Basically a new topic to start bloggin anew with. Feel free to join in. Who knows where any of this will go.

Freedom, the pearl at a great price. It is the very pearl's luster that fills our hearts and minds with a love and acceptance of ourselves and others as we share our lives' journey together. Once the pearl is given, you will never settle for a life of untruth and illusions. You will know and understand the: "I am that I am", and God's love being beyond all comprehension and human understanding.

When one can say that their heart is full, one has embraced the greatest gift to humanity, freedom of the mind and the freedom of the heart. It is the kiss of the valiant Prince that awakens the sleeping beauty from the illusions of our worldly affairs. We all think that we are awake, but in reality we sleep until the moment we truly awaken unto life. It is then when the great work within ourselves begins in our transformation from the unreal to the real.

The pearl at great price is not a lightning bolt of a sudden lighting strike that leads one into enlightenment, but a gradual realization as to what our lives are all about. It is then when the ego departs from us for it cannot abide the light of truth that has come upon us. It is then when we must truly go within ourselves and clean heavy duty house, ridding ourselves of all rubbish, conditioning, habitual wrong thinking, and we must evaluate each and every relationship that we are attached to; may it be family, lovers, friends and people in the workplace together with the extended family we share as a human race.

This self evaluation takes tremendous courage for oneself and others, soul work and healing unto being true to oneself and in never settling for untruths in all of our relationships ever again.

Last night I shared with a friend the realizations of recognizing unhealthy associations with some of our brothers and sisters who journey with us in ego attachments and how we must disentangle from same. It is like the removal of ticks, for some will try to hang on for dear life. I say to you, do you want to be free?,if so, get the tweezers out and rid yourself of all parasites who stick to you in their feigned love, look instead within your own hearts and minds where the living light of our very souls shines in splendor.

Our society as a whole with its authorities, control by powerful mindsets will do all it can to prevent us from attaining the freedom of the mind and the freedom of our hearts. Our very existence is manipulated by earning a living,always running from here to there and offers hardly any free time for us to enter the inner sanctum of our very being and to seek the answers of life and realities. It is much better to keep us mesmerized, and in trance states as we journey from birth to death never knowing the purpose of life and God.

Earlier today I read a post by thalo on God without religion. In same post I see as to how he is guided into a sanctuary of respite away from society into the joy and freedom of the great outdoors communing within solitude,and being made aware of the wonderful silence as he communes with his inner being. I must agree with his awareness of the simple pleasures that can be found within nature. How blessed thalo you truly are with this gifting of peace and joy.

I have embraced a long ten year journey of healing and awakening, and celebrate each and every day with an overflowing heart of love for all of humanity and the joy I am finding within the freedom of my heart and mind.

It's great to be here on thalo.net and to feel so free within my sharing with all of you.

It's great to be here on thalo.net and to feel so free within my sharing with all of you.

Welcome, Freebird. And as you no doubt already know, thalo.net is not a site that protects feel-good personal affirmations as if they were baby seals. There are sharks in these waters as well. There is no orthodoxy here other than that people are free to speak their minds. And that means people are free to hurt feelings, even intentionally so. I hope you have a thick skin and can stick around a while.

We all think that we are awake, but in reality we sleep until the moment we truly awaken unto life. It is then when the great work within ourselves begins in our transformation from the unreal to the real.

The dynamics and character of "wakening" or "enlightenment" are of great interest to me. I view such things in two categories. The first, and probably the most prevalent, is the illusion of knowledge, awakening, and perspective. One might, for instance, adopt a bunch of politically correct "feel good" beliefs and – abracadabra! – one then gets the quick and cheap illusion that one has been enlightened to some extent. It is an act of brain addiction and brain chemistry rather than real knowledge or perspective. The second category I would say would be real awakening or real enlightenment, although I think such things come in micro-bursts of realizations rather than a great, big one-shot life-changing experience that sort of knocks your socks off. But whatever the case may be, it is about gaining true knowledge and perspective. It's clear that we can get stuck in the one, same, and ultimately dull perspective of our own egos. And although this might be the most productive perspective sometimes (from a Darwinian view of things, for example), it's clearly not the only perspective. The influence of the human ego can be lessened, and even nearly dissolved. And the perspective of the world changes and new knowledge of things is gained as this happens. And I would say that this knowledge is more of a subtractive process than an additive one. I don't think, for example, that one necessarily gets in touch with esoteric components of the universe. It's not about putting on a mystical mask but taking off the many illusions, perspectives, and delusions that we normally wear from day-to-day. What is left can, I think, indeed be friggin' amazing when seen for the first time. And I think one of the main things that is seen is THAT the game of a human life is a game driven primarily by the powerful effect of consciousness. Our point-of-views run the show. Our ideas, concepts, and feelings mold the total overall experience of what seems right and real to us. If we could switch brains for a moment with anyone, this would be come crystal-clear plain. We could see how human ideas, motivations, feelings, and what-not all add up to this grand perception of self. But this perception of self, which seems to be a wholly separate thing unto itself, could easily be swapped out for another. And then a bit of enlightenment comes. We see two categories emerge: THAT mental experiences occur, and the actual experiences themselves. We then sort of pull back the curtain and see the Wizard of Oz back there pulling the strings. And that's why I say it's more a subtractive process because I don't necessarily believe or trust those who have great epiphanies that "we are all one" or whatever their epiphany is. From my perspective, I would just see that as putting on another illusion of consciousness. But maybe I’m wrong. I'll let you know if the epiphanies ever strike and I get a chance to analyze them to death.

The pearl at great price is not a lightning bolt of a sudden lighting strike that leads one into enlightenment, but a gradual realization as to what our lives are all about. It is then when the ego departs from us for it cannot abide the light of truth that has come upon us. It is then when we must truly go within ourselves and clean heavy duty house, ridding ourselves of all rubbish, conditioning, habitual wrong thinking, and we must evaluate each and every relationship that we are attached to; may it be family, lovers, friends and people in the workplace together with the extended family we share as a human race.

I agree, and I think that's well said. And as I've said before many times, if given a choice, I would rather get lost in a nice, permanent delusion than to be enlightened. Pragmatically speaking, whatever the hell is going on in the universe, and wherever it comes from and is going, it makes more sense to me to enjoy the ride in ignorance than to suffer in awareness. Granted, the Buddhists and others say that we can reduce or end suffering by becoming aware and ridding ourselves of illusions. The jury is still out on that as far as I'm concerned. But, in theory, I think there is a lot of merit to that technique. One can put that technique in practice today and one will see immediate results. It's not a "spooky" theory. It's real. But I'm just not sure how far we can go, or should go, with that practice. There seems to be a limit beyond which we probably ought not to go. There comes a point which might be analogous to that Nietzsche quote which says, Be careful lest, in casting out your demons, you cast out the best thing that is in you." Moderation and the "middle way" even in regards to Buddhism, I would say. But because I live such an obviously rich and fulfilling life, well, maybe you'd better not listen to what I say.

This self evaluation takes tremendous courage for oneself and others, soul work and healing unto being true to oneself and in never settling for untruths in all of our relationships ever again.

Yes, I think it does take courage. And I'd say this is primarily because we all want to be right just as we are. The Darwinian struggle for survival pervades each and every cell of our body, including our brain and its concepts. To give up an idea of ourselves, even if this would be for our own good, goes against almost every instinct we have. We will spend decades trying to convince ourselves and others how if only the outside world would change then all would be well. And, of course, the outside world can be a real shit hole at times and definitely in need of change. But change has to start inside if change is to come at all.

Brad, thanks for your welcome and your reply to my pearls of wisdom .

Your quote:
The second category I would say would be real awakening or real enlightenment, although I think such things come in micro bursts of realization rather than a great, big one-shot life changing experience that sort of knocks your socks off.
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I agree, and as you mention this proces of awakening and/or enlightenment is subtractive of most knowledge previously gained and held on to, lightening the mind from a mish mash of false concepts, ideas, and beliefs,and replacing these intruders who have taken residency within our consciousness, with true knowledge and truth.

The Buddha tells us to test everything within his teachings and never just accept as truth what he found to be true, but to test everything ourselves within this inner search for truth. How very wise this statement is, and how valuable I find same within my own quest in the journey from the unreal to the real. When it comes to truth and realities, there are actually very few absolute ones at our disposal within this vast sea of consciousness and awareness. There was a time that I thought that I knew so many things, and now I find that I know so little indeed.

I am reminded of an experience I had with an elderly neighbor who was a wise and learned man. One day while visiting him, I found a trident on his deck. I questioned him about same and what its purpose was. His reply was: " I kill serpents with it". He gifted me with this trident before his death this summer. I finally realized the symbolic meaning of this trident which represents the slaughtering of untruths, false concepts, ideas, conditioning and false mind control by certain earthly institutions and organizations whose sole purpose is to keep us in slavery. The symbolic trident represents the good serpent of consciousness and truth. Moses carried a staff which turned into the good serpent and who ate the Pharaoh's magicians false serpents that also came forth from their throwing down their staffs turning their staffs into serpents. May the wise serpent of truth and light within us also eat each and every false and untrue serpent that flows into our consciousness tainting same with lies and untruths. May the wise serpent shine forth its light

Quote:

It's not about putting on a mystical mask but taking off the many illusions, perspectives and delusions that we normally wear from day-to-day.
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Absolutely, Brad. I fully agree with your wise observation.

Quote:
"Be careful lest in casting out your demons, you cast out the best thing that is in you".
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Again I agree that the middle way is the good way to journey and to look within and not without.

quote:

And that means people are free to hurt feelings, even intentionally so.

But that doesn't mean we engage in adolescent name-calling, you dweeb!
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LOL. Good point, you Creten.

The Buddha tells us to test everything within his teachings and never just accept as truth what he found to be true, but to test everything ourselves within this inner search for truth. How very wise this statement is, and how valuable I find same within my own quest in the journey from the unreal to the real.

That is a concept that I think is reasonable to assume came from the historic personage of Siddhartha Gautama, otherwise known as The Buddha. And I'm applying this principle even in saying this. I'm by no means a scholar of Buddhism, but I've done my share of reading, and it's quite evident to me that Buddhism, like any religion (which apparently it was never meant to be), was added on to and changed over the centuries so that, in many instances, it probably doesn't resemble what were possibly the original ideas of the Buddha. But surely "think for yourself" would be one of those original ideas because such a concept almost never is an add-on to religion. As brother thalo said elsewhere, and with which I agree wholeheartedly: If you look at the one real FEAR that religious people have, it's that you'll pick and choose ideas, and custom-tailor them to yourself. That you'll, in effect do a line-item veto on scripture. Take what works, disregard the bullshit. Why do they hate that? Because it gives YOU power over the ideas and vocabulary, and not them.

In essence, such a thing I think reveals that our human ideas about god, about the source of all things, and/or about whatever lays outside our senses, is so nebulous and uncertain that it requires limiting people's thoughts in order for anybody's idea of meta-reality to survive. A reality where it was obvious just exactly what god was would require no such restrictions. It would be just as foolish to force people to believe that god was either this or that as it would be to try to force people to believe that the sky was blue. That would be crazy. Everyone can already see that the sky is blue. Dogma and coercion are evidence of the inherent uncertainty of such things and, in my mind, exactly why such things must be left to the individual -- at least if one's goal is truth.

There was a time that I thought that I knew so many things, and now I find that I know so little indeed.

Hell, there's nothing at all wrong about being a fraud or a know-it-all. The world is filled with them and they are often quite successful and rich. They often have a knack for giving people what they want, regardless whether or not something is true. And really, if we compare what we know as individuals to the sum of all knowledge that is possible, then it is merely a quibble as to whether or not one has been a bit arrogant and unmindful about what one thinks one knows. In this world, it's not so much about what you know, but about whether or not what you know pragmatically works and is helpful, productive, or marketable. Again, just look around and you'll find the bestseller list and talk-show circuit filled with people who are simply very convincing and eloquent idiots. They believe a lot of marginal stuff that often is just hogwash. But wrap a pretty ribbon on it and you can sell it for $17.95 at Barnes and Noble. That's not cynicism talking. That's reality. And the only reason I say all this is because I think that if one is conscious and aware enough, one arguably can make a choice between two things: refining one's bullshit or simply wiping some of that bullshit off. It's either/or. One or the other. And I don't necessarily give precedence or privilege to either one. Both can be useful. And that's how I see things at the moment, Freebird.

Freebird you ignorant slut.

Welcome.

Very funny, Rico. I hear you still prefer booting up in OS 9. (Ooooh. Did he really say that? That was a low blow.)

Wishful thinking Rico X . You can't catch me as I fly within a higher sphere, but you can certainly try.

I agree, Brad, that there are sharks in the sea at thalo.net, but sharks can be netted and made into docile pets.

I think I passed the test to see if I can be part of the brotherhood. I like you RicoX.

BN I boot up in OS 9 when needed. There just hasn't been a need.

quote:

I like you RicoX.

Sure, you better check your pants for fire.

Well, I've been booted up in X the last few weeks -- mainly because I'm fiddling around in iTunes now (the record project is finished) and have really just been fiddling in general because I have been anything but swamped the last couple of weeks.

I've had a small chance to take a look at Vista. The guy down the hall installed the public beta. Who knows what has been improved behind the scenes. Their version of the "Finder" has some improvements, but it also looks to have become a bit bloated. There seemed to be all kinds of kindergartener graphics and stuff and, geez, all I friggin' want to do is open my file not "Would you like to send Aunt Martha a copy of a scaled down picture of your photo while adding her to you address book all while watching some animated graphic tells you nothing in particular at all about what is happening?"

But I'd love to really spend some time in it to find out if the thousand-and-one small annoyances (the bread and butter things of any operating system) have been fixed. I doubt it, but there is always hope.

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Has anyone ever heard of somebody having a pet shark?
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My cousin had one in his fish tank. It lived for nearly ten years or more.

I read somewhere that K-Federline, Spear's x also had baby sharks as pets in a big tank within her mansion that they once blissfully shared. I am sure that some people do enjoy the danger of having adult sharks in their pools. What are the chances that they will bite you after having eaten a meal?; the same chances one takes crossing the street during rush hour traffic after work.

RicoX your welcome was really a good test for me as to how far I have come in my pursuit of the middle path within the pair of opposites. First, there was disbelief in what I was reading within your welcome, yet amazingly, I stayed centered without floundering and sinking within my own self worth and acceptance. What was I expecting in a welcome, hearts and flowers?. Your certainly proved a point that the only certainty is the uncertainty of everything, even a welcome on a forum. So having passed a test of not letting words be of a disturbance to my inner being, I say I like you RicoX

RicoX your welcome was really a good test for me as to how far I have come in my pursuit of the middle path within the pair of opposites. First, there was disbelief in what I was reading within your welcome, yet amazingly, I stayed centered without floundering and sinking within my own self worth and acceptance. What was I expecting in a welcome, hearts and flowers?. Your certainly proved a point that the only certainty is the uncertainty of everything, even a welcome on a forum. So having passed a test of not letting words be of a disturbance to my inner being, I say I like you RicoX

Please allow the resident blow-hard to wax ineloquently on this subject.

First off, RicoX is a sociopath around whom you should steer a wide path. When he says "ignorant slut" he is not reminiscing and referring to Jane Curtin and Dan Ackroyd in their classic and charming Saturday Night Live sketch which spoofed Shana Alexander and James Kirkpatrick on 60 Minutes. He is really just being mean. And the preceding "winkie" is not to suggest that I am just kidding. What the winkie means is that I am trying to soften my rather blatant exposure of RicoX's sociopathic tendencies in hopes of deflecting and diffusing any animalistic, cannibalistic, or other wise quite un-Fred-Rogers-like behavior that might be ignited by calling a spade a spade, if such a thing has not yet been misinterpreted as racially insensitive and most decidedly politically incorrect. In other words, I don't want him to hit me.

Let me repeat:

RicoX your welcome was really a good test for me as to how far I have come in my pursuit of the middle path within the pair of opposites. First, there was disbelief in what I was reading within your welcome, yet amazingly, I stayed centered without floundering and sinking within my own self worth and acceptance.

It is a macho, guy-thing to insult people as a sign of affection. I'm assuming that Rico is a guy and that he can be affectionate. That might be overstepping the empirical data, but I'll take my chances. But the real point here (all joking aside) is that there is someone doing the very dangerous and rare thing of considering alternatives and possibilities rather than knee-jerk defending the ego. This, in my book, is no small thing. And it doesn't mean anyone is perfect or great for having done so, but I think it does show an inherent complexity and wisdom. So I must ask, just what the hell are you doing here at thalo.net if you have both complexity and wisdom, Freebird? Not wishing to offend any of our resident regulars, but such a thing is a bit out of place.

But seriously. Managing the complexities is what it is all about. That is arguably why we have a brain and why the experience of humans is richer than the experience of algae. Presumably.

Brad, thanks for clueing me in on the macho guy-thing to insult people as a sign of affection.

Your kindness and generosity within your words expressed in your above post is deeply appreciated, and I thank you.

I am a former member of Shalom Place. My departure from there was orchestrated by my farewell stroking of Phil and w.c. with a feather leaving there ever so softly. I was not banned, but left with my own free will.

Thalo.net appeared during an internet surfing expedition. I saw a brilliance and freedom of speech expressed by the posters which held my attention like a beacon of light. I knew than that I had found a place of learning and a place where I also could share with my contributions of knowledge and wisdom gained from life at a high price, like the rest of you. Thalo.net is offering us a flowing of our minds without any encroachments.

Some of my connections with fellow brothers and sisters have blossomed into a most radiant flower due to a spirit and soul relationship, and not due to the flesh. It is this spirit and soul relationship with others that for me, at this stage in my life is a most cherished treasure, indeed. This awareness helps in evaluating the human relationships and ties of family and friends, and has allowed me to rid myself of sap-suckers, people that we all must deal with sooner or later if we want to journey on this path of life in freedom of the mind and freedom of the heart as we progress in our spiritual lives entering a wholeness as a human being.

Within my inner life there no longer resides a fear and a separation between the darkness and the light; something which had plagued me for many years and which was finally negated and wholeness evolved through love. I found that purity is within both light and darkness and that they both need one another in bringing forth a new life. It is only illusion, delusion, concepts, ideas and a conditioned mindset that creates a separation of these two.

I found a great light within my own inner darkness and love to share a favorite poem.

You, Darkness

You, darkness, that I come from
I love you more than
all the fires
that fence in the world
for the fire makes a circle of
light for everyone
and then no one outside
learns of you.

But the darkness pulls in
everything-
shapes and fires, animals
and myself
how easily it gathers them!-
powers and people-

and it is possible a great
presence is moving near me.
I have faith in nights.
-Rainir Maria Rilke-

Prologue

BN.

Insult.

Hand.

The End.

Epilogue

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I am a former member of Shalom Place.

I thought I recognized your handle, but wasn't sure. Nice to have a woman actively participating for a change. You must have heard some choice rumors about us over there.

I posted a few times over there at Phil's invitation. Nothing like Brad, of course. The over-reaction I got from w.c. in the Da Vinci Code thread convinced me that a non-believer like me is probably out of place at a faith community. I've always been on good terms with Phil (we go back years in Macintosh forums), but in the environment of Shalom Place I figured I'd be seen as a troll in pretty short order.
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Markle, thanks for your welcome.

I used to have a grand time at Shalom Place with the variety of topics available. I also made some good connections with a few people branching out as email pen-pals. I left because of Phil's final word on things, his faith which I respect, but do not fully agree with. Also w.c. put down many people with an arrogance which was uncalled for. Never figured out as to why Phil allowed such atrocious conduct.

Brad was always consistent in his views, and not at any time did what he said on Shalom Place disagree with what was said on thalo.net. Brad and I had some good exchanges on Shalom Place which I hope is a carry over to this forum.

I do hope that you will all allow me the opportunity to try and be part of this forum. Since we are all communicating with the mind, it should not matter that I am a woman. I believe that with my courage to give it a try, we may find that there really is no separate masculine or feminine mind, but an integration of both within us. Hopefully we can all benefit from this adventure.