Making Sense

[Rolling_Stone]

Life makes sense only if the transcendent enters into the moment. For nothing transitory has true reality, hell is the endless continuity of existing conditions, and human aspiration cannot be realized within the bounds of the phenomenal world. In me, the transcendent becomes local and the local transcendent.

 

[Willamena]

That makes no sense.

 

[Rolling_Stone]

There. I made some changes. Not as poetic, but making more sense.

 

[Dunemeister]

You're making some very large metaphysical assumptions, which are quite easily debatable. For instance, why does nothing transitory have no reality? It's real even if it changes or lasts a short time, yeah? I'm not the same guy I was last year, but I promise you I'm real. I can punch you in the nose to prove it. And why can't human aspiration be realized within the bounds of the phenomenal world? The phenomenal world is all we're ever gonna get. And it seems that we have aspirations and that at least some of them are realized.

Ah, metaphysics....

 

[Yes Man]

Life makes sense only if the transcendent enters into the moment. For nothing transitory has true reality, hell is the endless continuity of existing conditions, and human aspiration cannot be realized within the bounds of the phenomenal world. In me, the transcendent becomes local and the local transcendent.

What are you accomplishing by asking this question?

 

[Sunstone]

Life makes sense only if the transcendent enters into the moment.

Good luck with that one.

 

[Rolling_Stone]

What are you accomplishing by asking this question?

What question?

You're making some very large metaphysical assumptions, which are quite easily debatable. For instance, why does nothing transitory have no reality? It's real even if it changes or lasts a short time, yeah? I'm not the same guy I was last year, but I promise you I'm real. I can punch you in the nose to prove it. And why can't human aspiration be realized within the bounds of the phenomenal world? The phenomenal world is all we're ever gonna get. And it seems that we have aspirations and that at least some of them are realized.

Ah, metaphysics....

What's to debate? Everything is realized in the subjective conscious. No exceptions.

RS, what is "the transcendent"? I think I understand, and that my understanding is the inverse of this, but I'm not sure.

The One

Good luck with that one.

I think I'm going to change my style :drool:

 

[YmirGF]

Life makes sense only if the transcendent enters into the moment.

Given the meaningless nature of what you are purporting I would conjecture that even you do not understand what you are talking about. The sentiments expressed regarding imagined "hell" isn't worthy of serious reflection.

It is often better to say nothing and have people think you a fool, rather than open ones mouth, removing all doubt.

 

[Rolling_Stone]

Given the meaningless nature of what you are purporting I would conjecture that even you do not understand what you are talking about. The sentiments expressed regarding imagined "hell" isn't worthy of serious reflection.

It is often better to say nothing and have people think you a fool, rather than open ones mouth, removing all doubt.

I'm in good company.

Edit: here's some more nonsense:

Before the beginning that never was, the ONE was both thing and no thing, both cause and effect, both volition and response. There was no differentiation: infinity was filled with the Infinite and encompassed by it. This is the hypothetical static moment of eternity, before any existent. Actuals were still contained within their potentials, and potentials have not yet appeared within the infinity of the ONE. But in this conjectured situation, there existed of the possibility of self-will. “The ONE, perfect in seeking nothing, possessing nothing and needing nothing, overflows and creates a new reality by its superabundance.” (Plotinus)

 

[Hema]

Edit: here's some more nonsense:

Before the beginning that never was, the ONE was both thing and no thing, both cause and effect, both volition and response. There was no differentiation: infinity was filled with the Infinite and encompassed by it. This is the hypothetical static moment of eternity, before any existent. Actuals were still contained within their potentials, and potentials have not yet appeared within the infinity of the ONE. But in this conjectured situation, there existed of the possibility of self-will. “The ONE, perfect in seeking nothing, possessing nothing and needing nothing, overflows and creates a new reality by its superabundance.” (Plotinus)

Although creation came from that ONE, creation is still in it and it is still in creation. All is still ONE. Well, according to my beliefs anyway.

 

[Rolling_Stone]

Although creation came from that ONE, creation is still in it and it is still in creation. All is still ONE. Well, according to my beliefs anyway.

Different phases of One Substance undiminished thereby is one way of putting it. I think our perspectives are very similar.

 

[Somkid]

I can kind of see what you are saying or rather I think I understand what you are trying to say in a Zen kind of way???

 

[Rolling_Stone]

I can kind of see what you are saying or rather I think I understand what you are trying to say in a Zen kind of way???

When referring to the ONE the answer is "yes" because the ONE cannot be approached through intellections. It is the highest principle: no thing or being, no relativity or actuality exists except in direct or indirect relation to, and dependence on, the primacy of its reality--which, properly speaking, is the source of reality. When I affirm the existence of the ONE, I mean only that "it" does not fall into the category of nonexistence or Being. Yet, there is no notion of creatio ex nihilo. It is, rather, emanation ex deo (out of God). It is not pantheism or (upon reflection) panentheism because it confirms the absolute transcendence of the ONE over and above its emanations.

However, this explanation was not the purpose of this thread. I just wanted to point out that, in my experience, life makes sense only if growth is a process of the One entering into my life as an individual for these reasons:

1. Nothing transitory has true reality (as a Buddhist I'm sure you understand).
2. "Hell," for human beings, is the endless continuity of existing conditions (unending sameness).
3. Human aspiration cannot be realized within the bounds of the phenomenal world, the world of physical sensation.

Nothing in life (at least, my life) makes sense unless there is permanence of self (#1), change through personal growth (#2), and purpose beyond the physical (#3).

The horror of death and limitation is just as spiritual as the victory over it. Men rage against death and limitation in the name of some kind of immortality or to wipe it from his awareness. The immortality of the soul, reincarnation, mergence with the Divine the way a drop of water merges with the ocean, the immortality of ideals, the resurrection of the whole person, fusion with the collective life on earth and the earthly pursuit of happiness are all teachings to take the edge off death and limitation.

As I learn to touch upon the Infinite, eternity enters into my life, not the other way around; in me, the transcendent becomes localized and the mortal immortal.

In all this, you might be able to see the influence of Plotinus and The URANTIA Book, but I am the final authority.