depression

I must say, I was probably 14 or 15 when I first became interested in metaphysics and spirituality, and it wasn't as a result of family or even cultural influence, as I spent the early part of my childhood in a communist country that forbade religious practices. The lack of religion left my mind open and unconditioned, and so at an early age I found myself naturally questioning the reality that I witnessed, and the beliefs of those around me. The "path" seemed to have found me as I wasn't attempting to be or do something unnatural to me, but was simply responding to what was unfolding within me. It was more a private conversation I was having with the God force within myself, followed by an exploration of teachings and teachers who helped to somewhat explain (or frame) the intuitive sense I already had about "truth".

Having embarked on this journey at such a young age I do feel that there's really no such thing as "too young". I have an 8 yr old daughter who is naturally quite philosophical and curious, and quite insightful as well. I think it would be a disservice to her if I were to dismiss her questionings simply due to young age. Although I recognize that as she gets older her inquiry will deepen and ripen.

"All paths lead away from truth." If the "path" is an efforting movement away from now then yes, that would be an accurate statement. Many people seek a path because they inherently feel a lack of acceptance of themselves as they are. Often they see truth as something to add to themselves, instead of seeing through the illusions and blocks to the truth that already exists within them.

 

I can't say i disagree which is why i then stated "Just do what you think is best... " but please listen to the intent behind zen's words. I do think that sometimes "doing what you want" and "doing what you think is best" can converge and become the same thing ... that you want what is best.... and this may mean some personal surrender. - Being a father i'm sure zen knows all about personal surrender.

That's not what i said at all. I said this:

... neo had said he'd felt that he's wasted two decades of his life. I don't think he really meant that he'd actually wasted them; the way i see it no experience is 'wasted', .. it's how we learn. So i was just reminding him that 19 is perhaps a bit young to be feeling like it was all passing you by.

About fun. There was a period in my life when i found it hard to smile, hard to find any humour or lightness in my life. I'd had some bad experiences and was traumatised. I wept for nigh on two years solid because the grief and trauma i was experiencing was so deeply painful and i was more or less inconsolable ... but this was before i'd witnessed the true nature of my life and who i was and who others were. If i'd have known then what i now know, that period wouldn't have been half so bad. So mutch of that pain was a product of a mind that couldn't understand and couldn't let go ... my mind was not in good health and was fearing and taking everything way too seriously.
Yet people can get in this state and they can become very sensitive, and perhaps oversensitive to the point where little things become huge issues and these people need to be treated with alot of care and sensitivity because they are very fragile.

There is nothing wrong with fun in itself, yet sometimes 'fun' is bought at a cost where it involves ignorance and bigotry and ridicule of another... but that's not what i call fun.

 

I wouldn't advise someone to do that either.

As the saying goes, "the road to hell is paved with good intentions."

Sorry if I misinterpreted you.

No experience but the vast majority of your time reading this thread, right?

Don't take my perspective on fun too seriously. I was mostly challenging conventional conceptions of what it means to "have fun". The vast majority of the time, fun is simply a way to gloss over existential angst. And that's not what I call fun either.

Travis

 

... i think that is all one really can do.

I think you're just being contrary.

... i'm so glad there's some agreement on something!

 

and if we didn't, what would be the alternative?

 

So, when put in a position of giving another person spiritual counsel, all one can do is say "just do what you think is best?" Or would you like to retract that statement?

No, I'm saying that in the instance you're referencing, good intentions didn't adequately address the problem.

You have a difficult time with disagreements, don't you? Perhaps if you didn't take them personally, you'd find them easier to handle.

Just a thought...

Travis

 

are we having fun now? or is this some kind of existential angst?

 

-Sure, why not? ... but i doubt that is all i would say.

Actually i'm ok with disagreeing with people these days ... there have been times when i've got quite heated and defensive in the past and if i ever do again ... so what? It's not a crime. Ego doesn't have to be seen negatively.

 

I'm having fun, yeah. My guess is Liquid is feeling a tad uncomfortable, though. And can anyone ever have fun with their eyes rolled into their forehead?

Travis

 

oh absolutely! it's called orgasm.

hahahaha!

 

oh and I don't think LL is feeling uncomfortable at all, actually.

 

Because it's incredibely one-dimensional and generalized advice.

Sounds like you're a little hesitant about engaging in heated debates because they've been accompanied by ego-flareups in the past.

Travis

 

Could be. My intuition tells me otherwise, though.

Travis

 

and do you think you always sense your intuition accurately?

 

Ouch!

 

The answer to that question is inherent in the post you just responded to.

Travis

 

hahaha. that's true.

 

You'd be hard-pressed to find anything I say that isn't.

Travis

 

Well as far as that goes, I've disagreed with you plenty. So I guess what you found to be true didn't resonate for me as such.

 

Yes I've noticed that. But in your defense, most of our disagreements have been challenging for you have they not?

Travis