Reflection

@cetus56 Your trying to tell me that every branch is part of the same tree, which I already know. I'm trying to tell you why its important that each branch is slightly different than every other branch.

Apologies then. I didn't realize I was debating your ego. I'm still up for a discussion on the importance of contrast and how the 'one' is always changing if anyone else is.

Our hands are inherently one, and I understand that. But my hand does not look like your hand. My fingerprint has a different pattern from your fingerprint. My face does not look like your face. Why? We're the same right? Same mold, different rules applied to it = different outcome. In this case our pool of genes gives us contrast and unique subjective experiences. Twins are an example of when the similar rules are applied to multiple subjects and even they do not have matching fingerprints. Your picture illustrates the same outcome over and over again. Infinity does not repeat itself. Infinite possibilities means ever-changing. "No man ever steps in the same river twice for it's not the same river and he's not the same man".

A good watch for anyone on the path in need of a direct and practical explanation of how everything is literally connected. Makes for great contemplation.

This picture is actually a bad representation of what Leo said. The picture is what would happen if physics did apply to infinity. Notice all the hands are exactly the same? Repeating itself over and over again? If physics does not apply to infinity all the hands would be different. That's the only point I was trying to get across. But I agree with you guys. I believe infinity also means infinite possibilities. An infinity that just repeats itself forever just seems so absurd and redundant.

Depends. Infinity with rules? Or infinity without rules? If physics applies to infinity, then there are limited possibilities. Limited possibilities within infinity means that it inevitably repeats itself. Or if there are an unlimited amount of Universes each with a different set of rules of physics then the possibilities become endless. Edit: I know I didn't really answer your question specifically, but that's because its really complicated and I don't know.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uIaY0l5qV0c Not sure if that will answer your question, but I think it will help.

Exactly. Hell, take 20 minutes. I set my books down all the time to think about something I just read. I can't even Imagine reading without critiquing, analyzing, or sleuthing out meanings. To read contemplatively is to do so slowly, without forcing or rushing, savoring a passage and allowing reflection to unfold. Instead of reading to finish a book or to arrive at some point, contemplation allows us to let the book work on us. I even write down or highlight favorite passages so I can revisit and reflect on them later on.

Don't worry, some day you will die and remember exactly who and what you are, then you will be born and forget again. We all plug back into the Matrix in the end whether we think we want to or not. We have to, because its the only thing we can do with all of eternity. Outside the dream or the "Matrix" we are forever alone. And not even God wants to be alone forever.... and so here "we" are.

People think free will exists because they cannot see all the causes to an effect. But if you look closely enough you can find a cause to every action, and for every action, a reaction. This is the Nature of the Universe and your very own thoughts and decisions are no exception.

Which makes his story all the more impressive and influential.

To be fair, Siddhartha was a Prince. His father was King. He was born with influence.

^ I agree with myself above me

Only a Sith deals in absolutes.

I never understood this concept. Maybe someone here can help me understand? How can 'you' end the circle of life if you are life itself? Seems a huge contradiction to me. You would have to destroy the entire Universe to stop your cycle of life and death. Or is this suggesting that we all have some kind of 'individual' soul? But if that's the case then its not an enlightened teaching but rather another attempt at preserving the ego by separating yourself from others. Also, why is suffering something to be avoided? Is it not a requirement for growth? Wouldn't you rather suffer than experience absolutely nothing at all? Isn't that why we're here in the first place? To exist as many forms as possible and to experience all there is... white, black, up, down, and everything in between? What else could you possibly do with an eternity? If the goal of life is to stop living, why did we start in the first place?

So do I, but that's because I 'suffer' Florida summers every year

The strength suffering gives us, happiness simply cannot. The former stretches you while the latter relaxes you. Suffering is the scorching sun that makes us appreciate the cold. It’s the chilly night that makes us desire the warm sun. It keeps us real. But, most importantly, suffering keeps us on the ground, it makes us humble. And humility is the most important ingredient of a meaningful and contented life.

I think people who work for social justice are enlightened people. Of course if you are enlightened, you're going to want more equality and better distribution of wealth, opportunities, and privileges for all people within a society because those people are you. As for "Social Justice Warriors", I don't like the term because the considerable variety in definitions makes the term next to useless as a descriptor. But I'll assume you are using it to describe the more extreme activists as you mentioned violence several times in your post. In this I will agree with you, nothing good ever comes from extreme activism. Social Justice was born from compassion for other people, however, extreme activism is always born from fear and hatred for other people regardless of context. Its also worth noting that extreme activism and violence can be found on both sides whether its SJWs or White Nationalists. But I see you conveniently left those people out of the argument. What really worries me about your post however, is that in the title you put "Social Justice Warriors", but then in the first sentence of your post you changed it to "Social Justice People". Its almost as if you are focusing in on the extreme actions of a few people and projecting that onto every single person who works for social justice using generalizing words like "they" and "always". Being a person of higher consciousness means being able to see the good and bad in both sides, and understanding that every person that has ever existed is uniquely shaped by their experiences in life. So when you meet someone with a different opinion than you, know that there is a reason that they have that opinion, because their experiences in life are different from yours. Failure to understand this will only lead you further to one extreme until you become one of the very people you despise.

Cannabis use has been linked to depersonalization and is what unwittingly set me on the spiritual path many years ago. Unfortunately, according to society this "depersonalization" is a mental health disease and has been used in the past to create cringy anti-marijuana ads like this one - But there is something else that smoking weed does for me as an extreme introvert that is hard to explain. Introverts have a very bright and colorful inner-world which makes them seem quiet, uninterested, or even detached on the outside. If we receive too much stimulation from the outside we become overwhelmed and expend energy very quickly which makes us feel stressed out. Extroverts on the other hand are very quiet on the inside and need lots of outside stimulation in order to feel awake and alert which is why they appear more lively, engaged, and talkative. So whereas an extremely introverted person needs to bring their levels of stimulation down in order to function properly, an extreme extrovert needs to bring their levels of stimulation up in order to function. According to 'The Introvert Advantage' by Marti Olsen Laney, introverts have a longer neural pathway for processing stimuli. The introvert’s brain treats interactions with people at the same intensity level that it treats encounters with inanimate objects. Introverts process everything in their surroundings and pay attention to all the sensory details in the environment, not just the people. So you can see how this over-processing combined with hyper-observation can be overwhelming. So in review I would say yes to both spiritual development and to self help. But using it for self help I think really depends on the type of person you are. For most people I know, smoking a cigarette and drinking a cup of coffee helps stimulate them and get their mind right. But for me smoking a bowl seems to suppress the analytical part of my mind that inhibits me from thinking clearly.

You seem smart, but I think you're on edge. You're an introvert like me which means you gain energy from spending time alone inside your mind and pursing your interests, and you expend energy when you're in stimulating environments or in groups of people. You're also addicted to stimulants which puts your mind into overload, and an overloaded mind is an unhealthy mind. Here watch this video, he focuses mostly on this point of stimulation - Over stimulation is a HUGE problem for introverts and its one of the things I hated about our school system. I would highly recommend you stop drinking coffee and stay away from other stimulants, and spend more time in quiet environments in order to bring your brain activity down to a level where you can function properly.

I'll join in on this. My habit of video games has thrown me off the path for awhile. I haven't touched one since joining this forum which is a good start. I also pledge to cut back on smoking weed and set aside an hour a day for meditation.

Good question. Perhaps you are adding a little bit of slap to your opinions? Try not to put them into a position where a confession would feel like utter humiliation, or even defeat. In reverse, try not to let such feelings of humiliation or righteousness keep you from confessing when you are wrong. Focus on building them up, instead of tearing them down. But make sure they want to be built up first. A person who is convinced against their own will, is still of the same opinion.

You're not alone. Subsequently, I am glad to find out that I am not alone in this either xD. It was always something I felt uncomfortable talking about so I never have. But when I was practicing meditation I began to notice a tingling of the spine and very strong sensations in my brain. That's all I can really say on this subject... because I just don't know. The vibes are real bro... the (((vibes))) are real