This is my first post here, so I thought that this post I shared in another group would actually be a good introduction here =]
*** "There are 2 ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle." - Einstein In science, nature - or at least energy - is taken to be something inert and void of consciousness. Only from some quirk in the evolution of chemistry arising in abiogenises, that engenders evolution of life is consciousness derived in ever more intricate and developed ways of expression. However, on the quantum level, it is the interaction of basic energies that give rise to the fundamental forces - the laws of natural behaviour (also referred to as the fundamental interactions). These most basic interactions of energy give rise to all the variety of chemical, biological relationships. That again go on to evolve ever further, to the point that the interaction of individuals gives rise to society, and then nations and global poltics and economics. Yet no matter the level of relationship or interaction we want to discuss, all relationships are built out of the same fundamental relationships between energies. To suggest that consciousness may exist in energy, yet just like a bit in a computer, a lone quanta of energy doesn't do very much. But build up the bits and a computer can do amazing things - but all from the same fundamentals of a simple 'On & Off'. Similarly, energy could simply be consciousness in an undeveloped 'raw' form. "God sleeps in the rock, dreams in the plant, stirs in the animal, and awakens in man." - Ibn al 'Arabi I am not referring to the God of any scripture. But Einsteins 'pantheistic' leniency towards seeing nature as divine. And I agree. I do not believe that a rock is conscious in the same sense as we ordinarly define consciousness... but that the very same interactions that have coellesced in a particular way to form a rock are the same that have have formed different relationships that have formed our biology. I'm basically dancing around the point that we are very much divine entities, that our lives are spiritual experiences - however, that doesn't entail the need for an individual soul. Merely that there is one eternal universal soul that we are apart of. You can intepret this in a religious context... but I don't see the need. If that is as it is, then that is simply it. And as much, science is the best tool we have to explore nature. In that sense, science, in my opinion, must realise that it IS very much a guide on morality & ethics, because it explains to us who we are and why we are as best it can. That rational argument must be the only true way to derive our ethics because it opens things up to be tested and see if they hold true. What consquences do our actions have? And how can we improve them, and improve ourselves? I am very much into Buddhist and Daoist philosophies. Though, I consider myself a 'Bukist' (my nickname amongst friends is Buk =] )... I believe that progress of an individual can only be made when they believe that they can live up to the highest moral ideals - even if we don't know what they are, to at least believe we can try and discover them I am neither a pessimist nor an optimist, yet a little of both. Buddhism has taught me the value of balance between all extremes. The middle path. All things in moderation - even moderation in moderation! It is healthy to explore the variety of life, yet even better is to come to understand the cycles of our own habits as individuals, and our general habits as humans. I believe that by being aware of our potential to cause harm form our animalistic nature, to our ability to be influenced under social pressures allows us to begin to free ourselves from them - to understand our nature and help express it in productive and creative ways. To choose the things that infuences us. Before I finish. I will say that I realise Buddhism as a religion is full of its own pitfalls of a religion. That it's socio-economic tradition is unsustainable and detrimental to a society. Yet, the core philosophy - that life is stressful, life is suffering brought about by our ignorance and attachments to certain things - is a beautiful, apt and in my experience, a true teaching of our human condition. Learning to be apart of life, but letting go of wanting more from each moment, and simply making the most of what is right in front of you. - That doesn't deny responsibility to make plans. It tries to free us from the stress of worry to allows us to then do our best in any particular moment, from having learned about the cycles, habbits and patterns of ourselves and nature - our greater nature. I will not deny that I wished more people understood Buddhism & Daoism in the way I have experienced those philosophies. But that's the crux for anyone. That we all think we're right. It's a contradtion to believe you're wrong!! Even if you think you are wrong now about something, an idea, an action - you are sitll thinking that you are right, in that moment, about being wrong, in another moment! Simply put, I understand that I would like to influence people to look into these philosophies. I have enjoyed them immensley and feel that they have truly taught me alot about how to meditate and observe myself, and thereby seeing so much of me in the others I see around me. *********** If I could tear you from your dream I’d wake you, and then maybe you’d see Building our statues for our pride with pain So that we may shade away the light of truth - Away the love… silhouette of ourselves Playing in our shadows… growing pale and ill - I hide from you, as you hide from me Concealing our view of our reality Chorus: I’m watchin you… watching you… Watching you… watching me… Watching you… watching you… Paranoid your watching me… I’m watchin you… watching you… Watching you… watching me… … Watching this… - My borderline mentality - Watching myself falling through my depravity Verse: I don’t understand what I am I know we can’t escape these things we are… The irony… is this individuality? Or are we caught behind a masquerade of lies? - Away the love… silhouette of ourselves Dancing in our shadows… growing stale and old - I colour you, as you colour me Drawing our minds through uncertainty" ************** The above are lyrics of my own from a song called 'Shade'. I hope you don't mind their appreance here =] I felt there some level of relevance to the sentiment I'm trying to express. I would appreciate any response, any counter points, or even what you may agree upon. I love discussion, and I love refining, undermining and discovering new ideas or perspectives. Thankyou - Æzen
