GENIUS FORUMS

An alternative definition of life could be the activity of assessing, maintaining, and spreading of values. Wisdom is one of the many options available to be valued. It is perhaps the hardest thing to value because the culmination of wisdom, in a way, negates values altogether, and thus even life. Nevertheless, the enlightened sage is a living being who holds wisdom to be the highest of values.

Ultimately, the sage is unconcerned with 'ways of living' because, in his mind, all things are stripped down to their bare essence, where ideals are inapplicable. Naturally, such a way of thinking radically changes the way one lives compared to that of the norm, but this is simply due to the nature of his being, and not due to personal ideals.

Edit

SeekerOfWisdom wrote:Russell:
"when people die, their consciousness dies along with them. This is an educated guess, sure, but I don't see why anyone should believe otherwise."

When we're talking about "the self", do you think of it as a being which is subject to death or "an end"?

In other words, when the body comes to dissolution, would you say that will be the end of 'existence' or 'consciousness' for you?

Yes.

Furthermore, at bottom, there actually is no self, no you, no me, nor even consciousness. These are all just illusory appearances. For there to be 'no end', there must be no thing, and that is ultimately the case.

Enlightenment isn't mere insight into the workings of Reality. It is a direct communion with it.
The first stands separate, as humans always do: observers.
The second is a crow by a pond. It doesn't look at Reality. It is Reality.

crow wrote:Enlightenment isn't mere insight into the workings of Reality. It is a direct communion with it.
The first stands separate, as humans always do: observers.
The second is a crow by a pond. It doesn't look at Reality. It is Reality.

Enlightenment is impossible without such insight because Enlightenment is an overcoming of the illusions of separation. There can only be Enlightenment where there was once delusion. Crows never experience or deal with this problem of ego, so Enlightenment doesn't apply to them. As you say, they just are.

Russell wrote:

crow wrote:Enlightenment isn't mere insight into the workings of Reality. It is a direct communion with it.
The first stands separate, as humans always do: observers.
The second is a crow by a pond. It doesn't look at Reality. It is Reality.

Enlightenment is impossible without such insight because Enlightenment is an overcoming of the illusions of separation. There can only be Enlightenment where there was once delusion. Crows never experience or deal with this problem of ego, so Enlightenment doesn't apply to them. As you say, they just are.

Russell: I agree with you. "Enlightenment doesn't apply to them. As you say, they just are"

Why would anyone who has passed through need to be anything apart from "just are"?

A wonderful state we could all aspire to.