So here is the deal. I have thoughts. You have thoughts. It is these thoughts that make us (the human race) what we are. Some say it is the ability to reason, but I say it is the thought. I, as a sentient being, have the ability to ponder my own existence and the meaning of it. We all do. We all should.
Today I was among some friends at a magic (Magic the Gathering, a trading card game) tournament. I started to talk about this sort of stuff, and the people I was talking to seemed to be completely foreign to these concepts. They stated that the common thoughts of an American are on the “important things” like money, sex, and food. Now, I am not going to dispute the importance of any of those three things. This society requires money to trade for other needs, sex is needed for procreation of the species, and food to sustain our biological bodies. But how can one’s life revolve around just that? How is that enlightened? What long term good does that serve?
About now you are probably thinking to yourself, “This loon sounds like he is trying to start a cult.” Well, that would be fun and all, but I have other obligations in my life at the moment. No time to become a spiritual leader. In any case, that isn’t the point here, but in a way I guess it is. What I am talking about is frame of mind. An awareness of who we are, what our minds can accomplish, our position in the cosmos. This does not require a conversion to a new spirituality, whatever one you have now will work just fine. It just requires some thought.
And that is the point of it all. If you are able to give things like this the thought, you have already started the “enlightenment.” If you are able to comprehend, understand, and even accept what I am talking about, then you have just proven to yourself that you have the mental ability of self-awareness. You have validated your sentience.
You have proven yourself to be a worthy reader of M.etaphysical E.xistance.
#1 by Michelle Regner on July 31, 2009 - 09:56
Quote
So very interesting and attention drawing is your post! Yes, very thought provoking and you ended it will such elegance …bringing the reader into self-awareness and importance…drawing the reader into becoming more a part of your posts by telling them that they ARE worthy. Nicely done cousin!
I think I’m going to become a follower! RSS feeding it!
In actual response to your post though, I question what your thoughts are in there being an actual God who created you and I to think? I mean, what are your thoughts to where we actually came to be curious thinkers? The Big Bang that randomly created inteligence? I’m not saying what I believe either way (although you know my background). But, I am honestly curious about your thoughts on this as I don’t feel I would know what you’d have to say?
You made a very powerful point in suggesting that the majority of people find importance in money, sex and food which I absolutely agree with! It’s the American way…which, do you believe our culture is an actual cult itself? Some people may think that by the way the American culture tends to mold a persons desires, beliefs, and morality, that it’s become cult-like?
You have englightened me Andrew…really made me think this morning, thank you for your insightfulness and I’m curious as to your responses. oh, and this is the first time I’ve vistited your site! Nice work!
#2 by Andrew on July 31, 2009 - 10:24
Quote
The idea’s expressed in this post are to be considered from a “post-creation” perspective. At this point I am not considering how we got here or what allows us to have enlightened thoughts and ideas. I am primary concerned with the fact that we are all here on this mortal coil and we are capable of these things. We, as a human race, have a responsibility to do something good and worthwhile with that existence.
Some people will find the guidance and ability to live such an existence through one religion or another. Good for them; I applaud their rise to a higher mental and spiritual level. Others still will live an unenlightened and maybe even destructive life via their chosen religion. Even more people (such as myself) will find a way to live an enlightened and self-aware lifestyle while still doing good for the world without prescribing to any sort of specific religious following. My overall belief relating to what I talk about in this post is that the ability to live an enlightened life style is separate from religion, and the ongoing debate of who or what has given us the ability to have life and debates is beyond the necessary scope of such a life.
In this post I used the “American way” as an example but it is by no means only an “American thing.” Each and every culture has its own way of doing things and the people of that culture are all impacted by it. That is in-fact the definition of a culture. It is not a bad thing but is simply something a self-aware people has to be aware of. Not only aware of how they are being affected but of what alternatives there are and what is truly their best course for their life.
I have been meaning to post more often. I even have some posts half-written. I guess the verbosity of this comment is a sign that I am in a good state of mind to finish them. We’ll see.