synthesis

There are two types of truth, Relative truth and Absolute Truth. You are correct, though, if you speak of Absolute Truth, then you are intellectualizi...

You are asking me intellectual questions concerning non-intellectual matters. There is really no way to answer these questions as it is something expe...

Once intellectualized, it is relative for everybody. If you speak or think of God, then it is not the true God. Again, The Absolute "exists" outside o...

It always seemed to me that if there was something to figure out, somebody would have done this long, long ago. Instead, it seems like the most intell...

I am not here to entertain you. If you don't understand or like what I am writing, there are many other threads in which you can participate. If you h...

Because it's only when you realize this can you be open to all things. Since all things intellectual are transient (constantly changing), this limits ...

Great masters like Lao Tu were able to bridge the knowable and the unknowable as a way of pointing to The Truth. It is interesting to note that 2500 y...

There is nothing to understand. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Open your mouth and you have alrea...

The problem is that they pool and leverage their power and individuals find themselves up against a creature they simply do not know how to fight. Wha...

Groups care about groups. Individuals care about individuals. Of course the health care system doesn't mind what I am doing, but what if EVERYBODY sta...

Let me give you an example... I am a practicing physician. If you were my patient, I would educate you to the best of my ability and then give you cho...

I take as much personal/professional responsibility for my own actions. I am extremely independent.

It's not a black and white issue. Of course you need some group activity, but anything more than the absolute minimum necessary to carry-on causes all...

The point of this thread was to point out that the entire global-national-state/provincial/local power structure will tell you that groups produce the...

1971 was the final break with the gold standard but this process began decades previous. There are many volumes written on this but here are the brief...

I get the oil thing, but in a historical context, the creation of FIAT money is a MUCH bigger deal. And the presiding empire is always going to do wha...

By far, the most important event in the 70's was the final break with gold by Nixon in 1971. This adoption of FIAT currency allowed what we see today,...

I understand that most people believe that our chains are essential. Although you do need a central authority to maintain security and individual righ...

On that we can agree.

You need to read up on the Manhattan project. It is only a group capable of unleashing that kind of horror on humanity.

Is it not individuals who seek the Dharma, not groups?

Do you believe people are THAT weak? I believe people, once given the taste of freedom again, will not be able to get enough. As far as those that cou...

Perhaps, but this is not what I am getting at. We have the ability to think (albeit not very well, but a little bit), so one might believe that sittin...

It's not a black and white issue. You can be an individual and still be somewhat social, but the balance is waaaaay off. Just look at the power that c...

Obviously, I am not a group person for all kinds of reasons, but mostly because I am not one to give over my opinion to group consensus. Just look aro...

History is history (unless this part of it is to be re-written, as well). And we all understand that people are drawn to groups, my question was based...

What I am saying is that all great ideas idea emanate from the individual whereas all horrendous ones emanate from groups (because they have the power...

Perhaps you should read-up on the history of our species. Slaughter after slaughter after slaughter is what defines us. Hanging out at the corner bar ...

Perhaps it might be expedient to discuss what isn't racism.

Believe me, all guys get the paradox, but (unfortunately) women appear to think differently on the subject.

Yes and no (like pretty much everything). Although "within" is not disconnected from the rest of the world intellectually, it is in other ways, and it...

Open your mouth and you have already lost it. Huang Po d. 850AD

Good for you. I wish you the best.

You mis-understand. If something bothers you, it's 99.99% not the "something" that bothers you but something inside of you. If not Christianity, then ...

I understand what you are doing and applaud your commitment but you might want to consider applying your principles through your speech and actions in...

The intellect is something that is always changing but the Dharma is permanent. If you confuse the Dharma you can know with the Dharma as it is, you w...

Try to make your practice inclusive as opposed to exclusive. We are all one (after all).

I think if you would do an accurate study, you might find that people are people are people. Some might be happier if their society is gaining, and ot...

I assume you are a Buddhist? And I wouldn't be so hard on the animals. :)

Why do you believe so many people seem to connect with what he says? Is everybody wrong?

If it wasn't Christianity, it would have been something else. In the end, you can only control your own actions.

How convenient.

I think millions of people might disagree with your assessment. And you might think differently in time. I rather think that we use it way too much. Y...

I agree that the study seems seriously flawed. I am not sure you could find any study where 93% of a population is , and China seems unlikely as a loc...

A very wise man once said, "Success in life is not doing what you want to do, instead, it's doing what you have to do." If doing what you want to do i...

Health-wise (and particularly mental health-wise), I believe the entire lock-down scenario will go down as one of the worst public policy decisions of...

The response to the pandemic has been historically poor on many fronts. Almost all politicians are idiots (so it seems). Those are tough conditions to...

I am a baby-boomer (65) and have four daughters and a step daughter and a step son. It would take me a month and a half to tell my story but many of t...

I believe that much of it has to do with their parents (baby-boomers) who have turned out to be the worst parents of all-time, coddling and spoiling t...

Countries having their own currencies are critical because you need to be able to adjust the value of the currency (v. the USD) based on what happenin...