What are the results of your spiritual journey?

Michael Gonzalez77 said:My point was that you can't just "shed ignorance" without actual learning—or what we might call expanding your consciousness. Think of it as de-identifying from those deep-seated mental impressions, which are really just Maya. But look, when we're talking about the final stage—completely freeing consciousness from those impressions—you can't just wish it into existence through pure imagination. In fact, using imagination too early in a spiritual journey often leads people straight into self-deception. They start convinced they've reached enlightenment. Honestly, even on a forum like this, you'll find people claiming to be enlightened just as often as you'll find them anywhere else in the world. It doesn't really matter.
I was building on what you said about how "nothing is mandatory"—meaning, sure, you don't *have* to snap out of a delusion immediately. In a natural sense, a misconception eventually gets overcome, and you "move on." How or when that happens isn't the priority, because time isn't a factor in the grand scheme, though life itself certainly feels like it has an imaginary duration.

Every single moment is brand new. Nothing is permanent, or rather, nothing *needs* to be. Every one of us has the opportunity for a fresh experience in the very next instant. Labeling someone as "enlightened" is honestly pointless and unnecessary... nobody holds more value or deserves more respect than anyone else. We are all one, simply serving one another.

Anthony Cook8 said:Every single moment is brand new. Nothing is permanent, or rather, nothing *needs* to be. Every one of us has the opportunity for a fresh experience in the very next instant. Labeling someone as "enlightened" is honestly pointless and unnecessary... nobody holds more value or deserves more respect than anyone else. We are all one, simply serving one another.

I completely agree when looking at things as they are. In that sense, a person is no different from a stone because everything falls under the domain of the Creator. However, when we talk about consciousness, a God-realized person is as far removed from ordinary human awareness as ordinary awareness is from the consciousness of a stone. This isn't about whether humans should show respect or not; it's just a matter of how things actually exist. "A human lives and a stone exists; neither knows the Truth."

It’s self-deception to try and "recognize" enlightenment (which is itself an anomaly for someone viewing a God-realized teacher), but it’s even more deceptive for those who claim to be enlightened when they truly aren't—and believe me, those people exist. On the other hand, anyone on a spiritual path, whether consciously or not, is trying to recognize their own Self within a God-realized teacher. Of course, there are no hard rules here, but there is always a greater or lesser risk of self-discovery versus self-delusion.
As long as someone is wandering through Maya alone, they’re like a blind person. If they pick another blind person to lead them, you just have two blind people stumbling around—one is deluded, and the other is just following the delusion. It makes it incredibly hard to reach the depths of one's own imagination quickly. That’s the gap between a God-realized being and the consciousness of even the highest saint, who becomes Perfect through a single "touch" from the Guru, provided they are ready. I'm not talking about comparison or competition here; I'm talking about the nature of Maya. It has to be this way so that, eventually, every soul can realize its Highest state—to be God.

There’s a strange phenomenon on this planet: Maya is one, and it is exactly what it is—natural. But humans have a slightly bigger problem: we are unnatural, tangled up in the mess of our own egos. You won't find a world quite like this anywhere else; it’s a unique example of how things aren't supposed to evolve.

Michael Gonzalez77 said:I completely agree when looking at things as they are. In that sense, a person is no different from a stone because everything falls under the domain of the Creator. However, when we talk about consciousness, a God-realized person is as far removed from ordinary human awareness as ordinary awareness is from the consciousness of a stone. This isn't about whether humans should show respect or not; it's just a matter of how things actually exist. "A human lives and a stone exists; neither knows the Truth."

It’s self-deception to try and "recognize" enlightenment (which is itself an anomaly for someone viewing a God-realized teacher), but it’s even more deceptive for those who claim to be enlightened when they truly aren't—and believe me, those people exist. On the other hand, anyone on a spiritual path, whether consciously or not, is trying to recognize their own Self within a God-realized teacher. Of course, there are no hard rules here, but there is always a greater or lesser risk of self-discovery versus self-delusion.
As long as someone is wandering through Maya alone, they’re like a blind person. If they pick another blind person to lead them, you just have two blind people stumbling around—one is deluded, and the other is just following the delusion. It makes it incredibly hard to reach the depths of one's own imagination quickly. That’s the gap between a God-realized being and the consciousness of even the highest saint, who becomes Perfect through a single "touch" from the Guru, provided they are ready. I'm not talking about comparison or competition here; I'm talking about the nature of Maya. It has to be this way so that, eventually, every soul can realize its Highest state—to be God.

There’s a strange phenomenon on this planet: Maya is one, and it is exactly what it is—natural. But humans have a slightly bigger problem: we are unnatural, tangled up in the mess of our own egos. You won't find a world quite like this anywhere else; it’s a unique example of how things aren't supposed to evolve.

What about those children born with innate knowledge, who won't find things difficult? The only thing that's actually hard is the ordinary illusion you've chosen to believe in, nothing more, nothing less...
If you believe in something, you'll receive a wealth of evidence—perfect proof. Open yourself up to diversity, to the infinite, and you will receive the infinite...
We keep spinning in circles around self-deception, but who cares who is deceiving whom? People can never truly be themselves if we constantly see them through the lens of their mistakes... You can't help someone by trying to lead them or by reciting your own unique path back to them. No one is here to be a carbon copy of someone else. Instead, by staying true to yourself in every moment, you allow the other person the chance to be true to themselves in that same unique moment...

And what I'm saying is ultimately irrelevant, because two souls create the perfect situation for growth. That’s why mistakes don't exist—everything is perfect...

Anthony Cook8 said:What about those children born with innate knowledge, who won't find things difficult? The only thing that's actually hard is the ordinary illusion you've chosen to believe in, nothing more, nothing less...
If you believe in something, you'll receive a wealth of evidence—perfect proof. Open yourself up to diversity, to the infinite, and you will receive the infinite...
We keep spinning in circles around self-deception, but who cares who is deceiving whom? People can never truly be themselves if we constantly see them through the lens of their mistakes... You can't help someone by trying to lead them or by reciting your own unique path back to them. No one is here to be a carbon copy of someone else. Instead, by staying true to yourself in every moment, you allow the other person the chance to be true to themselves in that same unique moment...

And what I'm saying is ultimately irrelevant, because two souls create the perfect situation for growth. That’s why mistakes don't exist—everything is perfect...

Every soul carries its entire evolutionary history within it. In human form, that includes our biological development and even the very concept of descending into this dimension. This means they carry memories linked to incredibly advanced levels of civilization. Kids aren't born with "knowledge" in the way we think of it; they are born like everyone else, but they are granted easier access to their Self. This isn't a credit to the children or their parents—it's a result of an immense Grace that has been unfolding over the last two decades (largely because humanity has reached such a point of hopelessness). This will continue until things align with the will of the Creator, and people simply need to accept that. Looking at it from a broader perspective, they have already accepted it, which is why this knowledge exists. We are still a long way from the Creator's will and far from perfection. Ask any random passerby if they share your vision; you'll realize whether you're speaking poetic truth or just looking at things through an extreme lens where neither you nor they are close to what Is. Regardless, if things are exactly as they should be, no one is obligated to die of worry, but no one is required to be resigned either. You can absolutely help where you can. Don't fall into the trap of thinking your help is pointless just because "everything is perfect."

Things either follow their built-in principles toward Growth, or they drift toward self-destruction, much like how human civilization behaves. But let's not call it "perfect." While poetic license is always allowed, remember there is something more than just man—there is the One who wonders, who Is, and who orchestrates everything. If we say we surrender everything to Him, that doesn't mean we sit idle; it means we do our absolute best to align ourselves with those universal principles. That is more than enough.

Michael Gonzalez77 said:Every soul carries its entire evolutionary history within it. In human form, that includes our biological development and even the very concept of descending into this dimension. This means they carry memories linked to incredibly advanced levels of civilization. Kids aren't born with "knowledge" in the way we think of it; they are born like everyone else, but they are granted easier access to their Self. This isn't a credit to the children or their parents—it's a result of an immense Grace that has been unfolding over the last two decades (largely because humanity has reached such a point of hopelessness). This will continue until things align with the will of the Creator, and people simply need to accept that. Looking at it from a broader perspective, they have already accepted it, which is why this knowledge exists. We are still a long way from the Creator's will and far from perfection. Ask any random passerby if they share your vision; you'll realize whether you're speaking poetic truth or just looking at things through an extreme lens where neither you nor they are close to what Is. Regardless, if things are exactly as they should be, no one is obligated to die of worry, but no one is required to be resigned either. You can absolutely help where you can. Don't fall into the trap of thinking your help is pointless just because "everything is perfect."

Things either follow their built-in principles toward Growth, or they drift toward self-destruction, much like how human civilization behaves. But let's not call it "perfect." While poetic license is always allowed, remember there is something more than just man—there is the One who wonders, who Is, and who orchestrates everything. If we say we surrender everything to Him, that doesn't mean we sit idle; it means we do our absolute best to align ourselves with those universal principles. That is more than enough.

Well, I guess what you're saying just isn't my truth. It hasn't come through as an insight for me, and it doesn't resonate...

Anyway, we can help every single day, every second, just by snapping at someone or offering a kind word or a hug...

My own experience has been a transition from the despair, hopelessness, and malice surrounding me into a sense of paradise, peace, beauty, and love... it's been a pretty good experience. A person can live in paradise right here on Earth, on this very same soil where we all stand...

And I realize I'm writing this from the ego, but I'm trying to reach for something deeper... it's not for nothing.

Anthony Cook8 said:Well, I guess what you're saying just isn't my truth. It hasn't come through as an insight for me, and it doesn't resonate...

Anyway, we can help every single day, every second, just by snapping at someone or offering a kind word or a hug...

My own experience has been a transition from the despair, hopelessness, and malice surrounding me into a sense of paradise, peace, beauty, and love... it's been a pretty good experience. A person can live in paradise right here on Earth, on this very same soil where we all stand...

And I realize I'm writing this from the ego, but I'm trying to reach for something deeper... it's not for nothing.

Absolutely. There is no other Paradise besides the one on Earth (for us), much like any other planet in the cosmos inhabited by advanced material races. This is simply the state of the body (of all bodies, beings, or forms) and the evolution of consciousness (knowledge and potential). It’s our ancient experience of form and conscious growth that we’ve messed up (something anthropologists recognize, though they look at it through a completely different lens regarding Paleolithic or Neolithic cultures, their mindsets, and mythologies—they weren't living in "Paradise" back then, but their intuition functioned better. Later, religions mentioned this in different ways, and barely an echo remains today). But we can start thinking about this actively. However, if we approach it with the mindset of "everything is perfect and should stay this way," we won't move the needle much from where we are now. I'm not saying we should collapse into misery and gloom, either; I'm just saying we should do whatever we can to contribute to improvement—which is perfectly natural.

Some things fall outside the scope of human cognition because most human understanding exists solely at the level of the mind. Yet, intuitively, we accept them once we come into contact with them. People aren't capable of pulling themselves out of the messes they've made on their own—that’s a vital fact one must realize. They can only, and exclusively, do so with massive help from spiritual energies. That’s exactly what this is about. Otherwise, neither you nor I would be sitting here right now discussing spirituality. It isn't just some personal achievement that we see things differently than most people, nor is it just a general trend of people turning back toward nature (to themselves).

Michael Gonzalez77 said:Absolutely. There is no other Paradise besides the one on Earth (for us), much like any other planet in the cosmos inhabited by advanced material races. This is simply the state of the body (of all bodies, beings, or forms) and the evolution of consciousness (knowledge and potential). It’s our ancient experience of form and conscious growth that we’ve messed up (something anthropologists recognize, though they look at it through a completely different lens regarding Paleolithic or Neolithic cultures, their mindsets, and mythologies—they weren't living in "Paradise" back then, but their intuition functioned better. Later, religions mentioned this in different ways, and barely an echo remains today). But we can start thinking about this actively. However, if we approach it with the mindset of "everything is perfect and should stay this way," we won't move the needle much from where we are now. I'm not saying we should collapse into misery and gloom, either; I'm just saying we should do whatever we can to contribute to improvement—which is perfectly natural.

Some things fall outside the scope of human cognition because most human understanding exists solely at the level of the mind. Yet, intuitively, we accept them once we come into contact with them. People aren't capable of pulling themselves out of the messes they've made on their own—that’s a vital fact one must realize. They can only, and exclusively, do so with massive help from spiritual energies. That’s exactly what this is about. Otherwise, neither you nor I would be sitting here right now discussing spirituality. It isn't just some personal achievement that we see things differently than most people, nor is it just a general trend of people turning back toward nature (to themselves).

Love, kindness, and helping others are just part of being human. You don't have to force it; you just have to be. We shouldn't struggle to achieve or reach something that we already are. Instead, we need to stop fighting and just let go...
We are light...
That is my truth, and it's the truth shared by the people I'm lucky enough to surround myself with... and that is enough for me.🙂
You can't force love, and you can't force Effort. Everything flows when it's meant to... that's where the real beauty lies.

Anthony Cook8 said:Love, kindness, and helping others are just part of being human. You don't have to force it; you just have to be. We shouldn't struggle to achieve or reach something that we already are. Instead, we need to stop fighting and just let go...
We are light...
That is my truth, and it's the truth shared by the people I'm lucky enough to surround myself with... and that is enough for me.🙂
You can't force love, and you can't force Effort. Everything flows when it's meant to... that's where the real beauty lies.

I totally agree, but I want to expand on that slightly. In this context, those ideas often sound like the classic platitudes you hear flying around everywhere lately. While they are beautiful stories and positive intentions—which are great foundations—they can unfortunately become a slippery slope if taken too literally.

Look, if a person doesn't truly work out for themselves how they are actually practicing this, or fails to realize the actual consequences of their actions (or how that energy returns to them), then what you’re calling "non-doing" isn't literally about doing nothing. It’s actually about a mental 'detachment' from the action itself. That’s what "stopping the fight and letting go" means. It doesn't imply a lack of methodology or effort. If someone wants to act "good" as a universal principle, then that "goodness" is something that is actively developed and experienced by investing all available energy into it. Consciously directing oneself in that direction is actually the primary way we increase our awareness and detach from impressions.
A lot of people say this just because it sounds nice. They imagine their whole lives and everything they do fits this beautiful narrative of "not doing anything" to separate consciousness from impressions. In reality, they are just piling up new experiences and spinning in circles, telling themselves exactly what they want to hear to satisfy the ego.

Anthony Cook8 said:Love, kindness, and helping others are just part of being human. You don't have to force it; you just have to be. We shouldn't struggle to achieve or reach something that we already are. Instead, we need to stop fighting and just let go...
We are light...
That is my truth, and it's the truth shared by the people I'm lucky enough to surround myself with... and that is enough for me.🙂
You can't force love, and you can't force Effort. Everything flows when it's meant to... that's where the real beauty lies.

Effort also stems from awareness, and awareness is built upon Knowledge (Truth).
Working tirelessly and being persistent in what matters—specifically for the sake of uncovering the Self in relation to what words describe—is purely a matter of expressing one's freedom. 🙂
Obviously, you can't act in opposition to your spiritual growth (whatever you want to call it) and still progress. Being passive in all this is also a choice, but even a "passive" path of development requires extreme discipline, a life dedicated to meditation, and guidance.
To think a person is perfect exactly as they are, meaning they don't need to do anything regarding their development, feels to me like an insufficient understanding of latent human nature versus what a person actually manifests as growth (or the lack thereof, which would at least be the start of liberation). But I'm sure that isn't the case with you; perhaps your descriptions just come across that way due to how you choose to express yourself or simply the semantic nuances of our language. That's why I'm mentioning it.

I totally get what you're saying about how you can't force love, just like you can't force Effort—it has to happen naturally. It’s kind of like if someone wants to drive from New York to Los Angeles. They aren't going to make it if they never actually put the car in gear and start driving. But even then, if they hit some heavy traffic or a storm along the way, they won't reach their destination if they decide to just pull over at some scenic rest stop in Nebraska, set up camp, and spend the rest of their lives talking about that distant coast they once dreamed of reaching. I know you realize that nothing just happens out of thin air; everything arises from specific reasons or circumstances. Whether we actually recognize those reasons or not is a whole different conversation.

Anthony Cook8 said:Love, kindness, and helping others are just part of being human. You don't have to force it; you just have to be. We shouldn't struggle to achieve or reach something that we already are. Instead, we need to stop fighting and just let go...
We are light...
That is my truth, and it's the truth shared by the people I'm lucky enough to surround myself with... and that is enough for me.🙂
You can't force love, and you can't force Effort. Everything flows when it's meant to... that's where the real beauty lies.

Beautifully put, and I'm mostly on board here. My only gripe would be ditching those "should" and "shouldn't" words entirely. I truly believe souls have total free will to become whatever they want and do whatever they feel like. If they want to dive into something brand new, the door is wide open. If they want to stay right where they are and just live their lives as they are in this lifetime, that's allowed too—at least until they decide to change things up again.

Nicholas Gonzalez8 said:Beautifully put, and I'm mostly on board here. My only gripe would be ditching those "should" and "shouldn't" words entirely. I truly believe souls have total free will to become whatever they want and do whatever they feel like. If they want to dive into something brand new, the door is wide open. If they want to stay right where they are and just live their lives as they are in this lifetime, that's allowed too—at least until they decide to change things up again.

That’s pretty much how I see it too...🙂

Nicholas Gonzalez8 said:Beautifully put, and I'm mostly on board here. My only gripe would be ditching those "should" and "shouldn't" words entirely. I truly believe souls have total free will to become whatever they want and do whatever they feel like. If they want to dive into something brand new, the door is wide open. If they want to stay right where they are and just live their lives as they are in this lifetime, that's allowed too—at least until they decide to change things up again.

Right, that's what we call human free will. But here's the thing: that will exists within the framework of the physical being—what we label a "human" (usually just seeing ourselves as a physical body). In reality, it's much more complex than our current self-perception allows. In this dimension, that being is unintegrated. Think of it like a biological organism where the individual organs aren't quite working in harmony; even though all those parts are supposed to come together to create a whole, functioning system to allow for growth, they often act as if they're disconnected.

Michael Gonzalez77 said:Right, that's what we call human free will. But here's the thing: that will exists within the framework of the physical being—what we label a "human" (usually just seeing ourselves as a physical body). In reality, it's much more complex than our current self-perception allows. In this dimension, that being is unintegrated. Think of it like a biological organism where the individual organs aren't quite working in harmony; even though all those parts are supposed to come together to create a whole, functioning system to allow for growth, they often act as if they're disconnected.

I don't actually think that's the human will... I believe it belongs to our Soul, our Higher self—to who we truly are as God-realized beings.

Anthony Cook8 said:I don't actually think that's the human will... I believe it belongs to our Soul, our Higher self—to who we truly are as God-realized beings.

Free will belongs to the individual human being, but the Soul is the Soul-all. It exists far beyond the mind or even imagination. The Soul creates the Creation and weaves itself into it. When the soul becomes unified, it actually loses awareness of this process and becomes subject to the very laws it established—laws created solely for the purpose of self-discovery, moving from total unconsciousness to complete consciousness. All aspects that are Higher (like the Shining body, for instance) don't possess "free will" in the way a human does; they are super-intelligent energies that cannot deviate from the will of the One. Because humans have regressed spiritually over tens of thousands of years, we've drifted away from our true nature. We lost that connection to spiritual energies—which should be the natural context for any living thing—and lost the ability to consciously tap into the information we rightfully belong to. Instead of advancing, we filled that void with negative thought patterns and flawed logic, which is incredibly damaging to the individual and the entire human race. That’s why humanity is currently trailing behind other cosmic races, even though we carry the genetic blueprint of demigods.

A person only truly becomes divine when they actually reach that state. Just having the genes of a demigod doesn't mean anything if you don't actually realize it. There is a massive difference between dreaming about greatness and actually embodying it and expressing it consciously. That is the gap between ordinary human consciousness and being God-realized. One person is merely chasing an illusion, while the other is One with God.

I don't know, I really don't see it being that complicated... everything you're saying to me just doesn't resonate...
I see what people call innate health—I see beauty, laughter, ease, simplicity, and true strength... I feel like everything is alright right now, and everything will be okay no matter what happens... that's what lives inside me, and it is clear, powerful, and peaceful...

All this stuff you're stressing over means nothing to me...

Anthony Cook8 said:I don't know, I really don't see it being that complicated... everything you're saying to me just doesn't resonate...
I see what people call innate health—I see beauty, laughter, ease, simplicity, and true strength... I feel like everything is alright right now, and everything will be okay no matter what happens... that's what lives inside me, and it is clear, powerful, and peaceful...

All this stuff you're stressing over means nothing to me...

Look, this isn't about me "stressing out," and there’s nothing "scary" here that requires running away because it feels overwhelming. Quite the opposite. But since we're discussing these topics, there are certain things you simply aren't aware of yet. I bring them up, but if they mean nothing to you, then fine—I'll stop mentioning them. 🙂

Unfortunately, innate health is one thing, but due to a massive amount of trauma in those first few years—especially during the prenatal stage and childbirth—that natural health gets seriously damaged. It can manifest decades later, or for many kids, within the first few months or years of life. If you’ve managed to maintain your health, that’s fantastic; it’s how it should be, and I celebrate that. Honestly, I don't quite get why you'd feel the need to defend yourself against anything by claiming you see things in a way where there's nothing to worry about. Of course, there shouldn't be worry, and the fact that you feel good and everything seems perfect is a wonderful thing—if only everyone felt that way. However, someone with actual knowledge needs to recognize the absurdity of what's happening around them—situations where the cause is the exact opposite of the reason for their own well-being. That cause is human ignorance, which is basically the defining characteristic of this world. A person who can actually see all the suffering people inflict on themselves and others—truly understanding the root of that pain—will realize that even though the world is perfect, there is a deviation in human thought that people have been fighting since the dawn of history. This realization shouldn't cause them distress or negative thoughts; instead, they should see the solution to that very problem within themselves. By looking at the whole picture and identifying the issue internally, that methodology can then be applied to others. That kind of person becomes an incredible asset to anyone they encounter who is open to those truths.

Anthony Cook8 said:Everything really is perfect. Once we finally accept ourselves and stop fighting, all that internal junk we've collected starts to fall away... the illusions dissolve and we find our way back to who we truly are. We aren't actually learning anything new; we're just stripping away the lies.

Oh, sure. That sounds absolutely "perfect" right up until the moment you're facing an eviction notice or a massive utility bill while trying to feed a hungry child.

And I'm sure it feels just wonderful for the retirees forced to scavenge through trash cans just to make ends meet.

I won't even get started on how many times I have to dig through the news only to see how the people in power exploit, maim, and kill people in countless ways. To them, everything is just as "perfect."

Ryan Wilson2 said:Oh, sure. That sounds absolutely "perfect" right up until the moment you're facing an eviction notice or a massive utility bill while trying to feed a hungry child.

And I'm sure it feels just wonderful for the retirees forced to scavenge through trash cans just to make ends meet.

I won't even get started on how many times I have to dig through the news only to see how the people in power exploit, maim, and kill people in countless ways. To them, everything is just as "perfect."

It’s easy enough to blame karma for it all.

Like, say you have a shot to change things through elections or some national referendum... but we just sit there and do nothing. According to the laws of karma, that's on us.

I'm an Angel, but I'm also the Devil... though there’s this middle ground where they both meet, a place where good and evil don't even exist. But oh my God, let's just go ahead and "change" things! If it's all just empty drama and fake stunts for the sake of the show... Unknown 🙂

mistygull16 said:It’s easy enough to blame karma for it all.

Like, say you have a shot to change things through elections or some national referendum... but we just sit there and do nothing. According to the laws of karma, that's on us.

If you subscribe to the idea of reincarnation, then you suddenly have a convenient answer for every single question life throws at you. But looking at it from the other side, if reincarnation is a myth, then those in power have essentially handed themselves the perfect "religion" to manipulate and control discontented masses.

The reality is, I don't feel like I have a real shot through the electoral process. Why? Because it isn't just me voting; I’m competing against fools, opportunists, hypocrites, and thieves... and that’s not even touching upon the relentless media manipulation we deal with. Democracy can only truly function in an organized society composed of intelligent individuals—people who vote for the collective good rather than just their own selfish interests. In America, such people are incredibly rare.

Ryan Wilson2 said:If you subscribe to the idea of reincarnation, then you suddenly have a convenient answer for every single question life throws at you. But looking at it from the other side, if reincarnation is a myth, then those in power have essentially handed themselves the perfect "religion" to manipulate and control discontented masses.

The reality is, I don't feel like I have a real shot through the electoral process. Why? Because it isn't just me voting; I’m competing against fools, opportunists, hypocrites, and thieves... and that’s not even touching upon the relentless media manipulation we deal with. Democracy can only truly function in an organized society composed of intelligent individuals—people who vote for the collective good rather than just their own selfish interests. In America, such people are incredibly rare.

Spot on. Reincarnation is the ultimate catch-all explanation. Without it—or some version of karma—this whole world just feels like one giant cosmic accident, and spirituality loses its punch entirely.

I don't even bother with elections. It’s hard to feel like your vote matters when you're sharing the ballot box with idiots, opportunists, hypocrites, and thieves... not to mention the constant media spin. Democracy only really works in an organized society filled with smart people who vote for the greater good instead of just looking out for their own skin. There aren't many of those left in America.

True, but it makes you wonder how we ended up in such a clueless society 🤷 (karma strikes again, I guess) maybe we just got lucky in this life. Maybe being born into a decent environment actually made us smarter than we would've been otherwise, or else we'd probably be stuck somewhere below average ourselves. 🤷