Posts by Joshua Foster5

To elevate this discussion to a meaningful level, I propose a simple solution: less intellectual nonsense... and more actual mental growth.
The fact is, just as an overfed body rapidly loses its definition, the spirit suffers the same fate when it's fed nothing but garbage.

Stop acting like children. All you do is throw out emojis—Jack Harris3, what are you, twenty? You just nitpick and tear things down instead of maintaining a positive outlook. Tell us what actually works FOR you, rather than just listing everything that isn't a tool for spiritual growth. Or maybe this kind of growth feels too much like work, so you won't even try to practice it. Are you really only looking for the downsides in everything? Haven't you heard of an opportunist’s approach? Take what serves you and leave the rest...

Betty Cooper43, you’re always on about theorizing and overanalyzing. Reading books, reciting "facts." As if any of that matters for spiritual growth. And you still act all condescending, saying things like, "I'm just too dim because I don't have a microscope 😉." You don't see the connection?
The connection happens when you actually comprehend and internalize what you've read and memorized. When your eyes finally open to where you live, what keeps you anchored to this planet, the reality of your life from a biochemical standpoint, and the actual mechanics behind your own thoughts. That is when you start grasping—as close to the truth as anyone can currently get, and as close as humanity ever will—who you are and what you truly are. On actual, solid ground. The closest thing to the truth possible. If you want to base your spirit on the Bible or pure fantasy without any constraints, be my guest. The "Stone Age" approach has served plenty of people well enough

Naive? Or maybe just acknowledging that we actually know more than ever before. Maya keeps rambling on about lost ancient wisdom and all that. I’ll leave those Daniken myths to the others. Personally, I believe things like microscopes, telescopes, and cyclotrons... are achievements that significantly impact our potential spiritual growth. It's based on a clearer view of reality. I could never agree with people who think spirituality isn't linked to our understanding of the physical world. If there's no connection, then it's just pure fantasy. I have no interest in that.

As for the wilderness or some "controlled retreat"—I would never renounce knowledge and technology. I'm never going back to the Stone Age, not even for you, Betty Cooper43. A Stone Age human was just a slightly more advanced animal. Today's human is far more evolved, even if we are currently completely lost in this consumerist civilization. We aren't in a Golden Age right now, not for the human race as a whole (though it might be for individuals who manage a controlled withdrawal 😉), but perhaps it will come if we wise up. Because if we don't, we won't exist at all. I'm certain it will happen, though, because I'm an optimist. Why am I an optimist? Because if we fail, it doesn't matter to me; but if I believe I can help, even in my microscopic way... At least on the level of a collective positive consciousness 😉

nimblecobra79, you're finishing my thought. Industrialization trashed Earth, sure, but it also pushed our understanding of the universe forward—intellectually and spiritually. Who am I to deny the benefits of astronomy, physics, and the hard sciences, Smith, Fly? I'm talking about merging the best of both worlds.
I wouldn't be any happier living in the Stone Age, but I'd love for us to reach a post-industrial era (a post-dirty-industry era, if you catch my drift). We need to stop polluting and destroying everything without throwing away the breakthroughs of science and industry. You really think that's impossible?
And as for what people are lacking, GPes, being a mystic in Tibet doesn't exactly sound like my idea of a good time. They might be spiritually fulfilled, but I suspect it's limited to religion and myth. Like I said, skip the Stone Age; give me a space age that actually respects nature. I believe the turning point regarding this destruction of Gaia will happen in our lifetime or shortly after. If we don't pivot, we're all toast. Spiritual evolution toward healing Gaia seems like our only way to survive.
I don't buy the idea of an "alternative." We can't just run away somewhere else and act the exact same way. We don't exactly have many places left to go.

The word "growth" might trigger some negative associations for people—for me, it brings to mind consumerism, the grind of the economy, chasing dollars just to spend them, and feeling lost in that endless flood. I prefer describing it as an "awakening." I like to think we have this inner spirit, a latent potential... but you have to nudge it to make it live. It’s as if certain parts of the brain, those neural loops, are actually that spirit; you just need to engage them. You do that through various experiences, deep thought, observing (not staring, observing 😉), feelings. Through truly living through things.

The method I use probably won't work for everyone. It's deeply personal; everyone has their own way. For me, it's nature plus physical exertion. Combining them means intense outdoor sports—usually in the mountains, specifically—which forces me to become aware of how my body actually functions. That level of effort and focus on my physical state and the surrounding hazards clears out all the mental clutter... work, traffic, smog, congestion, the city, noise. Spending time in nature—often alone, often in extreme conditions—leads to an understanding of the miracle of life. A return to roots. I call it "connecting with Gaia."

I believe we’ve drifted too far from nature. We've paved over everything. I want to go back. van the concrete. The only upside to city life is access to information, but to generate new knowledge, you need a massive network of specialists. Intellectual heavyweights. I think the perfect balance—which is surprisingly possible today—is living outside the city (ideally in a log cabin in the middle of nowhere) while staying connected via the internet. Every day, I push myself to endure a career that will eventually allow for that, and to find the courage to take the leap. It’s damn hard. It's risky. And the worst part is being labeled a "weirdo." I get what you're saying, blue eyes; it's quite practical, as you can see 😁

I am convinced that the most spiritually advanced people (by my definition of spirit and "progress") are those living in the remote corners of nature, away from the cities, relatively untouched by civilization, yet not spending every waking hour scavenging for food or starving. My only critique of them is that they exist outside the flow of new knowledge. Science is our greatest achievement, but it was paid for by alienating ourselves from Gaia. The beauty of our era is that we can finally bridge that gap. Perhaps we don't have much time left, so maybe this really is the best time to be alive, if you look at it pessimistically 😬 That's why one should try

Spirituality and athletics aren't even in the same league. Comparing them is fundamentally flawed. Athletics is the discipline of the physical body, where the mind or spirit serves merely as a tool for control and motivation. The spirit is the discipline of the mind.

If we're being logical, you need to prove the thesis that the spirit depends on the body. There is plenty of evidence suggesting the spirit does NOT depend on the body. Look at the countless people living with severe physical disabilities who face zero issues with their spiritual state. Or are you claiming a "healthy spirit" can't exist within the body of a blind person, someone paralyzed, or those with chronic illnesses?
Prove the connection. Disprove my argument that no such link exists.

Based on the chaotic news reports, it looks like the hostages tried to make a break for it, the kidnappers opened fire, and then the soldiers surged in, triggering a total free-for-all. There will likely be many more dead hostages. Officially, 200 children have been hospitalized, while the kidnappers somehow managed to slip away and scatter throughout the city, sparking a full-blown manhunt. Total chaos. Exactly what you'd expect. Since the death toll might actually exceed those in the theater, I suspect the real truth will start leaking out soon, mostly because it’s too damaging for the Russians to suppress.
Now I'm just waiting for my turn in Chechnya...

Regarding spiritual teachers
I only associate with those who are actively seeking; I spend my time studying various techniques. I stay far away from anyone claiming they’ve already arrived. I’m certain they're mistaken.
But if you're searching for something you can actually believe in, then you're practicing a flawed technique. In that case, I have no answers for you.

The point isn't the destination, but the journey itself. Personally, I don't believe there is such a thing as a final goal in spiritual growth. Reaching a destination implies the end of the road, which is detrimental to development. There should be no stopping... any kind of stagnation is a defeat.

to reach for the star, no matter how hopeless, no matter how far
I find myself humming that quite often...

Mr. Pes said:😂

Is this just your personal take on spirituality, or everything in general?

Our bodies are Earthly. They’re fine-tuned for this world, and it’s fair to say they belong here and are meant for here. You can't just pack up and leave; you have to drag a piece of Earth along with you. Sure, the mind can soar—it can travel incredibly far. But even then, we remain tethered to reality. It isn't about having one's head in the clouds, but rather... buried in scientific hypotheses, I suppose. I can't quite find the right term. I view the body as a weight keeping us trapped at the bottom of a gravity well. Any potential space travel, if it ever actually happens, will come too late for us current humans, and whether it will ever be viable—like warp 🙂 technology—is anyone's guess. Personally, I would gladly shed my physical form if it meant retaining my consciousness. That's the dream. My struggle is that I live for sports; I'm constantly active. It brings me immense satisfaction. Yet, at the same time, I feel like time is just slipping through my fingers. Having an overly healthy body can almost feel like a curse, depending on how you look at it. If I had taken a few more balls to the head as a kid, maybe I could have been a pro football player 😉

And is Hawking (and others like him) a spiritual man? It comes down to definitions. Is there even a single, unambiguous definition for the concept of a "soul"? I haven't read every thread on this forum; please provide links if this has been explained elsewhere.

I’ve always maintained that the body is nothing more than a vehicle and a servant to the mind. I’ve pushed my physical limits quite intensely through some pretty radical sports, and honestly, I don't see any of that mystical harmony or "energy" people talk about. The body is just biology. The mind is where the real interest lies. If I had to choose, I’d always side with the importance of the mental over the physical. Not to an extreme, though—I'm not talking about asceticism or pure hedonism, or those bizarre cults out there that engage in revolting rituals just to "transcend" the flesh.

To me, maintaining a healthy body is only useful insofar as it prevents illness and weakness from distracting the mind. In theory, even the most debilitating physical conditions should be a minor hurdle. Stephen Hawking is my ultimate proof that the body is secondary. In fact, perhaps such limitations actually provide more time to develop the spirit... or the mind. To me, they are one and the same.

Sure, the body is our connection to the country, fine. But the mind isn't the spirit if it remains tethered strictly to the earth. The spirit should be capable of reaching beyond the grasp of the physical. For that, the body is merely a means to provide sustenance. The more attention a person pours into physical pursuits, the less time remains for the adventures of the spirit. In this regard, "moderation" and "harmony" aren't virtues; they are just ways of splitting focus between two opposing poles. Why are they opposed? Because they both demand the same finite resources—time, consciousness, awareness... essentially, slices of a life that has a very definite expiration date.

I’m starting to think the two aren't actually linked. You have to train the spirit just as much—if not more—than the body, and through an entirely different process. In fact, if there is a connection, it seems inversely proportional to the time you invest. Think about it... pouring all your energy and willpower into intense training or sports leaves almost zero "resources" left for spiritual growth. How many times after a grueling workout at the gym have I done nothing but crave a shower and my bed? The more physically active I am, the more mentally lazy I become. I’m always down for a game of pickup basketball or a long run, but I find myself increasingly unwilling to pick up a book or engage in any actual mental effort. And it is only through mental exertion and discipline that we can develop the spirit. The spirit isn't about staring at the grass grow or sighing over how hard bees work... it's about the rigorous reflection of oneself and others.
Does what I'm saying make sense to anyone else? It goes against the grain of conventional wisdom, but to me, it holds water.