While religion and spirituality are often used interchangeably, modern religions typically perceive our spiritual-source/God as being 'up there', separate to, or superior to us. Many spiritual traditions, especially those in Eastern cultures often voice the opposite view, that our source/God is to be accessed via meditation, focused within.

Behind the seen

By Stephen on Sat, 18/May/2024 - 3:31am

TL;DR (Summary)

  • There is an irreducible duality to life: the physical and the meta-physical
  • Reality involves cycling the meta-physical into the physical, via fractals and other latticeworks 

When lost in a forest it can be helpful to climb a mountain or a tree to get a sense of where we are, to scout for obstacles or dangers, and to determine the best direction to head.

In a similar sense, when in the midst of a forest of conflicting ideas, beliefs, religions, philosophies, opinions and various conspiracy theories, it’s helpful to gain a philosophical high ground to gain some clarity about life.

But how do we do that?

Implied hierarchies

By Stephen on Sat, 01/Feb/2014 - 7:19am

I noticed on a forum yet again reference to 'implied hierarchies' ... how we need special training, rituals, meditation, special potions and so forth to advance to the next level of 'spiritual awareness'. And worst of all, how our egos are inhibiting us from getting 'there'.

All of which implies, or explicitly states that we poor humans are 'less than' some perceived higher authority, spirit, God etc.

The jig is up

By Stephen on Tue, 24/Jan/2012 - 10:30pm

"The Jig is up":

(US, idiomatic, dated) An expression used to mean "We have been caught out and have no defense", or if spoken to a person who's just been found out as the perpetrator of an offense, it means "You've been discovered."

For around 400 years science has -- with often great success -- played a jig on all of us.

That jig is now up. It's an extraordinarily easy jig to see - we need only use a little common sense to see it.

But the ramifications and consequences of seeing it are, and will be extraordinary.

The art and discipline of happiness

By Stephen on Mon, 26/Dec/2011 - 6:06am

When chatting with a friend recently we discovered that we had (independently) come to a similar place in our lives — a wonderfully light, free and peaceful place.

We found that we each had arrived at this place by doing something exceedingly simple — we had finally "let go" blaming others, or blaming "out there" or "suffering" blame from others, or suffering or feeling lonely, or ...

The modern superstitions of science and religion

By Stephen on Wed, 27/Jul/2011 - 12:24pm

Background

Modern science is still almost entirely based on 17th century concepts that physical movement is perfectly smooth and continuous.

This continuity of movement implies continuity of operation (of the world we experience) which naturally induced the perception that our universe (and our bodies) operated like a clockwork machine. This machine-world view was the impetus for the Industrial Revolution which resulted in many beneficial technologies (aircraft, automobiles, etc).

Good systems thinking

By Stephen on Sun, 10/Jul/2011 - 1:28am

I often hear of, or run across people who espouse all sorts of ... well, quite frankly, incoherent, contradictory ideas and beliefs.

Here's a few ideas that might reset standard thinking.

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The urge to categorise

By Stephen on Wed, 09/Mar/2011 - 2:09pm

When we reflect on the number of people (more usually women1 ) who believe in Astrology, as well as those who believe in various other 'ologies' we can be reasonably confident that there's an underlying shared trait or need — the need to belong, and to categorise people.

Personality tests (e.g. DISC, or Myers-Briggs) are widely (if not almost universally) used to help decide who's suited to particular roles in businesses and organisations.

So when a friend started extolling the great relevance and benefit of understanding the Enneagram (a process of grouping people into one of nine types, or 'tribes'), I decided to look deeper into this particular habit.

  • 1. As I've covered more extensively elsewhere, men and male animals generally tend towards "separateness", the particle nature of life, while women and female animals tends towards the wave-nature. The wave-nature is characterised by a bias towards "togetherness", by way of forming groups, tribes, collectives, families, harems, herds etc. Astrology simply gives people — particularly women — a 'framework' to put people in categories (tribes). Even though flawed in principle, it is the process of "tribalising" that counts, not how correct or productive the end groupings. As a general rule women are far more comfortable with men who are in some relationship (e.g. married) or who are 'tribalised' — versus the "lone wolf".

All is within, and of God, including 'evil'

By Stephen on Fri, 05/Nov/2010 - 3:10pm

Yesterday had an interesting, somewhat intense discussion with someone who confessed to being a Christian.

It seems to me there are some very simple, fundamental errors in thinking by Christians (as a general rule).

As we got talking I made a simple, clear, unequivocally-obvious and true statement (To use the vernacular familiar to Christians): Since God is infinite, all must be within and of God. Being infinite means He is not limited, ever — "He" goes and IS everywhere. "He" is in everything, and in every entity (including Evil).

What's missing from The Law of Attraction?

By Stephen on Wed, 20/Oct/2010 - 3:17pm

In recent years there's been much talk of the Law of Attraction, popularised in the film "The Secret".

As with many systems of belief, there is a great deal that is helpful and uplifting about the "Law of Attraction".  We can and do attract favourable (or unfavourable) 'things' into our lives, based on our beliefs.

But the attractive principle is a deeply feminine energy - it's reliant on the receptive (on receiving); of being open and inviting.

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