Why is enlightenment a mystery?

[Karl]

@ Brian

 

"Notice that this approach -- this worldview -- truly precludes absolutes even if the current level of confidence on a particular topic might be so great as to tolerate occasional absolutist statements"

 

Yet you are making an absolute statement. Precluding absolute statements IS making an absolute statement.

[Boy]

Because of his current level of confidence, perhaps

[Marblehead]

Where Nietzsche envisaged the amoral superman to whom everybody should be forced to surrender, Rand envisaged every man as the potential moral hero of his own life interacting voluntarily with others.

 

Nietzsche is therefore anti-reason because he is pro-force. He becomes an inverted collectivist where men must surrender to one man who will determine everything, instead of the traditional collectivist ideology of one man surrendering to the mass of men.

 

He didn't speak about it much but he did pretty much say that I did not and still do not feel that this is what he really intended.  But then he never recanted on saying it so what can I say?

 

I think that maybe an error here is that instead of one Superman his philosophy should have led to many Supermen.

[Marblehead]

Because of his current level of confidence, perhaps

 

I have total confidence in my opinions and understandings.  They all could be wrong but that doesn't matter.

[Boy]

That's interesting, I'm your complete opposite in that regard. Any drawbacks?

[WisteriaWinds]

I'm just going to put it out there.

 

Some of you accuse people of not sounding peaceful simply because you don't like the way they deliver concepts. To a calm person sitting back reading these posts, it seems like the accusers aren't peaceful. I see this a lot on Daily Bums. Honestly, a person who feels he or she can confidently post their opinions as they are, is the one who seems at peace.

 

Just my observation.

[Marblehead]

That's interesting, I'm your complete opposite in that regard. Any drawbacks?

No drawbacks as far as I know.  What's that quote?

 

If we stand for nothing we will likely fall for anything.

 

I have spoke before of being beyond fear.  This includes being beyond the fear of being wrong in the eyes of others.

[Boy]

I get what you're saying, Marblehead. It sounds very nice. It's right there in your name as well. So, now for example, this thread has veered off topic because of a few of us - you have no qualms about that?

[Karl]

No drawbacks as far as I know.  What's that quote?

 

If we stand for nothing we will likely fall for anything.

 

I have spoke before of being beyond fear.  This includes being beyond the fear of being wrong in the eyes of others.

I doubt you are beyond fear dear chap, but you certainly aren't concerned about what others think about your views and you would defend yourself and your property without any hesitation. I would suggest that you aren't a moral coward rather than you have no fear. If you had no fear then where would you know where to draw the line when taking a calculated risk ?

[Marblehead]

I get what you're saying, Marblehead. It sounds very nice. It's right there in your name as well. So, now for example, this thread has veered off topic because of a few of us - you have no qualms about that?

What is off topic when we are talking about life?  Sure, the thread topic is enlightenment.  But isn't understanding life what enlightenment is all about?

 

Life never stays on topic.  It moves according to the forces applied to it. 

 

If this were a study of Chapter 23 of the Tao Te Ching then sure, we would want to stay on topic.

[Marblehead]

I doubt you are beyond fear dear chap, but you certainly aren't concerned about what others think about your views and you would defend yourself and your property without any hesitation. I would suggest that you aren't a moral coward rather than you have no fear. If you had no fear then where would you know where to draw the line when taking a calculated risk ?

I will, in total, view that as a compliment.  And you have doubts and that is good.  Remember?  Question Everything.

 

Yes.  Where do we draw the line?  We are talking about limits here.  Nature naturally applies limits to each and every one of us.  But we each have our own set of natural limits.  And we each also have our own set of self-imposed limits.

 

I have spoken to this when I suggest that we should learn what our capabilities and capacities are.  These are our limits.  At least at any given point in time.  Things change though, don't they?

 

I have no idea where I would draw the line.  I'm not even sure there is a place to draw a line.  And even if we do draw one it will likely change just as all else changes.

[Karl]

I will, in total, view that as a compliment.  And you have doubts and that is good.  Remember?  Question Everything.

 

Yes.  Where do we draw the line?  We are talking about limits here.  Nature naturally applies limits to each and every one of us.  But we each have our own set of natural limits.  And we each also have our own set of self-imposed limits.

 

I have spoken to this when I suggest that we should learn what our capabilities and capacities are.  These are our limits.  At least at any given point in time.  Things change though, don't they?

 

I have no idea where I would draw the line.  I'm not even sure there is a place to draw a line.  And even if we do draw one it will likely change just as all else changes.

I didn't suggest a line, I said that I doubted you were free of fear. I can't say for definite because I cannot know your state of mind, or circumstances. For instance, if you were being eaten alive by cancer then you might reasonably be expected not to fear death, but you would instead fear the persistence of agony. Another man may not fear poverty because he has all the money he requires, but he might fear the thief who would steal it from him.

[Marblehead]

But Karl, I can't see the future.  There may be given conditions in the future that would cause me fear.  Therefore I cannot say absolutely that I have no fears.  I can say that I have no known fears.  (My last one was a fear of spiders.  I now respect them for what they are.)

 

Yeah, I suppose that if a grizzly was coming after me and I had no means of defense some fear might be brought into my life.  But then, I avoid places where grizzlies hang out so there is little chance of that happening.

 

I'm not trying to present myself as some type of tough guy here.  It's just that I have already lived a full and exciting life.  My prime years are long gone.  I am no longer a productive part of society.  I live in a world of my own creation.  And I try to remain in my world as much as possible.  My world will one day crumble but if it is within my power it won't crumble until after I have died.

[Boy]

What is off topic when we are talking about life?  Sure, the thread topic is enlightenment.  But isn't understanding life what enlightenment is all about?

 

Life never stays on topic.  It moves according to the forces applied to it. 

 

If this were a study of Chapter 23 of the Tao Te Ching then sure, we would want to stay on topic.

Well, I think that answers my question in a roundabout way Have a nice weekend!

[Marblehead]

Well, I think that answers my question in a roundabout way Have a nice weekend!

Yeah, I'm pretty good at going round about.