Maybe that's the reason we get along so well!
Just look at how WE get along with all our conflicting triunities bumping into each other!
I agree, this is an essential question. From the articleThen you have to define Purpose to know what it is that man serves. In lieu of that you haven't got a case...unless "Purpose" is defined and made active symbolically as a prime projection of consciousness which is the only way it can be done!
It is normal to consider how the universe serves Man. But it makes far more sense to consider how Man serves the hierarchy of conscious intention and purposeful energies.In this understanding, the earth is inextricably enmeshed in a network of purposes, a ladder or hierarchy of intentions. To the ancient mind, this is the very meaning of the concept of organization and order. A cosmos--and, of course, the cosmos--is an organism, not in the sense of an unusually complicated industrial machine, but in the sense of a hierarchy of purposeful energies………………………
…………….n the Hermetic writings the hierarchical structure of the cosmos resembles that of an organism: cell in the service of tissue; tissue in the service of organ; organ in the service of the whole (governed by a supreme consciousness or intelligence). At each level of being there are "gods" or "angels" or, to use less uncomfortable language, "purposeful energies." From this point of view, the ancient spatial descriptions of the cosmos are meant to be understood symbolically.
Likewise, the word "sphere," used in describing the forces and purposes at different levels, is never meant merely to be taken literally. The very idea of the circularity of movement in "the heavens" can be understood to mean not only the encompassing nature of these progressively higher influences, but their eternal nature. The circle is, among many things, a symbol of that which "eternally recurs," that which is not subject to time and change as we know them.
Obviously, there is a great difference between contemplating a universe which exceeds me in size alone or in intricacy alone, and one which exceeds me in depth of purpose and intelligence. A universe of merely unimaginable size excludes man and crushes him. But a universe that is a manifestation of great consciousness and order places man, and therefore calls to him.
Dualistic thought associations are only a part of human consciousness unable to connect levels of reality. Dualistic reason excludes while human consciousness and the triune mind includes.We now see why a conscious universe makes no sense to modern science. In the ancient teachings, higher mind or consciousness is never identified with thought associations, no matter how ingenious they may be. If these teachings speak of levels of reality higher than human thought, they are referring, among other things, to an order of intelligence that is inclusive of thought. Consciousness is another word for this power of active relationship or inclusion. Can the power to include ever be understood through a process of internal division and exclusion? Fascinated by the activity of thinking, and drawn to it to the extent of psychological lopsidedness, is it any wonder that we modern scientific men almost never directly experience in ourselves that quality of force which used to be called the Active Intellect, and which in the medieval cosmic scheme was symbolized by a great circle that included the entire created universe?
I was standing at a magazine rack in a Borders bookstore when I first saw this photograph on the front of the National Geographic. Opening the magazine and eagerly reading the explanation of the photograph, I was struck with wonder: a nearly microscopic point in an apparently empty patch of the night sky was here shown to be a window onto hundreds, thousands of stars, many certainly greater than our own sun, and, like our sun, pouring out unimaginable streams of life-creating energy onto who knows what planetary worlds and who knows what living beings that may have arisen upon these worlds. I remember standing there for a moment with my eyes closed, sensing the mingling of impersonal joy and yearning that everyone sometimes experiences looking up at a night sky strewn with millions of shining worlds.
I put the magazine back and started to walk away, but after two or three steps I stopped short. What had I actually seen? Something was not quite right. I turned around and went back to the magazine rack. My knees nearly gave way when I looked at the picture again. Could it really be? I opened the magazine again and this time very attentively read the explanation of the photograph: these were not stars at all, they were galaxies! Hundreds, thousands of galaxies never before known or seen inhabited that infinitesimal speck of “empty” sky, each galaxy itself containing billions of suns. I suddenly became very quiet inside.
I would like to think of the present book as an extended commentary on this image and the inner experience such images and discoveries can evoke. Every day in almost all its branches the revelations of modern science offer evidence that the universe, reality itself, is alive—alive beyond all imagining. All those who love science must know this truth in their bones, whatever may be the view officially sanctioned in the corridors of our universities and institutions of research. In any case, this is and always has been the view offered by the great spiritual traditions of the world, East and West, in all cultures and at all times previous to our own…………………………….
I am humbled to be considered a talent with ad homs by the king of ad hominem attacks. I didn't think I was so skilled. I remain your student with still so much to learn about the ignoble art of character assassination from your well practiced repertoire.Nick_A wrote: ↑Fri Sep 21, 2018 4:13 am Greta,You are good at ad hom attacks and missing the point but at least your absurdity is consistent.
The Holy Trinity is one. The tripartite soul described by Plato is another. The triune brain theory is another and the triune mind is also another. Yes they are all related but cannot be considered the same.
A dog has a triune brain but not a triune mind capable of conscious triune reason
Just mythology? Of course the dualistic mind limited to one level of reality cannot comprehend the logic of what we call a miracle. Yet for a person who has had the mind opening experience of levels of reality made possible by the triune mind, then the passage of forces from one level into another producing what we call a miracle is logical.The Holy Trinity is just mythology, like virgin births, resurrections and angels. Obviously you would agree that none of those absurdities are real other than in some oblique metaphorical sense, just as you know that the geocentric solar system was not true. Mythology is basically an early metaphoric attempt to do science and there is clearly no sense treating ancient guesswork as sacred lore.
Trouble is, you have just been shown to be wrong - that the triune brain was a misconception - and you have blithely ignored it. You won't address the fact that the "triune brain" was a mistaken conception.Nick_A wrote: ↑Fri Sep 21, 2018 1:52 pm Greta
Just mythology? Of course the dualistic mind limited to one level of reality cannot comprehend the logic of what we call a miracle. Yet for a person who has had the mind opening experience of levels of reality made possible by the triune mind, then the passage of forces from one level into another producing what we call a miracle is logical.The Holy Trinity is just mythology, like virgin births, resurrections and angels. Obviously you would agree that none of those absurdities are real other than in some oblique metaphorical sense, just as you know that the geocentric solar system was not true. Mythology is basically an early metaphoric attempt to do science and there is clearly no sense treating ancient guesswork as sacred lore.
"When a contradiction is impossible to resolve except by a lie, then we know that it is really a door." - Simone Weil
The classic philosopher relishes the paradox since it arouses the triune mind while the modern dualistic philosopher rejects it with a passion since it lacks scientific proofs.“One must not think slightingly of the paradoxical…for the paradox is the source of the thinker’s passion, and the thinker without a paradox is like a lover without feeling: a paltry mediocrity.” ― Soren Kierkegaard
1930
"Many people think that the progress of the human race is based on experiences of an empirical, critical nature, but I say that true knowledge is to be had only through a philosophy of deduction. For it is intuition that improves the world, not just following the trodden path of thought. Intuition makes us look at unrelated facts and then think about them until they can all be brought under one law. To look for related facts means holding onto what one has instead of searching for new facts. Intuition is the father of new knowledge, while empiricism is nothing but an accumulation of old knowledge. Intuition, not intellect, is the ‘open sesame’ of yourself." -- Albert Einstein, in Einstein and the Poet – In Search of the Cosmic Man by William Hermanns (Branden Press, 1983, p. 16.), conversation March 4, 1930
The dualistic mind mechanically argues unrelated facts while the active triune mind consciously unites them under a higher conscious perspective."When a contradiction is impossible to resolve except by a lie, then we know that it is really a door." - Simone Weil
Or it could be that it makes no sense because it's ridiculous.
There's a difference between having an open mind and making up endless excuses to deny holes in one's ideas.
Where do you come up with this stuff? Do you imagine people thrashing around in horror, their faces contorted over the mere suggestion of giving up thoughts of duality? People are not as limited as you project them to be.
Makes sense... unlike the stuff you come up with.
No... now you're adding on your crazy crap. Things make so much more sense when you don't convolute them with your horror show.
What would it take for you to admit the possibility that Einstein and Simone have experienced a conscious perspective you are yet to experience?Lacewing wrote: ↑Sat Sep 22, 2018 2:16 amOr it could be that it makes no sense because it's ridiculous.
There's a difference between having an open mind and making up endless excuses to deny holes in one's ideas.
Where do you come up with this stuff? Do you imagine people thrashing around in horror, their faces contorted over the mere suggestion of giving up thoughts of duality? People are not as limited as you project them to be.
Makes sense... unlike the stuff you come up with.
No... now you're adding on your crazy crap. Things make so much more sense when you don't convolute them with your horror show.
Why must you always do that, Nick? C'mon, sing us a song and stop talking.
Oh, I can admit that, no problem. I just think YOUR interpretation and imagination have gone way overboard. You are free to do that, of course -- but if you present it here as some sort of higher consciousness, well, it seems appropriate and valuable for me to point out the ways it doesn't match up and it looks nuts. I can only hope that you appreciate (someday if not now) my exuberance in sharing such feedback with you.
How does my interpretation differ from theirs?Lacewing wrote: ↑Sat Sep 22, 2018 5:43 amOh, I can admit that, no problem. I just think YOUR interpretation and imagination have gone way overboard. You are free to do that, of course -- but if you present it here as some sort of higher consciousness, well, it seems appropriate and valuable for me to point out the ways it doesn't match up and it looks nuts. I can only hope that you appreciate (someday if not now) my exuberance in sharing such feedback with you.
This is where you continually make a critical error -- by thinking that your LOADED interpretation accurately represents another's. By claiming to know what other people are thinking and feeling -- while you are interjecting so much of your own stuff, that it turns it into something quite different. This is what religion is: interpretations of interpretations infused with all sorts of agendas, and self-serving justifications/accusations/condemnations. It's fascinating if you can step back and honestly look at it, Nick. But you're so close and so invested and so convinced and so dependent, it appears that you are absolutely blind to how much distortion your own LOADED interpretation adds.Nick_A wrote: ↑Sat Sep 22, 2018 7:19 pmHow does my interpretation differ from theirs?Lacewing wrote: ↑Sat Sep 22, 2018 5:43 amOh, I can admit that, no problem. I just think YOUR interpretation and imagination have gone way overboard. You are free to do that, of course -- but if you present it here as some sort of higher consciousness, well, it seems appropriate and valuable for me to point out the ways it doesn't match up and it looks nuts. I can only hope that you appreciate (someday if not now) my exuberance in sharing such feedback with you.
But you still have not said where anything I have written opposes what either Plato, Einstein, Simone Weil, or Jacob Needleman have written. What is this loaded interpretation you refer too?Lacewing wrote: ↑Sat Sep 22, 2018 7:50 pmThis is where you continually make a critical error -- by thinking that your LOADED interpretation accurately represents another's. By claiming to know what other people are thinking and feeling -- while you are interjecting so much of your own stuff, that it turns it into something quite different. This is what religion is: interpretations of interpretations infused with all sorts of agendas, and self-serving justifications/accusations/condemnations. It's fascinating if you can step back and honestly look at it, Nick. But you're so close and so invested and so convinced and so dependent, it appears that you are absolutely blind to how much distortion your own LOADED interpretation adds.Nick_A wrote: ↑Sat Sep 22, 2018 7:19 pmHow does my interpretation differ from theirs?Lacewing wrote: ↑Sat Sep 22, 2018 5:43 am
Oh, I can admit that, no problem. I just think YOUR interpretation and imagination have gone way overboard. You are free to do that, of course -- but if you present it here as some sort of higher consciousness, well, it seems appropriate and valuable for me to point out the ways it doesn't match up and it looks nuts. I can only hope that you appreciate (someday if not now) my exuberance in sharing such feedback with you.