Each Species Has an Imagination

[Burn]

- A flower is lifted to his eyes -

"Do you see this?"

Yes, I do. A flower.

"What do you see? Explain it to me."

It is a white flower, with many peddles forming a circle. In the middle

of that circle is a green stem... on tip I can see pollen. Small

little dots of yellow...

"What does it smell like?"

Sweet. It makes me relaxed and at ease.

"How does it feel in your hand?"

Soft. Delicate.

"All these senses, you realize, are merely impulses. Neurological

pathways from the eyes to your brain. They are as unique only

to the pattern they transmit. In other words... Reality is a genetic

perception."

I think I understand.

"I will explain in the form of a question. What is white? What

is soft? What is green and what is yellow? What are colors?

Scent? Feel? Do they exist anywhere outside of your brain?"

No, they don't.

"So then, what are they?"

I don't know.

"What do things really look like, out there?"

I ... I wouldn't be able to tell you that.

"Why ?"

Because what I see and touch and feel, now, is what

I always have. I know no other way.

"Right. So, does this make your perception correct?"

I suppose not. It's just our own subjective way of

viewing the world.

"So does this not make you ponder... What other perceptions

are out there. Or, more specifically, what is the objective perception?"

Is man capable of such a feat?

"We will see."


each species has an imagination, does it not? a story, a
tale to live out, each in its own way?
your flower has a different legacy than the butterfly's.
This is from a story I had been writing, mostly to express my views on things. Tell me what you think of such concepts I've described in here.

[Burn]

You are a god.

And so am I.
We are masters of creation.
Reality is like a playdough.
We're raised to believe we're a piece in the whole, and cannot change a thing.
Just a reactor.
But what if its us who can become the creators, the gods?
What if every atom and molecule of this universe is no more than a thought?

[WHorseTurtle]

I'm with you....

Soooo.....

Just be careful what you think!!! Cause you'll create it!!!

Namaste
Francine

[Burn]

"When we dream, we are experiencing something."

Yes, a dream. Random thoughts of the day that passed.

"What is the difference between the dream and the day that had just passed?"

One is real, one is not.

"Knowing what we previously talked about, how can you tell which is real? How are either of them less of a dream than the other?"

I don’t know.. I’m sleeping, I’m not awake. I know for a fact my body is laying there, whatever it is it’s there, and not flying, or running around in a mall or any crazy thing a dream will play out.

"Crazy thing. What do you mean by this? You mean to say

that life is not full of crazy things?"

Well.... No, but....

"And don't dreams reflect life?"

Yes, they do.

"So, what's the difference?"

[Burn]

"I am something a bit further down the road than you. A little higher up the mountain. It had not been my choice to be carried here, not at all. I was once like you, but the road led my eyes up the mountain , and I couldn't help but start to see the whole picture of things. The factor was, though, that I -chose- to look around and realize where I was... and where I could go. That mountain led me to the edges of the sky, and the sky flew me up to the stars. I just kept soaring. Eventually, there were no more places to go, so I moved beyond spaces. Soon, there was no more time to be traveled in, so I moved beyond time, too.

"More over... I chose to observe my new perspective, much like you, now. You are choosing to take a good hard look at your current perspective, and you are realizing both its pros and cons... and where you can go from it. How you can grow.

"I stand on the mountain, while you stand at its foot. The picture as a whole is not evident to you, but you aren't to blame. It is up to you to take a close look at where you are seeing things, and, if you choose, discover your path to the mountain top and beyond.

I am not better or worse than you. . . Simply, I am in a different place."

- Well, what would make any difference where I stand and what I see from that point?

"Your desire to grow. If you wish to remain there, so be it. You will see the pocket of the forest much like the one we are in, you and I. You will never see beyond your peripheral vision, your looking glass. You will see the world through tiny eyes.

"Gone will be the chance to see the bigger picture, the realization of what you are a part of, and not just the knowledge that you belong to something."

-But isn't the place we are in just a reflection, identical to the rest of the forest? Do we need to really climb a mountain to understand the whole?

It felt as if the spirit let out a sigh, collecting its thoughts to try to let me understand where it was coming from... To let me comprehend something greater.

Though, I felt I was right.

"Let me give you an example of what happens when you see one thing."

[gnrm23]

One day during a lecture on Mount Grdhrakuta, Shakyamuni Buddha held up a lotus flower. The audience did not understand the gesture. Only Mahakasyapa smiled with understanding at this revelation. This is the Chinese ancient saying about "Mahakasyapa smiling at the Buddha holding up a flower". "I have the profound method for the complete opening of the wisdom eye and attainment of nirvana. It is not expressed in words and is transmitted beyond my verbal teachings," said Shakyamuni Buddha. Today I pass it on to you, Mahakasyapa. You must carefully protect this method and ensure that it is passed down forever without getting lost. You may pass it to Ananda in the future. The Buddha asked Mahakasyapa to go to Him and offered him half His seat. He put his robe - the so-called "Sanghati" (patch-robe) - around Mahakasyapa in a gesture signifying the passing on of the Masterhood and that this disciple was no different than the Buddha, sitting on half His seat and wearing the most noble robe. This robe was later passed down to the sixth Zen patriarch Hui Neng.

Here, Shakyamuni Buddha recited a poem, "This method is not a method; it is one without form. Yet even a formless method is a method." Today I pass on this formless method; but no method is a method. Mahakasyapa's inheritance of the Masterhood from Shakyamuni Buddha earned him the title of the first patriarch later in Buddhism. Shakyamuni Buddha was acclaimed as the Master and the Great Guide, while the first patriarch, His successor, is called the first patriarch.

[Burn]

(Excellent story, gnrm23. thankyou for sharing)
"Let's do this together. I need you to imagine yourself as a man living long ago. Not too far in the past, rough around the year 1492."

-"Alright, I can do that."

"You are standing on the docks of a busy Spanish port, traders and merchants doing their usual business, setting sail, making deals and

bringing in the goods from the East. Easily portayable scenario, no?"

-"Yes."

"Alright, so here you are, in this land of bustling trade, people exploring and sailing in search for riches. The people of this time believe

something very specific. Indeed, it is a fact in this period of time. Only mere pockets of individuals dare to

disagree with the status quo, because nothing up until this point has been able to easily prove them wrong.
Do you know what I am speaking of?"

-I gave it a moment. "That the world is flat, I'm sure."

"Yes, that the world is flat. Let's say you are much like the rest of them, everything about this Earth seems to be screaming

that it is a lateral plain. Explain to me how."

-"Well... First off, there doesn't appear to be any curves here. The land and the ocean seems to go on for miles and miles, continuously

and in a straight line. There's no indication of any curve."

"Precisely. From where you're standing, and how you travel about, there is no evidence to prove otherwise. But you are missing something,

something that will shatter this flat Earth 'fact'."

-"Hmm, I'm not sure."


"The New World is out there, is it not?"

-"It is."

"And if you were to discover it, and travel beyond to the East... Would you not prove the Earth was round?"

-"I would, easily."

"So, then what is holding you back as of right now, a Spanish merchant who believes the Earth is flat."

-"My belief that the Earth is flat."


"Yes, but there is more than that. What is making you believe it? What brought you to that conclusion?"

-"Because of my.... limited awareness of..." It struck me then. ".. My surroundings... In your words, I am only in a pocket of the forest, a patch.

I won't be able to see if the world is round until I step out of this place and start to look around, explore uncharted territory."

"The Undiscovered country."

-I felt a smile come across me. "Shakespear."

The spirit seemed to smile back. "So, you see now, that you will never learn the whole if you limit yourself. You will never learn that the Earth is round, that the Earth has neighboring planets, orbits in a solar system, that it isn't the center of the universe, that there is an infinite amount of space and time, and beyond, to explore. This will hold to be your limited and subjective existence until the day you..." It awaited me to finish the thought.

-" - Begin exploring unchartered ground, despite the fact that it may be dirt and rock and forest and ocean, just like it is here. Despite that

the forest will be the forest wherever I go, there will always be new things. The more I grow, the more I understand. I can expand my awareness."


"So you have learned that a perspective from a different place may allow dramatic realizations and discoveries. Even though the world is alike no matter where you travel, by exploring uncharted territory you gain new outlooks. More complete outlooks. You learn it is round, you learn the patterns it has, the overall picture. If you had stayed in Spain, there would have been no probable way to accomplish this same feat, because nothing would be triggering your interrogation, curiousity of what you consider to be 'facts'. Much like your scientists today, discovering loopholes in the laws of space-time. Black holes bending space? Time travel? No such things were believed possible, but by spiraling into the unknown, you are making startling discoveries.

"At last, you are beginning to take some small steps. Small, but satisfactory. Your first steps onto this mountain. My path up this way was different, but I can

help you find a suitable way up to my spot. When you are there, we will travel together."

[SurfhipE]

that was absoloutely amazing. i want a copy of your book.

[Burn]

I stepped beneath the earth, and in that moment I came to realize

my place. The lowliest of creatures, stirring amongst the moist

and pungent earth, was no greater nor lesser than myself.

I knew that one day I would feed them.

I knew that in turn they would feed the forest.

I knew in turn that the forest would feed the creatures that

crawled within it.

I knew that the creatures in turn would feed the other

creatures, and we were very much a part of this cycle.

I could at last see what was forgotten. In our race to

exceed our roots, we had almost entirely severed them.

From that instant, in that spot within the dirt itself, my eyes looked back up to the heavens. The clouds seemed to approve of my thinking, pushing forward, rolling on.

They hinted more.

There was a pattern. I realized. I was a part of it.

Was this life?

"The very beginning of it, my friend. The very beginning. You’ve caught the motion, now expand the awareness of it. Life does not lie in the boundaries of your carbon compounds."

I smiled. The voice had returned.

[Burn]

"Raise your hand."

I did.

"What is it?" The voice spoke, calm as ever.

"You mean my hand?"

"Yes."

"It’s skin and bone. Muscle and flesh. I use it to touch, write, feel and express. It helps me interact in the world."

"That is correct. Now, let me ask you a question. Can you, with your hands, your feet and your

body, walk through walls?"

"No, of course not. I’m physical."

"But your mind can perceive just what’s on the other side. At the very least, you can

imagine what’s there."

"Yeah, I guess so, but I don’t get what the point is here."

"Has the possibility ever occurred to you that, without the physical restraints of the body, you could practically go anywhere at will, at thought?"

"I suppose the thought has crossed my mind before."

"Have you ever grabbed that thought and flew with it?"

"Well, maybe as a kid."

[Burn]

This thread has been up for a while, but I wonder if anyone has been reading it? Please let me know, and I will continue.... I'd appreciate some feedback and discussion.

[sararoxmysox92]

these are really beautiful writings. i luv the detail and wisdom. its all so calming. pls let me know where i can get the book!!!!

[Meagain]

Beginning to perceive,
Things others have not;
Questions will arise,
And answers will be sought.

What will you find,
When will you stop?

First you plant the seed,
Then you reap the crop.

................................................
Very good writing...I like it!

[Art Delfo]

this all must be form a book

heres one form me




"Ok so we know that all preception is an illusion" said Master Kong

"Yes" said the student

"Ok then my son then whats real?"

"Im not sure what we think it is mabey"

"Kind of. Real is what we all precive as real.It becomes phisical. What everyone sees as illusion may infact be another level of thought to the one exprencing it."

"So people who see things that are not here may be at a new reality"

"Yes they make their own personal reality like a dream.Dose that answer your questions?"

"Yes but I have more. would you allow me to ask more of you o one who has become one with the earth."

"Yes please do.As I have said I cant leave this room so I need a person to talk to."

[cerridwen]

ok... this is becoming a bit too trippy for me... but good thoughts though :)

[nitemarehippygirl]

burn, i also love this.
if you were planning on making this into a volume, i would love to buy a copy.

[misterrain]

I`ve got one.

Once upon a time there was a wise and spiritual man who lived on a giant mountain. One day he was visited by a snake. The snake slithered up his window, and jumped at his face. So there he was dangling with a snake on his face when the voice of his master rang out.
"Ha ha ha... acid isn`t as much fun as it used to be now is it?"
"I`m not on acid, I`m on crack!"
"Well now. I see that you have expanded your horizons. I am here to tell you that now you must PAY!"
"What? Who would have ever thought that any of my actions could possibly have consequences?"
"I see... all you wanted to do was sit around and get stoned, and now that you have accomplished that feat, you want your life back..."
"Yeahhhh..."
"Well... you can`t have it. But you CAN have this nice little room at the mental institution. Or how about a room above your parent`s garage? Or how about a trailer in the middle of nowhere? You can convince yourself that materialistic pursuits are for unenlightened losers and be happy with the fact that you never even tried to make the world a better place... you were too busy smoking pot and thinking you were deep..."
"Okay okay okay. Chill out, man. You`re wrecking my buzz..."

[TrippinBTM]

This thread blows my mind. I agree with SurfhipE, I want a copy of this when you're done. Put me on the list, brother.

[sylvanlightning]

Namaste *

[SurfhipE]

This thread blows my mind. I agree with SurfhipE, I want a copy of this when you're done. Put me on the list, brother.
I'm remembering you brother..didn't we once plan to meet? :)

[Burn]

The day was quiet, and all the creatures that had once stirred now seemed void of existence. There were no crickets in the early morning’s dawn, no birds to stir the forest’s creatures of light.

"So, how do you feel about this? How is this coming off on you?"

I sort of feel like you’re being... arrogant.

"Arrogant? Why is that?"

Because you’re telling me what you’re saying is right, or ‘is’, which I think is the same thing. What about other beliefs and perceptions? Are they wrong?

"Anything, then, that anyone says is mere arrogance. Anything you tell me you believe is going to be arrogant, because someone else will disagree. So I am an arrogant being by telling you ‘what is’, or what you think I believe ‘what is’, and you are an arrogant being by telling me I am an arrogant being. What confusion that is. Who is wrong, my friend? Who is right? I am going to have to ask you to try to step to another level of understanding... Beyond this right and wrong business."

How the hell can I ‘step’ beyond right and wrong?

[Burn]

"You are a creature of earth, and as a creature you grow legs and arms and move about. You are born helpless. You die helpless. In between you are gifted with freedom to explore and thrive physically. This is a given."

"Yup."

"Soon, however, it is a lesson to all of your kind that your limbs will not carry you forever. They become weak and frail. You can no longer move as you please. Soon you ache and wither, physically and sometimes mentally - the brain being organic itself."

I gestured an agree.

"The body at last is at its dying breath. Your mind is rushing with thoughts of the end: ‘What’s next? Is anything next? How do I know? I am leaving everything behind. It’s over. This is it. Finality.’ And then...."

"... And then?"

"What happens, do you think?"

"You die."

"Hm. ‘You die’. By ‘you’... what are you referring to?"

I caught a hint at what the voice was implying.

"My body dies."

"... And what ever happens to you?"

"I still can’t say for sure."

"It has been questioned infinitely. Death, that is. Countless generations have attempted to answer it, even glimpse it. Born from this inquiry: heaven, hell, purgatory, perhaps even reincarnation. Your species fears the end, because, in the end, you are not in control anymore. Your life is given to the hands of nature. Some greater force - within us all or far away, watching admirably, or perhaps distastefully. Maybe even forgotten us. Perhaps the force is beyond the concept of watching at all. Infinite religions, infinite doctrines, philosophies all ponder it. None have been able to answer it."

I listened, not about to say anything.

"You may ask me now, why would I ask you the question? The unanswerable question. You believe you are in no disposition to give me a correct response."

"You’re right. I won’t even try."

"Humanity must not seek its answer within itself. It will receive great clues from the universe surrounding him. Your eyes must gaze to the heavens, to the forests and the life that sprouts out infinitely around you. Observe the laws obeyed, natural and simple. Observe what repeats, what continues. Life will become infinitely clearer."

"You’re telling me to... Forget about our religions, our doctrines, our beliefs. You’re telling me to throw away everything and simply look around me, open-minded."

"Yes, but not imperatively. Simply look. I point to the clouds to show you something. I do not say it is right or wrong. I simply say: ‘There it is.’ From that moment, you may judge as you will. Or, perhaps, you will not judge. Perhaps you will simply ‘see’."

[Burn]

"And what is death?"

A fresh corpse appears before me. As if the man had just died.
I was startled a little, but my voice betrayed me.

-"The end of life
of course."

The body begins to decompose rapidly, skin withering into
the grass. Somehow like sand scattering through a net. Soon
the bones separated, grass beginning to engulf the gap the
corpse had once occupied. No, not just grass - a plant. Filtering
up through the ribcage, a single green stem reached out. Its
leaves multiplying in a matter of moments, sprouting out branches
to catch the sun's bright gift.

It was a dogwood tree.

The voiced asked again, "What is death?"

-I felt helpless.- Checkmate, you got me.

"Life to life, you see, is endless."

So I realize.

"Does anything truly end?"

It seems like one thing leads into another - I glimpsed

at the soft green stem of the tiny tree.-

"Then death is merely the end of one stage, in a continuous

cycle. A transition."

Right. But a transition into what?

"Why, the next chapter of your life of course. What else?"

I wouldn't know.

"You wouldn't?"

[Burn]

"I have a more personal question for you, my friend."

"Sure. Shoot."

"Have you not asked yourself the very questions I have asked you? Your whole life has been one of single-minded repetition. You have created for yourself this limited reality, this set path, without thinking of reaching for the infinite. How could you do this to yourself? Do you not see? You have walked through this wonderful Forest blindfolded... and only now, at it’s end, you take it off.


Come, surely you wish to see more? To ignore the possibilities is to ignore the fact that you are alive, whatever the true meaning of that may be."

[Burn]

Well, I've posted a bit more. I'm glad you guys can appreciate this . . . Let me know what you think of these additions?

[NatureFreak412]

That is awesome burn, I really enjoyed reading that.

[nitemarehippygirl]

beautiful as always, burn! i've been putting off replying because i want to comment further, but i keep running out of time. i'll admit i didn't enjoy the last addition as much as the first, but i don't know why... i'm going to reread it and let you know. it could be that i haven't had my morning coffee. still, lovely lovely lovely..... would make an excellent book of meditations. can't believe you're only eighteen...

love,
sophia

[Burn]

- "So, where do we go from here?"

"What do you mean?"

-"I mean, I know that my perception of reality is relative. I know that
in order to grow and understand I need to step out of my little world and explore. But where do I go? I'm sitting here, realizing this entire reality is just in my mind - now what?"

"Walk with me, for a little while."

I stood up, glanced around to see if there was a general direction the spirit wanted to lead me. Nothing came to sight, so I just walked straight ahead. I ended up on an old trail, almost entirely consumed by the forest's underbrush.

"What do you see?"

-"Life. I see trees and bushes, birds and squirrels. There are bugs dancing in the air around me. Life."

"What do you feel?"

-"Emotionally, you mean?"

"No. Beyond emotion - and by that I mean having nothing to do what is inside you.

I ask: What are you open to?
Can you feel that tree without having to touch it? Can you feel the presence of life in this forest without having to see it?
I ask this."

-"I'm not sure. I mean, how do you 'open' up to it?"

"Do you see that sky, between the trees? That bright blue sky hinted between the green canope?"

I looked up, nodding slowly.

"Do you see how the momentary breeze rustles each branch, stirring the forest to sway?"

-"I do. I see it."

"How did it feel in that first instant you observed it? If you were to describe it to me now, what would you say about it?"

-"That it was . . . Beautiful. Peaceful."

"And in that very instant where it took your breath away, were you thinking: ' the wind is rustling the branches and leaves, and I find this simple moment stunning"?

-"No. I wasn't thinking that."

"What were you thinking in that first instant?"

-"Nothing. I wasn't thinking anything at all. There was only that instant in that instant. You know?"

"Perhaps, but explain it to me."

-"My mind was completely quiet. I just saw the trees, the forest as they were, in stunning beauty. I was . . . "

"You were . . .?"

-"Completely open to that moment. I wasn't filling it up with thoughts, or with anger, happiness, confusion or understanding. I simply was being."

"Perhaps then, this is the key to the door. When the mind and spirit are open, you may begin to feel the world around you. And maybe, just maybe when the spirit is open to the universe, we may feel the forest. Just like when your mind is empty, you may simply view, share in the beauty of this moment."

-"So, where do we go now? Learning how to feel?"

"We simply feel.

"You see, the world may manifest in thousands of different ways to thousands of different species, but these perceptual senses are merely unique looking glasses. I speak of that which all relative perceptions share. I hint at the underlying force; the source of this limitless imagination of consciousness.

"You may see as you will, but to feel, to be in this truest sense, is to move beyond relativity."

-"I think I know what you mean. I think."

"It is why we cannot see objectivity, but we may simply -be- it. Feel it. We asked this question before: Can humanity view objectivity? Truth? I hope you can begin to understand, now, that Truth transcends relative perception, for relative perception can only view a tiny fragment of the whole. Truth transcends the senses. Truth is the source of this myriad of perceptions. It is the source of both knowledge and imagination, but it is neither of these alone."

[nitemarehippygirl]

....."It is why we cannot see objectivity, but we may simply -be- it. Feel it. We asked this question before: Can humanity view objectivity? Truth? I hope you can begin to understand, now, that Truth transcends relative perception, for relative perception can only view a tiny fragment of the whole. Truth transcends the senses. Truth is the source of this myriad of perceptions. It is the source of both knowledge and imagination, but it is neither of these alone."gosh, burn, this addition was great.


that's all. :)

thanks,
love sophia

[StonerBill]

I love this. this is truelly uniquely put together. the only thing in the whole thing that i continued to feel was held back is the use of the word 'imagination' in the first segment, however this may simply be due to our individual interpretations of the word.

do continue.

id like to see where this goes in terms of value of living, but i dont want to steer anything

[Varuna]

One sees the real masterpiece
the sunrise
is untamed by brush or pen

[Burn]

One sees the real masterpiece
the sunrise
is untamed by brush or pen:)
And words, but expressions of that,
painted by thought,
given feeling by human expression.

Beautiful, Varuna.

Another thought:

All words and imagery, created by humans,
to capture a moment about the sunset,
but not give it to you.
merely shadows of the sunset. . .

their purpose, the shadows, is to point the way to the light.

[Varuna]

The eye that sees the sunrise seen,
the awe and wonder one's words adorn,
the communion inspiration brings,
who knows which is more divinely borne?

Just a thought,

Peace and Love

[Burn]

The eye that sees the sunrise seen,
the awe and wonder one's words adorn,
the communion inspiration brings,
who knows which is more divinely borne?

Just a thought,

Peace and Love
One more thought:

What has more substance?
Either or? Neither nor?

Both shadow and substance are but reflections,
On the ocean of infinite.
No weighing or judging,
No greater or less.
To this ocean, all is movement.

[Burn]

-"I've been thinking."

The moon was on the eastern horizon; the dawn of night, so to speak.

"About what?"

-"Well. Everything we've been talking about. It brought to mind the old philosopher, Plato. He believed that knowledge is the ultimate objectivity."

"Do you know the reasoning behind this?"

-"Yeah... It was something like this: We all KNOW certain things without having to observe them. Like, for instance, a straight line. Perfectly straight lines do not exist . . . well, as far as I know . . . in common life. We've never seen a true straight line, yet we know that it is the shortest distance between two points. This knowledge is considered a shared 'objectivitiy', because. . . well, everyone knows it. They can see it in their minds, and it's true."

"Well, let's look at this for a moment. The first thing that comes to mind is the new 'objective' fact that the shortest distance between two points is a curve. How did this objective truth . . change?"

I felt a bit embarrassed. Was this a foolish question?

-"Uhm. I guess it wasn't objective then."

"No, go on, try to understand it. Don't jump to any conclusion. Investigate. Observe. There could be a twist."

I stared into the air, as if it were somehow the Spirit. I gave a blank look, trying to force my mind to find a place to start.

-"So, it could be objective." I threw that out, just as starting ground. "We know when we can have a straight line between two points we can get across the distance faster. We can observe this, test this . . . Yet never have the straightest line. Neverthless we know it is true. Hm . ."

The air was silent.

-"Quantum physics found the curve thing? Yeah. It was those guys. . . It was because they began to explore uncharted territory. Am I getting warmer?"

Still silence. Then, suprisingly, humor: "You're getting colder."

I scrambled through my mind to try to find some other reason.

-" All right. So first it was a straight-line, now its a curve. Yet, in everyday life we can't easily bend space-time. So . . . "

"A little warmer."

-" . . . So, then . . . "

-"In every day life, we can just take a straight line and know it'll get us there fastest. In every day life."

"Go on . . ?"

-"Is there more?"

"Just a bit."

Another moment of silence, then, -" Well its a fact to us here. But when we looked at another perspective, the quantum perspective, it no longer was true."

"But it is true. The shortest distance between two points is a straight line, here at least. In another perspective, it isn't. We commonly, universally know in every-day life the former of the two facts is true."

-"All right. . . So knowledge is relatively objective."

I could almost feel the spirit smile.

"Indeed. . . Knowledge is fragmented half-truths that make sense within the framework of limited perception. It is relative at a universal level: that of the common human experience."

-"I get this."

"That is good. One needs to understand the limits of thought in order to transcend them."

The moon had creeped up a little since I had last looked. The stars began to twinkle and shimmer in the void of sky. I breathed in the cooled air, comfortable in the silence.

[nitemarehippygirl]

:D




love,

[Varuna]

:D



love,
Yes

[shaman sun]

-This uncharted territory. This Undiscovered country...."
"Yes?"
-Could it even be us?
"It could be. Perhaps the least explored aspect of your life is yourself. What you are, where you are going, what you're doing and why."
-Or even... Why you are.
"Even that."

[ayahuasca]

i definitely want a copy of this book one day.

[themnax]

presumably what you are suggesting is that every sort of existence has some kind of awairness. this may very well be. though in all but some mamels and a very few other creatures, it is very difficult to conferm convincingly one way or another.

with or without awairness, everything does have a kind of intrinsicness, even spiritness, and definately worth. even the damd mosquito is bird food. though i could live just fine in a world without birds if that ment being able to live without mosquitoes. IF a world without birds could be stable and self perpetuating, which is of course by no means certain.

as for minerals and angiosperms, not to mention trees and other forms of vegitation, it IS good and sufficient that they exist. neccessary for ourselves to do so as well.

and we are NOT the reason anything else needs to. if needs to is even the word for it.
but we are in a sense, a part of everything else, just like everything else is. or at least everythink else on our home planet.

awairness as we experience awairness is certainly universal to anything that has a central nervious system.

immagination IS another question. and an interesting one. it HAS made us human. and the only objectively observable thing that has.

we are also the only species on our own planet, and almost certainly within our own solar system, to have so completely surrounded ourselves by our own artifacts as to be able to be unawaire of our connectedness with the ground we walk on and everything else that walks on or grows in it, though there are several other species that HAVE demonstrated the ability to solve problems by actualy creating tools with which to solve them.

there are of course billions and billions of other solar systems out there, each likely to have one or more planets with an as yet indeterminate probability of harbouring recognizable life.

=^^=
.../\...

[shaman sun]

presumably what you are suggesting is that every sort of existence has some kind of awairness. this may very well be. though in all but some mamels and a very few other creatures, it is very difficult to conferm convincingly one way or another.

with or without awairness, everything does have a kind of intrinsicness, even spiritness, and definately worth. even the damd mosquito is bird food. though i could live just fine in a world without birds if that ment being able to live without mosquitoes. IF a world without birds could be stable and self perpetuating, which is of course by no means certain.

as for minerals and angiosperms, not to mention trees and other forms of vegitation, it IS good and sufficient that they exist. neccessary for ourselves to do so as well.

and we are NOT the reason anything else needs to. if needs to is even the word for it.
but we are in a sense, a part of everything else, just like everything else is. or at least everythink else on our home planet.

awairness as we experience awairness is certainly universal to anything that has a central nervious system.

immagination IS another question. and an interesting one. it HAS made us human. and the only objectively observable thing that has.

we are also the only species on our own planet, and almost certainly within our own solar system, to have so completely surrounded ourselves by our own artifacts as to be able to be unawaire of our connectedness with the ground we walk on and everything else that walks on or grows in it, though there are several other species that HAVE demonstrated the ability to solve problems by actualy creating tools with which to solve them.

there are of course billions and billions of other solar systems out there, each likely to have one or more planets with an as yet indeterminate probability of harbouring recognizable life.

=^^=
.../\...
More of consciousness than awareness. And in some of the writings here, it is suggested that reality is consciousness, and consciousness is imagination. Thus, all we see, feel experience, and beyond can be likened to art. What has created this unending, living and breathing masterpiece? In other words, I ask: Is it all born from a blank canvas? You could liken this to Zen's void, the no-thing.

[trailerparkboy]

this is very cool it makes sense.

[shaman sun]

When I said, "More of consciousness than awareness", I believe I was mistaken. Consciousness can imply awareness. The more integral and mature one's consciousness is, the more they are capable of perceiving, thus being aware of. Just a thought.

[Art Delfo]

"What lies beyond the mind?" the student asked
"Everything." said the master
"Everything?"
"Yes everything."
"Can I see Everything?"
"You can, but you'll have to use your mind to do that."
"How do I do that?"
"You must see that you are part of Everything."
"How will I know when I see Everything?"
"When it makes sense. When its a complete picture. This incudles yourself."
"Is Everything a mental State?"
"Yes, but it is also the reality. It is a mental state to you."

[shaman sun]

"So, who are you?" Asked Spirit, bluntly, matter-of-factly.

"I am me. I am my thoughts, my feelings. I am my anger, my love, my hate, my sorrow. I am my joy and my despair."

"Are you? Or do you merely associate yourself with these things because you have looked no further?"

I sat quietly for a moment, pondering the questioning. I took it in and chewed it for a while, familiarizing myself with its taste and texture.

"Is there anything but my thoughts and feelings?" I asked, picking up on Spirit's inquisitive attitude. "Instincts perhaps?"

"How could you be any of these things that you observe? Think of that. You watch the trees rustle here, as the wind passes through. You watch the clouds form and dissipate into the blue sky. You watch the water on the lake ripple and splash. You observe all of these things, yet you are none of them. All the same, you observe your thoughts, you are aware of them, you watch them. You observe each emotion, each experience, each perception, yet you are not entirely them. Who are you, this consciousness, this silent observer, who is aware of all of these things? Have you ever questioned that, or merely settled into the dancing objects of the world; the clouds, the ripples, the sky, your thoughts, your feelings?"

That question really hit me. I wanted to remain silent and reflect this, but the Spirit followed up, pushing me to answer immediately.

"Who are you," Spirit asked again, "if you are none of these things?"

"Who are you? What is it, that primordial being?"