Posts by Betty Ramos

Susan Jackson said:Quincy:

mellowskipper Asks: What exactly is the shock factor here? I’m not following. Are we really acting surprised that someone might grab a snack or a drink during an 8, 12, or even a 24-hour shift? Sent from my iPhone using Reddit

I’m just trolling, honestly—who can really blame someone for acting a little unconventional? I've already picked up a few strikes for it.

It feels like everyone is just throwing kids under the bus lately, all in some misguided attempt to protect a version of the past that clearly isn't coming back. We’ve been watching this same failed cycle play out for over a year now, and it's becoming pretty obvious that these sacrifices aren't actually saving anything.
Today's kids—and by extension, the very future of our society—are the biggest victims of this pandemic. Even though they aren't the ones being directly hit by the virus, and shouldn't even be feeling the indirect fallout, they’re paying the highest price. Think about it: education and social interaction are the bedrock upon which we build our entire future. Replacing that with Zoom classes, banning sports teams, cutting off travel and field trips, and shutting down community centers, cafes, and clubs is nothing short of a catastrophe. On top of that, constantly making children feel guilty for just existing is devastating. This has been dragging on for two years now, especially when you factor in the strikes from our supposedly "empathetic" teachers. It's a mess.
When it comes to raising our kids, we aren't doing it to turn them into future psychopaths or lazy people with zero intellectual drive. Honestly, as long as they don't end up like that, I couldn't care less about anyone else.

Spot on. This whole situation is a catastrophe, and it doesn't look like it's winding down anytime soon.

All their normal activities are restricted or flat-out banned, yet somehow they can wander through shopping malls without a second thought—because apparently, the virus never visits the mall. It seems the restrictions specifically target culture, sports, the arts, language schools, and local community groups... which have been sidelined since last year. Or perhaps it isn't the virus at all, but the architects of this mess making sure these activities don't interfere with the "new normal"—this push toward a more robotic way of living...

I have to give some credit to Jumanji... It wasn't even on my radar until I started seeing all the buzz online—so I figured, why not take the kid along for a movie night for a change? I went in with zero expectations and absolutely no preconceived notions. And... well, it was more than just good... it was fantastic. Fun, fast-paced, and never felt like it had a wasted second—yet it managed to avoid that exhausting, frantic pacing you see in movies that chase "action" just for the sake of it... There were plenty of laughs, too... The ensemble cast works so well together; nobody is overstepping, but as a group, they just click. Honestly, it feels like even the actors didn't realize how perfectly everything would fall into place during filming... 👍

A perfect 10/10 from me.

Pixar hits it out of the park once again with another masterpiece. Everything is just right—the story, the score, the visuals, the emotional depth... It’s exactly what you expect from them, and usually, they deliver even more than that. Truly impressive work 👍

A Walken 👍

Such a fantastic movie—the animation, the realism, the characters, even the voice acting... everything about it is just top-tier...

Grace Sanchez50 said:Honestly, all these comparisons about how it isn't like the book or doesn't capture its spirit are getting old. Sure, the title is The Little Prince, but this isn't actually an adaptation of the book.
That second part really elevates the movie—it feels like something Gilliam would have directed...

Exactly... and it bugs me too—the way they market it using the name, the characters, and everything from The Little Prince just to get us in seats, even though it doesn't follow the spirit at all. They use images of him and his rose in the ads, but then my kid—who has loved The Little Prince for ages—watches a devastated planet overrun by baobabs and a withered rose, and just wants to go home.
I don't know what people expect, but if I order vanilla ice cream and there's a picture of a scoop on the menu, that's what I want—or if the ice cream maker is feeling creative, at least give me something vanilla-flavored. I don't want to be handed a ham and cheese sandwich wrapped in a picture of vanilla ice cream...

I didn't really care for this movie—it lacked both the soul and the depth I was looking for, and it certainly failed to capture the magic of the original book. The first half is decent enough, mostly because the core story has a certain charm that’s hard to completely lose even if you try, but that second half? That gloomy, dark, action-heavy segment with the transformed version of The Little Prince was just awful... exhausting, really, and not at all in the spirit of the source material. I honestly wish people would post more clips online so you'd know what's coming—because going in expecting the actual The Little Prince, I practically wanted to walk right out of the theater. It felt like they thought the plot was too simple, so they just pushed the action forward and forward without anything meaningful actually happening... where is the action, baby? They forced this frantic energy onto the characters, turning it into some sort of dark version of Hotel Transylvania.

I honestly don't know what "self-actualization" even means—is it just something people write about in books? From what I’ve seen and felt so far, everything is constantly in motion, and maybe that movement itself *is* the actualization (my own perspective shifts too, so there's no guarantee that tomorrow won't look completely different from today's lack of clarity). Everything is already unfolding, so it is essentially realizing itself... Some people give themselves to their children, some to friends, some to strangers, some to ideas, some to objects, some to themselves, and then there are those who just... well, they don't give anything at all, and they eventually just wither away. Like a seed that fails to sprout and loses its strength and vital essence. But even a seed that does sprout isn't guaranteed to have the creative power to grow into a mighty tree—maybe it just becomes a hardworking shrub providing shade, or in a best-case scenario, some fruit... A seed might start to grow, only to have a sudden frost freeze it out, much like my balcony plants did this winter. Not all of them died, but most did. Did they "self-actualize" if they grew just a little bit, but not enough to be considered successful in their botanical lives (not that it's my place to judge them... or anyone else, really)? Could they have done better, or was that the limit? Does Life itself know what it's doing within the seed? Maybe they just didn't have a good gardener—someone to nurture them and watch over them. Or perhaps the icy breath of Life in winter simply blew too hard, preventing the seedling from fully manifesting. Or maybe that's just how it is? The Seed of Life that doesn't sprout, the seedling frozen by Life's cold breath, and the tree that bears fruit and creates new Life. It's all just one life...

Men tend to overthink things—too much "philosophy" and not enough feeling. They get caught up in dissecting definitions that don't even exist, and if they actually do experience a moment of true clarity—rarely in their hearts, more often just in their heads—they immediately want everyone else to acknowledge it so they can play the leader.

Women, on the other hand, often struggle with a lack of inner certainty. They tend to overcomplicate the obvious, with emotional shifts that swing as wildly as the phases of the moon... which only serves to cloud what is actually clear.

So, until they find that sense of Oneness, both sides remain equally disconnected from the spiritual. 🙂

And who exactly is attempting to open up to unconditional Love? It’s a being that has grown tired of the experience of conditional closedness and fear—seeking instead an unconditional openness and Love. Through a "tormented" person who isn't even asked for their input, yet is somehow expected to just surrender to it all—whether it happens or not... 🙂

Hey there, person with the great username 🙂,
Everything is the same—yet it isn't quite the same until you actually identify with it.
All is One, but it doesn't truly become One until that oneness is realized.
Everything exists and doesn't exist... all at once.
But, but, but...
I just remembered something... the fact that I actually know nothing at all 🙂
(except that everything is constantly shifting and that it's good to plant oneself firmly)
So, all this we're saying? It’s just talk.
It might be better to just quote Narnia, for example 🙂
Because for truth lies in Life, not in mere words.
Sometimes, the only thing that matters is what stays hidden between the words.

Right... we were discussing who actually dies and who doesn't, so since I'm already speculating, I might as well keep going.
So, in this context... our personality—basically "us"—is impermanent. Our entire being consists of parts that die within the visible, temporary world, and other parts that pass away in the so-called afterlife—which is also temporary. But we "possess" an Impermanent part that seeks to realize itself through us—it "travels" from incarnation to incarnation until it finally "awakens" via the temporary. It isn't actually "us," though we can certainly catch glimpses of it if it begins to awaken through our very existence.

I used to read quite a bit myself, though I’m not one for heavy speculation—I honestly believe Truth is pretty straightforward. If I were to sit down and write out my current perspective right now, it would go something like this...

In my view, there is black and white—not those fifty boring shades of gray or all those distracting colors. And look, "black" doesn't imply something bad if you look at it that way—it's easier to just call them the impermanent and the impermanent. Or, you could say there is Light, and then everything else that merely mimics that Light. The impermanent and the impermanent exist together and permeate one another, yet they don't mix. Even though they are here. Right now. I count the physical world as impermanent, along with that "afterlife" state where the ego-personality fades away after the physical body dies. It’s all impermanent. It's me, and it's less of me. One cannot become the other. You see, the black cannot ascend and "whiten" itself enough to become the White. It can turn light gray, and it can refine its garment—if it simply allows the White to "work" and doesn't get in the way... but there is no upward growth beyond a certain point. There is a ceiling to the impermanent world that cannot be crossed. To cross it, it isn't the individual who moves, but the White—which can only "diminish" and "reveal" everything that is not of Him. Because in the end, it is the White who "resurrects." Consciousness is what looks itself in the face. Impermanent within Impermanent.
As for how the current personality feels when that happens—what remains of it, or how much of it gets "integrated" if it integrates into the Impermanent—well, I don't know, nor do I care to speculate...

These are all just theories—if we assume you only truly know what you experience firsthand, then we won't actually know anything until we pass away, whether during Life or afterward (and if we cease to exist entirely, well, then there's no knowing at all)... so personally, I don't claim to know. That said, my own experiences and perspective so far seem to align with the theories regarding the death of the ego. What remains is the "soul"—or whatever term people prefer to use—now enriched by all those experiences gained through the ego during our physical existence. It continues its journey if it hasn't yet achieved "realization," "resurrection," or "liberation or enlightenment."
But again, I’m just saying these are merely theories; as of right now, I only know that I know (almost) nothing.

I’d say I’m mostly in agreement here—everything truly happens in its own time. You can't force a moment or skip steps... there really isn't such a thing as "wrong" action when you're simply acting in alignment with the current state of your being. Even if you wish things were different, at any given moment, things just are the way they are—it is what it is, as they say in those movies...

That said, I wouldn't go so far as to say we are all Gods, even though we all carry God and the divine within us—whether that's consciously realized or just lying dormant. But what is dying isn't God. It's us who are dying.

The reason for living is Life itself. This magnificent, wonderful, massive, perfect Life. How could anyone find it boring when there are so many wonders to witness? Though, it can be terrifying at times too—which is exactly why it’s so incredible. It’s all-encompassing. It’s possible. It’s an All-in-One experience. And while the Light is always shining, people often miss it... but the Light wants to be seen. So, Life "intentionally" pushes us into those dark places—perhaps just to nudge the sunglasses off our faces and force our eyes open, so we can finally perceive the Light through the contrast...

Matthew Evans said:"Quote:"

It’s actually pretty simple: Once you finally return to the Source—once you actually wake up—you realize you are God.
When you finally cycle back from that state and reintegrate into experience—let's say, you’re just an ordinary guy again—you aren't starting from scratch. You emerge as someone with an upgraded awareness of the Self-God. It’s a heightened state of being that you keep sharp, all thanks to that specific process of pulling your attention back toward the Self-absolute.

______________

A bit more context:

First, you need the hunger to know, followed by the groundwork—basically, training the Being’s will and attention to slowly turn toward the Self. But when I say "toward the Self," I’m talking about that thing which can never be perceived through subjective imagery. I mean the true I. Once a Being is sufficiently prepared, the enlightenment of the absolute (the Self) happens exactly when you least expect it. Why? Because that's the only time you're actually free from striving. Every attempt at striving is just an exercise in concentrating attention through the intellect. You can't perceive something that doesn't vibrate using mere logic. As long as you remain conscious of the object you're chasing—as long as you're thinking and focusing on a vibrating thought—enlightenment won't happen. It means you have to be ready to voluntarily surrender everything that makes you a distinct creature, including Consciousness itself. This doesn't imply that, as a Being, you are totally unaware of what you're trying to achieve. Quite the opposite; you've simply placed your intention in the hands of the Self-God. Even before enlightenment, you've already had intuitive flashes of Consciousness (the spirit of the absolute), including glimpses of that "thing" you're searching for. But you could never truly conceptualize it; your intellect just couldn't grasp the absolute. This preparation is essentially an intuitive education in how to surrender unconditionally, placing total trust in that absolute spirit that has been feeding you instructions until now. By developing intuition, you arrive at inevitable Knowledge, which allows you to surrender with confidence. The path to total surrender is the path to total trust—which leads to an absolute freedom from the fear of loss, from death, and from the terror of non-existence. Through this kind of spiritual self-education, you become calm and composed, yet still driven by the desire for total Self-knowledge, ready to accept whatever Consciousness decides to offer you. When you are fully surrendered to Consciousness, that is the moment all barriers dissolve and the spirit of the creature returns to the absolute spirit. Truly, that is when the Being, through a will that is already surrendered to Consciousness, shifts its attention away from the projection of experience—away from the subject's intellect—and onto the absolute itself: onto what remains when the projection is "switched off." Onto the true Self.

It’s pretty simple, really. When a Being directs its entire focus inward toward the self—toward the absolute—that absolute becomes illuminated by an absolute spirit. That reflection of what truly is merges with the thing itself. In that moment, that initial core of what exists (the absolute) and the absolute spirit (Consciousness) become one single, absolute unit of Self-knowledge.

Look, I’m telling you, it all comes down to the Self-absolute. Think about it: if Knowledge itself is absolute, then that Absolute is absolute too. That means every single bit of individual Self-knowledge—which is really just a reflection of the quality of the absolute—acts as a container for every other piece of Self-knowledge out there. In this kind of absolute relationship, the Being becomes God. Once consciousness turns inward and excludes unconsciousness, the human spirit as we know it simply ceases to exist. It has to happen that way for the Source to reveal itself. At that point, the Being isn't some "creature" anymore; it's become the Self-absolute, or God.

If God is the absolute—the one who truly knows the Self—then that Knowledge contains everything necessary for what *is* to actually exist. It’s all there, sitting in that pool of potential. Within that same Consciousness, everything is already known. We're talking total Self-knowledge: every quality of the absolute, the mechanics of projection, the principles of existence, and pretty much anything else you could possibly wrap your head around. But here’s the thing: Knowledge isn't the manifestation itself. Because the Being understands this, it pulls its attention and will back into an individual projection. It carries that Knowledge along, expanding the spirit of creation and trying to fulfill that primal drive—the original intention of the soul to realize itself. That’s why that spiritual Knowledge gets funneled down into the human intellect. It has to be processed and understood so it can actually be put to work, attempting to refine reality until it mirrors the purest expression of the soul.

I find myself wondering... is there actually a decision involved here? A sort of human "consent" to enter into Knowledge? We all talk about liberation or enlightenment, but (assuming such a thing exists) the question is how many people right now—here in this room—would uncompromisingly agree, no matter the cost, to "surrender" to it all. If they even had the choice, of course. It seems to me that most of us, as long as life is good and we're doing alright, just enjoy our little illusion—we read the books, we daydream... we'd love actual liberation or enlightenment, sure, but maybe tomorrow, or next year, or some fine day down the road. Then, I get the impression, the system collapses, the illusion loses its vibrant colors or completely dissolves to reveal its true illusory face, just so we might finally turn back to the self... and if we don't turn back, the cycle just repeats. Is there any mention of a consent, a surrender, a conscious "Thy will be done"—something truly decisive? Or does it all just happen on its own? Does "Consciousness" shape a decision, deciding to wake up, and then the person wakes up—willingly or not—pouring themselves into trust until they seemingly, voluntarily, "consent"? Or perhaps they never truly consent at all? Or maybe there is neither a decision nor a person 🙂?

What’s the deal with hugging... when all you feel is this wave of awkwardness—where you can barely stand being yourself, let alone someone else. How do you hug in those moments without feeling forced, or worse, fake.

Not at all. I mean, what would be the point? If there isn't even a tiny impulse to reach out—if those internal sensors are just dead—then they're dead. Even Jesus raised the dead, but nowadays it feels like only zombies are rising 🙂
I might just go hug a tree instead... sounds silly, I know, but I think I'll actually go find one today. Maybe two, depending on which one looks more inviting 🙂 🙂

How do you learn to hug someone without them even realizing it.

Just embrace them in spirit. Though, maybe they will sense it if the connection is sincere enough—and if they happen to be on a similar wavelength 🙂

Quote:>

Hug me...

This song was playing on loop for me all last night—it's beautiful. I first heard it about ten days ago while I was grabbing some fruit at Whole Foods. I meant to look it up on YouTube right then, but it slipped my mind, and then suddenly here it is. So nice 🙂

All those souls are just traveling—looking for themselves in the reflection of others.
Quite often, they find nothing at all in those mirrors. Sometimes they think they see something, but it’s really just wishful thinking—they want so badly to see a spark, or perhaps they're just staring at souls that are fast asleep. It’s funny, really... how some can sleep so deeply despite all the wonders in this world that stay hidden unless you truly open your eyes...
There is such joy when they finally catch a glimpse of another soul. Even though they already possess everything they need, there's a special kind of happiness in sharing that joy together. A touch of the soul, a physical embrace... it's everything.

And what a wonderful thing nimbleranger5 did here 🙂 👍

Casey Gomez said:The core issue here is essentially how far an individual intends to push their own self-development and spirituality, versus how much they settle for frivolous, fleeting quick fixes—those superficial religious veneers and New Age recipes typically cobbled together from religious or psychoanalytic theories dressed up in naive semantics.
The term "spirituality" itself, which relies on spirit as its central motif, ideologically implies a counterpoint to materialism; it suggests non-substantialism. In nearly all religious texts, the imperative to renounce material wealth emerges as a necessity for the spiritual and secular lives of religious figures—essentially acting as an idealistic paradigm.
Such a demand placed upon a human being stands in direct opposition to our innate nature, which is defined by the permanent attempt to satisfy our own internal voids. As one philosopher clarified, the very existence of passion is a clear indicator that human reality is one of scarcity. It is an unquenchable scarcity that easily devolves into compensation through extreme forms of human gratification, manifesting as blind greed and hatred.
Thus, it is clear that in the struggle against our own animality, man must sacrifice his inherent inclination toward materialism to slowly ascend toward, say, the divine, in order to reach what is ultimately a true ordering of reality. Truth is ugly, according to N.

However, it is difficult to realize this imperative *a priori*, and even harder to abandon the psychological primacy through which we live our lives: our instincts.
The reward is hazy; the state of consciousness belonging to a sublime spirit is an intangible unknown that cannot be pursued if one isn't even aware of its existence.

It is obvious that such a philosophy cannot be contemplated unless it is lived. It requires a different worldview, a different tuning of the nervous system—something that seems impossible to the average person. This requires either an innate quality or circumstances driven by a certain destined force.
Our needs and desires are, even historically speaking, replaceable as momentary pursuits. It would be absurd to suggest that a modern person wants exactly what an 18th-century resident wanted, such as a new carriage and a horse. Yet, that was just as much of a struggle for them as a luxury car is for someone today.

So, who is truly prepared to sublimate nature—that nature whose enchanting, scenic beauty we admire—while beneath our feet, a dramatically fatal and relentless war plays out as a compensation for the eternal deficiency felt by those who live?

An ambitious man who works for hours just to enjoy wealth still represents the ideal of human will and struggle, but can he simultaneously enjoy his entire estate in the same way a higher spirit can enjoy the entirety of its own hard-won, superhuman consciousness?

I’d find it fascinating to observe someone who has never heard a single word or read a single sentence about "That Something"—what would their pursuit of that Higher Truth actually look like? (There are plenty of people out there, I suppose, but if they aren't consuming any information regarding this topic amidst today's constant digital noise, then perhaps their spirit is being pulled toward something entirely different... making them irrelevant to this specific conversation.) And would such a person even exist? Or would they live more like a Native American—the way I imagine them, anyway—simply existing within Nature, living in harmony with it, and learning directly from it? They wouldn't dream of "self-improvement"; they would just... improve. We’ve all spent our lives reading and listening to everything under the sun, filling ourselves up with both garbage and flowers—and you can't just hit an eraser on all that mental clutter, no matter how much useless junk we accumulate along the way. But at the same time, new things do take hold. Newer, more subtle ideas for growth start to settle in...