LRG

Enlightenment is a temporary state of being. I don't put any effort into achieving it nor do I want it even if it was given to me a on a silver platter. "Consciousness is awareness of self in all aspects of time." What time is it? Same time it was 5 seconds ago... now. Make the most of the time you have because this experience is a short one. If it is knowledge or truth you seek, go to the place where you know nothing. If it is experience you seek, you adopt a "self" and go find what you are searching for.

After work, I enjoy golfing. Walking 9 or 18 holes is good, relaxing exercise. I play with a few groups of people per round as most people ride these days. We have good conversations, always friendly and sometimes we get competitive. Very peaceful IMO. Aside from that just enjoying time with my family is peaceful in it's own way. It's like "Yea, I created this" sort of innate peaceful feeling I get.

I think, for argument's sake, it's better to think of it in terms of right and wrong. "Good and evil" brings up too many beliefs and emotions. It is absolutely WRONG to violate someone's body and rape them. Absolutely wrong. No amount of this and that nonsense is going to convince anyone with a moral compass it is the right thing to do. What you wish to call it is your own deal. It is absolutely RIGHT to take that gun you see in your friend's backpack when they go to the bathroom. Whether he/she has ideas to use it on themselves or others. Anybody with a shred of common sense would take that gun and turn it in so that person could get help. Personally, "right" is always harder to get an absolute on, but if you use your imagination you can come up with a few. Are there things in the world we can't control? Of course. There will always be mundane things around you making you question everything. Existentialism bores the hell out of me. You're here experiencing this physical reality, get over it. While it might not be a "total reality" it is part of reality and we should care about what happens here: Our actions, the actions of others, etc. I tend to avoid telling people they're wrong about this and that. I really don't even bother conversing with most ideas like consciousness, spirituality, reality and so on. I simply experience my life the way I choose to and hopefully it sets a good example. I mostly dislike the disassociation people allow themselves to think is okay between "reality" and "life."

Of course it can make you happy and others around you happy. To be successful and have nice things is good. The problem many people run into is the delusion that having more will make them happy. There's nothing wrong with having an ego, everyone has one. No matter how hard you try to get rid of it, it is always there. All things are acceptable in moderation. I find balance to be more fulfilling than dedicating your entire to finding enlightenment, wealth, fame... whatever. Is it true that society is mainly materialistic and blind? Yea, most people are quite blind to the negative effects materialism has on their lives and those around them. Happiness is your own cup to fill. What fills someone else's cup might not fill yours.

"The greatest enemy you will ever face is in the mirror."