Alleged Buddhism expert — Darkneos
But that quote from the Tao Te is more about just letting things happen rather than fight them, which is supported by psychological research. Resisting a negative thought or idea, etc, ends up building a stronger association to it, rather than just letting it come and go. So actively trying to force something out of your mind does the opposite — Darkneos
This, or something like it, I know from experience. There are different methods - solitary contemplation works for me; for someone I know who suffers from depression, it's analyzing dreams, or it might be writing poetry or keeping a journal. Basically, the process boils down to: See it, name it, accept it, own it. Then it can't own you. — Vera Mont
Something like a social environment? Or a set of beliefs? Or what? — Moliere
Yeah, I saw that one too. — unenlightened
I suppose that's the point I take issue with, then.
Though, if we're just taking that definition as the rule -- then your conclusion does follow. You and everyone else is disingenuous, as they are, in fact, influenced by the things around them.
Only God could claim to be authentic under such a criteria, though. — Moliere
I'm saying if nothing we feel is truly genuine then what's the point of living? Your life is essentially a lie. — Darkneos
Well if nothing we feel is genuine then why bother living? — Darkneos
This is one of those cute tail-eating propositions, isn't it?
If nothing we feel is genuine, the bother of living isn't genuine, since we're not genuinely living.
So, where did all this illusion, conditioning, control and influence come from? And on whom is it working, if "we" are not genuine persons? — Vera Mont
That's not really answering the question of what's the point in going on if nothing you feel is genuine. — Darkneos
I stopped taking it seriously once Jesus and God factored into it. — Darkneos
I walk outside and I find hostility! :D I've come to expect it out of life. But I see awesomeness too.You'll find that there is a lot of hostility to religion here on the forum.
Thank you! But why are you apologizing? You seem gracious. You are the first one to welcome me. Someone else just told me 'I didn't get it'. That's not a 'welcome' in my books. ;DWelcome to the forum. I'm sorry it couldn't have been with a more gracious poster.
I think the movie 'The Matrix' does a perfect job of illustrating most humans. There are only a few people who really want to know the truth and take the steps to seek it out. In real life, I believe most people don't really, really want to know the absolute truth of everything. It's not a bad thing. It just is. Most people are in 'self-preservation' mode, just like most other animals are. It's not bad, it's just instinct. I believe there are some, a small number even, who passionately want to know 'the truth'. Not to shove it down someone else's throat or bash it over someone else's head, but they just have a passion to discover, and a love for, truth. I firmly believe those people will find it. They will find the truth if they genuinely seek it with an open mind, but an open mind is a must. An open mind to reading all sorts of things. Yes, even the Bible, but other material as well. If you seek, you WILL find, but seeking is still a requirement. — Michael Phelps
In real life, I believe most people don't really, really want to know the absolute truth of everything. — Michael Phelps
Kay from Men in Black1500 years ago, everybody "knew" that the earth was the center of the universe. 500 years ago, everybody "knew" that the earth was flat. And 15 minutes ago, you "knew" that humans were alone on this planet. Imagine what you'll "know" tomorrow.
And some are realistic enough to know that attempting to find out the absolute truth of anything could take a lifetime and yield no results. However, discovering a little partial truth about some things can be an enjoyable and rewarding process. — Vera Mont
I quickly realized we don't see or feel the sun's light and heat due to where we are. Perhaps we don't feel God's love because of where we are, not His 'lack of love'. — Michael Phelps
Nobody explained what 'genuine' means, or how you can tell whether feelings are genuine or counterfeit — Vera Mont
Doing or not doing some acts is what makes a person genuine. — javi2541997
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