Birch

Ah well, I don't think you know enough about these particular experiences of mine:-) So I'll stop you there:-) If you're actually interested in this sort of thing (which many people seem to be which is great but often get it mixed up) check out http://eqi.org/invalid.htm I'd also say it's well on-topic!

No, that's restaging of an event.

Hmm, doubtful. There's not much there to laugh about. I've heard that sort of suggestion before and I think it minimizes the other person's experience. Whether that was the intention "meaning well" or otherwise. Thankfully it's not the only driving force in my life for if it were I'd be severely screwed:-)

Thanks for the link. I don't believe the amount of caffeine in my one cup (ok, 'mug') goes very far, however it's an interesting alley. There was a neat thread on coffee a while back.

Um, agreed there's one truth. Don't agree the names all mean it. They do other stuff. But that's beside the point. I drink one cup of coffee in the morning. One.

You don't think anything he's saying has any basis in truth? I find anyone attempting discourse on such huge topics pretty arrogant. Myself included.

I'm not far away from you in my reading interests Ralis, however I don't subscribe to several of your views. I'm sure you'll offer a variety of arguments. Thing is, from what starting position will you lead off? That of 'humans in general are unable to use their evolved brain and remain unevolved'? Can we have it both ways? Can we have an evolved brain that stays unevolved? Under what circumstances? Can we have an evolved brain that 'evolves' further? Under what circumstances and within how long?

Primitive tribalism? Herds? Ok, I seem to have a problem with this conceptually. I've met people who talk like this and their attitude towards their fellow humans tends to be awful. Right there with the 'sheeple'. Although I'm sure you're not concerned with offending me personally (I don't care BTW) but your disdain is showing.

I'm not into 'productivity' LOL. But I don't seem to worry about not sleeping too much either.

Ralis, what's with the 'human primates' thing? I'm guessing your term is loaded.

Yeah, I still don't find it in any way amusing.

Pray to who/what?

I tend to meditate through it. It doesn't bring me any more sleep. I'm guessing being (mostly) indoors is contributing to it. I'd be interested in other ideas.

Hmm, it's a forum for discussion. Why not discuss what it is and what it isn't? How about giving examples to illustrate? Then everyone can judge each other based on their own understanding? Which happens anyway, I'd add. If you'd rather show than tell, go ahead Aaron.

Yeah I read Becker on the 'Denial of Death'. There are reasons I would have to learn how to make money other than the ways I've been taught and that have been modelled for me. Because I don't know how. I don't admit failure because I haven't tried the things that work (some of them I don't want to try either but whether that's fear of failure or ethics is up for grabs.) Geez, I had to learn to breathe properly:-) Anyway, I agree with Turtleshell (added to make it back to topic, but still, I do).

What's the 'fear-based survival of the fittest crap' based on? If anything? I'm not referring to social-darwinist BS (which would also be a misnomer since AFAIK Darwin did not speak to socially constructed ecologies, did he?)

I would tend to agree Owledge. However, I've been thinking ths one over some more and many of these people (the pyramid schemers) still employ sales and communication techniques that other people could learn from. I'd love to find out how many of the 'get rich' clients actually do.

"One can become 'successful' in modern society by writing books about how to be successful." Weird, huh? One can also become powerful by telling other people how and why to live.

Neat story Owledge. And for how many is the 'spiritual journey' a way of attempting to get or achieve things for oneself that one hasn't been able to get or achieve any other way? And for how many is it a source of companionship when one has been singled out for one's different and difficult ideas? For how many is it a search for love not received when it was 'supposed' be there? For how many a way to create understanding in a world that just doesn't add up? For how many is it a way to become powerful when one is powerless? ----and that would just be me speaking for myself---

My take on this is that there is marked difference between 'compassion' coming from an 'I know best what's best for you' when the latter is clearly mistaken, an ego-ploy or some other kind of distorted 'relative' position locking you and the other into a strange inequality or disharmony; and compassion that doesn't stem from those. Both kinds might well be relative but one of them is problem-filled. My assumption here is that absolute compassion would just be compassion, period. But it looks like VMarco is suggesting that for the unenlightened, it's never possible.

Commonalities http://hermetic.com/stavish/essays/secret-fire.html

It's been a while. I look at them in the store and it's just like I don't care. Which is a good enough reason to go do. Thanks Ralis

Sorry to hear about your friend Leon.

Yes, sometimes I get that feeling. It's sort of a bummer.

Don't even try to discuss stuff with me if yer ranting Mr North. Please to to do when mind is clear:-) Many thanks, K