Aetherous

This line of thinking is problematic though...the situation doesn't exist because of guns. It exists because someone has decided it's necessary to injure and kill a lot of people. If all guns were miraculously gone from our world, then the weapon would be knives, bombs, or something else. Maybe even martial arts. On Friday...the kid used his mother's legally purchased weapons. So I see the point that if guns were completely illegal, those weapons wouldn't have been readily accessible. They'd still be out there...but not as accessible. But I think that this kid would have found another way to do what he did. A gun is potentially a tool for violence. So are hands. So is a mind. So is the internet.

I trust your experience with that.

I like Meshuggah...and don't think listening to metal makes you into a demon's pawn. But I guess it's true, it doesn't exactly make you calm/serene/grateful/compassionate/etc, either. Maybe some day I will listen to Celine Dion. In the meantime...

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Surrender to discipline. Fuck it. It is what it is. You have to work. You don't have to be anxious about work.

Are you also willing to pay the price of choosing not to defend other innocent people? Would you be willing to pay the price of 20 children, just because you dislike the idea of guns? Just presenting an alternative point of view...which is currently on my mind in a very real and practical way. This actually happened yesterday. People like us were there. Maybe it will happen somewhere I'm at in the future. Can I accept being unable to defend the innocent? My reasons why I don't own a firearm or concealed carry, are that 1) I think the law would eat me alive if I actually used it for self defense...and 2) I don't want to ever have it as a possibility that someone could pickpocket it off of me. I'm kind of not caring so much about #1 at the moment...in light of the bolded contemplation. These are individual choices, in some countries. Respect to all decisions...we all lead our lives in different ways. I just wanted to present another way of looking at it...not to question your decision and thinking personally, madMUHHH.

Okay, I'll play by the rules... I would choose the second potion, and use my power (money) to make the world a better place. I would really shake up the system. In my two hours of wakefulness a day, I would hire people to do this, and I would overlook the operations for a small period of that 2 hours to ensure it was going in the right direction and mistakes weren't being made. For a portion of my time, lets say an hour, I would enjoy simple things that I like (such as tea) and be close to nature. Knowing I had made a choice in line with my conscience, that I had helped others and lived simply for myself, enjoying the good things, I'd be able to live and die in peace.

Well, I understand how you are feeling...but thinking rationally, the young children that died yesterday were actually brought up in an environment where violence and guns weren't allowed. As far as I'm aware, guns were banned in that school. And look what happened. I understand that coming from a totally different cultural mindset, you assume that guns and (bad) violence go hand in hand...rather than being aware of the reality, that self defense (which doesn't necessarily include violence) is preferable over being defenselessly slaughtered. I don't want to argue any more than this. I'm still trying to deal with hearing about it...and trying to not discuss politics or other controversial things these days, for my cultivation. So, sorry for getting involved in the discussion.

From US v Miller: How can it be thought as unnecessary, after yesterday? That's a weird argument, Apech.

Well, I attempted to show how it doesn't fit at all...but it's all good. If you're actually interested, you can look into it some more with an open mind. I'm sure there are books or articles you can read that discuss the actual meaning. Maybe so. I really don't know, and only heard that gun argument recently. It was said that the Nazis avoided Switzerland mostly because of that...but it could have been also that they bought themselves peace. Maybe a combination of both...who really knows? History is written by some guys named Victor. Yes really. What's so scary about armed guards? The one at my high school was really nice. Their presence doesn't bring violence into a school...but protection. They could have put a stop to this thing early on, instead of 20 defenseless kids and some others dying. Most of these mass shootings are happening because there isn't anyone carrying concealed in the area. If someone were, it wouldn't be a mass shooting. You can't take the guns out of the hands of criminals. It's a black market...making laws, confiscating, etc, has no effect. It's like the war on drugs - they are everywhere. I can go out in my city today and find pretty much any drug I want, despite them being highly illegal. With guns, I'm sure in most American cities, you could ask around and eventually find an illegal firearm. Maybe one that used to be legal, but the serial was scratched off. I even found directions online for making your own, if you have the right equipment. With a few thousand, anyone can do it and no one would know it's happening. People could smuggle guns in from Canada or Mexico, or on boats. If guns were totally illegal, except for law enforcement and military, you'd probably hear of a lot of cases of those guns being stolen. I understand why people would want to abolish all guns. It would make them feel safe if there are no dangerous things around (apparently those people totally trust government and police). But it's impossible...it wouldn't work due to criminals not giving a fuck about the law...it would weaken the law abiding people of the country, making them defenseless against all things...and it's in clear writing: shall not be infringed. I think people who don't live in this country don't really comprehend what it's like here. We were founded on entirely different principles than what most of the world is used to...unfortunately, there are many Americans who would still rather have someone lording over them than to taste freedom. What's said of us to the international world is incredibly misleading, most of the time. I guess, it's easy to be a critic of another country...I'm extremely critical of the UK for instance...but it's not like I really know what it's like to be there.

Granted. You are so big that the entire universe is just a cell in your actual body (each galaxy being an atom). Unfortunately, nothing exists outside of your real big body...and no one in the tiny cellular universe acknowledges you. I wish for only the best of things to happen to everyone for the rest of eternity.

Yes, I think it has a lot to do with how we treat others locally as well as globally.

I'm not pro-Obama, and I'm not going to start any political arguments...but apparently there were actually tears in his eyes. Just saw this picture randomly, while entering into my email account. It's the most ridiculous thing to have a discussion about whether a president was actually crying or not, so I'm not going to comment any more on that.

It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia (tv show)

But besides that...there is something wrong with our culture, in that this symptom of mass killings is happening so often lately. People need to be lifted up by each other more, I think.

Not really the correct interpretation, because immediately after that it says "the right of the people" not the right of policemen et al. At least in the states, the military is something entirely different from a militia. I could create a militia today if I wanted to. http://www.thefreedi...ary.com/militia It's saying: the main reason why the people should have that right, is because a well regulated militia is necessary to the security of a free state. How to understand that idea... It's similar to how in Switzerland, basically every citizen has a weapon. Correspondingly, that would be a hard country to infiltrate and some say that's a main reason why it's still there. A defenseless population can be invaded by other nations easily...crime can rise due to no one being able to defend themselves (cops almost always show up after the crime has already taken place)...the country's military if run by corrupt leaders and politics could dominate what should be free citizens, so if they were all armed it would be less likely that the country could be corrupted so easily. This is illustrative: I thought of a solution today. Create jobs that provide more armed security guards for schools. Make them go through extensive background checks, psychological testing, etc...to ensure no unstable people are armed in schools. If one or two armed guards were at that school today, this wouldn't have been nearly as large of a catastrophe. Also, when building new schools and police stations...put them next to each other! That should make it more safe.

What drives a person to be able to kill children? Really. Where was our spiritual power this morning? In my view, this happened on my watch, in my country. I know that sounds weird... ... About the politics...I hope they don't take away anyone's right to defend themselves. Sucks that the whole argument always pops up when this kind of thing occurs. I guess people are looking for any possible way to feel like they have control over an uncontrollable situation.

I'm a total beer fan...but never get drunk. Just don't like to or see the point. I savor my beers. Love Ecclesiastes as well...remembering these things can be very enriching to one's life!

OK class. In today's lesson we will watch the movie, Take This Waltz. No falling asleep in class! You will be tested.

Aim for 30 mins. Usually do over an hour. Study and contemplation time is separate. I love to take days off, though. Also...when teaching someone practices, you have to motivate them somehow. It's a tricky business. Most people won't be motivated to spend time doing something they think doesn't have any relevance to their goals...and most people lack any semblance of willpower, so they can't meet their goals anyway. Maybe years later they will finally practice what you taught them...maybe never. Maybe there are only 3 people in your city that would love the subject as much as you do. First of all, it's important to know your goals for teaching. Do you have special knowledge that must be passed down through the ages? Do you want to help people be healthy and have happier lives? Do you want to make money or friends through this? What do you really want (rhetorical questions, thinking about the answers is good for you to do on your own). You can really only play the role of wise monk on the mountain top (or whatever other ideal you have for being a teacher), when you are one...if the results...how people are using your teachings...aren't reflecting that, then you've got a lot of self-work to do. Not saying this to put you down...it's just the truth of how this stuff works. Human beings are stubborn, and understanding how and why they are will help you.

Fuck that.

Over 7 Billion right meow.

Please elaborate...