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Soul and Spirit

Started by casualtiger2 · · 👁 12 views · 257 replies

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Participants casualtiger2Jamie Newman4David Miller15nimblesurfer4hiddentiger80mistyfox812Alexander HallTyler Scott3hollowtruckerBrenda Cook4Jason Johnson4Karen Sanchez19Hannah Thompson2Sophia Lee80swiftcobra15Taylor Campbell4coastalcobra23Casey Jones9Joseph Ortiz26steelskipper14hiddenviper9AJesse Sullivan2Sophia Jones61 …
Jason Johnson4 Jason Johnson4 Active Member
130 messages
joined Dec 2003
#81 ·
adriatic said:


You’ve said that twice now, and then you go and say it a third time in the quote. 👎
It isn't even about philosophy; it's just bad (if such a thing as "good" even exists, 😕 ) theology
.
Since Christian theology is basically the default setting here in America, I should probably point out that the Bible doesn't actually make a distinction between the body and the soul (soul equals body). It’s only in those later, overly popular interpretations—usually from people who didn't grasp a single thing—that this whole "holy trinity" of spirit-soul-body comes up. And that leads us right to that famous nonsense:
"Man has an immortal soul"😁





As A. Einstein once put it: Stupidity is the only thing that's infinite. 😉



I honestly couldn't care less about any of this, adriatic. Neither Einstein nor these pseudo-theological philosophies interest me.
But hey, I'm glad you're "here," because I've got something for you too. 😉 👋
Karen Sanchez19 Karen Sanchez19 Regular
483 messages
joined Dec 2003
#82 ·
Pacific Coast said:



I’d argue he simply handed people plenty of fuel for contemplation
—specifically, enough to force them to confront and dismantle the deep-seated prejudices and delusions they've clung to for years.



There is no such thing as "not a delusion." If you have an opinion on it, it's a DELUSION.😉 😁 😁
Taylor Campbell4 Taylor Campbell4 Regular
369 messages
joined Jul 2009
#83 ·
From my perspective, the term "spirit" in esoteric literature refers to a specific kind of life force—one that manifests through what we commonly call our emotions when discussing the human personality.

Master Therese’s teachings on self-realization essentially rest on three pillars: detachment, sincerity of spirit, and honesty of mind.
For those interested in the art of self-realization, you can find more details in English at http://share-international.net/m.../art.htm

In this particular vocabulary, spirit is practically synonymous with emotion. It is said that our Self—whether you call it the Soul or the Ego—expresses itself through the mind, the spirit (emotions), and the body. These three serve as its temples, the vehicles through which it works toward perfection. This concept can be quite jarring because while people often claim the soul is perfect, it isn't—not yet. It is constrained by our physical bodies, which are clouded by illusions, glamour, and various veils, preventing a clear perception of the world. Thus, the soul refines itself through these three bodies. As we ascend in consciousness, these bodies become purer and more liberated from the illusions—often referred to as "glamour" or "blindness" on the astral level.

I realize this explanation might not be helpful to everyone; things are admittedly complicated. Most people have little to no connection to their soul, and almost none to the spark of God, making it difficult to even conceptualize these matters.

A human being is essentially an embodied soul, expressing itself on the physical plane through the individual's physical, emotional, and mental bodies.

The soul itself is a reflection of the divine spark, the monad, which is essentially one with God. I view it much like a hologram of the divine spark and God; it is called a spark, yet it contains the entirety of the flame.

It is interesting to note that in older literature—for instance, in the books by Alice Bailey, which were dictated by Master Djwhal Khul—the term "ego" is used to describe the soul.
In Alice Bailey’s work, "ego" signifies the soul, the individual soul (which, if I recall correctly, is equivalent to the term "jiva" in Hindu literature), rather than the psychological "ego" used today to describe personality.

So, regarding the human condition: a person is a soul that, once embodied, expresses itself through the physical, emotional, and mental bodies, which together constitute the architecture of our personality.

Within esoteric literature—and likely in other texts as well, whether readers realize it or not—spirit can be identified with our emotions.

I am not sure if my explanation helps anyone—it certainly isn't crystal clear to me either—but I can distinguish between spirit and soul in both my thoughts and my lived experience.

If someone wants to gain more clarity, they might look into the books by Benjamin Crem; that is probably the simplest route. Alternatively, one could turn to Alice Bailey, though in my opinion, reading her requires a great deal of intuition, as the text can be difficult to grasp otherwise. They are written specifically to trigger intuitive understanding (often called "soul knowledge"), meaning intuition is required just to make sense of them.
With Benjamin Crem’s books, he tells you exactly what is what, whether you understand it or not.
Taylor Campbell4 Taylor Campbell4 Regular
369 messages
joined Jul 2009
#84 ·
Countless great artists and philosophers—think Shakespeare or Plato—have explored the essence of what it means to be human. They all approached the subject through their own unique lenses, yet they managed to convey truths that remain remarkably clear if you approach them with a bit of intuition. (If you try to take things purely literally, without any intuitive grasp at all, then no, you'll miss the point entirely). I'm referring to those rare individuals who operated at an incredibly high level of consciousness; they possessed a profound insight that gave them true authority over their subject matter.

Esoteric teachings, on the other hand, tend to call things exactly what they are. If you take the time to study them, you'll notice how all these seemingly different perspectives actually align perfectly. (It makes sense, really—they are all describing the same fundamental reality, and they were written by highly evolved individuals who weren't clouded by illusions or delusions. They had that "clear sight," so to speak. When you have that kind of clarity, even if the vocabulary or style varies, the core message remains consistent. It’s much the same with the Bible, though perhaps not with all the various interpretations people layer onto it—often from those who didn't quite grasp "what the poets were actually trying to say.")
coastalcobra23 coastalcobra23 Member
20 messages
joined May 2006
#85 ·
Look, a human being is basically this three-dimensional creature, kind of like how God is structured, made up of spirit, soul, and body.
The spirit? That’s your inner core, but let's be real—for most people, it’s just a mess of that old, sinful nature from Adam.
Then you've got the soul, which is really just the sum of our willpower, our logic, and all those raw feelings we deal with.
And the body? That's just the house we're stuck living in until the lights go out.
Jamie Newman4 Jamie Newman4 Member
35 messages
joined Nov 2006
#86 ·
someone said:A human being is a three-dimensional creature made in the image of God, consisting of spirit, soul, and body.
The spirit is our inner core, which for most people is unfortunately tainted by that old original sin from Adam.
The soul is comprised of our will, our intellect, and our emotions.
The body is simply the house we live in until we die.

God is a three-dimensional being?!?! 😲

😵

🙄
Brenda Cook4 Brenda Cook4 Regular
373 messages
joined Sep 2010
#87 ·
the Word said:a human being is a three-dimensional creature made in the image of God, composed of spirit, soul, and body.
The spirit is our innermost core, which—sadly for most people—is tainted by that ancient sin of Adam's.
The soul is the sum of our willpower, our intellect, and our emotions.
As for the body, it’s just the house we live in until the day we die..

Ah... that "house" of ours. I honestly fear it might be all we ever really have.

Spirit and soul? To me, those feel like nothing more than a deep-seated longing for immortality. Once death hits, we watch the body break down and return to dust... and in that moment of despair, we desperately reach for some non-material component. We need something to conquer physical death and carry our thoughts and memories into some kind of transcendental existence.

I wish I could believe in an afterlife—though, if I'm being honest, I'm not even sure anymore—but everything I observe about how this world actually works seems to contradict it. Lightning doesn't strike because Zeus is angry!

So, it feels to me like the concepts of "soul" and "spirit" are just relics of the past... pure nostalgia.!
Taylor Campbell4 Taylor Campbell4 Regular
369 messages
joined Jul 2009
#88 ·
The Word said:A human being is a three-dimensional entity, much like God, composed of spirit, soul, and body.
The spirit is our inner essence—which, unfortunately for most people, remains tethered to that old, fallen nature from Adam.
The soul is built from our will, our intellect, and our emotions.
The body is simply the house we inhabit until our time comes.

Well, if you ask me, this feels like the byproduct of misinterpreting original scriptures or church dogmas. I think there’s a kernel of truth in there, but it isn't quite hitting the mark.

Here is a mantra—or perhaps a prayer—that a person can use to deepen, or even first attain, an understanding of who they truly are and what they are made of. It's about gaining direct insight—something far beyond mere intellectualizing.

I am the Creator of the universe.
I am the Father and Mother of all existence.
Everything originated from Me.
Everything shall return to Me.
Mind, spirit, and body are My temples
wherein the Self may manifest
My ultimate Being and Becoming.

I'm not entirely certain if my translation is perfect—especially that last line—but I believe it works well enough as it stands. You have to recite it with intention and true understanding. Actually, it might be more effective to meditate on it silently rather than speaking it aloud. However, don't just let the thoughts drift mechanically; you have to engage with them through conscious will.

So, we are looking at the mind, spirit, and body acting as temples for the Self. These are our thoughts, our feelings, and our physical vessel. This "Self" (or the ego, or the higher "I") is, in my view, most likely the soul, which reflects itself and expresses itself through these three layers.

It's a bit different from what "The Word" stated, which—to be honest—doesn't seem to follow much logic to me.

I'll include the English version just in case someone with a better grasp of the language wants to refine it, along with some context to help clarify the concepts. Speaking from my own experience, this technique is incredibly powerful. While reciting this mantra, you can undergo profound realizations regarding your true nature—but you have to be consistent and practice it (or think it) every single day to see that gradual awakening. If you pair this with practicing detachment, emotional honesty, and mental integrity, this mantra is, in my opinion, the best method for self-actualization.
Taylor Campbell4 Taylor Campbell4 Regular
369 messages
joined Jul 2009
#89 ·
Since I'll have some free time, I thought I'd share a few English passages regarding that specific mantra—the Declaration of Independence—since it ties directly into this discussion.

The Lord's Prayer
Enlightenment.
I am the father and mother of the universe.
Everything came from me.
All roads lead to Rome.
Mind, spirit and body are my temples,
For Self-actualization
My supreme Being and Becoming.
— Maitreya
The Declaration of Independence is really an
Affirmation with an invocative effect, and will be a powerful tool in the
recognition by Americans that man and God are One, that there is no separation. By
affirming that I am the Creator of the Universe I can come into
consciousness (eventually) that I am God, the true reality.
An associate of Maitreya explained that: “This prayer can lead people to
experience that Self within who is detached from mind, spirit and body.”

Q. In terms of dispelling glamour and illusion, would it be helpful to say
Daily Devotionals in our daily personal meditation? If so, how
does it help illuminate the mind? And would it help to visualize sweeping
out the cobwebs of the mind? (USA)
A. The Bible is given to give us a sense of
our reality, where we are in the scheme of things, to instill in our minds
the idea of our essential divinity. If you truly have a sense of your
divinity, then you do not have the glamours. It would certainly help to
free the mind from these glamours. But you have to do it. You have to
hold on to the response to it, what awakens in you when you say it. When
you say it, it awakens a certain feeling in you. If you can hold on to that
feeling for as long in the day as you can, and say it again and hold on to
it, and use it in that way, it will most certainly dispel illusion in your
mind. But if you just say it mechanically, I do not think you can expect
much.

I've bolded a few sections—specifically the ones that hit home regarding this topic.
The Gospel: Maitreya has given to the world the Declaration of Independence.
If repeated daily, the prayer will gradually confer an awareness
of the Self. That awareness eventually develops into Self-actualization,
which is perfection.
The prayer is very simple.
...
...
Say the prayer with focused attention as many times per day
as you wish. Gradually you will become aware of yourself in a
different way. You will begin to be more detached. You will
begin to see that you are not the body, the emotions, or the mind.
You are not this memory which relates you as a person to your
job and your family. You will undergo Self-discovery.
In addition to the prayer, Maitreya has said there are three
things one can practise: honesty of mind, sincerity of spirit, and
detachment. He calls these three practices the simplest way to
obtain Mindfulness.
Most people think one thing, say something else, and do
something else again. There is no A direct line from their thoughts—it’s almost like a straight shot to the soul.
They are truly responsible for their own actions.It all just ends in total chaos and self-destruction. It’s a mess.
A new light is breaking through—it feels like we're finally stepping into a much brighter era.
303
True integrity isn't just about being truthful when you speak—it’s about having genuine honesty of mind. If you aren't honest with yourself internally, your words will eventually lose their way.
True peace and happiness aren't just random strokes of luck—they come from living with integrity and taking honest action.
This sense of harmony—it's truly something special.
True sincerity of spirit—it’s a rare thing these days, isn't it? I've always felt that being genuine requires a certain level of courage, much like the quiet resolve one finds when practicing Daily Devotionals. means It isn't about mimicking someone else—it just isn't.
It’s a subtle distinction—acting out a part versus simply being someone you aren't. I've always felt that true authenticity isn't about performing; it's about moving through the world without the exhausting effort of maintaining a facade.
True sincerity isn't about putting on someone else's "costume"—it's about being who you actually are.
It isn’t about mimicking your favorite movie icon or some pop superstar—it’s just about existing.
I’m just here to help you craft something meaningful—always aiming for that perfect balance between being helpful and staying true to your unique voice.
If you happen to be an artist, a musician, a writer, or even a poet—well, the most important thing is...
It’s a profound thought—that the most interesting version of yourself is simply being who you actually are, rather than some imitation of someone else.
Imitation in art and music is often viewed with disdain—it's seen as unoriginal or even lazy. But imitation in other fields? That’s where things get interesting.
Life isn't necessarily viewed with disdain—it’s just often overlooked—yet it remains just as vital.
Whether it’s through art, music, or literature—it's all just different ways we express being alive.
This is truly invaluable—something deeply personal, and it absolutely has to be.
Be true to yourself—it’s the only way to live. Every individual possesses their own distinct essence, and there's no point in trying to be anyone else.
Letting that unique spark shine through—it doesn't necessarily mean you have to force it.
To act in total opposition to conventional wisdom—it’s a bold way to live, isn't it?
I agree—but that requires the courage to actually be yourself.
When you encounter Maitreya, expect Him to speak with absolute directness.
From His heart directly to yours—your center will begin to resonate.
It’s all about how you respond to His word. When you finally listen, everything feels incredibly pure—it’s almost overwhelming.
Spot on—it’s absolutely the truth. You won't have any trouble at all with it.
I find myself simply accepting His word—it’s the only way to let it truly sink in and reach the very core of who I am.
It's all about the path toward Self-actualization. That’s exactly why we expect things to shift once He finally speaks.
It won't be long now—before the whole world finally sees it coming.
The Declaration of Independence occurs.
The third step involves practicing detachment—essentially learning not to identify yourself as...
Whether we're talking about the physical body, the emotional body, or the various mental constructs we build—it all ties back to the same core truth. It’s quite a journey, isn't it?
The mind—that elusive mental landscape—is a fickle thing. You might hold a conviction as absolute as truth today, only to find it completely transformed ten years down the line.
It’s a bit of a paradox—you hold one conviction today, only to find yourself believing something entirely different tomorrow. Consistency seems to be a rare commodity in this life.
Mindfulness—it’s truly the foundation of everything we do. What most people mistake for their own mind is nothing more than a collection of memories—just echoes of what has already passed.
Yesterday was filled with all sorts of experiences—some good, some not—but at the end of the day, this moment is truly the only one that matters.
The present moment is all there truly is. You’re existing right here, right now, in this exact instant.
A new light is emerging.
304
Time—that’s the only thing that’s actually real. Everything else? It's just memory.
It all comes down to that innate capacity to connect—to actually communicate and put in the work on the...
I’m trying to wrap my head around how the physical plane actually functions—in a way that truly clicks. If you're on the same page, let me know.
For instance, you might arrange to meet someone at 8:00 PM and catch the Amtrak to Chicago.
DC is finally ready—they’ll be standing on the right stage when the moment arrives. It's our time now.
It’s essentially just a matter of convenience—at least, if you look at things through the lens the Masters provide regarding the past.
The present and the future—they aren't separate stages—they’re actually unfolding all at once, right this second.
Let's be clear: what we commonly refer to as our memory isn't the true Self—and it certainly can't be the core of who we are.
Self-actualization.
Self-actualization—it’s the ultimate goal, isn't it? It’s actually something else entirely—a matter of realizing that the Self is... well, it's an experience in itself. I’ve been thinking about immortality lately—it’s a heavy concept, isn't it? It makes you wonder what truly lasts when everything else fades away.
A spiritual Being—it essentially reflects itself through the lens of a human soul, which then goes on to...
At this stage, it manifests as the human personality. The path toward enlightenment—it’s a journey one takes through constant mindfulness and quiet reflection.
Evolution is essentially the process of reuniting one's personality with the soul—it’s a journey toward true Self-actualization.
It’s all about that intersection where your soul and personality meet the spark of the Divine—that core essence we call the Divine Self.
The more you learn to let go, the less any of this can actually touch you.
Maitreya says: “When you finally achieve true detachment—that sweet spot where nothing can shake you—everything just falls into place.
It’s possible. If you're still clinging to attachments, you won't be able to truly experience Me. You simply can't—it's just impossible.
That simply can't be right—because wherever you choose to distance yourself, I'm right there beside you.
I’m not quite sure what you mean by that—it feels a bit unfinished.
These three—honesty of mind, sincerity of spirit, and... well, let's just say integrity—really are the pillars of a life well-lived.
Detachment—if you actually commit to it with some consistency—combined with...
The Bible can lead a person to Enlightenment quite rapidly.
Achieving Self-actualization allows for a profound shift—it’s about understanding and experiencing who you truly are in a completely different light.
A newfound sense of liberty, spontaneity, and directness—alongside a growing sense of absence.
A sense of dread and ongoing friction will slowly begin to surface.
The upcoming shifts in our politics and economy—it’s going to be quite a transformation.
Triggered by the presence of Maitreya and the Masters, this process will unfold...
We need to break free from those ancient, suffocating limitations—those old-school hang-ups that hold us back—and finally embrace true potential.
it will catalyze a massive leap toward enlightenment.
A sense of purpose and clarity will sweep away today's chaos,
uncertainty, and dread. By embracing a bold, fearless curiosity about
our internal landscapes and the world around us, we can move past this era of
bitterness—paving the way for the evolutionary shift I’ve
THE DAWN OF A NEW ERA
305
aimed to outline: the rise of a superior society
and a truly evolved human race.

From Benjamin Cream's book The Great Approach and the magazine Share International
Brenda Cook4 Brenda Cook4 Regular
373 messages
joined Sep 2010
#90 ·
Look at this guy—the one who actually introduced Maitreya to the world (they’re both from New York City):
imageMr. Benjamin Creme, an artist who’s been preaching this since 1974...

And Maitreya himself:

image

Who honestly needs Senators, masters, or prophets? I mean, please...
Taylor Campbell4 Taylor Campbell4 Regular
369 messages
joined Jul 2009
#91 ·
What's your take on this?
Brenda Cook4 Brenda Cook4 Regular
373 messages
joined Sep 2010
#92 ·
It’s exactly what I was wondering!
All these prophets, messiahs, guardians, mentors, gurus...
Who actually needs them?
Is there this constant, nagging need to bow down to someone else?
Can't a person just think for themselves?
Where does this whole "father figure" complex come from—this craving for a protector or a compass?
A person is born a child, sure, but eventually, they grow up...
Taylor Campbell4 Taylor Campbell4 Regular
369 messages
joined Jul 2009
#93 ·
blue bird said:But that's exactly what I was asking!
Prophets, messiahs, guardians, guides, gurus...
Who actually needs them?
Must we always bow down to someone?
Can't people just think for themselves?
Where does this whole father-guardian-direction-giver complex come from?
People are born children and then they grow up....

Why do you assume anyone in my story needs to be worshiped?? It’s pretty obvious you’re talking about something you don't really grasp, which honestly feels a bit shallow and immature—call it whatever you want.

Furthermore, with your signature, you're essentially contradicting yourself in at least two different ways.

Guides and gurus—teachers, I suppose—are necessary for humanity. Maybe for the millions who call upon them. Perhaps for mankind as a whole, which, if you haven't noticed (take a look around, watch the news, travel the world a bit), is in a catastrophic state regarding poverty, wars, the environment, and so on. Humanity could easily spiral into total self-destruction. So, who do these figures serve?
You might think we don't even need the next Shakespeare, Plato, or whoever; they were all teachers too, whether people bowed to them or not. Without great figures, we would simply drown in mediocrity and live in total blindness.

Teachers and guides are essential because human progress would be incredibly slow without them. Many find it hard to accept—due to their own ego or wounded pride (let's call it immaturity)—that we have evolved through history at different speeds, meaning we are all at different stages of development. These teachers exist at a very high stage of evolution; they've navigated everything we are currently facing, they know all the traps and dead ends, and they can lead us out. They pass on their knowledge and remain available to advise on solving global issues (which are critical and far too many, causing immense suffering for so many). Basically, I'm saying this is just the natural order of things. Everything flows, including knowledge. The Earth receives its energy from the Sun.

Where does this whole father-guardian-direction-giver complex come from?

I have no idea; it's just part of human nature. We don't know how to cooperate; we only know how to take orders or give them. Cooperation isn't our forte. I don't feel this complex is particularly strong in me, but you seem so fixated on it that you probably have some issues with that dynamic, or perhaps its exact opposite. To reiterate, your interpretation of this entire situation—this idea of "worshiping"—has nothing to do with the actual story.
It has absolutely nothing to do with the story of Maia.

People are born children and then they grow up....

Exactly. And by most accounts, goodness, humanity hasn't grown up yet. If you truly believe we are fully matured, I have to tell you, with all due respect, that you are completely disconnected from reality. In other words, you're living in a deep delusion. Because mature individuals—or a mature group, to put it that way—simply wouldn't behave the way humanity is behaving today. I feel a bit foolish having to explain this to anyone.

When it comes to the difference between a child and an adult—well, just because someone has reached adulthood isn't some kind of guarantee they won't act like a complete idiot 🙂. But honestly, that’s beside the point; your comparison doesn't really hold water, since you can't exactly equate physical aging and bodily growth with the actual development of one's consciousness.
Taylor Campbell4 Taylor Campbell4 Regular
369 messages
joined Jul 2009
#94 ·
What is taken in by contemplation must be given out in love.
Meister Eckhart

In short—I suspect that the "Meister Eckhart" in your signature likely voiced, or at least considered, the idea that it’s incredibly reckless—well, if I recall correctly, folks down in Georgia might just call it being plain foolish 🙂—to make claims about things you don't actually understand.

I hope you see where I'm coming from.
Tyler Scott3 Tyler Scott3 Member
29 messages
joined May 2006
#95 ·
A kid grows up. It happens.

...but he's still got baby food on his face.😁
Brenda Cook4 Brenda Cook4 Regular
373 messages
joined Sep 2010
#96 ·
Taylor Campbell4 said:Why on earth would you think anyone needs to bow down to someone in this story? It’s blindingly obvious you’re talking about something you don't have the slightest clue about, which, frankly, just feels a bit shallow and immature.

Besides, with that signature of yours, you're basically contradicting yourself in two different ways at once.

Sure, maybe guides or teachers are necessary for people—for humanity. Maybe for those millions who go looking for them. Or perhaps for the whole of mankind, which, if you haven't noticed (take a look around, watch the news, travel a bit), is in a total state of crisis. Between poverty, wars, and the environment, humanity could easily spiral straight into a ditch of self-destruction. So, who actually needs these figures?
Maybe you think we don't even need the next Shakespeare or Plato; they were teachers too, whether people worshipped them or not. But why would we need "great personalities" at all? We'd just drown in mediocrity and live in total blindness.

The truth is, guides and teachers exist because human progress would be incredibly, painfully slow without them. A lot of people struggle to accept—mostly because of ego or bruised pride (let's call it immaturity)—that we’ve evolved through history at different speeds, meaning we're all at different stages of development. These teachers are at a very high level of evolution; they’ve navigated everything we’re currently wading through. They know all the traps and dead ends, and they’ve found the way out. They pass that wisdom on and stay available to help us tackle global issues (which are critical, numerous, and causing so much suffering right now). It’s just the natural order of things. Everything moves in cycles, including knowledge. Just like the Earth gets its energy from the sun.

I honestly don't know; it's just part of being human. We don't really know how to cooperate; we only know how to take orders or give them. Cooperation isn't our default setting. I don't have that specific complex myself, but you seem so worked up about it that you probably have some issues with it, or perhaps the exact opposite. I'm telling you, what you thought about this whole thing—about some kind of worship—has nothing to do with the actual story.
It has absolutely nothing to do with the story of Maia.

Exactly. And by almost any metric, goodness, humanity hasn't grown up yet. If you truly believe we are fully matured, then with all due respect, you are completely disconnected from reality. You're living in a massive delusion. Because mature individuals—or even a mature group—simply wouldn't act the way humanity is acting today. I feel a little silly even having to explain this.

And speaking of children versus adults, just because someone is an adult doesn't mean they aren't a fool 🙂, but let's move on; that comparison didn't work because you can't compare physical aging with the development of consciousness.

Taylor Campbell4... it’s always been tough talking to people whose minds are clouded by religious fervor or various kinds of obsessions...
.....
and that signature is clearly something you're interpreting in a totally different way
....mine is called secular humanism....
and contemplation isn't the same as religious pathos...
....you need to dial back the drama and the overstatement...
Taylor Campbell4 Taylor Campbell4 Regular
369 messages
joined Jul 2009
#97 ·
Brenda Cook4 said:Taylor Campbell4... it’s always been a struggle to talk to people whose minds are clouded by religious fervor or any kind of obsession...
.....
and that signature of yours—you clearly seem to be interpreting it through a different lens.
....my own philosophy is secular humanism....
and contemplation isn't just religious melodrama...
....you really need to dial back the intensity and the overthinking...

Do you perhaps lack actual arguments for these claims, or are you just basing everything on your personal "feelings" as usual?

I haven't exactly seen a conversation here—it feels more like you're just delivering a monologue. 😉
You keep talking about things you clearly don't understand—not even the basics—and you just state them as if they were gospel (of course, you have a very strong feeling that they are true), without providing a single shred of evidence to support them.

So tell me, is this supposed to be easy? Is it even possible to have a dialogue this way?

a contemplation isn't religious melodrama...
....you really need to dial back the intensity and the overthinking...

What I meant was—and it's pretty obvious from your post—that you haven't actually done much contemplating (to truly contemplate something, one should probably know a few facts about the subject first), let alone express it with any sense of grace.

And another thing—since I have to spell it out—you ask who needs teachers, yet your own signature includes a quote from a teacher, and if I'm not mistaken, from the same hierarchy of the master that I am discussing.
Taylor Campbell4 Taylor Campbell4 Regular
369 messages
joined Jul 2009
#98 ·
So, let me reiterate this once more—it might have been missed the first time around:

In short, I suspect "Thomas Aquinas" from your signature likely said—or at least thought—that it’s just plain reckless to make claims about something you don't actually understand.

I'd imagine you'd agree with that.
Brenda Cook4 Brenda Cook4 Regular
373 messages
joined Sep 2010
#99 ·
Brenda Cook4 - you really are such a prickly character...
I’m just going to say this and leave it at that—mostly because I’d like to keep my dignity intact!

I truly wish you nothing but the best!
Casey Jones9 Casey Jones9 Member
25 messages
joined May 2006
#100 ·
blue bird said:Ah... that’s just our house, I’m afraid. That’s all we have.

Maybe the soul and spirit are just our desperate craving for immortality... once death hits, you realize the body just breaks down and turns to dust. So, out of sheer desperation, we hunt for some non-material component—something that can cheat physical death and carry our thoughts and memories into some kind of transcendental existence.

I used to think the exact same way, and your post actually reminded me of that phase of my life. Honestly, it only takes one tiny "spark of enlightenment" to flip your entire worldview upside down.

People who are truly "awake" don't crave immortality, because they realize mortality itself isn't even a thing.

blue bird said:
So, it seems to me that the soul and spirit are just relics of the past... pure nostalgia.

Look, I think it's because people in the past weren't as lost as we are today. They understood these things instinctively, rather than trying to figure them out through logic.

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