tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16659850.post8836161667837934940..comments2024-03-17T03:42:21.277-05:00Comments on LEARNING CURVE ON THE ECLIPTIC: Perceptions of Higher Consciousness - Looking Through Astrology's ViewfinderTwilighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14138621610593773784noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16659850.post-22532105833115749542010-10-02T15:40:11.495-05:002010-10-02T15:40:11.495-05:00RJ Adams ~~ Can't argue with any of that RJ. ...RJ Adams ~~ Can't argue with any of that RJ. With regard to Tibetan monks - well, they do no harm, and that has to be a plus.<br /><br />Thanks for your nicely put insight. :-)Twilighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14138621610593773784noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16659850.post-56123266458135746052010-10-01T22:59:29.457-05:002010-10-01T22:59:29.457-05:00The people of the Himalayas live their lives ackno...The people of the Himalayas live their lives acknowledging all living things are sacred. They care for each other and follow the Buddha's teaching that all living things possess souls. They live simple lives and, in the main, do not seek riches or power. They hate the Chinese occupation, but see the good in Chinese soldiers. They would do much for the world, if only the world would take time to study and follow their example.<br /><br />The search after Higher Consciousness by westerners has become no more than an ego trip for most. Not content with having pots of money, an even more precious goal is that of spiritual leader. Some have honed it to a fine art, and managed to combine both money and 'spirituality' into a majorly profitable business.<br /><br />I have become convinced there's no such thing as 'Higher Consciousness' in this world. Our consciousness is tuned to the material planet on which we live, and 'Enlightenment' comes simply from enjoying its bounteous beauties to the full.<br /><br />The people of Tibet learned that lesson eons ago and live their lives accordingly. Sadly, we cannot seem to do the same.R J Adamshttp://sparrowchat.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16659850.post-91434573810489774372010-09-30T08:43:10.213-05:002010-09-30T08:43:10.213-05:00WWW ~~~ I think we're on the same page here. ...WWW ~~~ I think we're on the same page here. :-)<br /><br />There are problems so vast that it's hard to know how humanity will, or can, progress.Twilighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14138621610593773784noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16659850.post-39387930845291495322010-09-30T08:38:24.299-05:002010-09-30T08:38:24.299-05:00Gian Paul ~~~ I do appreciate your points, GP. I&...Gian Paul ~~~ I do appreciate your points, GP. I'm being more obtuse than is really necessary to make my own point I guess, but I stand by it. :-)Twilighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14138621610593773784noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16659850.post-27558369238513367102010-09-30T08:33:59.978-05:002010-09-30T08:33:59.978-05:00seraphine ~~~ Thank you for that.
:-) I can relat...seraphine ~~~ Thank you for that.<br />:-) I can relate to your feelings, which I think are really just an ongoing quest for balance in life, rather than taking a 3rd viewpoint. <br /><br />If both sides of any debate/argument/policy would take less extreme stances the world would work more smoothly. Trouble is, when one side is allowed to get badly out of balance, it takes a bigger, more extreme push to get it back again.<br />And the struggle continues.Twilighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14138621610593773784noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16659850.post-56760353286872240882010-09-29T23:46:20.276-05:002010-09-29T23:46:20.276-05:00"Twilight the spiritual rebel" or the hu..."Twilight the spiritual rebel" or the humanitarian? Had to think that after your question "What good do monks do for humanity?"<br /><br />At some stage, about 100 years ago, there were 300'000 monks in Tibet for a secular population of 600'000. Estimating that there was a 50/50 proportion between men and women, there must have been only 150'000 normal, secular men left over for 450'000 women. If my calculations are right.<br /><br />As to know what good monks and their prayer/meditations/etc do for the rest of humanity, history would indicate that they were used by e.g. the Spanish and Portuguese to conquer, in the name of Christianity, all of Latin America. And that was done more by the sword than by prayer. <br /><br />So one apparently has to distinguish between Eastern and Western monks or religions to answer your rebellious question. <br /><br />And I do not pretend to have the answer, but have to think that a monk in many ways, east and west, is "escaping" into some type of "religious realm where they must believe that very fine green herbs can be found". If it's that, it's OK, the "Vet" would say. Even if egoistically only useful for themselves. But that we don't really know, is it?<br /><br />God has a great garden. Others, instead of grazing on spiritual prairies, are totally devoted to sports, or to the military, or to blogging etc.Gian Paulnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16659850.post-6664479822921849932010-09-29T22:44:07.985-05:002010-09-29T22:44:07.985-05:00Twilight, i didnt mean that you mean your way is t...Twilight, i didnt mean that you mean your way is the better way :) it was a general observation, not about you. <br />i suppose sometimes i get into the mood of being the third camp, whenever i see a separation of ideas of two sides. And i feel very sad with the separated camps, and i feel like being the third camp which argues there shouldnt be separation. But i think, my feeling is not objective either, because why shouldnt i let people think what they like, why should i feel any stress about it. i wonder what about my astro chart makes me feel rebellious against separations.seraphinenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16659850.post-74805925406019766062010-09-29T21:44:50.619-05:002010-09-29T21:44:50.619-05:00H'm, consciousness, high or low, is not sortin...H'm, consciousness, high or low, is not sorting the Guardian's report on world water today with 5 billion people in jeopardy.<br />Last days indeed, but then I'm the fiery one and looking to toast my feet at the blaze....<br />XO<br />WWWWisewebwomanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15281689872840844191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16659850.post-45996119687986049112010-09-29T16:09:01.820-05:002010-09-29T16:09:01.820-05:00GP ~~~ sigh - all my comment didn't post.
Sent...GP ~~~ sigh - all my comment didn't post.<br />Sentence about the monks should read<br /><br />"But to be painfully honest, what good do they do for all humanity?"Twilighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14138621610593773784noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16659850.post-40724057936597851112010-09-29T16:07:14.146-05:002010-09-29T16:07:14.146-05:00GP - the letters in front of your name in previous...GP - the letters in front of your name in previous comment came from the catchpa thingie - by mistake. Blogger is acting up (again) today.Twilighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14138621610593773784noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16659850.post-67842289214201486672010-09-29T16:06:03.535-05:002010-09-29T16:06:03.535-05:00detarrtraGian Paul ~~ thank you for your careful e...detarrtraGian Paul ~~ thank you for your careful explanation.<br /><br />I can't help thinking that one can go too far in either direction, and as always balance is the key.<br />Yin/Yang, etc. <br /><br />But to my mind (very personal opinion) going too far in the "higher" direction is more dangerous and less useful to all humanity, than going too far in the "lower" (practical) direction.<br /><br />Monks in the Himalayas may have some of highest consciousness there is (physically, mentally and literally), but to be painfully honest, what do? Getting rid of the Chinese usurpers takes more than praying and meditating.Twilighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14138621610593773784noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16659850.post-14002392534843879382010-09-29T15:34:46.042-05:002010-09-29T15:34:46.042-05:00T. - here I am back again after re-reading what wa...T. - here I am back again after re-reading what was said. <br /><br />I believe that most humans have by nature, sometimes at least, access to super-consciousness. Can even happen when dreaming, but is then not recognized as such.<br /><br />This means that for humans it's natural to "escape" to find "more subtle food". But that does not happen if we rationalize to the point of it being obstructive to the functioning of "finer perceptions". In other words, the Vet will be needed to re-equilibrate an overly, unilaterally brainy person. Much of yoga is exactly helping Westerners to regain such equilibrium. <br /><br />Sorry, this was a long explanation, but had no time to make it shorter.Gian Paulnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16659850.post-17303209609109123272010-09-29T15:21:06.369-05:002010-09-29T15:21:06.369-05:00Twilight, I did actually not answer your essential...Twilight, I did actually not answer your essential question, only explained the mix-up with conscience/consciousness I probably have been making for years now.<br /><br />What the Vet is saying is that if the goats are left to themselves and if they are healthy (or normal), their natural instinct/conscience/consciousness of what is good for them will guide them towards the most healthy food.<br /><br />If however the goat "starts thinking/pondering about food" (which is not natural for a goat), all gets screwed up. With humans, if they over-think, i.e. use only their brain (and excessively for that) and not their other parts of cognitive abilities (instinct, emotions) they will behave like the legendary "lost professor" who in practical life often is not very good at coping with essentials.Gian Paulnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16659850.post-51155333934869429162010-09-29T14:07:18.162-05:002010-09-29T14:07:18.162-05:00Gian Paul ~~ thanks for the explanation. Yes the...Gian Paul ~~ thanks for the explanation. Yes the word conscience for most English-speakers does have some "right" or "wrong" moral implications<br />eg. "I wouldn't like to have it on my conscience that I'd harmed someone". <br /><br /><br />Coincidentally I've been working on a post about language, but haven't yet hit on quite the right approach, am leaving on the "back burner" to stew a while longer. <br />;-)Twilighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14138621610593773784noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16659850.post-29643351910251852092010-09-29T10:45:47.532-05:002010-09-29T10:45:47.532-05:00Hi Twilight, Indeed, there is a "word confusi...Hi Twilight, Indeed, there is a "word confusion" but due to the English. In French (the language I think most often in) conscience means exactly that: to be conscious or not, i.e. aware. <br /><br />The Anglo-Saxons may have ("puritanisme oblige") wished to distinguish. Conscience often goes with "bad conscience". So they use consciousness to avoid confusion.<br /><br />I looked up the dictionary: Conscience in French has even 3 meanings in English: 1) conscience and 2) consciousness and 3) conscientiousness. But my dictionary is French...<br /><br />In German "Conscience" is as in English, conscience. They use "Bewustsein" for consciousness. So possibly the French are wrong, or me but not the Vet! And you are right too...Gian Paulnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16659850.post-77191891182775435762010-09-29T10:18:40.595-05:002010-09-29T10:18:40.595-05:00seraphine ~~ Hi there!
Yes, as I wrote, somewhere...seraphine ~~ Hi there!<br /><br />Yes, as I wrote, somewhere in the post - there's a place and space enough for all perceptions - and, as you point out, any combination of perceptions.<br /><br />I hadn't meant to imply that my way was the right, or a better way.<br />I was mainly interested in how our individual astrology might play a part in our differences in this respect.<br />:-)Twilighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14138621610593773784noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16659850.post-37730603948187376192010-09-29T10:14:14.292-05:002010-09-29T10:14:14.292-05:00Gian Paul ~~~ Hmmmm - that one needs some thought,...Gian Paul ~~~ Hmmmm - that one needs some thought, GP. <br /><br />I think perhaps consciousness might be a better word than conscience - perhaps it's a hiccup in translation? Or am I misunderstanding?<br /><br />Is the meaning of the veterinarian's words that if one goes too far in looking for goodies of one sort or another (fresh grass, fresh experience) one gets lost (like the goat) but free of responsibility (like the goat)? And those who rely on you will be left adrift? As the veterinarian was?Twilighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14138621610593773784noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16659850.post-11493316569054443452010-09-29T10:00:27.344-05:002010-09-29T10:00:27.344-05:00I did notice these two camps looking down on each ...I did notice these two camps looking down on each other recently, the practical camp and lets be spiritual camp. I don't understand why we have to choose one or the other, being on the cusp of capricorn/aquarius, i suppose i suggest lets be practical and spiritual as our cycles prompt us. I go through from one to another approach in cycles. I guess those two approaches dont have to be exculisive, do they? like the lotus having the roots in earth and flower in air, our mind can relax in abstract/mysctic ideals to feed itself (if that is what one needs), and then go on to do the work in real practical realms. Or if it is one's nature to be only on one side, still why should we think the other side is wrong or unnecessary, everything in universe balances each other afterall.seraphinenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16659850.post-84027506833358489442010-09-29T09:51:55.010-05:002010-09-29T09:51:55.010-05:00A veterinarian who's ancestors had been farmer...A veterinarian who's ancestors had been farmers or shepherds said: "as long as the goat continues to escape while looking for better grass, I am not needed". <br /><br />Meaning: the animals "conscience" knows best. And so it's normally with humans. Only, we think and think and think - until we even confound "conscience with super-conscience". And then the "Vet" is needed.Gian Paulnoreply@blogger.com