Reply
Thu 2 Jan, 2003 11:59 pm
discussion based loosely on a book:
called "The Four Agreements"
I had posted this topic on Abuzz a while back, & I was
looking around for perhaps a few other persons who
might have also read this little book, just to see what
they thought about this concept as one of the innumerable
remote possibilities. (one out of the myriad of millions of
millions of remote possibilities - which may or may not
have any merit) Since I know of NOT ONE who knows what
exactly does occur upon the occurence of death (or let me
phrase it this way) In my own personal experience, I know
not one human being who has returned to me from death to
tell their tale, nor tell me that when she/he died, this is what
happened next and then give me the skinny about what to
expect when it happens to me.
*Scientifically, in addition, I know of not one truly intelligent 
scientific explanation which totally, utterly, completely &
beyond the very shadow of any doubt explains (once death occurs),
where that "energy" went? 
This energy I speak of, is that energy which did, in fact,
"SEEM TO" or "APPEAR TO" & quite noticeably I might add,
"animate" the human body prior to the death experience.
Reminds me of the old story of Pinocchio. Just how does
matter - in whatever kind, size, shape or form - become
what we call "living"? How many rocks have you spoken
with lately? Have you had a tree bend down to offer you
an apple? Like in The Wizard of Oz???
*What do you really know? What do WE really know?
We KNOW one fact for sure. That "some thing" is surely
missing from the remaining (once lively) human body,
which, in itself, is nothing more than a collection of hydrogen,
carbon, oxygen & nitrogen, along with minor elements like iron,
calcium, sulfur, sodium, magnesium, phosphorus etc. After
the phenomena of death occurs, that "something" is quite
clearly no longer present, it's gone. It's like a bad magician
trick -- now you see it, now you don't. {Applause}
*RELIGIONS, we have lots of religions, prone to making
some really extravagant promises of some heavenly reward 
in an "afterlife" to look forward to, but meanwhile you just
keep on missing out on all the greatest of experiences to be
had IN THIS LIFE, IN THIS MOMENT!! Carpe Diem! Now,
churches work real well for some people as social groups.
If you move to a new town and want to get to know people
or maybe you're one of the big mortgage bankers on a tiny
little island, and there's nothing quite like doing your
networking whenever and wherever the chance arises,
for the sake of business of course. Get out there - see others
and be seen. It's great for the business
*ME, I'm more likely to think these religions nothing more
than opiates for the masses, as one chap put it in long ago.
The additional factor about the $$$$$$ involved is suspect.
*What I LIKE about life is its very inexplicability, its
paradoxical nature - - the many little coincidences that
happen to us that simply can't be explained.
*If for NO OTHER REASON, one of the remarkable reasons
for reading The Four Agreements is - - that it''s a simple way
to a far more pleasureable life. If I can put these 4 concepts
into practice in MY LIFE -- I KNOW for sure I am guaranteed a
profound alteration in my outlook on life, and on my relations
with my fellow members of mankind.
There really are strong spiritual realities in this book. I
hope you find them.
IMAGINE - You die, you wake up, you find it ALL was a dream...
That's what I did during the last SuperBowl!
I believe there is an afterlife ~ or a stepping over to a new plane of existence.
PS ~ The 49ers better make the Superbowl, or my reality will become a nightmare!
You don't have to die to wake up from this dreamworld.
Why anyone would want to wake up from this so called 'dream world' is a mystery in itself i think...
Why wake up? Life is filled with suffering. We get sick, we grow old and we die. We want what we can not have, and want to hold on to that which must vanish. We tend to lose the present as we are torn between the past and the future. Whatever we have, it isn't enough. We seek pleasure only to find it turning to ashes in our mouths. We avoid pain and hurt more. We wish to control others, the world, but can not control ourselves. We are tortured by doubts and disappointments.
In Awakening there is surcease from suffering and sorrow.
that's life, and death. you die when your soul is ready, or your body, no one knows. maybe one in the same.
In Buddhism: No Soul, No Self
Waaaay too late at night to wrestle with that one, Asherman. If I could visualize no Self, there wouldn't be much to discuss, would there?
aww c'mon roger,
how can anyone really know for sure if we have a soul, or just self, or if they are one in the same, i'm not looking to wrestle here asherman, just my opinion, you won't know til you really get there.
yeah, maybe it is too late to deal with this.....
[quote="Asherman"]In Buddhism: No Soul, No Self[/quote]
So, you have nothing, and you are nothing?
Just a dream creature, in the mind of God.
just a god, in the mind of my dream
Very Taoist. Similar conceptions are not uncommon among mystics of many root faiths. Actually in Buddhism there isn' t any God either, but that's about as close to the actual concept as one can get.
Strange, is it not? that of the myriads who
Before us passed the door of Darkness through,
Not one returns to tell us of the road,
Which to discover we must travel too.
Fitzgerald--The Rubaiyat
Interesting! A creature with no Creator!
Then through what "process" did you come into existence?
I don't, you don't, we don't exist.
We don't exist? So I must be talking to myself then? Hang on, that's not possible either, because I don't exist!
Someone please call for the gentlemen in white coats please.
Stumble It!
Tweet This
Bookmark on Delicious
Share on Facebook
Share on MySpace