Logos 😵

Lawrence Robinson5 said:Nah, I don't see it that way. A shift from 'existing' to 'not existing' is actually impossible! In an absolute sense, we're talking... that isn't even really a change, because true change implies a transformation of form—not just vanishing into thin air.

If you look back at that point about energy... that's really the key here. Because energy never truly disappears.

Our lifespans are far too brief, and our instrumentation lacks the precision required to definitively claim
that energy cannot vanish... given those realities, it serves us better if we don't
speak in such rigid, binary terms of black or white... besides, history teaches us that
it is wiser to avoid the arrogance of "I know" or "we know," especially when dealing with fundamental truths 🙂

Lawrence Robinson5 said:So, I’ve been sitting here chewing on this for a while, just staring at my coffee and wondering why we always feel this intense pressure to equate "always existing" with being "unchanging." It’s like we have this built-in mental rule that if something is eternal, it has to be static, right? But honestly, when you really dive into the philosophy behind it, that feels like such a leap. I was reading some stuff earlier—kind of deep diving into Heraclitus—and it got me thinking about how much we struggle with the concept of permanence. We tend to think that for something to truly *be*, it has to stay exactly the same, frozen in time like a photograph. But that feels so disconnected from how the actual world works. If you look at the way things actually move, nothing stays still. It’s funny because I remember back in high school, I had this teacher who used to argue that the only thing you can count on is that everything is constantly shifting. It sounds like a contradiction, doesn't it? How can "always" and "change" exist in the same sentence? Yet, there's a certain logic to it. If the process of change itself is what is constant, then the change becomes the only thing that is actually permanent. In a weird, head-spinning way, Flux and Change itself is seen as more durable Than universal laws. If we insist that "always existing" must mean "unchanging," we end up ignoring the most fundamental part of reality. We start looking for these rigid, unmoving pillars, when maybe the "always" part is actually found in the rhythm of the movement itself. It's like a river—the river is always there, it "exists" as a constant entity, but the water inside it is never the same from one second to the next. So, does the river exist because it stays the same, or does it exist because it keeps flowing? To me, it feels like we're forcing a definition onto existence that just doesn't fit the messy, beautiful reality of how things actually unfold.

Energy is always there. It’s a constant, you know? It's this indestructible force that just refuses to quit, even though it’s constantly shifting its shape and morphing into something else entirely.

isn't the defining quality of that which "always exists" precisely that very immutability that
stems from its "eternal existence"? if something "always exists," then it will never
cease to be, which means there can be no transition from "being" to
"non-being"... in that sense, "always existing" equals "unchanging"... personally, I see
"always existing" as being tied to a certain form, where the shape might shift because the
underlying "substance" changes, but the form itself remains eternal, unable to vanish...

I've already had debates with people on this forum claiming that "something" can exist
outside of EVERYTHING... which leads to the argument that "nothingness" could exist outside of EVERYTHING...
which then leads to the idea that EVERYTHING isn't eternal because it emerged from "something" that
wasn't contained within EVERYTHING... it raises the MASSIVE question of whether it's possible that EVERYTHING emerged
just like that, without any cause at all? if that's the case, then in what, or rather where, did EVERYTHING originate?
if there is something that serves as the "in what" or the "where," then that thing is part of EVERYTHING, isn't it???
you can follow this line of reasoning indefinitely, and logic has no end, which in itself
confirms that EVERYTHING "always exists"... if we take that inexplicable path
and claim that EVERYTHING emerged without a cause and without the space in which it emerged,
then "always existing" doesn't hold up, at least regarding the totality of things... who knows, there's a million dollars on the line😉

Quincy:

Joe Biden The user states... Ah, the Committee of 300...☕ A truly grim subject...🙏🙏🙏

You’ve already posted a link to a movie on this very same page twice before... one that you might actually find worth watching...
If you really want to understand who those people in power actually are... you should probably start by questioning if everything you're being told is even remotely close to the truth...
Everything the film claims might be true, but I’d suggest looking at it more as two people simply finding one another...
When you take a long, sweeping look at the trajectory of human history over the last few millennia... it really puts everything in perspective...
The more perspectives you gather, the easier it becomes to stumble upon the truth... An illusion is something you can never truly grasp...
While you're still immersed in it, she only truly finds herself by shifting her perspective... by looking at things through a different lens...
It’s about seeing the illusion from a perspective that exists entirely outside of it... and for heaven's sake, stop making a fool of yourself by mocking those who...
They have already been at this point before, because people like that find it far too easy to watch you struggle against an illusion...
It’s really just a matter of which path you choose... whether you decide to stay trapped within the confines of your own perception and let life mock you for it, or if you finally find the courage to truly understand the reality of things and step out into the light...

Knowledge isn't some fixed destination you eventually reach... even when you feel certain you're finally heading in the right direction...
There is no longer any progress to be made, assuming that such narrow knowledge is finally considered the standard... you are only doing damage to yourself in the end...
And then it extends to everyone else, especially those who insist on treating you like some kind of absolute authority on the subject...