Posts by hiddenhound3

354 posts shown.

Ed Gein sentenced in Psychology · Mar 21, 2009

Drew Morgan said:So, I just heard on the news that Ed Gein was finally sentenced.
What’s your take? What kind of psychological breakdown drives someone to commit something like that?

He was judged by the very same society that allowed him to exist in the first place. This isn't merely a diagnosis for one individual, but rather a indictment of our entire social fabric.

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Portraits that inspire you in Spirituality · Mar 7, 2009

dustyskipper3 said:I guess our era doesn't really need more geniuses—we've had plenty of those already—but rather martyrs, people who could teach others how to be obedient, even if it means being obedient unto death themselves. What we truly need right now is an awakening... I never forget how God helps me, so I suppose my final wish is that all of this might be done in His honor.

Søren Kierkegaard

He inspired many, though perhaps very few actually understood him. To some, he seemed quite mad, while to others, his religious devotion felt somewhat off-putting.
....
Back in August 1922, Jiddu Krishnamurti underwent a spiritual awakening involving psychological transformation and physical conditioning. He and those close to him referred to it as "the process," which continued with varying intensity until his death. It all began on the 17th, when Krishnamurti complained of intense pain at the base of his skull and a hard, spherical swelling. Over the next few days, things seemed to worsen, with increasing pain, extreme physical discomfort, sensitivity, a total loss of appetite, and occasional bouts of delirium. Then, it appeared as though he were slipping into unconsciousness. Actually, he mentioned that he remained very aware of his surroundings, and in that state, he experienced a mystical sense of oneness.

...I was incredibly happy, because I saw. Nothing could ever be the same again. I drank from clear and pure waters, and my thirst was quenched.... I saw the Light. I touched a compassion that heals all sorrow and suffering; it wasn't just for me, but for the world. ...Love in its full glory has intoxicated my heart; my heart can never be closed again. I drank from the well of Joy and eternal Beauty. I am intoxicated by God.

Jiddu Krishnamurti

Many tried to grasp what he was. At the moment of his death, he said only: "Nobody."

One could probably list other examples, like Friedrich Nietzsche or Fyodor Dostoevsky, but even with these two, one can prove the following truth: that great insight comes with a heavy price.
Would you ever want to experience—not just hear about—what the world might look like if all evil and suffering were suddenly "lifted" from it, like a veil? Evil exists only within the human mind.

Is that what is referred to as Weltschmerz?

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Portraits that inspire you in Spirituality · Feb 15, 2009

Lévi was the son of a shoemaker in Paris; he attended a seminary and began to study to enter the Roman Catholic priesthood. However, while at the seminary he fell in love, and left without being ordained. He wrote a number of minor religious works: Des mœurs et des doctrines du rationalisme en France (of the moral customs and doctrines of rationalism in France, 1839) was a tract within the cultural stream of the Counter-Enlightenment. La Mère de Dieu (The Mother of God, 1844) followed and, after leaving the seminary, two radical tracts, L'Evangile du Peuple (The Gospel of the People, 1840), and Le Testament de la Liberté (The Testament of Liberty), published in the year of revolutions, 1848, led to two brief prison sentences.

more

Man is, by his very nature, a religious animal.
It is far easier to break a chain made of iron than one woven from flowers.

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Debates about meditation in Spirituality · Feb 5, 2009

Will either one of you two finally decide to take a rest? 😬

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Portraits that inspire you in Spirituality · Jan 28, 2009

coastalstag15 said:Bela Hamvas 🙏 was actually translated by one of my professors back in college, and when I sat for the final exam, they handed me an A and a copy of 😍 philosophy wine as a little bonus—easily the best exam experience I've ever had!
He’s a brilliant philosopher, even if I find some of his takes on women a bit hard to swallow, but I suppose we can live with that. 🤷

At the dawn of the 1920s, in the immediate wake of the Great War, Hugo von Hofmannsthal observed a profound transformation: the individual had dissolved into a mere Everyman. Historically, the profile of a citizen was never particularly sharp, with the sole exception of the genius—who, in reality, was nothing more than a protest against the self, a rare instance of outgrowing one's own essence. In earlier eras, one could at least distinguish a priest from a cook. However, from that specific point in history onward, those boundaries began to vanish entirely. It was akin to accidentally puncturing a box of watercolors and watching every hue bleed together, or perhaps like tossing an entire multi-course dinner into a single bucket. What kind of person can truly emerge from such a messy, diluted era? There might still be some semblance of characteristic traits left in a human being, but they function more like superficial decoration than substance. At this stage, it hardly matters who anyone is. Then again, who is to say that distinct character isn't irrelevant? What truly matters is that the bill gets paid. People have become interchangeable. Women, for the most part, have followed suit, since any person can marry almost anyone else. Marriage is simply what it is. Society is what it is. The state is what it is. We might hope that our jobs would be better than the rest, but ultimately, even that is just what it is.
In the aftermath of the Second World War, the sense of presence within the nation had vanished almost everywhere, save for perhaps a few isolated pockets in places like Sweden or Switzerland. During that era, one could only maintain a semblance of existence through a sort of social embalming; otherwise, the individual simply faded away. Anyone who dared to embody the spirit of democracy found themselves erased or rendered utterly characterless. Even then, if they managed to persist, they existed merely as a caricature rather than a true face. Such people understood envy, greed, and intrigue; they were cunning, and they trembled with an uncertainty they couldn't quite name, yet they still rationalized their behavior by calling it mere hypocrisy or insisting we should all simply "be ourselves." But even that sentiment feels naive, because history has always functioned this way. Any snob would inevitably appeal to tradition, posing as a respectable citizen, which created a desperate, driving need for genius. Those who believed in innate talent went so far as to establish institutions dedicated to talent discovery—places where a sculptor might be sent to work as a baker, or vice versa, since the distinction had become entirely meaningless. Then, following the war, there emerged a figure that no one had anticipated. In the wake of this emergence, no position or identity felt stable anymore. The man who appeared after everyone else—or perhaps, the man who was nobody—was no longer a distinct face, nor even a recognizable caricature. At best, he was a mere schema. This state of being is rare. Most often, what remains is just a mask or a uniform, though even those serve as nothing more than excuses. More frequently, it is reduced to a simple badge tucked into a pocket, signifying membership in a political party or a local football team. People seek to mark themselves, much like one might see markings in the Congo. In a desperate attempt to distinguish one another, we resort to numbering ourselves, much like students in a boarding school. Women increasingly transform themselves into mere sketches straight out of a fashion magazine; otherwise, they hardly seem to exist at all.

Taken from the essay "Nobody" by Bela Hamvas.

That is quite an intriguing analysis. 🙂

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Portraits that inspire you in Spirituality · Jan 27, 2009

boldsailor32 said:And then his "successors" 😁 found way to establish "the Krishnamurti Institutes"

Here is one example:

http://www.kfa.org/

The Krishnamurti Education Center

The Krishnamurti Education Center attracts people from all over the world, who come to learn about themselves using Krishnamurti's teachings as a basis for inquiry. The Education Center hosts speaker panels, dialogue groups, conferences, and study programs within a context of cooperative, shared inquiry into the fundamental questions of human life. The Center is a forum, and takes no positions except to encourage a spirit of inquiry on the part of those who choose to come and participate.

By doing exactly that, they are disrespecting the very essence of Krishnamurti's personal philosophy. 🙄

And dead men, as usual, don't complain...

So, I think Shamanov's post hits the nail right on the head.

Indeed, I have always found it fascinating how human stupidity tends toward the misuse and total misunderstanding of every single gift it receives. 😢

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Portraits that inspire you in Spirituality · Jan 27, 2009

I have read Shamanov's post and find myself in agreement with much of it. To be driven by fame and power is to be governed by ambition, which inevitably leads one toward the mundane, the trivial, and the limited. In truly profound individuals, one does not observe such intense frustration, the hunger for status, or existential dread; therefore, I maintain that being spiritual essentially means being liberated from _________________*
At the same time, I believe that certain people possess a charisma and an innate strength of being that naturally draws others toward them. People talk; curiosity takes hold, and word spreads among those eager to listen.
There is an interesting detail regarding Jiddu Krishnamurti. While the Theosophists sought to install him as their supreme leader, he simply rejected the entire concept and withdrew. His explicit wish was that upon his death, his ashes be scattered to three different corners of the world, specifically to ensure his followers would not attempt to make pilgrimages to his remains.

*power, fears, and sensual pleasures*

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Portraits that inspire you in Spirituality · Jan 26, 2009

Drew Morgan said:Excellent topic.
Jung, peering into the soul—intimate yet elusive.
George Orwell, worldly awareness.
Jesus, ethics.
Plato, the world of ideas.

Honestly, I find Jesus quite inspiring too, particularly the vividness of His word found in Tomo 34.

In Tomo 34, Jesus says: "When the blind lead the blind, both fall into a pit."
42. Jesus says: "Be transient."
77. Jesus says: "I am the light that is above all things; I am everything, and everyone has come from me and everyone returns to me.
Split a piece of wood, and I am in it. Lift a stone, and there you will find me."

I won't list them all here...

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Portraits that inspire you in Spirituality · Jan 26, 2009

hiddenpuma75 said:Come on, girl, let's not get all romantic about it. 🙄
You don't really have a clue about how life works when you've got everything handed to you on a silver platter by your parents.

Your "wonderful" nihilist🙄 left his wife and kids in the dust and just vanished..

And your dear nihilist isn't exactly living a nihilistic lifestyle; he’s settled in quite comfortably with some wealthy woman in Switzerland, making it very easy for him (just like it is for you) to spout nonsense about everything and anything.
He can use his fancy rhetoric to impress young intellectuals who think milk comes straight from the cow into a carton.

If you're actually looking for someone to admire, try looking at the people who actually lived what they preached. For instance, you could look at

RAMANA MAHARSHI

NISARGADATTA MAHARAJ...

or even Bernadetta Roberts

But how would you ever know that, given that your current level of "wonder" is reserved for Dawkins, UG, and rocks on Mars?🙄

It is fine; let it be known that they, too, are made of flesh and blood.🙂

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Portraits that inspire you in Spirituality · Jan 26, 2009

Brenda Cook4 said:....of course, I assume she meant Jiddu....you get those photos because you're searching by last name, but Jiddu actually looks quite different (certainly not this handsome or striking😁)...but I'm aware that very few people actually know much about Jiddu Krishnamurti...maybe this confusion will actually nudge someone to look up Jiddu...and learn something more..."Mynd im Myth"

Here is another one of his, which happens to be my personal favorite:

Ahem.

What seems to be the problem with him?
To be fair, he appears to be an elderly man in almost every photograph. However, there is something profoundly exotic about his features, particularly those calm, settled eyes. Even when listening to him speak, his voice possesses such a hypnotic quality. I don't quite know how to put it, but I find him to be a truly fascinating individual.🙂

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Portraits that inspire you in Spirituality · Jan 26, 2009

Ivana Brlić Mažuranić

A truly monumental artist and intellectual, she was a profound scholar of the cultural heritage of the Slavic people. Her contribution to the imaginative realms of fairy tales—filled with enchanted forests, the depths of the ocean, giants, and forest spirits navigating complex moral dilemmas—is immeasurably great. She even wrote in French and was once considered a candidate for the Nobel Prize.

How Potjeh Sought the Truth

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Portraits that inspire you in Spirituality · Jan 26, 2009

wiredbear2 said:Bela Hamvas, that legendary American writer and essayist, dedicated his entire creative life to exploring the vast tapestry of global mythology and ancient lore, using it to trace the gradual decline of humanity—a slow descent into the corruption of our very essence as we forget our true origins in spirit and God.
His work truly transcends its era; it exists far beyond the mundane reaches of everyday life, effortlessly unlocking the doors to the subconscious and whispering truths that we already intuitively know deep within ourselves. To truly grasp his message, one might need a lifetime of reflection and a certain depth of spiritual experience... You can dive into his writings endlessly, and you will always emerge with fresh insights. However, those who are too easily swayed by powerful intellects may fall into the trap of becoming mere followers, which, ironically, undermines the very independence of thought he advocates for.
His perspective feels remarkably similar to that of Jiddu Krishnamurti.
Hamvas seeks to confront everything in human history that stands in opposition to life and the human spirit, peering into myths and religions through a lens reminiscent of Carl Jung to uncover their deeper meanings. He speaks to the profound significance of the ancient traditions that serve as the roots of all faiths, yet he remains staunchly opposed to organized religion itself, holding it responsible for the distortion of our true nature. Someone once described him quite perfectly: Hamvas is an anti-religious theist, whereas Friedrich Nietzsche is a religious antitheist.

So, there you have it—just a brief overview and some fundamental thoughts on these two Great Souls. I suspect they will continue to serve as my inspiration until the very end of my days... 😉

I believe I was actually referring to myself when I said that... supposedly.

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Portraits that inspire you in Spirituality · Jan 26, 2009

I agree that there seems to have been a slight misunderstanding here, though if you search for Jiddu Krishnamurti on Google, you'll be flooded with all those images.

It appears that Bruna was actually referring to this gentleman.

We have previously discussed how vital it is to spark a radical revolution within the human mind.
The crisis we face is, fundamentally, a crisis of consciousness.
It is a crisis born from the fact that we can no longer accept outdated norms, obsolete standards, or ancient traditions.
And, considering the state of the world today, with all its
misery,
conflicts,
destructive brutality,
aggression,
and so on...
Humanity remains exactly what it has always been.
Still brutal,
violent,
aggressive,
possessive,
and greedy.
And, predictably, he has constructed a society that mirrors these very traits.

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Individualism vs. The Collective: How much does society shape who we are? in Philosophy · Jan 24, 2009

I find myself grappling with a certain socio-philosophical dilemma, and I suspect this forum might be the ideal venue to solicit some deeper reflections on the matter.

The question is this: to what extent does the individual shape the prevailing mentality, and conversely, to what degree does that collective mentality mold the individual?

My inquiry was specifically prompted by a statement made by Kish: When everyone lies, no one is lying. When everything is a lie, nothing is a lie.

Is it truly possible to refrain from judging an individual for acts of theft, corruption, or other socially destructive behaviors that undermine our shared values?

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Portraits that inspire you in Spirituality · Jan 24, 2009

In my estimation, this American psychologist and psychiatrist remains an essential figure for anyone seeking to truly analyze and engage with the depths of the human soul and spirituality.

His most profound insights center upon the concepts of archetypes and the process of individuation.

Within his autobiographical writings, Carl Jung shared seven sermons addressed to the dead.
The following passage strikes me as the most evocative:

THE THIRD OF THE SEVEN SERMONS TO THE DEAD
AS RECORDED BY BASILIDES IN ALEXANDRIA,
A CITY WHERE THE EAST
MEETS THE WEST

It is difficult to perceive the divinity of Abraxas. His power is supreme precisely because it eludes human perception. From the sun, he draws the *summum bonum*, and from the devil, the *infinum malum*; yet from Abraxas, he draws LIFE—utterly indeterminate, the mother of both good and evil.
To those who are smaller or weaker, life appears to stem from the *summum bonum*—which is why it is also difficult to conceive that Abraxas surpasses even the sun in power, acting as the singular source that saturates all vital force.
Abraxas is the sun, yet simultaneously the eternal, devouring maw of excess, the devil who humbles and consumes.
The power of Abraxas is dualistic, but you remain blind to it, for the opposing forces of this power are hidden from your sight.
What God declares is that the sun is life.
What the devil declares is death.
But Abraxas utters that consecrated and cursed word which is both life and death in a single breath.
Abraxas brings forth truth and lies, good and evil, light and darkness, through the same word and the same deed. Thus, Abraxas is terrifying.
He is as majestic as a lion in the moment it strikes its prey.
He is as beautiful as a spring day. He is the great Pan himself, yet he is also the small. He is Priapus.
He is the monster of the underworld, a polyp with a thousand arms, a writhing mass of winged serpents, pure frenzy.
He is an androgynous being from the very moment of creation.
He is the master of the frogs that dwell in the water and emerge onto land, their chorus rising at noon and midnight.
He is the abundance that seeks union with the void.
He is the holy conception.
He is love and the murder of love.
He is the saint and the betrayer of saints.
He is the brightest light of day and the darkest night of madness.
To look upon him is to invite blindness.
To know him is to invite sickness.
To worship him is to court death.
To fear him is to find wisdom.
To resist him is to find salvation.
God dwells behind the sun; the devil dwells behind the night. Whatever God creates from the light, the devil breathes into the darkness.
But Abraxas is the world itself, its becoming and its passing. For every gift that comes from God—the sun—the devil places his curse.
Everything you pray for from God—the sun—gives rise to some work of the devil.
Everything you create through God—the sun—grants the devil functional power.
Such is the formidable Abraxas.
He is the most powerful of creatures, and within him, that very creature fears itself.
He stands as the clear opposite of the creature in relation to the *pleroma* and its nothingness.
He is the son's fear of the mother.
He is the mother's love for the son.
He is the sweetness of the earth and the cruelty of the heavens.
Before his face, man turns to stone.
Before him, every question and every answer vanishes.
He is the creature of life.
He is the act of differentiation.
He is the love of man.
He is the speech of man.
He is the manifestation of man's shadow.
He is the illusory reality.

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Portraits that inspire you in Spirituality · Jan 24, 2009

I have been dwelling on this particular subject for quite some time now, and honestly, my most significant hurdle was simply settling upon an appropriate title.

Countless ideas drifted through my mind:

Portraits of Spiritual Teachers
Spiritual Authorities
Spiritual Leaders...

However, none of these designations truly resonate with the essence of spirituality—neither leader, nor authority, nor teacher feels quite right.

Having finally arrived at a fitting heading, I am offering you (and myself) this space to exchange our insights and reflections, whether briefly or extensively, regarding those individuals who inspired you to embark upon your own spiritual journey.

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Complaint about the philosophy moderator in Feedback & Suggestions · Jan 23, 2009

Lawrence Ortiz87 said:Since you seem intent on flooding this thread with questions, I might as well ask—where exactly are you located?

That is really none of your business.

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Complaint about the philosophy moderator in Feedback & Suggestions · Jan 23, 2009

Lawrence Ortiz87 said:I find myself wondering why, whenever someone starts a thread regarding a specific issue, the entire discussion inevitably devolves into cheerleading. 🙄It seems as though certain individuals feel an inexplicable urge to defend the moderator’s personal character or their work, even when those things have absolutely nothing to do with the actual subject at hand.🙄

The fundamental issue here is that there isn't actually a problem to solve; rather, one individual perceives a problem where none exists, and a small group of people—who already tend to disregard our philosophy moderator—have simply rushed in to offer their misguided support.

On a side note, I consider it spam for anyone to claim that hiddenhound3 is uneducated, because from my reading of the opening post, that certainly isn't the core issue being discussed.

If there had been any genuine desire for resolution, this entire "controversy" could have been settled quite peacefully.

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Complaint about the philosophy moderator in Feedback & Suggestions · Jan 23, 2009

Kate Fisher73 said:It is my firm belief that only a censored moderator of the Philosophy section could possibly construct a sentence this convoluted and poorly written.

By all means, give it a read; it is quite entertaining material.

You know how we say back in my neck of the woods: 'a bad tailor finds fault with every single thread.'
That little thought keeps buzzing in my ear every time I run into you and your relentless obsession with those PDF complaint forms. 🙂

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Complaint about the philosophy moderator in Feedback & Suggestions · Jan 23, 2009

casualtiger2 said:Is there not some unspoken rule stating that those who have contributed a mere 32 posts—this one included—mostly consisting of nothing but emojis, should not be in any position to critique the performance of a moderator like steelridge58?! 😠👎
P.S.
The decision to label her as "stubborn" and "arrogant" speaks volumes about the speaker's own character. It practically begs for a formal warning!

This sounds like the commentary of a seasoned forum veteran possessing a rather distinct alter ego.

However, to avoid drifting entirely off-topic, I feel compelled to state that the complaints regarding steelridge58 are utterly without merit; it is rare to encounter someone who puts such immense effort into their PDFs while remaining consistently tolerant and diplomatic.

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