Gary's Corner

[Walker]

Before I walked I ran and I learned something from that. Two things. When exhaustion sets in and the mind starts playing all kinds of tricks to stop the run, then just pick a goal a little farther down the line, something like a bush or a stop sign. Make it to the stop sign but don’t stop, pick another point up ahead and aim for that. The second thing is form. Fatigue will wreck the mechanics of running and drain you, so while heading to the next target focus on proper form because it’s an easier run. After reaching a couple of targets the magical second wind arrives, and then you can run forever and start thinking of marathons. I only make the mention because Gary may never have discovered that, and how it affects life.

[Iwannaplato]

Before I walked I ran and I learned something from that. Two things. When exhaustion sets in and the mind starts playing all kinds of tricks to stop the run, then just pick a goal a little farther down the line, something like a bush or a stop sign. Make it to the stop sign but don’t stop, pick another point up ahead and aim for that. The second thing is form. Fatigue will wreck the mechanics of running and drain you, so while heading to the next target focus on proper form because it’s an easier run. After reaching a couple of targets the magical second wind arrives, and then you can run forever and start thinking of marathons. I only make the mention because Gary may never have discovered that, and how it affects life.

Yes, I've learned all that regarding both running and in the metaphorical sense for meditation. I do hope Gary reads your post to me, if you are right about him. I'm crossing my fingers.

[Immanuel Can]

Well, according to many religions (including Christianity) it could be a demon or lesser being.

You're saying you're in communication with a demon or lesser being? Or some other alien? Or delusions and hallucinations?

Or are you just saying you think that "religious" people are? But how would you decide that?

I don't claim to be in communication with anything other than people.

Right. I get that. So all you can really say is "Gary doesn't know anything about God." If you try to say more, then you would owe it to show grounds of why you think it.

My point is I don't know and I don't think any human can.

And there it is. So I have to ask, what is your justification for "thinking" that? Is it just a wish? Is it a wild guess? Or is it premised on something?

[Gary Childress]

You're saying you're in communication with a demon or lesser being? Or some other alien? Or delusions and hallucinations?

Or are you just saying you think that "religious" people are? But how would you decide that?

I don't claim to be in communication with anything other than people.

Right. I get that. So all you can really say is "Gary doesn't know anything about God." If you try to say more, then you would owe it to show grounds of why you think it.

My point is I don't know and I don't think any human can.

And there it is. So I have to ask, what is your justification for "thinking" that? Is it just a wish? Is it a wild guess? Or is it premised on something?

I see no way of verifying that something is God. If something talked to me outside of normal human communication, I couldn't ascertain who or what it was, or if it was accurate or inaccurate, if it said it was "God". If you are different from me, that you possess some ability to discern a voice not coming from another person to be from God and not from a source that is not God, then perhaps you are special, and I do not possess the special ability to discern a voice not coming from another person to be that of God's.

So the question is, do you possess this ability to discern a voice not coming from a person to be that of God (God = the creator of all that is)? Yes? Or no?

[Immanuel Can]

I don't claim to be in communication with anything other than people.

Right. I get that. So all you can really say is "Gary doesn't know anything about God." If you try to say more, then you would owe it to show grounds of why you think it.

My point is I don't know and I don't think any human can.

And there it is. So I have to ask, what is your justification for "thinking" that? Is it just a wish? Is it a wild guess? Or is it premised on something?

I see no way of verifying that something is God.

Yes...you see no way. You can say that. But it's just you, not anybody else. If you want to say "...and nobody else can, either," or "I don't think anybody else can," then you've got to provide justification.

If you don't have justification, then you know what you're doing is guessing, or wishing, or hoping...but it's not a claim to have any reason to say "I know." And it's certainly no justification for the supposition that nobody else can.

[Gary Childress]

Right. I get that. So all you can really say is "Gary doesn't know anything about God." If you try to say more, then you would owe it to show grounds of why you think it.

And there it is. So I have to ask, what is your justification for "thinking" that? Is it just a wish? Is it a wild guess? Or is it premised on something?

I see no way of verifying that something is God.

Yes...you see no way. You can say that. But it's just you, not anybody else. If you want to say "...and nobody else can, either," or "I don't think anybody else can," then you've got to provide justification.

If you don't have justification, then you know what you're doing is guessing, or wishing, or hoping...but it's not a claim to have any reason to say "I know." And it's certainly no justification for the supposition that nobody else can.

So, is that to say that you possess an ability to identify a voice to be that of God or not that of God? Yes or no? Simple question. I've answered yours now you answer mine. Or feel free to elaborate why you can't answer the question (if that is the case).

[Immanuel Can]

I see no way of verifying that something is God.

Yes...you see no way. You can say that. But it's just you, not anybody else. If you want to say "...and nobody else can, either," or "I don't think anybody else can," then you've got to provide justification.

If you don't have justification, then you know what you're doing is guessing, or wishing, or hoping...but it's not a claim to have any reason to say "I know." And it's certainly no justification for the supposition that nobody else can.

So, is that to say

I hear the voice of Cathy Neuman: "...so you're saying..."

No, Gary, I will not parrot words you write for me. I have said what I have said. I have not said I hear voices. I have asked you how you know that nobody else can know God.

Are you ever going to answer?

[Gary Childress]

Yes...you see no way. You can say that. But it's just you, not anybody else. If you want to say "...and nobody else can, either," or "I don't think anybody else can," then you've got to provide justification.

If you don't have justification, then you know what you're doing is guessing, or wishing, or hoping...but it's not a claim to have any reason to say "I know." And it's certainly no justification for the supposition that nobody else can.

So, is that to say

I hear the voice of Cathy Neuman: "...so you're saying..."

No, Gary, I will not parrot words you write for me. I have said what I have said. I have not said I hear voices. I have asked you how you know that nobody else can know God.

Are you ever going to answer?

I don't know whether or not anyone else can know God (your question answered). And I don't claim know God. But you seem to. Is it true or false that you know God? You're the only one who can answer that question. I certainly can't.

[Immanuel Can]

So, is that to say

I hear the voice of Cathy Neuman: "...so you're saying..."

No, Gary, I will not parrot words you write for me. I have said what I have said. I have not said I hear voices. I have asked you how you know that nobody else can know God.

Are you ever going to answer?

I don't know whether or not anyone else can know God (your question answered).

Fair enough. That's the point. Your personal uncertainty doesn't actually give you any reason to suppose other people can't.

But Gary has said he doesn't want to know God. And Gary has said he doesn't want to try to know God. And so, Gary does not know God. Really, what part of that equation is surprising?

Is it true or false that you know God?

It is true. But then, I have taken the kind of steps you refuse to take, and so I've come to know Him. But you've already said you're not interested. So I don't know how I can help you, given that you don't want to be helped. It seems to me you've got us at a dead end. Or rather, you've put yourself there.

[Gary Childress]

I hear the voice of Cathy Neuman: "...so you're saying..."

No, Gary, I will not parrot words you write for me. I have said what I have said. I have not said I hear voices. I have asked you how you know that nobody else can know God.

Are you ever going to answer?

I don't know whether or not anyone else can know God (your question answered).

Fair enough. That's the point. Your personal uncertainty doesn't actually give you any reason to suppose other people can't.

But Gary has said he doesn't want to know God. And Gary has said he doesn't want to try to know God. And so, Gary does not know God. Really, what part of that equation is surprising?

Is it true or false that you know God?

It is true. But then, I have taken the kind of steps you refuse to take, and so I've come to know Him. But you've already said you're not interested. So I don't know how I can help you, given that you don't want to be helped. It seems to me you've got us at a dead end. Or rather, you've put yourself there.

I said I'm not interested in reading the Bible, going to church or praying or meditating. Is the only way to "know" God to do things like read the Bible, go to church, and meditate? I couldn't know God any other way?

[Immanuel Can]

I don't know whether or not anyone else can know God (your question answered).

Fair enough. That's the point. Your personal uncertainty doesn't actually give you any reason to suppose other people can't.

But Gary has said he doesn't want to know God. And Gary has said he doesn't want to try to know God. And so, Gary does not know God. Really, what part of that equation is surprising?

Is it true or false that you know God?

It is true. But then, I have taken the kind of steps you refuse to take, and so I've come to know Him. But you've already said you're not interested. So I don't know how I can help you, given that you don't want to be helped. It seems to me you've got us at a dead end. Or rather, you've put yourself there.

I said I'm not interested in reading the Bible, going to church or praying or meditating. Is the only way to "know" God to do things like read the Bible, go to church, and meditate? I couldn't know God any other way?

When one comes to God, it's always on His terms...never on ours. After all, He's God. We're not.

The first thing anybody has to recognize about God is who is in control, who gets the respect, who has the right to set the terms of engagement and the rules of life. If we don't even have the humility to do that, then, to no great surprise, we get nothing. As the Bible says, "Without faith, it is impossible to please God. For he who comes to Him must believe that He exists, and that He is the rewarder of those who seek Him."

No faith? No knowledge. That's how it works.

[phyllo]

I said I'm not interested in reading the Bible, going to church or praying or meditating. Is the only way to "know" God to do things like read the Bible, go to church, and meditate? I couldn't know God any other way?

I didn't say that you should meditate in order to "know God".

I think that you should meditate in order to feel better about the world, life and yourself.

[Impenitent]

Stillness can be found in motion, like the stillness of a spinning top’s virtual axis, stillness while the mind and body swirls around the stillness. Meditation encourages that kind of peace.

Because of the mind-body link, periodically pausing and relaxing the facial muscles can soothe the mind, especially for schizophrenics, and it’s so easy to do. Begin with the face and the body will follow.

Totally relaxed
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=grBmQwL ... QSEGCbUghJ

I saw his brother with the Fabulous Thunderbirds once in San Antonio

excellent guitarists

-Imp