GENIUS FORUMS

<t>Sapius wrote:<br/> <br/> Quote:Quote:<hr>Sapius: So why would he want others spiritual awakening? If he gains nothing whatsoever.<br/> <br/> David: Why does a cloud give rain? Why does a flame create heat? It's in the sage's nature to work for the enlightenment of others.<br/> <br/> Sapius: Well,...

<t>Leyla wrote:<br/> <br/> Quote:Quote:<hr>No, David, I don't think that's an argument for the proof of the Christian God at all.<hr>Well, Anselm was a Christian theologian and he certainly intended this argument to be a proof for the existence of the Christian God. <br/> <br/> <br/> Quote:Quote:<hr...

<t>David wrote:<br/> <br/> Quote:Quote:<hr> DQ: The "pink unicorn" analogy doesn't work because we already know that Reality exists by virtute of the fact that we experience a world around us. By contrast, there is no evidence for the existence of pink unicorns.<br/> <br/> Sap: Yes we do experience ...

<t>Analog wrote:<br/> <br/> Quote:Quote:<hr> DQ: If Reality is the totality of all there is, then the concrete world is a mere subset of Reality as well. Moreover, concrete physical object are just as illusory and empty of inherent existence as thoughts are. From this deeper standpoint, there is rea...

<t>Sapius wrote:<br/> <br/> Quote:Quote:<hr> I know that the "I" is NOT doing any thinking since it is a thought itself, but without it you simply cannot differentiate between a single thing and even form a sentence. <hr> Our current-day computers can easily make these distinctions, even though they...

<t>analog wrote:<br/> <br/> Quote:Quote:<hr> DQ: Their properties differ, but their existence, as a fact, is identical.<br/> <br/> analog: The "fact" of existence is a given. That must be accepted as a self evident truth. But the existence of a "singular" human thought and the existence of a mutuall...

<t>Sapius wrote:<br/> <br/> Quote:Quote:<hr> Sap: Sure, if I like a certain drink I would usually offer it to others to share my bliss, it is a natural reaction of the ego, I mean the "I", but would not the awakening of a single person give him some sort of satisfaction, sense of contentment, achiev...

<t>Sapius wrote:<br/> <br/> Quote:Quote:<hr> DQ: It's not a definition of Reality, but rather a logical truth about Reality. It is logically true, and thus beyond all dispute, that Reality is not nothing whatsoever.<br/> <br/> Sap: 'Pink invisible unicorns are not nothing whatsoever'. By the same ru...

<t>Sapius wrote:<br/> <br/> Quote:Quote:<hr> DQ: There wasn't any annoyance or boredom not on my part there. Rather, it was my sense of humour at work. The more Tumbleman proclaimed the supremecy of his dialectical system and its ability to harmonize all points of view, the more it inspired me to at...

<t>Leyla wrote:<br/> <br/> Quote:Quote:<hr>DQ: The brain is thinking it, not the "I".<br/> <br/> Leyla: I'd like to see you logically substantiate this claim in the same way as you did the only-a-sage-and-truth proposition. <br/> <br/> The brain does not function alone.<hr> Okay, how about: brain + ...

<t>Sapius wrote:<br/> <br/> Quote:Quote:<hr> DQ: It turns into an objective truth the moment it accurately reflects the objective truth. <br/> <br/> For example, the personal opinion that Reality is not nothing whatsoever accurately reflects the objective truth that Reality is not nothing whatsoever...

mooksestink wrote:

Quote:Quote:<hr>Definitions, definitions, definitions! When all else fails, go back to definitions.<hr> Exactly. You're right on the money.

<t>Analog wrote:<br/> <br/> Quote:Quote:<hr>The existence of an abstract thought-apple appears to be qualitatively and quantitatively "different", than the existence of a material apple. Both are real, but there is a difference.<hr> Their properties differ, but their existence, as a fact, is identic...

Reality is changeless in the sense that it never changes into un-Reality.

Also, the process of cause and effect, which underlies all change and makes up all Reality, never changes.

<t>Analog wrote:<br/> <br/> Quote:Quote:<hr>Of course the question remains, "what created, or, creates reality?" Reality must be self creating. What else can create reality except that which is real?<hr> Indeed. This implies that Reality has never been created. It has always been around. The issue t...

<t>Sapius wrote:<br/> <br/> Quote:Quote:<hr> DQ: It turns into an objective truth the moment it accurately reflects the objective truth. <br/> <br/> For example, the personal opinion that Reality is not nothing whatsoever accurately reflects the objective truth that Reality is not nothing whatsoever...

<t>Analog wrote:<br/> <br/> Quote:Quote:<hr>A real apple has greater existence than a thought-apple.<hr> Not true. It might be more solid and physical, but its existence is equal to that of the thought-apple. <br/> <br/> When a thought-apple exists, it wholly exists - just as a physical apple wholly...

<t>mookestink wrote:<br/> <br/> Quote:Quote:<hr>Basically, you can define God into existence under one and only one condition, and that is if you were to use David Quinn's definition.<br/> <br/> "Reality is not nothing whatsoever."<hr> It's not a definition of Reality, but rather a logical truth abo...

Your reasoning is far too complicated. The truth is extremely simple. Everything that exists is causally created and a part of Reality. There's really nothing more to be said.

<t>Sapius wrote:<br/> <br/> Quote:Quote:<hr>DQ: My personal opinion applies to others the moment it reflects the objective truth.<br/> <br/> S: ....and how does this personal opinion turn into an objective truth?<hr> It turns into an objective truth the moment it accurately reflects the objective tr...

Not if he was an experienced sage.

<t>Mookestink wrote:<br/> <br/> Quote:Quote:<hr>I don't strive for perfection. I strive to grow as an individual, and become better than I am. You judge too hastily: who's to say that boredom has no value? I remember reading that boredom is necessary for the development of a child's creativity -- an...

<t>Sapius wrote:<br/> <br/> Quote:Quote:<hr> DQ: If you had a choice between the solitary path of experiencing the highest understanding of Reality and leading a communal life of great emotional happiness, which would you choose?<br/> <br/> S: What difference would that make? Objectively speaking of...

<t>Sapius wrote:<br/> <br/> Quote:Quote:<hr> DQ: There is no real point in abandoning the world and living the life of a hermit if one's mind is still being buffeted about by delusion. <br/> <br/> To me, the only genuine form of asceticism is the mind dwelling in emptiness. By undercutting existence...

<t>Sapius wrote:<br/> <br/> Quote:Quote:<hr> DQ: If a person's unbringing and genes cause a person to value truth (and thus to exerience real suffering from being ignorant), then he will naturally value truth.<br/> <br/> S: Nevertheless, it still remains subjective, right? <hr> Valuing is necessaril...