Philosophy Now Forum

Bill Wiltrack wrote:The moment was more real than any other moment that I have ever experienced.

What makes me feel that the experience was authentic was the fact that I had been following a strict philosophical discipline at the time which actually lead me to this deep understanding.

When it comes to describing what I went through, words fail me.

There is no way I could explain or describe the breakthrough.

Those who know, do not speak. Those who speak, do not know.
~~~ Lao Tzu ~~~[/size]

Mark Question wrote:

Gary Childress wrote:Well, I'm 44 years old. My parents are in their late 70s. My parents and I have always been very close. I lost my grandmother almost 10 years back. Of course she was suffering from alzeimers for many years so it was a slow loss, not so abrupt as the death of a close relative could be. Now I'm suffering from sleep apnea and my memory isn't all that great anymore. When I think of my own end being not too far off I really start to think of what was it all about? Life seems so incredibly short from my perspective right now. If we are simply a "flash in the pan" so to speak what difference does any of this really make. Maybe I'm just in a meloncholy mood right now. But inevitable death puts everything in an all new perspective for me.

I'm facing a life decision of continuing my philosophy education. It will be a big undertaking going back to school (albeit online classes). I sort of wonder to myself why I should even put forth the effort? I'm just going to die someday anyway. What's worse is I'll probably forget everything I learn within a few months anyway. What difference does it make how educated or uneducated I am? What difference does it make if I try to improve my life? There isn't that much more to go anyway. It seems like a wasted effort, all in vain. Yeah, more education will make me more "marketable". Is that what it's all about? Just doing what it takes to stay alive and prosperous a little longer. How depressing it all seems right now.

you have "all new perspective" and lots of philosophical questions here. one question was missing. i didnt find this question: why i'm facing a life decision of continuing my philosophy education?
continue your philosophical thinking and you get more good questions, like this: is philosophy and philosophy education same thing? and like in religions, you can find something really interesting along the path..
then there is lots of other ways to find answers: alcohol, suicide, drugs, video games, porn, gambling, army, meditation,..

Gary Childress wrote:I don't know what your experience was that led you to your conclusion, however, my own experience tells me that there is no life after death. Unless this is my first life, I don't remember any prior lives. I expect to return to my former state of oblivion once I die. It would be nice to think that my life will repeat itself (unless of course my following lives will be horrible or something).

I will say this much. I have had psychotic episodes in which I was convinced that life would go on indefinitely but I see those now as "psychotic" episodes, not as actually revealing a truth. Are you sure that your "experience" which led you to the conclusion that there is reincarnation, or whatever, was not a moment of psychosis?

chaz wyman wrote:

Gary Childress wrote:I don't know what your experience was that led you to your conclusion, however, my own experience tells me that there is no life after death. Unless this is my first life, I don't remember any prior lives. I expect to return to my former state of oblivion once I die. It would be nice to think that my life will repeat itself (unless of course my following lives will be horrible or something).

I will say this much. I have had psychotic episodes in which I was convinced that life would go on indefinitely but I see those now as "psychotic" episodes, not as actually revealing a truth. Are you sure that your "experience" which led you to the conclusion that there is reincarnation, or whatever, was not a moment of psychosis?

What have you got to fear if your fate is simply to return to the state you were in before you were born?

You come from nothing, you return to nothing - so what is to worry about? NOTHING!

Your only problem as far as I can see is that you don't want to risk enjoying your life because you fear to lose something. You are like the child who screams; " I don't want to go to Disneyland because I don't like going home at the end of the day."

Gary Childress wrote:

chaz wyman wrote:

Gary Childress wrote:I don't know what your experience was that led you to your conclusion, however, my own experience tells me that there is no life after death. Unless this is my first life, I don't remember any prior lives. I expect to return to my former state of oblivion once I die. It would be nice to think that my life will repeat itself (unless of course my following lives will be horrible or something).

I will say this much. I have had psychotic episodes in which I was convinced that life would go on indefinitely but I see those now as "psychotic" episodes, not as actually revealing a truth. Are you sure that your "experience" which led you to the conclusion that there is reincarnation, or whatever, was not a moment of psychosis?

What have you got to fear if your fate is simply to return to the state you were in before you were born?

You come from nothing, you return to nothing - so what is to worry about? NOTHING!

Your only problem as far as I can see is that you don't want to risk enjoying your life because you fear to lose something. You are like the child who screams; " I don't want to go to Disneyland because I don't like going home at the end of the day."

This nonsense doesn't even diginify an answer...

Your only problem as far as I can see is that you don't want to risk enjoying your life because you fear to lose something

Izzywizzy wrote:Chaz wrote

Your only problem as far as I can see is that you don't want to risk enjoying your life because you fear to lose something

4

I dont often agree with Chaz but that line quoted is a masterpiece and i agree with him!

attofishpi wrote:The ridiculousness of suicide, if that is what we are talking about here, is that once you are dead, you dooo reincarnate, if yer worth human, then as human, and have to relearn all the shit again, make all the mistakes and fuck it all up all over. So why not make the most of the knowledge you now have...and make a difference.

I see myself chopping vegetables in a homeless soup kitchen soon. Not because i like chopping vegetables, but because i like people that have fallen to the lowest edge. These are the quirkiest of people with the most amazing lives that we can learn from. Hell, plot some of their stories together and you have a well interesting fiction book!

Tor_Hershman wrote:0=T=0

No body-mind-spirit...just body, a bio-machine.

However, if the universe is,
and it could quite well be BUT no one could ever know,
perfectly oscillating we simply do our lives over again in exactly the same manner.
Infinite finiteness, it even takes the ‘fun’ outta funeral.

chaz wyman wrote:I really don't think that reincarnation is a meaningful option - or possibility for living.
Even if there is a shortage of souls - so that they are recycled, rather than not born afresh with each life (AND ASSUMING THAT THE IDEA OF A SOUL IS EVEN MEANING FUL), as no one seems to remember 'previous lives' or the experiences they ought to offer - we have to conclude that when you die you really really just stop working and a period is drawn over your life.