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Author
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Topic: Chess
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sesame
Moderator Posts: 1058
From: Oz
Registered: Nov 2003
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posted October 29, 2005 01:21 AM
 
IAT, handsome men could be knights. If men were betrayed that way. I think I read that somewhere  Dean. IP: Logged |
AcousticGod
Knowflake Posts: 3251
From: Pleasanton, CA, USA
Registered: May 2005
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posted October 30, 2005 01:38 AM
I personally don't see it as a spiritual game. It's hard for me to make the link between a game and spirituality.IP: Logged |
sesame
Moderator Posts: 1058
From: Oz
Registered: Nov 2003
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posted October 30, 2005 01:43 AM
You ever view life like a game?Dean. IP: Logged |
Iqhunk
Knowflake Posts: 272
From: Chennai
Registered: Oct 2005
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posted October 30, 2005 02:34 AM
There is a definite spirituality in Chess.
8 x 8 squares. A game that represents a full matrix of karmas.
The characters are pawns, knights, bishops,rooks, king and queen, showing a spectrum of human archetypes and characteristics. Some are linear, some always crooked, some flexible, some rigid and some just leap over a problem. Black and WHite pieces show that every archetype has a positive or negative quality to expereince. Duality.
Last but not the least, a humble pawn who conquers the travails of karma can evolve into the most powerful state, a Goddess queen.For hermetics, chess enables focus and prevents day dreaming, thereby enabling us to stay in the present moment for longer periods. IP: Logged |
AcousticGod
Knowflake Posts: 3251
From: Pleasanton, CA, USA
Registered: May 2005
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posted October 30, 2005 03:38 AM
No, I don't often think of life like a game.Iqhunk's justification for saying it's spiritual would almost work for me if it weren't for the matter of motivation. I have an awful hard time thinking that any consideration remotely similar to that was given in creating this game. Here's a site on it's origins: http://www.mynetcologne.de/~nc-jostenge/ It's not a major contention. I think my only point would be that if you can find spirituality in this then there are numerous strategy games that you should feel the same about. My feeling is that the endurance of this game over the years has unjustifiably created a sense of awe amongst its players. The same is true of Go. Because of the age of these games they're exalted to this place of reverance that is only partially deserved. Longevity, in my mind, doesn't convey to the game of chess a mystic sense of awe. It's a game of self-righteousness for those that can play it well, and a game of infinite boredom for those that can't. So many males want a nice chess board to display along with their books in order that their guests might not hesititate to believe them intelligent. When the video game revolution catches up shortly, you'll be seeing people play games a lot more difficult than chess. I've heard that they're already starting to televise these games. Tactical, real time strategy games with 8 players (or more potentially) can throw a lot more curves than chess ever will even when you're playing in teams. So that's my diatribe on chess. It's not a bad game, but it is just a game -a tool for self-esteem and mental exercise. Perhaps I'm too much of an Earth sign to see beyond what it is in practical terms. IP: Logged |
Iqhunk
Knowflake Posts: 272
From: Chennai
Registered: Oct 2005
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posted October 30, 2005 06:08 AM
<< Tactical, real time strategy games with 8 players (or more potentially) can throw a lot more curves than chess ever will even when you're playing in teams.>>
Agree with that too. And its more entertaining. And yes, 3D computer games are far more spiritual than chess because they simultae how our own HIgher Selves created the physical expereince as a virtual relaity game for them
AS above, so below.
IP: Logged |
sesame
Moderator Posts: 1058
From: Oz
Registered: Nov 2003
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posted October 30, 2005 06:24 AM
Iqhunk, I never quite saw it like that, but yes, you have very valid points. I think it is very simbolic of life - not just as a game, but as examples of how we think and make decisions. I hate it when people take my peices to trade theire. I don't minf if there's a greater plan, but a straight trade is annoying as we've both lost a good peice that could've been useful, and for what reason? Recently someone I was playing traded both his bishops for both my horses, so maybe he had equestrophobia.IP: Logged |
sesame
Moderator Posts: 1058
From: Oz
Registered: Nov 2003
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posted October 30, 2005 06:29 AM
AG, I hear what you're saying, but it's the same thing with guns. People kill people, not guns. People have egos and issues, chess doesn't. I think the reason it's lasted is because the peices are so versatile and interesting. There are many things to think about in chess. Maybe you're one of the bored ones that never got into it? I think it can teach many things, and yes, humility may be one of them. Sometimes I feel a goofy smile when I make a great move, and I don't exactly feel proud of it, but why's that? Maybe I'm feeling the tall-poppy syndrom.Interesting link, but in this case, I'd say the ends justify the means. Dean. IP: Logged |
AcousticGod
Knowflake Posts: 3251
From: Pleasanton, CA, USA
Registered: May 2005
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posted October 30, 2005 11:25 AM
I got into chess as a kid. My family had a prominently placed chess table in the living room, and as a kid whenever adults were over I'd look for a game.At this point I am one of the bored. Ooooh, you know what probably does have some spiritual lessons? Golf! Man that's a tough sport.  IP: Logged |
iAmThat
Knowflake Posts: 1205
From: USA
Registered: Sep 2004
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posted October 30, 2005 03:01 PM
I believe when IBM used to make super computers they would make the current chess maestro play against the computer. I do not hear it in the news anymore. May be because a modern supercomputer can easily beat a maestro in speed chess. May be my information is outdated. One may google for "Deep Blue.". I believe, chess polishes our mind. I also believe, chess and tarot have similar origins. It has king, queen, knight, etc...
Is life a game? A game is limiting. For example a game of chess can have large number of moves. But can some one deterministcally say that X is the number of possible moves. Yes, sure. It may be large. May be I am dead wrong. After all there are only 64 squares on the chessboard.
Is life a game then? May be its a series of games. Each one plays according to how he is equipped in each game. But can life be put in Box? Hindus believe that after innumerable years we all return to the one God. To the divine soulseed. Then, the whole of creation will be in sleep. In tarot this is card #0 the void. No one can really explain what God is like before the creation. The void is as incomprehensible as infinity is. Does the game of chess has the equivalent of "The Fool" in tarots? Well that was some food for thought.
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iAmThat
Knowflake Posts: 1205
From: USA
Registered: Sep 2004
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posted October 30, 2005 03:03 PM
Dean,
Hi. You said "IAT, handsome men could be knights. If men were betrayed that way." LOL. I thought a knight and everyone elses role is only to protect the king 
I would be jealous if I was a King. What if he steals my Queen IP: Logged |
iAmThat
Knowflake Posts: 1205
From: USA
Registered: Sep 2004
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posted October 30, 2005 10:36 PM
I was going thru Hedgewidge's posted links and stumbled across the Human vs Machine link. So here it goes:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/low/magazine/4576383.stm
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iAmThat
Knowflake Posts: 1205
From: USA
Registered: Sep 2004
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posted November 05, 2005 12:59 AM
For the creative mind, chess is more than a game of conquest, conflict, and competitive skill. Chess is a reflection of life creatively engaged. It is worth the time, energy and mindful effort to learn to play chess. To appreciate its subtleties is to spark the creative imagination. It takes an artful combination of left and right brain thinking to maneuver successfully on the board. A game intently focused upon will produce whole brain thought and allow the mind to flow intuitively across the checkered landscape.
http://www.enchantedmind.com/html/creativity/techniques/creative_chess.html IP: Logged |
Lindaland
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