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Past lives?
- Thread starter FireIn.TheSky
- Start date
Genghis Kush
Active member
...the separation between past, present, and future is only an illusion, although a convincing one."-Albert Einstein –
In our day-to-day lives, we experience time as a continuous flow. But it can also be useful to think of time as a series of snapshots, or moments, and every event can be thought of as the unfolding of moment, after moment, after moment.
And “if we picture all these moments, or snapshots, line them up, every moment here on Earth, every moment of Earth orbiting the Sun, and every moment throughout the entire universe, we would see every event that has ever happened or will ever happen, from the birth of our universe at the Big Bang, some 14-billion years ago; to the formation of stars in the Milky Way galaxy; to the creation of Earth, four and a half billion years ago; to the time of the dinosaurs; to events happening on Earth today"
And when we seriously consider the simple but essential concept we begin to understand that both past and future must be real because they could be your now, which means past, present and future – are all equally real and all exist.
Moreover, they exist all at once."
In our day-to-day lives, we experience time as a continuous flow. But it can also be useful to think of time as a series of snapshots, or moments, and every event can be thought of as the unfolding of moment, after moment, after moment.
And “if we picture all these moments, or snapshots, line them up, every moment here on Earth, every moment of Earth orbiting the Sun, and every moment throughout the entire universe, we would see every event that has ever happened or will ever happen, from the birth of our universe at the Big Bang, some 14-billion years ago; to the formation of stars in the Milky Way galaxy; to the creation of Earth, four and a half billion years ago; to the time of the dinosaurs; to events happening on Earth today"
And when we seriously consider the simple but essential concept we begin to understand that both past and future must be real because they could be your now, which means past, present and future – are all equally real and all exist.
Moreover, they exist all at once."
And what is it that contains this infinite, never beginning, or ending phenomena of time?
And what gives us the ability to witness and choose actions or make future plans, based on data or knowledge observed and then harnessed to make changes to the always approaching future?
What is the illusion here in the equation?
Is it us, because for most of us, we can't wrap our heads around the fact that, we live within laws and space that govern every aspect of life and being.
The actions we've taken in the past which didn't produce the results we would most like, those actions can be rethought and attempted again, until the result sought after is found.
Much of everyday life is of the scientific method.
If for example, you overheat a pot coffee today, and then decide, tomorrow I'm going to attempt making my next pot of coffee more suitable to my taste.
All along, choosing to procure coffee, the machine to brew it, to decide when to make it, and to take up the idea of progressing in your skills and understanding of this particular process.
Think deeply of free will in life, even though there billions of us, all of us each as individuals chooses everything it is that we consume, theorise, or plan for and take action on.
From what I understand of your view, Genghis, you have a belief that nothing we do is for reason, purpose, or progress, but that we go through the actions and emotions of life for no reason at all?
Every moment in our lives we can choose to make efforts at bettering every aspect as time continues and allows us these opportunities to learn and make progress.
What Einstein is speaking on in a way is something we can't know, which is what happens within all time, it could only be a creator of all existence who chose mathematical parameters, and every other law which governs this universe.
If our selves could look back and forward into time with no end at from the moment we are in, we ourselves would be our own creator, and we are not.
What we were given to create was exactly what our heart desire with in our time, from only imagination and resources.
When we lack our own imagination, our imagination only becomes what it is around us, and it's often only a beautiful life if you so choose to make the efforts for it to be so to you.
We were already given all the beauty of life from our beginning as humans, we have only come to the belief that it's us against each other, as if love, happiness, and contentment are finite resources we have to battle over.
And what gives us the ability to witness and choose actions or make future plans, based on data or knowledge observed and then harnessed to make changes to the always approaching future?
What is the illusion here in the equation?
Is it us, because for most of us, we can't wrap our heads around the fact that, we live within laws and space that govern every aspect of life and being.
The actions we've taken in the past which didn't produce the results we would most like, those actions can be rethought and attempted again, until the result sought after is found.
Much of everyday life is of the scientific method.
If for example, you overheat a pot coffee today, and then decide, tomorrow I'm going to attempt making my next pot of coffee more suitable to my taste.
All along, choosing to procure coffee, the machine to brew it, to decide when to make it, and to take up the idea of progressing in your skills and understanding of this particular process.
Think deeply of free will in life, even though there billions of us, all of us each as individuals chooses everything it is that we consume, theorise, or plan for and take action on.
From what I understand of your view, Genghis, you have a belief that nothing we do is for reason, purpose, or progress, but that we go through the actions and emotions of life for no reason at all?
Every moment in our lives we can choose to make efforts at bettering every aspect as time continues and allows us these opportunities to learn and make progress.
What Einstein is speaking on in a way is something we can't know, which is what happens within all time, it could only be a creator of all existence who chose mathematical parameters, and every other law which governs this universe.
If our selves could look back and forward into time with no end at from the moment we are in, we ourselves would be our own creator, and we are not.
What we were given to create was exactly what our heart desire with in our time, from only imagination and resources.
When we lack our own imagination, our imagination only becomes what it is around us, and it's often only a beautiful life if you so choose to make the efforts for it to be so to you.
We were already given all the beauty of life from our beginning as humans, we have only come to the belief that it's us against each other, as if love, happiness, and contentment are finite resources we have to battle over.
If you say time exists all at once, then to whom is experiencing all events simultaneously?
It certainly isn't anything living here on earth, and when we look as far as we can into the cosmos, again, there is time playing out, from past, the always present, and always unfolding of the future.
One thing that separates us from the laws of the universe is consciousness and choice.
An asteroid on a collision course with a moon doesn't have foresight, nor does the moon.
What makes us special is, we are forward looking and backward, with the present moment always here for us so that we may dictate our paths better than simply what the laws of physics dictates.
It certainly isn't anything living here on earth, and when we look as far as we can into the cosmos, again, there is time playing out, from past, the always present, and always unfolding of the future.
One thing that separates us from the laws of the universe is consciousness and choice.
An asteroid on a collision course with a moon doesn't have foresight, nor does the moon.
What makes us special is, we are forward looking and backward, with the present moment always here for us so that we may dictate our paths better than simply what the laws of physics dictates.
I took the concept and looked at it from another perspective; if there were past lives then that implies there may certainly be future lives aka "life after death".
I be smoking n tinkin while high on some Malawi. iddit thinks there is meaning to life. without "life after death" idiit decided that there would be no meaning to life. life would just be a pimple that hadn't been popped.
idiit believes at a very deep level that there is meaning to life. iddit has no way of truly knowing.
idiit then decided while high on Malawi that one could divide humanity into two camps; 1). those that believe there is life after death and act accordingly (code of conduct), and 2).those that don't believe in life after death and act accordingly(no code of conduct).
I follow some of the "new age" stuff on the 'net. basically they re saying that when we came into incarnation in the present paradigm our memories were wiped as part of this processes' constants. what we can choose to do out of our free will in this life is variable.
those that believe in life after death subscribe to "accountability" to something. those that don't believe in life after death don't subscribe to "accountability". yes, that's a gross generalization.
I be smoking n tinkin while high on some Malawi. iddit thinks there is meaning to life. without "life after death" idiit decided that there would be no meaning to life. life would just be a pimple that hadn't been popped.
idiit believes at a very deep level that there is meaning to life. iddit has no way of truly knowing.
idiit then decided while high on Malawi that one could divide humanity into two camps; 1). those that believe there is life after death and act accordingly (code of conduct), and 2).those that don't believe in life after death and act accordingly(no code of conduct).
deftly put. I've seen famous authors handle that one with less grace. the 12 steps program says take care of what you can and don't tussle about that which you can't. idiit quit drinking and no longer goes to 12 steps.
I follow some of the "new age" stuff on the 'net. basically they re saying that when we came into incarnation in the present paradigm our memories were wiped as part of this processes' constants. what we can choose to do out of our free will in this life is variable.
those that believe in life after death subscribe to "accountability" to something. those that don't believe in life after death don't subscribe to "accountability". yes, that's a gross generalization.
Genghis Kush
Active member
Desire is the root of all suffering
I'm enjoying the perspective, idiit.
I can't wait for my Malawi, I'm toking on some Thai x Pakistani.
Now I think we could ask ourselves, what really are seemingly the most thorough understandings of concepts such as death, hell, afterlife.
We know that through birth that as living beings we are alive in this moment, and we came from a very long genetics chain, from pre hominid, hominid, human.
Where does this chain of human life lead if best possible outcomes are thought up and seen through?
It's clear what begot us passes away in the physical realm, the human body returns to the separate elements that allows us to take physical form in the world.
But, uninterrupted by catastrophe child birth continues and so does evolution.
So, what then is the concept of either living, or going to hell.
Might it be that our worst, most negative emotions, thoughts and doings are where and how hell comes about?
And maybe the idea of dying, and returning to a hell, is the forethought of what we leave our children when we are gone, if we don't now take action to eradicate hellish self image, hellish judgement and action upon others.
One of the main tenants to spirituality is not to judge others, lest ye be judge by the same scale.
This is in essence, what goes around, comes around.
I can't wait for my Malawi, I'm toking on some Thai x Pakistani.
Now I think we could ask ourselves, what really are seemingly the most thorough understandings of concepts such as death, hell, afterlife.
We know that through birth that as living beings we are alive in this moment, and we came from a very long genetics chain, from pre hominid, hominid, human.
Where does this chain of human life lead if best possible outcomes are thought up and seen through?
It's clear what begot us passes away in the physical realm, the human body returns to the separate elements that allows us to take physical form in the world.
But, uninterrupted by catastrophe child birth continues and so does evolution.
So, what then is the concept of either living, or going to hell.
Might it be that our worst, most negative emotions, thoughts and doings are where and how hell comes about?
And maybe the idea of dying, and returning to a hell, is the forethought of what we leave our children when we are gone, if we don't now take action to eradicate hellish self image, hellish judgement and action upon others.
One of the main tenants to spirituality is not to judge others, lest ye be judge by the same scale.
This is in essence, what goes around, comes around.
The word ego is interchangeable with the word soul.
Not all egos are similar, in fact, each other is different from the other.
This is individuality.
The trouble with desire and carrying out them as you please is, if your actions to assume the state of being you desire diminishes the ability of another to follow their own desires in life, then you've crossed a boundary of which when crossed makes one man the boss of another without permission from the one following the lead.
"Dreams that have shattered might not have mattered, take another point of view." Ozzy Osbourne, to the Buddha and others you've quoted.
If there's a will, there's a way.
And if there are ways, then there is a way for one to have his physical and mental needs met without taking away from another's freedom to pursue their own wishes in life.
Leave all other concepts out.
Don't each of us believe that in our own individual life time that it's possible for us to see, feel, know all that we desired and thought of?
If no, why not?
In my own personal life I want to see my parents to find love again, to find a wife and have children of my own, open a business and continue botany and the study of all that strikes my fancy.
Am I asleep, or am I awake enough to accept all of this will be mine in my life time if I take the adequate steps everyday and continue pursuing my dreams, and then once found, maintaining accomplishments by building on patience, understanding, and know how at each level of each variable.
Not all egos are similar, in fact, each other is different from the other.
This is individuality.
The trouble with desire and carrying out them as you please is, if your actions to assume the state of being you desire diminishes the ability of another to follow their own desires in life, then you've crossed a boundary of which when crossed makes one man the boss of another without permission from the one following the lead.
"Dreams that have shattered might not have mattered, take another point of view." Ozzy Osbourne, to the Buddha and others you've quoted.
If there's a will, there's a way.
And if there are ways, then there is a way for one to have his physical and mental needs met without taking away from another's freedom to pursue their own wishes in life.
Leave all other concepts out.
Don't each of us believe that in our own individual life time that it's possible for us to see, feel, know all that we desired and thought of?
If no, why not?
In my own personal life I want to see my parents to find love again, to find a wife and have children of my own, open a business and continue botany and the study of all that strikes my fancy.
Am I asleep, or am I awake enough to accept all of this will be mine in my life time if I take the adequate steps everyday and continue pursuing my dreams, and then once found, maintaining accomplishments by building on patience, understanding, and know how at each level of each variable.
Realise Buddhism teaches sight without wisdom.
Can you see?
Now, can you see the orr in your two hands, your heart directing you where ever you like, merrily down the stream of consciousness.
The monks in the temples atop the mountain, sitting in silence, only realising the peaceful spirit of the mountains they reside.
It is the open heart which withstands the pangs endured through a life of desiring betterment for yourself and your people.
Can you see?
Now, can you see the orr in your two hands, your heart directing you where ever you like, merrily down the stream of consciousness.
The monks in the temples atop the mountain, sitting in silence, only realising the peaceful spirit of the mountains they reside.
It is the open heart which withstands the pangs endured through a life of desiring betterment for yourself and your people.
Last night while waiting to fall asleep an Owl face, a golden star of David, and moving ribbons of vibrant color conveyed to me what love without placing ownership upon that which is loved means.
You know, if you let something go and it returns it was meant because both agreed to come together, but if something you loved goes never to return, you don't love it any less for finding it's own place in the sun.
Moreso, you ought feel even greater gratitude, that something or someone so great came into your reality that you loved it, that even if it's no longer in your sphere of influence you still love them with all your heart and continue wishing them their own peace.
Love is not material, it does not leave you once you gain it, it's the negative half of desire which interferes with another's pursuit of love.
Not everything goes according to plan of the first try, but according to will all needs can be met.
You know, if you let something go and it returns it was meant because both agreed to come together, but if something you loved goes never to return, you don't love it any less for finding it's own place in the sun.
Moreso, you ought feel even greater gratitude, that something or someone so great came into your reality that you loved it, that even if it's no longer in your sphere of influence you still love them with all your heart and continue wishing them their own peace.
Love is not material, it does not leave you once you gain it, it's the negative half of desire which interferes with another's pursuit of love.
Not everything goes according to plan of the first try, but according to will all needs can be met.
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Genghis Kush
Active member
Eternalism is a philosophical approach to the ontological nature of time, which takes the view that all points in time are equally real, as opposed to the presentist idea that only the present is real, and the growing block universe theory of time in which past and present are real while the future is not. Eternalism is the view that each spacetime moment exists in and of itself.
Eternalism addresses these various difficulties by considering all points in time to be equally valid frames of reference—or equally real, if one prefers. It does not do away with the concept of past and future, but instead considers them directions rather than states of being. Whether some point in time is in the future or past depends on which frame of reference you use as a basis for observing it.
Since an observer at any given point in time can only remember events that are in the past relative to him, and not events that are in the future relative to him, the subjective illusion of the passage of time is maintained. The asymmetry of remembering past events but not future ones, as well as other irreversible events that progress in only one temporal direction (such as the increase in entropy) gives rise to the arrow of time. In the view suggested by Eternalism, there is no passage of time; the ticking of a clock measures durations between events much as the marks on a measuring tape measure distances between places.
Eternalism addresses these various difficulties by considering all points in time to be equally valid frames of reference—or equally real, if one prefers. It does not do away with the concept of past and future, but instead considers them directions rather than states of being. Whether some point in time is in the future or past depends on which frame of reference you use as a basis for observing it.
Since an observer at any given point in time can only remember events that are in the past relative to him, and not events that are in the future relative to him, the subjective illusion of the passage of time is maintained. The asymmetry of remembering past events but not future ones, as well as other irreversible events that progress in only one temporal direction (such as the increase in entropy) gives rise to the arrow of time. In the view suggested by Eternalism, there is no passage of time; the ticking of a clock measures durations between events much as the marks on a measuring tape measure distances between places.
You may enjoy Ruldolph Tanzi. He's a geneticist who co-wrote The Super Brain and The Super Gene with Deepak Chopra. Cool guy, he played organ tracks on Aerosmith’s album, Music From Another Dimension.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5LKFOiC8wag&t=102s
It just occurred to me that if we do have past lives, then this one is soon to be past too. Whether it be 10 or 80 years, that's soon. I was recently standing atop an escarpment that's 1,600,000 years old. Kind of puts our lives into perspective.
Genghis Kush
Active member
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well the ultimate teaching of Buddha as divulged in in the lotus sutra as studied in the chanting thread is that we are all buddha
we have simply to realize it
you are extolling expedient means which are meant to be discarded
it is covered in great detail in the chanting thread
This is not in context to what you are responding to, strictly in response to provisional teachings and how they are to be shed for the absolute teachings as taught by the buddha himself at the end of his life
for anyone interested https://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=255524
_tessarecting
ஓ
Buddha was quoted saying he believed the greatest contribution he could give to mankind was his own self-actualization.
I agree with the man whole-heartedly.
I agree with the man whole-heartedly.
Re past lives. Awhile ago I rode my mountain bike off a 10 metre cliff. I realised that I was going to land head first onto a ginormous rock and in an instant knew I most likely going to die. No way I was going out in fear, so I spread my arms like a bird and 100% surrendered to the experience. The strangest thing then happened. A benevolent male voice spoke to me and told me there was nothing to worry about in this life and that I'd be looked after in this life and the next. Time's a strange thing, as it didn't so much slow down, but it was if I stepped out of it and experienced so much in what could of only been 2 or 3 seconds. Words fail to describe the feelings of the awesomeness of the experience and I think if I could find words, then I'd be speaking of something else. I landed head fist on the rock and besides having a stiff neck for a couple of days, was fine.
FireIn.TheSky
Active member
-Sri Ramana Marharshi
Genghis Kush
Active member
Great video Mick! Thank you
I enjoyed that. Lucid dreaming is a major part of my life.
This is why I believe that everything exists at all at once. Its the only way to explain what I experience in the dream state .
Aloha
I like what he was saying about people believing in the material world- pretty funny
