posted September 29, 2004 12:46 PM         

God agreed to answer one question from the man.

The man thought a long time, wanting to phrase his question in such a was as to elicit as much information as possible from God. Finally he asked, "Oh Great One, why does all physical manifestation exist with its joys and pain, its good and evil, and its host of humanity?"

God laughed out loud and answered, "Because I said so!"

posted October 03, 2004 07:56 PM         

Welcome back FishKitten

posted October 04, 2004 08:10 PM         

Yes, these are questions I've been thinking about a lot recently. I'm just going to spout some stuff:

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Greetings Knowflakes,

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I always like the word greetings, but yet, never feel compelled to use it. I wonder, is there some poewr imbued in that word? There is SEER and SEE, SING, etc. So maybe that word is asking the person you greet to seek as well? In any case, tis a cool word.

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I agree wiht you, "God is all", but why were we given minds to think up questions if not to be given answers?

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You know, I feel recently that so many places speak of these things that to name an answer is impossible really. I loved Linda's version, and in fact I wrote a page elaborating my beliefs of her opionions (found here). However, my Mind is constantly changing so I will explain breifly what I Think it is now. I'm thinking it is the most "primitive" form of our body/mind/soul trine but of course equally powerful. The body could be said to be primitive as well, but maybe that's just because we don't really know how it works. Really, the body is absolutely fascinating. So what is the Mind? Well, I'm thinking it is our current perceptions of who we are. It filters info from the soul, and of the body, and sends messages back. So to question is to strengthen the messages, and indeed the Mind. However, what of the content of the questions? Is it OK to ask anything in the event of exercising the Mind regardless of direction? Or *should* one ask only "important" questions? I use should loosly here as really, everything is our own opinion. Likewise important really has no weight as that is opinionary as well (mind my making my own words ). Anyhow, so why exercise the Mind? Some people say it's like the Body, if you don't exercise it, it will shrivel and become weak. So what of a weak Mind? I mean, what's the difference really between an active Mind, a blank Mind, a Strong-Willed Mind and a corruptible Mind? They are all ultimately the same things but maybe the choices they underwent have led them into different paths - worked different muscles as it were. Indeed, why were we given a Mind in which to ask if there are no answers?

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If we don't have answers the how can we learn to understand?

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Understanding is another word I've been thinking about. To "Stand Under" reminds me of things that "go over your head". It's like all information and knowledge exists independent of us up there somewhere, and all we have to do is locate it and maybe absorb it? I mean, how does standing under something make it yours? Is knowledge rain? Wow, I love this analogy! Think about that! To stand in the rain with the smells and the textures and the coolness. This makes me think the mind/soul/body are one when this happens as all would be smiling upwards.

To ask does not mean to understand. As Pearl Jam says in Love Boat Captian "Questions rise and Answers fall, insurmountable". I never really stood under what this meant. Insurmountable. I think understanding is truly about Knowing. Asking is almost about seeking. Seeking is acting. Following a path to see where you want to go, or somehow following a map. So yes,

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Does the bible not say seek and ye shall find? Peace. Sue

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Seek and ye shall find... truth, the way, answers, understanding, Love. All of these are slightly different, and yet, all is Love. Life. God.

posted October 05, 2004 04:32 PM         

You say:
"Seek and ye shall find... truth, the way, answers, understanding, Love. All of these are slightly different, and yet, all is Love. Life. God."

posted October 05, 2004 06:47 PM         

Sue, my Mind's still out on that one. I don't really understand the blank Mind though. I wrote a story recently related by Osho about wanting to be as blank as a cow. I don't really think this demonstrates Godliness too much. We should experience emotions and thoughts. We experience for reasons. To be completely blank could be useful in understanding God on a much higher level, but as humans, we are experiential. Though a completely active Mind is also daunting. I'm a gemini so I guess I've chosen the active path for this life, but I do try to still it occassionally. You know, I've learnt something recently. It's bringing tears to my eyes thinking about it. I don't know why. But the lesson is to do with drugs/alcohol. You see, I think many people choose these substances to try to minimise the activeness of their Minds. This is through Fear of not being able to sleep, or "thinking too much", or just not having an outlet for their thoughts. These are all excuses! Thoughts are truly wonderful. To have no thoughts is akin to not having a tongue. People should settle their thoughts (if needed) through the arts - music, poetry etc. Substance abuse is rediculous and yet I see it can be comforting for people. I know someone who uses constantly but he is the most physically active person I know. I think my point is sometimes the choices we choose and the paths we walk are for the wrong reasons. Maybe through laziness or incomprehension. But we do have choices.

posted October 05, 2004 09:09 PM         

Regarding emotions and thoughts; do you think there are higher and lower forms of these?
You mention art and I was reminded of the idea of Artful Living, meaning to live life as a form of high art, being directed by those forms of emotion(energy in motion) that are inclined toward or come from the Divine.
It seems to me that there is, say, a qualitative difference between compassion and anger in terms of how they affect us and our lives.
What do you think?

Two quotes from Mary Anne Atwood concerning aspects of the Hermetic Art come to mind:
"It is by emotion that mind is moved into matter. Emotion is a midpoint between the two; conscience strikes upon the self-life, and, when it does so, effectually ferments it and evolves from it a third form of life, a new birth of life."

posted October 06, 2004 10:11 PM         

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Hi Dean,
Regarding emotions and thoughts; do you think there are higher and lower forms of these?

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Hmmm. To a certain extent I think I do. I think there are two scenarios here. Depending on your level of awareness with Who You Are you may be said to have corrosponding levels of thoughts/emotions. However, I guess the second scenario is where/what You'd like to Be. In this case, higher thoughts would improve your chances of being that, while lower would allow you to relearn something but there would be a delay. Ultimately, either levels are OK because they are what you want to experience. Another thing I wanted to add is that if a "loss enlightened" person had an awesome thought (of a higher level) than a "more enlightened" person, then how is this considered? Can the less person improve more dramatically in there lives than the more? Maybe lesser thoughts have an impact on the next life. This is why I think people from harder backgrounds may work harder and achieve more, because they think higher.

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You mention art and I was reminded of the idea of Artful Living, meaning to live life as a form of high art, being directed by those forms of emotion(energy in motion) that are inclined toward or come from the Divine.

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I've never heard this before but it sounds cool. Artful reminds me of Heartful. Also, I noticed recently that Father contains Heart, which equals Earth, which we call Mother. Conversely Woman contains Man. These are just two situtations where the euality of our sexes are shown.

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It seems to me that there is, say, a qualitative difference between compassion and anger in terms of how they affect us and our lives.
What do you think?

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Compassion contains Passion and Pass On.
Orange contains no rage or anger.
The thing I keep getting drawn into thinking is indifference or being blasé. How does this affect ones life? Does it imply lower thoughts, or contemplation? Anger is the acting out of Fear. Acting implies initially thinking and therefore Creating the Fearing. Are these thoughts low? Well, how much can we learn from Fear or Anger? On the other hand, what if something ticks us off, is this Fear? Should we be e-motionless? I dunno. Just some thoughts.

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Two quotes from Mary Anne Atwood concerning aspects of the Hermetic Art come to mind:
"It is by emotion that mind is moved into matter. Emotion is a midpoint between the two; conscience strikes upon the self-life, and, when it does so, effectually ferments it and evolves from it a third form of life, a new birth of life."

"The powers developed, of which the Adepts speak, are produced from emotional sources in the heart, which emotional forces qualitate those powers; contrition, love, purity, mercy, humility, are such emotions and producible not so much materially as essentially. Emotion brings forth essence, and essence is qualitated, i.e. specificated, and recieves form from Ideas or the universal forms of Nature..."
--Mary Anne Atwood, Suggestive Inquiry into the Hermetic Mystery

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Wow, that is so deep! I think I have to read that one many times to truly comprehend it. Thank you for your thoughts.

You guys have given me a new quote...

Dean.

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I think, therefore I thank...

posted October 06, 2004 11:31 PM         

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Artful reminds me of Heartful. Also, I noticed recently that Father contains Heart, which equals Earth, which we call Mother. Conversely Woman contains Man. These are just two situtations where the euality of our sexes are shown.

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The words send me spiraling

Are they "equal" or one and the same ?

posted October 07, 2004 12:12 AM         

It just occured to me that Heartful = He Artful.

posted October 07, 2004 03:02 AM         

One last thought here. You know how Truth could be considered Beautiful? Well, since Beauty is according to the eye of the "beholder", maybe truth is also? In fact, I'm starting to think our notion of God is completely within the eye of our beholder - our higher-self. Really there is one God, but each person has a "link" through our Higher S-elf (as Linda has said) but this link is also through our eyes and hence we invent who our God is to us. If we believe Him to work according to punishment/rewards then this is how we live. If we believe Her to all ways be there for us, and to protect no matter/energy what, then She will do that too. We Create who we are on ALL levels. So Within, so Without. Part of these beliefs stems from Conversations with God (I've almost finished book 2), but it really does make sense no?

posted October 07, 2004 03:33 AM         

Among other things, I too was taken by, "Artful reminds me of Heartful. Also, I noticed recently that Father contains Heart, which equals Earth, which we call Mother. Conversely Woman contains Man. These are just two situtations where the euality of our sexes are shown."

It does send one spiraling.

And Coldiron, great Hermetic thoughts ... love that stuff!

posted October 07, 2004 07:25 PM         

Yes, the good old world, I mean word druids sure are every where. In fact, OK, I never stood under why world contained lord. But indeed, World Druids could be considered Lords of the Worlds, and words, while Word druids are just of Words. So are World Druids Avatars and Adepts?

"I'm dizzy, my head is spinnin, like a whirlpool, it never ends..."

posted October 13, 2005 07:14 AM         

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'cos God said so!"
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That's not Zen.
Its Old testament.. "In the beginning was the Word !"

posted July 13, 2007 11:44 PM         

Because of the Universal Laws that are Immutable, you get what you give!