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...Through my meditation, I have been becoming more aware of letting go of thoughts, categories and other self-imposed restraints. Meister Eckhart has been a surprising source of inspiration. As I sit, I remind myself of Eckhart’s words; that those who are truly poor in spirit (Matt 5:3) are those that want, know and have nothing. (2) To want nothing and to know nothing are related. In self-cultivation, there is no thing to be known, rather it is a state of mind or a state of being that ...

I have recently noticed an aspect of my psyche that I have seemingly been unaware of for some time. I could say that I have been aware of it nominally, but have only recently been able to articulate the nuances of its functioning. The structure of this realization is nestled within the framework of the enneagram and its articulation of the states of integration and disintegration. The heart of this matter is that I have realized certain mindsets that indicate disintegration as well as certain ...

Originally Posted by EmotionallyTonedGeometry

My only point (in this thread was to demonstrate that) the scientific method generates answers to"how" questions. The "why" question is simply suigeneris and there is no value judgment wrapped up in making that distinction.


Concerning Azrael’s question, “why do we eat?” and sprinkles’ “why do stars glow?” questions, there seem to be a number of issuesat hand.

The first, as mentioned above, is that often the question“why” is

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Originally Posted by EmotionallyTonedGeometry

I’m curious as to what you think about what religion is at its very core. After you strip away its rituals, traditions and history, what’s left? What is it that fascinates our species so much that the notion of religion gracefully survived the “Enlightenment?” There's something there, so what is it? I don't think its something found in any one holy book, but something extraordinarily immediate. As is said in Islam, "Allâh is closer to a man than his own jugular vein." (50.16)

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What Have I Learned?

What I learned in my year in Iraq is that in chaotic systems, human life has no inherent value to it. We are no different than the rocks and trees, or any other animal that roams this earth. In war, a life is a fleeting entity that is terrified and focused on its own survival in a gruesomely utilitarian manner. All other values that our society believes in are trumped by this savage desire to live. When we hear about atrocities that arise in a combat zone, ...