Do you believe in God and why

[mauGR1]

Just now, Woof999 said:

Probably the best example of a post of yours that I'm mostly in agreement with.

 

The only thing that I would add is that the existence or not of a higher power is/should not be weighted on whether the world from our perspective would be better or worse, not least because that would be a subjective perspective with a high degree of variance per person.

That's correct, i guess, as you say it's a subjective impression of mine.

I guess , generally speaking, that such opinion is not very popular in the western world anymore.

But that's it, thanks to you too for your thoughtful posts.

[mauGR1]

1 minute ago, ravip said:

People are better imho, if they have something higher to look up to,....

 

Kind of a 'slave mentality' isn't it? 

No, i don't think so, honestly ????

It's, for me, more a physical impression of the vastness of the world and the skies. 

.. but maybe i understand your point..  if you're saying that the man is born to be free , i agree  !

[spidermike007]

On 3/4/2023 at 3:32 PM, Tippaporn said:

Who's preaching?  A high level of insecurity?  If that's your personal interpretation Mike you couldn't be more wrong.

Let me see.  I twist no one's arm here to believe anything.  I offer what I know.  I exchange ideas.  I debate ideas.  I speak with confidence.  In a forum where people are questioning everything.  And you end up interpreting all of that as nothing more than preaching to people not asking and all out of a sense of insecurity?  You gotta explain yourself, Mike.  Because what you wrote doesn't fly.

You completely misunderstood what I was conveying. I was talking about people who feel the need to convert others. People who are constantly  droning on about their savior. Not a civilized discussion like this. Not at all. I was making a simple point. 

[Sunmaster]

3 hours ago, ravip said:

People are better imho, if they have something higher to look up to,....

 

Kind of a 'slave mentality' isn't it? 

I think it's the other way around.

Right now we are slaves of our emotions and thoughts. They rise up uncontrolled, form storms, rattle our boats and drift it wherever they want to go.

 

On the other hand there is control and surrender. It looks like the two are irreconcilable opposites, but they are not.

You gain control over your thoughts and feelings and at the same time surrender to your higher Self. The higher Self is your true identity and has all the answers you'll ever need. 

By opening and surrendering to it, you become truly free from all slavery. 

No religion, no science, no intermediary needed.

 

 

[Sunmaster]

This made me think more about happiness, which in my opinion is a byproduct of a mental state or shift of perspective.

Often we project happiness as some future goal or achievement. "If I just study and learn/make more money/behave well, I will be happy."...or... "If I just meditate enough, I will find happiness.". I think we all fall prey to this kind of thinking, at one time or another. 
What we maybe forget though, is that happiness is available in every single moment along the journey. It is ever present and free of charge. It always exists as a state, or frequency or a plane if you will. Sometimes it seems that the more you try to grab it, the more elusive it becomes. It's always one step ahead it seems. Maybe then, we could just allow happiness to happen. Relax. 
There's no need to fight for anything, no need to strive for something. It is already here. Right now.

If you keep this thought alive during the following day or days, and imagine it to be true, the idea will gain depth and power, and things around you will begin to change. The more they change, the more they validate your thoughts and a new belief will have been formed.
Happiness happens. Allow it to happen.

 

[save the frogs]

[save the frogs]

[save the frogs]

[save the frogs]

the comic strips are not meant to make fun of anyone's comments, by the way.

 

[save the frogs]

12 hours ago, Sunmaster said:

The higher Self is your true identity and has all the answers you'll ever need. 

higher self just seems like another word for god to me.

we all have higher impulses and lower impulses.

we dont always act on our higher impulses.

some people dont seem to make any effort to act on their higher impulses.

 

[Sunmaster]

9 minutes ago, save the frogs said:

higher self just seems like another word for god to me.

we all have higher impulses and lower impulses.

we dont always act on our higher impulses.

some people dont seem to make any effort to act on their higher impulses.

 

You're absolutely right. 

But it's easier to imagine we are connected to our inner/higher Self than talking about God. When we speak about God, it seems so farfetched and removed from our day to day experience, that we can't imagine it to be ever present. 

When we speak about higher Self, we can perhaps feel the connection better.

Ultimately, both terms point to the same thing. 

 

Lower impulses = actions dictated by the limited point of view of the ego

Higher impulses = actions in accordance with your true identity. 

[mauGR1]

13 minutes ago, Sunmaster said:

When we speak about higher Self, we can perhaps feel the connection better.

Ultimately, both terms point to the same thing. 

Agree, and the majority of the folks literally freak out if you speak them about religion and gods , so better avoid the subject altogether. 

[Neeranam]

On 3/4/2023 at 7:37 PM, Tippaporn said:

BTW, I liked your Worf avatar better.  Those Klingons were true warriors.  Tough stuff.

No idea what you are on about. Goodbye. 

[Neeranam]

On 3/4/2023 at 9:21 PM, Hummin said:

I have a garden, small farm, animals, trees, plants and a wife, my attention and focus is on us, not me, and that's my journey serving the universe which is me and my ego. That is what I truly have searched for my whole life, and why I mentioned wife last? I have her attention when I care for something that means something to her, and that makes her happy. 

That what I want when I retire in 10 years. Hopefully, I won't have  worked myself to death by then in trying to achieve it! 

[Neeranam]

14 hours ago, Sunmaster said:

This made me think more about happiness, which in my opinion is a byproduct of a mental state or shift of perspective.

Often we project happiness as some future goal or achievement. "If I just study and learn/make more money/behave well, I will be happy."...or... "If I just meditate enough, I will find happiness.". I think we all fall prey to this kind of thinking, at one time or another. 
What we maybe forget though, is that happiness is available in every single moment along the journey. It is ever present and free of charge. It always exists as a state, or frequency or a plane if you will. Sometimes it seems that the more you try to grab it, the more elusive it becomes. It's always one step ahead it seems. Maybe then, we could just allow happiness to happen. Relax. 
There's no need to fight for anything, no need to strive for something. It is already here. Right now.

If you keep this thought alive during the following day or days, and imagine it to be true, the idea will gain depth and power, and things around you will begin to change. The more they change, the more they validate your thoughts and a new belief will have been formed.
Happiness happens. Allow it to happen.

 

Seems too simple, but will give it a try. 

[Neeranam]

On 3/4/2023 at 7:07 PM, save the frogs said:

interesting theory.

it would make sense that human souls are subject to the laws of karma, but not animals.

 

 

Karma is a complex law, or maybe that should be theory?

Depends on where you were raised, I've seen enough Karmic consequences to believe. I am Scottish/Thai, and spent exactly half my live in both  countries.

Interestingly, I was reading a Thai book, "The Law of Karma Is Always Fair" by Benjawan Poomsan about "jâo-gam-naai-ween", or 'spiritual creditors. If they come into your life, should you deal with them to cancel the 'debt' or avoid them? Nowadays, it's so easy to block people online, but moving house or job is not quite so easy, and even if you do, will another one come to claim the debt? 

 

"People that come into your life are your jâo-gam-naai-ween เจ้ากรรมนายเวร, or, in other words, the people to whom you have done wrong to in a previous life, or even in this current life. 

"Everybody has their own jâo-gam-naai-ween.Some people may have many, and some only a few. 

"We have unpaid debts, or atonement, that need to be resolved from our previous lives.

"These souls have hatred, a feeling of malice and revenge, which needs to be released, by getting back at you. 

"If the karma of their experience is not resolved in this lifetime, they'll follow you to the next life, until all the debt is resolved. 

"You are also a jâo-gam-naai-ween of someone else. "During your life, you'll come into situations in which people want to do something bad to you, and there appears to be no real reason or justification. 

"Family members, close friends, husband or wife, it could be anyone. For example, a mother fights with her own daughter all the time, even though she loves her, and tries to treat her well. 

"Maybe the relationship between a husband and wife doesn't go well, even if they try their best.  Perhaps you just mention something insignificant to your friend, but she slaps your face, and never talks to you again. 

"In all of these situations, it's probably because it is time for them to get their payback from you."  My wise grandma told me this. It is something I will never forget.

 

 

[Hummin]

3 hours ago, Neeranam said:

Seems too simple, but will give it a try. 

If you are patient it works, and maybe you reach a better place to receive and discover new things you overlooked on your path. 

 

 

[ravip]

21 hours ago, Sunmaster said:

I think it's the other way around.

Right now we are slaves of our emotions and thoughts. They rise up uncontrolled, form storms, rattle our boats and drift it wherever they want to go.

 

On the other hand there is control and surrender. It looks like the two are irreconcilable opposites, but they are not.

You gain control over your thoughts and feelings and at the same time surrender to your higher Self. The higher Self is your true identity and has all the answers you'll ever need. 

By opening and surrendering to it, you become truly free from all slavery. 

No religion, no science, no intermediary needed.

 

 

I still feel the same  - slave mentality. To exist,  one needs a master?

[Sunmaster]

9 minutes ago, ravip said:

I still feel the same  - slave mentality. To exist,  one needs a master?

If by master you mean your own higher Self, your true nature and identity....then yes.

The same way a dream character needs a dreamer to exist, we exist as a product of the Self.

[ravip]

3 minutes ago, Sunmaster said:

If by master you mean your own higher Self, your true nature and identity....then yes.

The same way a dream character needs a dreamer to exist, we exist as a product of the Self.

Nope, I don't believe in a 'master' - especially one no living creature had ever seen. 

Blind faith? What about an amulet? 

[Sunmaster]

10 minutes ago, ravip said:

Nope, I don't believe in a 'master' - especially one no living creature had ever seen. 

Blind faith? What about an amulet? 

It's not blind faith at all. Not for me at least. And it's not something you see with your physical eyes.

Like I said previously, physical (outer) senses are useful in the physical world. To experience the inner world however, you have to use a different set of senses. That's what yoga (among others) teaches. By using these senses you can train yourself and experience it all on your own. No need for gurus, amulets, priests...and certainly no need for blind faith. 

Now, if you're not interested in knowing yourself on these terms, then no problem. It's your choice. 

[save the frogs]

8 hours ago, Neeranam said:

"In all of these situations, it's probably because it is time for them to get their payback from you."  My wise grandma told me this. It is something I will never forget.

good post, Neeranam.

i tend to agree.

and i've experienced it enough myself to know.

 

[save the frogs]

I just watched this video .... Do humans have souls? by Physicist Sabine Hossenfelder

She concludes by saying "in principle, it should be possible to upload your entire identity to a computer".

I don't think scientists have the same notion of "soul" as the other folks who believe in the soul do.

And this seems to be where science wants to lead us ... to upload us to computers.

Scary stuff?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XovfK-IGbtw

 

[thaibeachlovers]

On 3/6/2023 at 1:07 PM, save the frogs said:

higher self just seems like another word for god to me.

we all have higher impulses and lower impulses.

we dont always act on our higher impulses.

some people dont seem to make any effort to act on their higher impulses.

 

The debate is IMO about whether we are part of God, or separate beings, and I am for the latter ( I may have got that wrong- if so apologies ).

So for me higher self is not "God", but our "good side" as opposed to our "bad side" ( lower self where envy, avarice, greed and hate etc reside ).

Some people are controlled by their lower self, some are in battle between the two, and a few are totally in their "good side".

[thaibeachlovers]

3 hours ago, save the frogs said:

I just watched this video .... Do humans have souls? by Physicist Sabine Hossenfelder

She concludes by saying "in principle, it should be possible to upload your entire identity to a computer".

I don't think scientists have the same notion of "soul" as the other folks who believe in the soul do.

And this seems to be where science wants to lead us ... to upload us to computers.

Scary stuff?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XovfK-IGbtw

 

IMO she has no clue at all. Intelligent but zero common sense.

[thaibeachlovers]

18 hours ago, ravip said:

Nope, I don't believe in a 'master' - especially one no living creature had ever seen. 

Blind faith? What about an amulet? 

Perhaps it is you that is blind to spirituality.

 

Well known quote ( not religious either )

"there are none so blind as those that will not see"

[thaibeachlovers]

On 3/6/2023 at 4:39 PM, Neeranam said:

Karma is a complex law, or maybe that should be theory?

Depends on where you were raised, I've seen enough Karmic consequences to believe. I am Scottish/Thai, and spent exactly half my live in both  countries.

Interestingly, I was reading a Thai book, "The Law of Karma Is Always Fair" by Benjawan Poomsan about "jâo-gam-naai-ween", or 'spiritual creditors. If they come into your life, should you deal with them to cancel the 'debt' or avoid them? Nowadays, it's so easy to block people online, but moving house or job is not quite so easy, and even if you do, will another one come to claim the debt? 

 

"People that come into your life are your jâo-gam-naai-ween เจ้ากรรมนายเวร, or, in other words, the people to whom you have done wrong to in a previous life, or even in this current life. 

"Everybody has their own jâo-gam-naai-ween.Some people may have many, and some only a few. 

"We have unpaid debts, or atonement, that need to be resolved from our previous lives.

"These souls have hatred, a feeling of malice and revenge, which needs to be released, by getting back at you. 

"If the karma of their experience is not resolved in this lifetime, they'll follow you to the next life, until all the debt is resolved. 

"You are also a jâo-gam-naai-ween of someone else. "During your life, you'll come into situations in which people want to do something bad to you, and there appears to be no real reason or justification. 

"Family members, close friends, husband or wife, it could be anyone. For example, a mother fights with her own daughter all the time, even though she loves her, and tries to treat her well. 

"Maybe the relationship between a husband and wife doesn't go well, even if they try their best.  Perhaps you just mention something insignificant to your friend, but she slaps your face, and never talks to you again. 

"In all of these situations, it's probably because it is time for them to get their payback from you."  My wise grandma told me this. It is something I will never forget.

 

 

Why is it that karma seems only to be about punishment for bad deeds? Why isn't it also about rewards for doing good deeds?

[thaibeachlovers]

On 3/6/2023 at 2:17 AM, Sunmaster said:

Often we project happiness as some future goal or achievement. "If I just study and learn/make more money/behave well, I will be happy."...or... "If I just meditate enough, I will find happiness.". I think we all fall prey to this kind of thinking, at one time or another. 

Agree. I used to do that much of my life.

 

First time was when I had a Welsh pen friend and I was farming at the time. I couldn't think of a single interesting thing to write about, but I thought that once I joined the military I'd have loads of interesting things to write about.

Of course I was wrong- not about the military, which was very interesting, but because I couldn't see all the interesting things to write about farming.

 

PS, she stopped writing to me and I don't blame her.

[thaibeachlovers]

On 3/4/2023 at 11:04 PM, Woof999 said:

If the soul is eternal then the current caretakers of those souls have had an eternity to rid the universe of doubt. Not doing to well from that point of view, but I still wouldn't label them as knuckleheads.

??????????????

Souls are above present day science to understand. Why do people think present day primitive science knows everything, when it can't even prevent cancer.

[Woof999]

3 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

Why do people think present day primitive science knows everything

Where have I (or anyone else here) said that science knows everything? Your labeling of science as primitive is showing your bias. Perhaps you might try to be a little more open minded?

 

3 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

when it can't even prevent cancer.

That's a really poor example to use. Science has helped prevent multiple forms of cancer, in some cases approaching 100%. Science has helped cure multiple forms of cancer. I am alive today purely because science helped me rid my body of at least 2 forms.

 

Perhaps if the intelligent designer hadn't created cancer in the first place then science wouldn't need to bear the burden of it's eradication?