Posts by wearyhawk83

Gregory Jackson said:So, I’ve got this one old story for you—my former mentor once went on this wild streak where he played Lines for four days and four nights straight without even blinking. You know, that super simple game where you just try to line up five colored balls in a row? It was honestly kind of intense; they basically just kept him fueled up with food and water while he was totally locked in. Now, this guy is seriously enlightened—we're talking twenty years deep into this stuff, a really powerful presence. Anyway, when he caught a glimpse of what I was thinking about earlier, he made a point similar to one of those posts above, saying that it’s really all about the quality of your consciousness and how whole or integrated it feels, rather than the specific act itself. I guess what he meant was you could be in a state of total meditation while standing in line at a Target, or you could be in the middle of absolute chaos and still be "meditating." So, yeah, it doesn't really matter if you're playing Lines or whatever else; whether you're actually being "spiritual" or not just comes down to the depth and integrity of your awareness while you're doing it.

Honestly, I stay far away from that kind of "spirituality." That isn't spirituality; it’s just pure suggestibility. He was just trying to use "consciousness" as a cheap excuse for his gaming addiction.
It’s like saying I can justify a gambling addiction by claiming I’m in a "high state of consciousness" while hitting the casino, or heaven forbid, while committing a crime. His answer is totally incomplete, especially since he barely even touched on the idea of integrity.

Any kind of extreme behavior is a million miles away from being spiritual.

Mark Sullivan64 said:Then again, there are plenty of people who do make a killing in professional gaming. Take South Korea and Starcraft, for instance. Top-tier players pull in millions of dollars a year. Even in China, playing WoW for cash is a thing—though if I remember correctly, the hourly rate isn't exactly great, but that's beside the point. You can't really call someone a "professional" gamer unless they're actually getting paid for it.
That said, I totally agree that overdoing it is bad, and addiction—well, addiction is bad, plain and simple.

The thing is, not every single game has some grand objective you have to crush. A lot of them are played purely for the fun of it or just to get lost in the story. It's like reading a book or watching a movie for the narrative; games work the same way. What you're describing sounds more like those massive online games—the ones that tend to become a replacement for reality because you step into a digital avatar in a world where anything is possible. For people struggling with self-esteem, that virtual world starts looking a lot better than the real one. Sad, but true. :/

Someone playing games professionally unless that’s actually how they pay their bills...

We're totally on the same page.

The thing is, not every single game has some specific goal you have to crush. A ton of games are played strictly for fun or just to get lost in the story. It’s exactly like picking up a book or watching a movie for the plot—gaming works the same way.

I’m not disputing that at all! Honestly, playing certain games can even be more beneficial than binge-watching movies or reading cheesy soap operas since they can really sharpen your mental skills.
It only gets messy when gaming becomes the main priority and everything else in life starts getting neglected.

What you’re describing sounds more like online gaming to me, which usually ends up becoming a substitute for real life. You step into a virtual character in a virtual world where anything feels possible. For people struggling with self-confidence, that digital world starts looking way better than reality. Sad, but true. :/

Personally, I’d lean toward online gaming if I had to choose, because hey, virtual communication is still communication! It only becomes an issue when that digital dose replaces real-world interaction to the point where we start ignoring the people closest to us. Until then, there's no harm in it, because everyone has the right to spend their free time however they want. Whether it's gaming, reading a novel, or even collecting napkins—it's your call.

Mark Sullivan64 said:It’s been a minute since I’ve had to wade through this much pure nonsense... so, uh, let's take it one step at a time.

There’s really nothing wrong with gaming—it shouldn't have any negative impact on your spiritual life at all. Honestly, the only thing it might mess with is your social life. That’s why you’ve got to set some boundaries for yourself—deciding exactly how much you play and when you call it a night. I don't see any reason why you should stop... if anything, gaming can actually be a good thing. Now, I’m not talking about World of Warcraft or stuff like that—mostly just MMORPGs—because those games don't really try to push some deep message on you, though they can definitely suck you into the virtual world so hard that your actual life ends up feeling totally AFK. Pathetic. 😢
Honestly, you get games these days where the storytelling actually holds its own against some of the best novels out there—we're talking deep, layered characters that you genuinely find yourself relating to. It’s pretty wild when you think about it.

🙏
Then there’s Black & White—a game where you basically step into the shoes of a god. You can pretty much do whatever you want.

Your post is... simply... 🤣
First off, she's a kid... obviously kids find that stuff funny. Second, when I trip and fall, I laugh at myself too, and it's totally normal for people to laugh at you. Good grief, it's not like I'm going to burst into tears just because I stumbled. On the other hand, if it’s actually serious, any normal person is going to help you up.
I agree that today's TV programming is way more messed up, but cartoons!? 😂
Yeah, sure, kids are definitely going to see a cartoon character flying, jumping, and smashing things and want to try doing the same when they grow up. Get real... ☕
What really ruins minds—and not just kids'—are reality shows like Big Brother and everything else spinning on MTV. What is there to learn from that? That you can sit in a house for a year doing absolutely nothing but acting like an idiot and get paid? Great. Then there's all that nonsense you see on American TV... where you see groups of young people looking for love based on how someone's bedroom looks, or dating someone's parents first, etc. It's a disaster. And then there are those various shows about local celebrities, where they show us uneducated, rude snobs who somehow stumbled into wealth, and then they actually glorify them (like some billionaire mogul in a penthouse). You could go on forever...
In any case, violence is picked up from your surroundings (family, school, the streets), not from cartoons or video games. Me and plenty of people I know grew up watching "violent" cartoons and playing "violent" games, and none of us ever thought about taking it out on anyone... Kids are much more likely to pick up something negative from the commercialized, aggressive rap songs they idolize.

That's like saying a professional athlete has no control over their life, so they try to compensate through sports by trying to be dominant and playing only to win. Total nonsense...
If we're talking about competitive games with actual tournaments, then yeah, the goal is to win and grab the prize money. And, of course, to have fun.
If we aren't talking about competitive games, then please explain to me what you mean by that phrase—"playing just to win."

Look, if someone is a pro athlete, they are a professional. It's their job, their paycheck, and their entire livelihood.

But someone who plays video games professionally—if that isn't actually how they pay the bills—is just someone burning through free time without any real-world payoff. And please, keep in mind what I was getting at in my last post regarding "addiction" and "excessive" behavior.

If we’re talking about competitive gaming with actual tournaments, then yeah, the whole point is to win the prize money. And obviously, to have fun.
If we aren't talking about competitive gaming, then please explain what you mean by "playing just to win."

Okay, I phrased that poorly. If every game has an objective, is there anyone out there playing *not* to reach that goal?
It's basically virtual ego boosters, predictable patterns, and guaranteed "rewards." I still firmly believe that in most cases, it's just a substitute for real life.

At the end of the day, life is the ultimate sandbox game, and more importantly, it's actually real.

I honestly don't get how you can destroy something you don't even own. It’s like they say—the dose makes the poison, whether it's medicine or venom.

Getting way too sucked into gaming is basically the perfect escape for people who feel like they have zero control over their actual lives. In a virtual world, they can totally make up for it and chase that massive ego boost of feeling superior. To be real, I don't know a single person addicted to games who isn't just playing to feel like a winner.

Gregory Jackson said:I mean, is it even good for anything? Like, just sitting there? Or maybe it's meant to turn "non-believers" into stone or something? Haha, I guess I'm pretty new to this whole topic, so...

Look, I honestly have no clue, which is exactly why I hit you up! Since you totally nailed that last question about what the guy actually specializes in, I figured you might just happen to have the answer to this one too.

Brenda Cook4 said:...just so it stays right where it belongs, letting the stone rest in peace under God's watch without trying to take matters into its own hands.😬

Why not? 🙂

Gregory Jackson said:Honestly guys, I really feel like humans are just specialized for spiritual growth. It’s basically our one true calling, right? We're the only ones who can actually reach out to the Creator and fully live up to everything we're meant to be. It's just a shame that most people end up tossing that specialization aside to go do everything else they weren't even designed for.

So, what exactly is a rock specialized in?

hiddenhound3 said:I have contemplated the concept of death on countless occasions. My encounters with it have rarely been direct; rather, I have witnessed it through the passing of loved ones, whether they reached the natural end of their journey or were overtaken by the heavy weight of illness or profound sorrow.
The sudden passing of an acquaintance online has once again prompted me to reflect deeply on this subject. While others offer condolences and shroud the deceased in mourning and gloom, I find myself experiencing a strange sense of lightness.
A person is finally liberated from all suffering, pain, and those endless existential dilemmas that plague us. They have finally attained ultimate truth, cast off the heavy shell of mortality, and now dwell in an undisturbed eternity. To my mind, this is news of the highest order—so profoundly good that nothing could surpass it.

How do you approach the idea of death? Do you harbor fear regarding your own end, or do you find yourself consumed by grief for those who have passed?

WIND-SWEPT TOY

Suffer without tears, live without curses,
and embrace a peaceful misfortune.
Tears are hollow, and lamentations
will not soften the bitter sleep.

Surrender your faith in life to the drunkard,
and let the winds carry you wherever they may;
allow yourself to be swirled like a leaf
within the frantic whirl of a mad gale.

Fly like a leaf caught in the vortex,
for flight is your very essence, soul.
Not for the earth, nor for the grave,
is the flower that possesses no roots.

T. U.

I try to look at it as just a natural part of being alive. I don't really fear my own end, except maybe when it feels like it's right around the corner—but once my biological clock finally runs out, we'll see how I handle it!

As for mourning, I think it's totally fine if they were close to me or if their passing still feels fresh. But honestly, my feelings toward people who've passed can swing all over the place—one minute it's sadness, the next it's a little laugh, or sometimes just a calm, clear-eyed perspective. I look at everyone with respect, period. No extra drama needed.

The absolute best way to show them respect is simply to keep them in your heart.

electrictrucker18 said:Just picture the scenario: suddenly, you find yourself drawn toward something that goes completely against everything you thought you believed in... maybe it's a sweet, wholesome girl fantasizing about a threesome, or a college professor at some big state university wondering if he should just surrender to a myth being dangled in front of him... you know what I mean? 😁

So, basically, a person finds themselves standing at a crossroads, facing a path they never imagined they'd even consider taking...

I actually have a friend who's dealing with a challenge right like this—something that could totally flip his entire life upside down—and honestly, I just don't think it's a smart move. How is a person even supposed to fight off a temptation like that?

So, what even are "worldviews," and how consistent are we really?
What I’m trying to say is that if these thoughts pop into your head, they aren't just random noise; they’ve actually woven themselves into your subconscious over time. It's part of your mental landscape now.

I don't know about you guys, but for me, it's super simple: I just sit down with myself, dive deep into what's going on, and hash it out so I can react without any hesitation when the time comes.

I've got a buddy facing a choice that could flip his entire life upside down... and honestly, I don't think it's a smart move. How is a person supposed to fight off a demon like that?

In my opinion, the biggest mistake you can make is labeling something like that a "demon" or whatever. That's just nonsense! It's basically just an excuse to "give in" in the heat of the moment and shift the blame onto something else instead of taking responsibility for yourself .
If this is a more serious issue, there are plenty of professionals out there—people every taxpayer in the US helps fund—who are trained to help, including your friend.

The whole "staring into the abyss" thing? Total superstition. Just something that seemed edgy or cool back when I was a kid or a teenager.

A string of bad luck or circumstances isn't some cosmic black hole. There is no "abyss" to fall into, because let's be real: you've been dead since the day you were born.

dustyraven26 said:To arrive at any genuine solution, one must first separate them.
The pursuit of pleasure inherently presumes the existence of a definitive target—a specific state of gratification that is actually within our reach to achieve.
Running away from discomfort doesn't actually provide a solution; it merely reinforces the underlying necessity for change.

Driven by habit, once a person establishes what they want, sets a target, and maps out the path to reach it, they often find themselves trapped within a specific preconception, clinging to the conviction and hope that this mental construct can eventually be realized in the future.

On the other hand, discomfort offers a distinct opportunity to identify the true source of one's unease rather than merely reacting to perceived notions. This inherent desire for that discomfort to subside provides the necessary impetus to actually address and eliminate the root cause.

Spot on. But does that drive for change actually align with the end goal most of the time?

Because of old habits, even when someone knows exactly what they want and how to get it, they can get totally stuck in a mindset—clinging to the hope that their outdated way of thinking will somehow work out in the future.

Honestly, being able to delay gratification is a total superpower. Maybe the biggest one there is.

dustyraven26 said:If we accept the premise that human existence is a perpetual cycle of chasing pleasure and fleeing discomfort, one must wonder which force truly drives us:
the pursuit of gratification or the avoidance of pain? 🤷

Does it even matter, and at what point does one person's lifestyle start stepping on someone else's toes?

dustyraven26 said:Since there hasn't been any activity here for quite some time, I thought it might be appropriate to offer my thanks to everyone.
If you aren't going to demonstrate any genuine interest in what I have to say, then there is simply no point in me continuing.

Fair enough. To begin with, I should probably provide a more thorough breakdown of all this to ensure everything is perfectly clear.
I am merely outlining a personal experience, along with certain realizations I have reached regarding the nature of man.
I have no intention of forcing anyone’s hand, but I must ask.
If we view this through a lens that isn't merely about whether one likes or dislikes something—which is really just an exercise in feeding the ego—we can instead approach it as a matter of scrutiny: does the claim actually hold any truth?

I have been reviewing this thread, and it appears you maintain the position that thought is strictly a byproduct of lived experience. It is an interesting stance, though I find myself wondering about those individuals who spend their entire lives attempting to purge their minds of all things worldly—those who strive to transcend the earthly through a steadfast belief in eternal hope.

Picture a man caught in a strange tension, tethered on one hand by his evolutionary drive to the material world, while simultaneously feeling, deep within his soul, a profound sense of nothingness. 🙂 It would be wise to find somewhere else to go.
Unfortunately, his attachment to the material world is so profound that it dictates his entire perspective, leaving him effectively trapped within its confines.
But consider this: what if you viewed that relationship as little more than a knotted string, one that could simply be untied at any moment? If that were the case, how would you proceed? 🙂

Look, I definitely have the knack for calling ten sports parlay winners in a row and turning a tiny bet into a massive payday, but I don't obsess over it. Even though the cash and all those material things—and yeah, the big stuff too—are super tempting, I don't let it run my life.

I really believe everything happens when it's supposed to, though that doesn't mean you shouldn't push hard in certain areas. After all, there aren't really any real rules to life!

Charles Howard said:😢 The true destination is an even greater life. Living in love, and living alongside Love itself...
But one has to master the walk before they can truly learn to dance.

Look, for anyone out there totally misreading what I said: my point was simple. There isn't some grand destination we're all chasing. You just have to embrace the grind and accept the journey as part of your everyday life. If you spend all your energy frantically scrambling in every direction trying to force a result, you're just going to end up completely burnt out and broken down in a few years. It's not worth the stress!

Quincy:

You've gotta learn how to walk before you can even think about dancing!

The biggest mistake people make is thinking they can't just jump in right now. She can do whatever she wants today—set the pace, find her rhythm, and own the floor. Honestly, the only real question is how naturally she’ll pick it up. There's zero reason to wait until tomorrow, next year, or some distant decade, and she definitely doesn't need a fancy Ivy League degree to prove she's got what it takes!

As long as you've got your basic physiological needs covered, you've pretty much got everything you need right now!

Sam Hayes said:My dear friends, I’ve finally taken that very first step... I know there is quite a long road ahead of me—it feels a bit daunting, really—but I suppose if I just take things one small step at a time, I'll eventually get where I need to be, slowly but surely. 🙂

Look, you're moving forward regardless—life is the journey, and the end is just the finish line.

What really matters is how you choose to move: the beauty of those steps, the rhythm you find, and the scenery you pass through. Whether you're gliding silently through meadows or making a bold connection between heaven and earth... honestly, it all just depends on what kind of song you're dancing to.

Sam Hayes said:Hey friend, feel free to drop by my thread anytime 🙂
I'm shutting down the PC and heading out now 🙂

See? Exactly. 🙂

brisktiger56 said:That advice right there? That's the spark for the whole journey from 1243 miles. Everything starts getting better from that point on—but honestly, I worry about how Sam Hayes will keep showing up on this forum, since part of her just feeds into this cycle. Still, we're all sitting here talking about her, but once she finally pulls the plug on the PC, she’ll have to face herself—and that’s the hardest part. That's that initial step you're talking about when you say: just shut it down and go.

Look, dijaa is incredibly sharp and totally gets how the world works. She's one of those people who ended up stuck in that massive crowd of folks who were never given a real roadmap for life. But she’s got the guts to stop, be part of that tiny 5% who refuse to lie to themselves or anyone else, and just dive headfirst into finding the truth.

I have zero doubt she'll find her way.

Goodnight!

Sam Hayes said:I’ve tried praying, I really have, but it just doesn't work for me—it just won't click... it isn't quite my thing. I wouldn't call myself an atheist or even an agnostic, per se; I guess I'm more of a free spirit. I've always had this strong dislike for people trying to force a religion on me or judging me just because I don't show up at a church pew. I especially can't stand the preaching from folks who act like their way—you know, the traditional Catholic route—is the one and only right path...

It sounds to me like you totally get where your triggers are—you just need the practical tools to actually apply what you've learned.

Shut down the computer and just go for it.

Good luck out there!

Laura Hayes74 said:@samting: without getting into any "major surgeries," you might get maybe a year or so out of it, depending on how things play out and just how effective those temporary fixes end up being.
If you go the route of "serious operations," the goal is obviously a longer lifespan—aiming for those double digits. But don't let this seemingly obvious or "simple" choice fool you; the reality is way more complicated, and there's a massive chance you just end up spending years bouncing between hospitals and operating rooms only to face an inevitable ending that’s much harder to deal with.

@armagedon: I've realized firsthand just how much of a mental game this all is. And look, I'm not disputing that; you have to be strong and determined and constantly push yourself forward, otherwise nothing really matters. But where I disagree is with this whole "coward vs. warrior" narrative. Personally, I don't think there's anything honorable about a guy trying to fight a wildfire with a handheld fan when he's got a tank of rocket fuel sitting right next to him to burn through it in a second.😁 Okay, it's a bit of a goofy analogy, but it captures exactly what I'm getting at.

So what are we actually talking about here, carpet?

If we're debating whether it's worth the pain and the absolute mess just to stay alive—knowing full well that our sense of satisfaction comes from how we perceive things—then I see someone looking for an excuse to run away from changing their perspective on life.

There’s actually tons of scientific literature and research on this, involving long-term studies on people who dealt with major accidents or loss (like permanent disabilities and stuff). Basically, these studies found that the level of life satisfaction for "affected" individuals eventually returned to their baseline levels from before the tragedy after some time had passed. The longest "readjustment" period was about a year, though for many, it happened even faster. I don't have the specific source on hand, but I know it's mentioned in M.'s book on intelligence, which cites the original study.

Regardless of me citing research, isn't it just obvious? It’s the only real truth in a world defined by this insane divide between the hungry and the wealthy, the sick and the healthy.

"Happy is he who knows how to love." As I got older, the little trifles that used to satisfy me mattered less and less, and I realized more clearly where to find true joy and purpose. I learned that being loved means nothing if you don't know how to love everything; the ability to feel is what gives our existence beauty and value. Wherever happiness shows up on this earth, it's woven from emotions. Money is nothing, power is nothing. Plenty of people have both and are still miserable. Beauty is nothing either; I've seen gorgeous men and women who were utterly unhappy despite their looks. Even health isn't everything; everyone is healthy if they feel healthy. There have been the sick who were bursting with a will to live and nurtured it until the very end, and there have been the healthy who withered away because they were paralyzed by the fear of suffering.
But happiness was always right there for anyone who knew how to love and lived through their feelings; if they nurtured them instead of crushing or suppressing them, those feelings brought satisfaction. Beauty doesn't bring joy to the one who possesses it, but to the one who knows how to love it and admire it."

Hermann Hesse

The point is, your only true reality is your inner world, and you shape that world through your perception. Things you can no longer "reach" like you used to won't ruin you in the long run; they’ll actually force you to shift your perspective.

Only a fool suffers over things they can't have and lets all the other beauties pass them by. And trust me, there is never as much crap in the world as there is beauty.

If you ask me, it's totally possible that you're actually heading into the best period of your life, because you're finally going to turn your attention to things that actually matter..

Turning toward suicide isn't freedom. In this case, turning toward suicide is an escape, while embracing the Struggle is true freedom.

Very few people ever learn how to truly accept things, but that's the only way to live a life worth having.

Laura Hayes74 said:I'll try to keep this brief,

I can say for certain that I'm staring down a brutal, long, and totally unpredictable stretch of surgeries, setbacks, and constant pain, all just for the POTENTIAL chance to get back to some semblance of a normal life—which honestly doesn't even feel like much of a win when you consider I'll likely be a burden on everyone else for a long time with a really uncertain future ahead of me.

Right now, I can get through my days without too much trouble, but that won't last forever, especially if I go through with these operations. What I'm seriously weighing is whether it makes more sense to just take the time and the opportunity I have right now to live out this one (shorter) chapter as best as I can, and then... when the time comes... just handle things on my own terms and end it.

Death doesn't scare me, and religion isn't something that weighs on my mind either. The only thing that actually worries me is the idea that my choice might hurt my family, and I've spent a lot of time chewing on that. To be honest, I think they have an outdated and pretty flawed way of looking at death, and at the end of the day, it really just comes down to a balancing act between pleasing myself or pleasing them. Personally, I just don't see the point in enduring all that misery... I'd much rather make the most of the time I have left and leave on my own terms, in peace...

It wouldn't be right for me to come here and ask for specific advice on how to end my life, but if anyone has some actual wisdom to share or advice to give, I'm all ears. Would you guys support someone making this call if they were facing what I'm facing? How would you handle it? I mean, what the heck, what would you even do or where would you go if you knew your life was going to be over a year from today?

PS. Don't go trying to send me to a shrink, I'm pretty level-headed :)
PPS. The specifics of my illness don't matter for this, I already know everything I need to know, so please don't even go there.

Sorry, but I'm a little lost here—does this "chance" mean you only have one year left to live like this, or is it a chance to live longer than that (and if so, how much longer)?

Brian Foster3 said:And honestly, isn't "power" just another word for being able to grab pleasure and run away from misery?

So, following up on that, I’m basically building on my previous comment regarding your post, which, if you ask me, still hasn't been even remotely "defended" properly by the words you've actually put down.

I still firmly believe that a person has the capacity to reshape their own future, regardless of how much their past tries to dictate it. Basically, the more capable someone is of doing that, the more "powerful" they truly are.

Hopefully, that fleshes out my "sketch" with a bit more actual ink this time.

It does. I agree. I wasn't emphasizing it on purpose; I was keeping it on the back burner. Why? Because the people who actually know where and how they can make a choice are incredibly rare. What most of humanity calls "free will"? Yeah, that's a total myth. 😉

I disagree. Once a person develops a solid identity and a decent amount of self-awareness, they aren't going to react to external pressures and social influences the same way they did when they were teenagers.

They’ll react correctly—meaning, they'll act freely. Now, you could try to lump that into the same category as before, but we both know we're talking about two completely different approaches here.

Even if there's only one such person out of a hundred, it completely breaks your rule, and that's a massive point because rules don't exist in these kinds of relationships.

There are definitely rules. Spiritual laws are absolute, and everything happens according to them. As for the "grown-ups," they just choose their pleasures and avoid their pains with more precision than a teenager would. But the underlying principle remains exactly the same; they're just playing the game on a higher level.

Which part of what I said makes you miss the fact that a human being is capable of choosing many things, including their own desires? Their motives and their will? (Not in every single area, obviously.)

Maybe I'm just fighting against my own "impotence" through these words, but I still think I'm making sense. Like I said, even if I am lightyears behind what's being discussed personally.

Among the Kabbalists, the rule goes: what cannot be attained, cannot be named.
Basically, if you haven't achieved something, you can't talk about it accurately, because you don't actually *know* it. You haven't experienced it firsthand.

Look, obviously pleasure is the goal. But there are a million different ways to get there and a thousand different tools to use, and that’s exactly what I’m getting at here.

Nobody is out here claiming that everyone experiences pleasure or pain in the exact same way, okay? But those individual differences don't change the core narrative. The fundamental story is the bedrock of all those variations and it stays constant, so understanding that foundation is way more important than obsessing over every little subjective nuance people want to throw at you.

Quincy:

If your argument is that a person isn't "in control" of themselves—that they're just conditioned or programmed because they're chasing pleasure then that doesn't prove they aren't "in control," it just proves that's how they're wired. If seeking pleasure or feeling "pain" is just baked into my nature, that doesn't mean I'm wearing some kind of "shackles"; it's just a fact of existence, like the fact that I have ten fingers on my hands, and I'm totally fine with that.

Whether you're a happy slave or a miserable one, the reality remains the same: you're still a slave.😉

Quincy:

The idea of "shackles" only exists if you look at it from an impossible perspective that I have zero interest in pursuing, because first off, life is far too short for this nonsense, and second, everything happens when it happens, which will eventually lead to progress. The truth is, I accepted my "role" a long time ago, so I don't feel manipulated, powerless, or programmed in the slightest.

Of course not. 🙂 But you haven't looked deep enough. We all love to sugarcoat things about ourselves just so we can feel better about our situation.😉

Quincy:

If we had to talk about it constantly, I wouldn't bother bringing it up, because there's no point dwelling on obvious stuff, if you catch my drift; what I was actually trying to say was just a different way of looking at the whole situation. In the end, maybe you just phrased things poorly and I ended up nitpicking your specific wording.

Honestly, it might not even matter. What matters is the intention behind this whole discussion we're having. If our intentions are right, the laws of the universe will take care of us both (and maybe some others) in the best way possible, but if our intentions are garbage, then both you and I—and whoever else gets caught in it—are going to suffer.🙂

Stay golden! 😍

Spot on. We’re talking about a specific vision or a product here, not just some skeletal framework. That distinction is huge for where we're headed with this whole discussion!

Quincy:

I'm with you on that. I actually left that part out on purpose, just keeping it on the back burner. Why? Because let’s face it—hardly anyone actually understands where or how they even have a choice in the first place. What most people call "free will" is basically just an illusion. 😉

Hey, just wanted to jump in and say—yeah, there definitely is! 🙂

Quincy:

Look, there are definitely rules in play here. Spiritual laws are absolute—they’re the foundation for everything that happens. As for those "grown-ups," they aren't playing by different rules; they’re just getting way more intentional about choosing their pleasures and avoiding the unnecessary drama that comes with being a teenager. The core principle stays exactly the same. They’ve just leveled up the game!

Nah, I was actually talking about the rules from a different angle. You know, like how we aren't all cut from the same cloth—just like that paragraph right above!

Quincy:

It’s a fundamental rule among Kabbalists: if you can't actually reach it, you don't even get to call it by name! Look, you can't really talk about something if you haven't actually achieved it yet. It’s pretty simple: if you haven't done the work, you don't truly know what it's all about. You haven't lived it, so you don't have that real-world experience to back up your words!

Honestly, I can't tell if I've actually lived through it or if I just haven't put it into practice in my daily routine yet! 😉

Quincy:

Look, you can be as happy or as satisfied as you want, but that doesn't change the fact that you're still a slave. 😉

Does being unable to control the weather on command make me a slave? Or is it the fact that I can't just lift massive boulders with my bare hands? What actually stands between us and true happiness, total satisfaction, or finding that perfect sense of peace?

Quincy:

Hell no! 🙂 You just haven't looked deep enough! Look, we Americans love to think highly of ourselves—it’s just how we stay positive and keep things moving! 😉

So, looking at the question above... what actually matters more than this if we want to truly thrive? And I mean, in a way that lasts a lifetime.

Honestly, maybe it’s not even about the specifics. It’s all about the intention we bring to the table when we engage and debate. If our intentions are solid, the laws will naturally work out in our favor (and for others too). But if our motives are off, then both you and I—plus whoever else is involved—are going to end up suffering. 🙂

I’m with you on that. I’ll always value a human touch; it's basically a prerequisite for everything you're talking about.

When it comes to any other "methods," I’d much rather dive into professional literature or just teach myself from scratch than deal with the "wisdom" people try to shove down my throat while they're busy venting their frustrations—which, let's be real, is usually wrong anyway.

Bless you! 😍

Man, right back at ya! 🙂

jademarlin26 said:😁

One of us two is clearly delusional. The illusion lies in the belief that a distinction exists. In plain English, there is no difference.

Nevermind.

@jademarlin26 I'm gonna try to be way more specific regarding my original post!

jademarlin26 said:You misinterpreted me. 🙂

The ability to create distance and observe one's own thoughts—critical self-reflection, essentially—is the very foundation of self-work and conscious growth. It allows for the shifting of attitudes and the cultivation of healthy relationships.

What I actually criticized is the behavioral pattern found in certain schools of thought. In an attempt to validate a fictional "ultimate reality" or a supposed "True Self," they demand that the individual identify with the observer at the expense of the observed. They justify this dichotomy through "intuitive knowledge" gained during meditation, which, in this instance, is nothing more than pure ideology and nonsense. Simple observation shows that the observer and the observed exist in a state of mutual interdependence. You cannot have one without the other. There is no dichotomy.

To conclude this post, I will offer one final observation. I find the absurdity within spiritual circles fascinating: on one hand, there is the realization of Unity, the pursuit of connection with the One, the interconnectedness of all living things, tolerance, and acceptance. On the other hand, there are ideologically manufactured dichotomies and mindsets that demand people take sides in non-existent conflicts, forcing views based on division. It is interesting how the same "school" pushes both extremes, regardless of tradition (unless, of course, one follows the middle path). Simultaneously, the drive toward the One is undermined by belief systems that push the individual as far away from that Unity as possible.

There you have it. It is quite useful to sit in silence and contemplate why you find yourself preaching Unity while being simultaneously cluttered with labels, categories, divisions, and conflict.

Can the observer ever really be separate from what's being observed? Aren't they two sides of the same coin?

The split between the observer (subject) and the observed (object) is just an illusion. Real ignorance is falling for that illusion and trying to take sides.

Isn't this all just talking about the exact same thing when we bring up the observer versus the observed? (especially regarding observing thoughts and critical self-reflection)

Look, at least that's how I've interpreted it through some reading I've done—not as two separate worlds, which is what you're getting at if I'm not mistaken.

What I'm trying to get at is that the stuff people are "clashing" over here, including those questions from Edward Flores4, might actually all be the same core idea, just wrapped up in different terminology.