Thursday, December 25, 2014

Logic Puzzles: The Issue of Balance

It is a common trope in the entertainment industry for there to be a balance between good and evil. This theme is so common, it is almost considered as ideal. The only reason it could be ideal is if it represents a state that is superior to the present world, and a world where there is just as much evil as good is spiritually pathetic. There is simply nothing ideal about evil, certainly not in a lasting fashion. Suffering and error can bring about learning and character, but these positives lead to a state of goodness held by the personality.

Balance can indicates a gray world, one where there are not always clear answers. A world with truly subjective morals certainly could lead to people fighting for what they think is right, and this occurs in the real world as well. People can do unspeakable things simply because they feel they have a good reason. Wars can occur between nations when neither nation really holds moral superiority. In a world where few actions are entirely good or bad, as there is no clear example of moral perfection, the world may seem balanced. However, is such balance something to fight for? In this type of world, you rarely fight to make things ambiguous again. In this world, people search desperately for the right answers – they self-validate by rationalizing their decisions and their perspective because the environment rarely does this for them. In this type of balanced world, the general goal for both good and evil is to upset that balance.

Balance can also indicate a world with clear definitions of good and evil, one where people are rigidly sorted between these two sides. And in this type of world, balance isn't something someone should fight for either. No particular side should want more people or power on the apposing side. Balance in this world is not ideal, as it indicates never-ending error and sin. Still, a "balanced" world such as this is commonly used in entertainment, especially in comic books. Of course, the idea that there could be a population that holds individuals who are always good and bad is ridiculous. We still live in a gray world, where a person can do both harm and good in the same day. A person may accidentally do bad with good intentions, and he or she may do good with bad intentions.

The greatest problem, though, is that no one who is good would desire evil. Evil largely implies selfishness, which is an unyielding focus on personal goals. Those goals do not have to align with the goals of other selfish individuals. In fact, it is normally far easier to achieve such goals when far more people are selfless or average. But this can be a double-edged sword. While there may be less competition, one's actions are likely going to stand out more, which could hamper these goals. Obviously, everyone has personal goals, and you do not have to be selfish to pursue them.

Why do we hold that there has to be evil? One very simple reason is that the good guys would have no one to fight without it, leading to a boring story. Another is that there simply is no human civilization where evil is not present. Still, for these things to be a problem, the author of the story would have to lack imagination. There are still plenty of challenges a person can face when there is no great evil force at work. Life is hard enough, and we do not need to add more problems to the mix. You can experience fear without fearing for your life in a dark alleyway. You can experience betrayal simply through the complexity of shifting loyalties and goals. There is no need for liars and criminals to fill that role.

It is true that society as a whole still lacks an objective definition of what evil is, despite the beliefs of individuals. There is no great example of a place where all are good, but a utopian society would surely hold all of those who would choose goodness, who would choose to serve others. How do societies even reach such an "unbalanced" world? Societies certainly do not evolve into such heavens on earth through a system of economics that promotes selfishness and unyielding competition, nor one that equally distributes poverty. You don't reach a utopia through politics either, certainly not when bureaucrats are bred to be selfish. A quick look at the world will tell you that few truly realize they cannot serve both God and money.

Saturday, December 13, 2014

Analysis of the Self: The Circumstances of Service

While it is important to look at things on a case by case basis, people will generally fall into two categories: those who normally accept help and those who do not. Now help can be a vague word. It is normally about aiding a person so that he or she can reach a goal that would be difficult alone, but the subject matter is diverse. In fact, the help could be for something the individual did not know they were struggling with. So the type of help given falls under a few categories, and it is up to the individual if it is welcome or not. They are the following:

1. Solicited help for a known objective.
2. Solicited help for an unknown objective.
3. Unsolicited help for a known objective.
4. Unsolicited help for an unknown objective.

Known objectives are clear goals an individual has or is tasked with. Unknown objectives are unclear issues which need addressing. You may understand the nature of the goal or problem, but cannot pinpoint an exact cause, effect, need or solution. Solicited help is help that is asked for, while unsolicited help is not asked for, but can still be desired.

Naturally, the first kind of help is the easiest to understand. You are attempting to accomplish a specific task, but are unable to do it on your own, so you request aid. The second example is when someone requests help for a vague problem, or a clear problem with an unclear solution. Such issues are usually long-term in nature, as time is often a factor influencing the problem and its solution. The third example is when someone is pursuing a goal on their own and is helped along the way by another. Here, the second person normally has a clear understanding of what the first person is trying to accomplish. The last example is the trickiest, where someone attempts to help another with a problem either one or both cannot pinpoint, using a solution that may not even be appropriate. In this case, even when an objective is cleared, the help becomes labeled as unwelcome.

Of course, all examples of help may not be desired. Pride, or a desire for self-sufficiency, will keep a person from asking or accepting aid. And even when one does ask for help, the person may not be happy about it. A person's attitude may also depend on the exact solution to the problem, and if that solution is undesired, then he or she will certainly be livid when another solves the problem in the perceived negative way (the situation becoming even worse when it is unsolicited help). You cannot always know how a person will react to being helped, and you certainly cannot expect to thanked every time. This is even more clear when you consider that there are at least two different categories of help: performing an action and providing information.

A physical action may be necessary to help someone, but if the solution is only reached through thought, it may require more information. Both forms of help work with the four examples above, creating eight different situations to be analyzed, but there are some general trends. If a physical action is performed on behalf of another, even if it is unsolicited, the person receiving the help will show some form of gratitude (though whether that is genuine or not is another question). However, if information is provided to someone instead, there is a higher chance for dissatisfaction.

Provided information can easily be something a person does not wish to hear. It could be because this person feels they could have come up with the same answer. It could be because it is something they already thought of and are wanting to hear something new. Unsolicited advice/information is most notably something that is frowned upon, and even solicited help may be looked down on if it does not provide a new perspective. A person generally doesn't know if what they provide will actually be accepted, but it is commonplace that the provider feels their attempt to help should be respected. Ultimately, it depends on the relationship between the two before it can be judged who is being improper in such a circumstance. One may feel the need to always give unsolicited advice, and do such automatically without thinking. Another may despise repeated information, and reject anything they have already heard. It should be noted that such possibilities are not reasons to avoid serving others, and are also not reasons for getting angry at those simply trying to aid you. Not all help may be seen in a positive light, but no form of help is absolutely negative either, as one would not offer to help in the first place without any good intentions.

Monday, December 8, 2014

The Burden Series: Self-Sacrifice

Self-sacrifice is a human action that is often looked at favorably. The act is often pursued in order to help someone else. It could be something as simple a sharing a meal, or as serious as sacrificing your own life for another's. As noble as such causes seem, there are many instances where sacrifice simply isn't necessary in order to help someone, unless you include something as small as sacrificing time. There are many instances where the illusion of helpfulness is created, and both parties may fall under this spell.

A good example of this is a person inconveniencing oneself for the sake of another when the only effect is an emotional one for the other party. In other words, an act of self-sacrifice that may be appreciated, but is wholly unnecessary if the other person can cope on their own. For example, a woman decides to go gluten-free, due to health issues, and her husband decides to follow suit. What are the benefits of this? The wife may somehow feel that her burden has been lessened when the husband undergoes the same troubles, but her life does not actually improve. Her meals do not change, so having someone else who is also limited in what they can eat does not make a difference. They will likely be sharing many gluten-free meals anyway, and going to restaurants that offer the right selection of food. The only exception is when there is a lack of storage space.

All the husband is doing by pursuing this lifestyle is reducing the flexibility of his consumption, especially when his wife is not around. There may be long-term health benefits, but it is likely not something the man would pursue alone. This self-sacrifice is a form of emotional support through the bearing of an artificial (self-created) burden. It can also be a tool to understand the plight of another, creating empathy. But the husband should be capable of empathy beforehand, and the wife should not be so childish as to require others to experience her own burdens. While one may think this reduces the number of cravings in the house, it still keeps the husband from enjoying things he loves inside and outside the house. Finally, if the wife is empathetic, she would feel bad for her husband who does not really have to sacrifice things he likes. In other words, this self-sacrifice can be seen as an increase in the suffering of both parties. All the husband really has to do to alleviate the suffering of his wife is buy a greater variety of things she can eat. His own consumption does not harm her, so it does not need to be adjusted.

There are a few things that can be concluded from the above, and a few more points I would like to add. 

1. Self-sacrifice is not all that necessary if the only gain is short-term emotional support, especially if there are other means of helping the other party.
2. Self-sacrifice is unnecessary for the sake of empathy. Though it may act as a means of better understanding another party, it would never be attempted unless some form of empathy or caring existed in the first place. It is especially fruitless if it does not directly help someone else.
3. Service should not be confused with self-sacrifice. Service is a form of love shown to another through the giving of time and energy. Sacrifice, as a form of hampering one's own life, does not produce the same level of spiritual growth that service does. Service should not hurt the giver, nor is it usually an unfair trade in the long-run. Plus, God loves both parties equally, thus desiring the best for both. Self-sacrifice rarely acts as a fair trade. Either one party is helped far more than the other, one party is helped superficially, or there is just increased suffering for one more party increasing the total suffering of the entire group.
4. The value of self-sacrifice should be analyzed before it is attempted (think cost-benefit analysis). It should not be pursued when the joint suffering of all parties increases. Naturally, the values of the individual are important here, as an analysis of the situation will not help a negative person make a positive decision.
5. If the sacrifice does not reach the intended result, or the effects wane over time, the person should be free to cease the activity. People should not fear stopping an activity which has little benefit for anyone. People perceive such things as a form of abandonment, betrayal or a lack of commitment. None of these instances are true, as it is merely the human pursuing what works best as time passes.
6. Self-sacrifice can be seen as a noble gesture, but is wasted upon those who would not value it. One should not have to sacrifice something for the sake of the ungrateful.

Logic Puzzles: The Concept of Infinity

The concept of infinity is normally something that goes on forever, is infinitely large, or does not have limitations. When applied to a thing, the idea of infinity is limited to the said thing's properties, but alone as a concept, infinity can have several different meanings. Perhaps this is why the concept is commonly misunderstood.

Some properties of infinity that may be overlooked are the following:

1. Infinity does not have to include everything. Something can be infinitely large or repeating, and not include some trait, aspect, dimension, number, idea, etc. This concept can even work with objects, as something can be infinitely large, but only in one particular direction. An object could still be considered infinite if it is only infinitely tall. As long as one measurement keeps going, this adjective can be used (though commonly it would only be used on the particular infinite trait).
2. Infinity can exclude an infinite number of things, so long as that infinity keeps going. A negative infinity may exist with every positive one. For example, an infinite sequence of numbers can skip numbers as it goes, and if this is done at regular intervals, the total numbers being skipped is infinite as well.
3. Infinity can include the same thing, not just once, but an infinite number of times. If thinking of infinite universes (which do not exist), you yourself could be imagining such infinite universes an infinite number of times alongside an infinite number of universes where your planet does not exist.
4. Infinity can include one sole thing or measurement an infinite number of times. This includes an infinite series of 1's, or an eternal repetition of the word "zebra". All that matters is that this repetition continues.
5. Infinity can include finite things as well as infinite things within itself. For example, an array of numbers is created where the first row counts to ten, the second row counts to twenty, the third row lists the decimal numbers of pi, and the fourth row counts by two's an infinite number of times. This array may be seen as infinite since at least one of the rows inside of it is infinitely long, even though some of the other rows are finite in length. The array is also finite in its number of rows, but infinite in its number of columns meaning both rows and columns are finite in one sense, and infinite in another, each having opposite traits.
6. The existence of infinity can create a problem where there are no limitations in potential, but there are limitations in observed actuals (the opposite can also be true, but is not a problem we could experience due to our limits of observation). If an infinite random number generator could exist, it could run an infinite number of times and never produce the number "46". In fact, it could produce "53" an infinite number of times, excluding an infinite number of numbers. In reality, this is not a limitation in potential states, but a limitation in actual states (and is certainly true when this infinite string follows the progression of time). A limitation in potential states would exist if this could not be so, further putting limits on what is actualized.
7. The finite can influence the infinite, and vice versa. Using the previous example, a random number generator could have infinite potential where all numbers are possible, but can only generate one number. Here again, potentials are infinite while actuals are finite. The opposite form can exist as well, with a random number generator that picks between ten numbers, but runs an infinite number of times. Here, the results are infinite, but the possibilities for each result are finite. Here, the opposing traits limit each other in their expression, creating a quasi-infinite/quasi-finite state as a whole.

Tuesday, December 2, 2014

Analysis of the Self: The Structure of Self-Validation

Cycle of Action:

goal creation –> goal progression –> consequences (good or bad) –> response to consequences

Response to Behavior:

insecurity over behavior –> reinterpretation of behavior (results vs. intentions) –> rationalization of behavior –> experience of self-validation

Self-Validation Steps:

analyze results and original goal –> decide what to focus on (goal or means to reach goal) –> rationalize past or future actions

Expanded Cycle of Action:

reception of stimuli –> perception of stimuli –> use of stimuli (goal formation) –> will formation –> stimuli creation (goal progression) –> reception of new stimuli –> perception of new stimuli –> insecurity –> reinterpretation of stimuli, goals and goal progression –> rationalization of action –> experience of self-validation


Insecurity:

The desire for self-validation ultimately stems from a person's beginning insecurity. This can grow slowly over time or appear in an instant. The most common reasons for insecurity are the existence of unintended consequences from one's behavior and the lack of positive results. What insecurity does is trigger an evaluation of behavior through the feeling of uneasiness and the desire to follow certain goals without failure.

Reinterpretation:

In the reinterpretation step, results are analyzed, but this step is partly done through the reaction to the effects of the behavior. If results do not correlate with intentions, then one must decide if the intentions or the results are more important in this instance. If intent is more important, then the human partakes in rationalization. If different effects are more valuable, the human will attempt to change future behavior to reach these desired effects, possibly requiring a rationalization of a new type of behavior before it is attempted.

The first example of self-validation is an adjustment to one's goals, goal being the rationalization of past behavior. The second form of self-validation is an adjustment of how one reaches one's goals. Self-validation exists as validating either one's ends or as one's means, and the need to validate ends is usually a more emotional response (as it involves accepting one's emotions) while the validation of means is more a task of logic. We can either validate ourselves by acknowledging and approving of our past behavior, or approving of our future behavior. The big difference is that the latter acts as a form of self-correction, while the former can act as a way to correct others through self-defense.

Rationalization:

People can self-validate through the rationalization of both previous behavior and future self-correcting behavior, but they cannot be done at once. Part of the rationalization stage is the analysis of past or present behavior, which is used to figure out whether such behavior is good or bad, right or wrong. It is not used to figure out what steps should be taken in the future, as the thought process for this is different. It is not the same as figuring out what should have been done originally. In fact, a common conclusion of rationalization is that such steps aren't needed at all, that previous actions were justifiable.

This is an example of emotional self-preservation that satisfies the desire to be right, but what can occur as a result is that one's original goals are abandoned or become unobtainable due to the lack of corrected behavior. If changing one's actions is necessary to reach a goal, then a new instance of reinterpretation and rationalization must occur, which likely never will occur without that feeling of insecurity. That feeling of insecurity will not reappear unless the individual remains dedicated to the said goal over time.

Rationalization can occur for both the past and the future. It is also possible during present action, but would exist as part of a different model due to the lack of results from the behavior. People do not usually rationalize current behavior unless previous examples of that behavior exist. People can and often will rationalize what they believe they will do in the future (they have already formed the will to pursue it), and the rationalization of future options can also occur before any decision has been made. Neither necessarily mean that the person will follow through with the behavior, though, as one can easily be interrupted during this process by the environment or other people.

Even if such actions are not yet grounded in reality, it is important to form a distinction between moments when one rationalizes an option and when one rationalizes an option already decided on. If the decision comes before the options are compared, it is more an aftereffect of the first form of self-validation: the validation of ends. If the decision comes after the options are compared, it is a part of the second form of self-validation: the validation of means.

Self-Validation:

Self-validation, as stated, deals with both means and ends. Validating a past means is how a person figures out that their action was correct, and that there is no need to change behavior. Validating a future means is how a person decides the best way to correct a past mistake, at least in the model used. If occurring during goal creation, this is simply a part of the decision-making process. Validating an end can also be a part of the decision-making process, but as a result of action, it exists as someone concluding that they were not mistaken in their behavior as it was driven by positive intentions, even if it did not produce a positive outcome. The difference between the validation of an end and a past means is that the validation of an end does not put emphasis on future means, while the validation of a past means emphasizes that future means are not needed to correct something.

Wednesday, November 5, 2014

Logic Puzzles: Dimensional Struggles

The common concept of dimensions is a work of fantasy, but before I get ahead of myself, let's define the subject. Paraphrasing from merriam-webster:

1. a (1): measure in one direction; specifically : one of three coordinates determining a position in space or four coordinates determining a position in space and time (2): one of a group of properties whose number is necessary and sufficient to determine uniquely each element of a system of usually mathematical entities (as an aggregate of points in real or abstract space); a parameter or coordinate variable assigned to such a property (3): the number of elements in a basis of a vector space
   b: the quality of spatial extension
   c: a lifelike or realistic quality
   d: the range over which or the degree to which something extends
   e: one of the elements or factors making up a complete personality or entity
2. any of the fundamental units (as of mass, length, or time) on which a derived unit is based; also : the power of such a unit
3. a level of existence or consciousness


I hold no qualms regarding the use of "dimension" as a word for a measurement. I think this is what the word should strictly remain as. It is an aspect of something that is quantitatively measurable. Even using the word to describe the qualitative aspect of something is okay if this is not mixed with a quantitative value that also uses this word. The issue is the creation of a system that poorly combines different concepts that are not cohesive. So naturally I see issues when someone uses the third definition listed (a level of existence), and uses another definition inside of it (the physical measurement of something).

What is the issue? Well, the problem is that theories concerning the dimensions of reality include the dimensions of space as well as entirely different concepts, some of which are not quantitative. The misuse of "dimensions" is done by both scientists and those claiming to have knowledge of metaphysics, or those who identify with the new age. This is not about specific ideas exactly, but about the fundamental problem in the language used in discussing the dimensions of physical reality, or dimensions separate or above that reality.

If the language on dimensions has to do with consciousness, then what is being talked about are the dimensions of reality we are conscious of. The first three are the dimensions of space, which gives us the 3rd dimension. A higher dimension, say a 4th or 5th dimension, would mean there are more aspects of reality for one to become aware of. There is little wrong with that unless it is not stated what those things are.

Of course, we normally use the word "dimension" in measurement or observation, as mentioned above. The other usage as a separate reality is borrowed with the involved rhetoric, which combines both ideas into one. This is normally confusing though, since adding dimensions onto length, width, height or depth indicates there is something else for you to physically measure. Stacking entirely different concepts onto the concept of measuring space is problematic, especially if it becomes something you don't normally measure/calculate.

So what would be a fifth dimensional reality? Well, if concepts are being grouped together correctly, the additional dimensions are things we can quantify. Many potentials are quantifiable, so knowing one's potentials can technically be considered a measurement of possibility. This is similar to looking ahead through time, which does operate through space, so it can counts as a type of space measurement. Another possible addition to reality is the idea of value, but this is not normally quantifiable, it is a qualitative trait. The value would have to be in a certain number of something. However, if one brings frequency or a vibration rate into the picture, this could be both quantitative and qualitative in nature.

So my guess is if you were to "enter" this 5th dimension, it means you instinctively know your set of potentials at any given time (within a certain free will causality window) and measure the vibration of yourself, others, or your environment. Perhaps you could also combine those two traits, and know how your potentials will affect the vibration of everything around you. Let's be clear though, this is not morontia reality. That is something entirely different, and I have little idea how morontia physics work. Plus, with the morontia form, people gain new senses, but we aren't told what many of them are. Maybe my two guesses are included as extra senses, but it doesn't matter. The point is that quantifying one's perspective, which is really a qualitative experience, doesn't usually work when you are missing the "Rosetta Stone" needed to understand the material. Most new age material lacks this, and is void of consistency.

These matters do not improve much in the realm of science, as time itself is seen as a dimension of reality. While it could be considered as such, the dimension of time does not include the potentials of time. Potentials are created and actualized by will within space and through time. Even though potentials exist in the sense that they can influence our behavior, they do not exist as part of reality. At best, they exist in the realm of thought, or the universal mind, but this is still not an objective dimension of physical reality. They would not be potentials if they truly existed in the physical world.

I see all dimensions as facets of observation, whether the observer is God or man. It is just a means through which we can define reality, that which we do understand and that which we do not. I can say that time is a dimension of experience, or that taste is a dimension of food. Ultimately, it's the same thing. You're taking a part of your observation and defining it in order to create continuity between persons and things. To me though, dimensions will always be measurements of actuals. Others can create their own ideas on how reality is structured, but that system will depend on their observations.

Morontia reality could be seen as its own separate dimension, but it is not. It exists within space as well, and can be impacted by observable forces (gravity for instance). Architectural spheres are made of normal matter, and the morontia buildings sitting on top do not sink through the ground or float in the air. They influence and are influenced by what we call physical reality. The realm of spirit may also be looked at as its own dimension, but spirit still works within space and time. The rules are different, but it is not separated from the time-space universe. Instead, it is deeply integrated.

Dimensions are broad categories of observable aspects of reality, but these dimensions follow certain rules, and there may be another aspect of reality that ignores these dimensions or rules. For instance, many higher spirits simply cannot see the physical realm that we see unless aided. From their perspective, the dimensions of reality are different as their observations of reality are different, and the same is true for us. There is simply a limit to our ability of measuring and defining what exists, whether it be quantitative or qualitative.

Thursday, October 30, 2014

Logic Puzzles: Extremists, Goals, and Positive Change

Many are confronted with the idea of extremism when they watch the news, or get updated on current events through some means. Extremism, especially of the religious kind, gets a spotlight, certainly when these issues occur on the other side of the globe. Few understand that these extremists are a minority, no matter what manner of faith they claim to hold onto. Even if you group up all such people of all religions, they do not represent the evil in the world, nor a majority.

Extremism is not limited to religion. It exists in religion, politics, business, war, and far more. It is about pursuing a cause so far as to make the end justify the means. It is about changing or ignoring your morals (or the higher morals of others) in order to get what you want. The reckless pursuit of goals is what this is all about, and it is a trait so broad that it goes beyond harming other people. To be labeled an extremist, one usually requires long-term dedication toward a particular goal, or uses means that are a cause for concern. There are both long-term and short-term extremists.

A long-term extremist is usually labeled as such when an unnecessary amount of time has been spent in the pursuit of their goal. It is considered unnecessary when the approach is short-sighted or has lost its effectiveness. Another example would be doing the same thing over and over while expecting a different result. A short-term extremist can be labeled as such when their support for a cause is quickly problematic, though their approach may not change for a long period as well. Short-term extremists can become long-term extremists, though it is not always the case that long-term extremists cause problems in the short-run.

Extremism is a trait often practiced when people believe they are more important than others. It can exist when one's goals appear greater than another person's. Extremism can exist when one goal outshines all others. It can be when all other goals cease to exist. Taking things to the extreme means one fails to account for the relativity of the goal or cause. It is the failure to account for exceptions to one's own perspective. This lack in judgement can exist for a few seconds, or it can last for years, but no matter the duration, it is something that is actually quite common in society. Whether you are cheating on a math test, shoving people in a crowded store on Black Friday, or mugging others in order to pay a hospital bill, you are practicing a form of extremism.

So how does one reduce extremism in society? Focusing on removing examples of it is not a long-term solution. What counteracts extremism in the long-run is a lasting antithesis. In other words, it is a lasting example of the same goal being achieved through better means, or it is proof that a goal cannot be met, especially with the means taken by the extremist in question.

Reducing the capability for extremism to appear is one thing, spending all of one's resources on hunting down extremism is another. The latter is in itself is a form of extremism. This means that only focusing on the evil in the world in order to remove said evil does not rid the world of evil. In order to not become what you stand against, there must be an even greater amount of effort put towards creating good.

If a single cause is being pursued via different means (both positive and negative), then one should focus more on boosting the positive than fighting the negative. Fixating oneself on tempered positive change is a way of resisting the extreme, the negative and the barbaric. One must remember that resources are always limited, and if so much is wasted on combating evil or error, than not enough can be spent on positive means toward positive causes. You cannot tip the scale in your favor if all you ever do is remove the other person's weights. Your cause soon becomes balance, but that balance is a representation of the status quo in the real world, and problems do not not normally solve themselves.

Sunday, September 28, 2014

Analysis of the Self: The Logic of Reasoning, the Experience of Stimuli

Seeing is believing. Well, not necessarily. Believing is a thing of personal choice, and the eye can be deceptive. The body's senses can be broken down into bits of information, and it is up to the individual to understand the context of that information. If the context is misunderstood, an incorrect inference will likely form. This post is not just about the philosophical ideas of what reality is all about, but the necessity of understanding the information the brain receives.

In order to fully understand a picture, you must know who took it, how it was taken, why it was taken, what is being shown, and what possible conclusions can be made from what has been seen. Without the first and second bit of information, you do not understand the picture's origin. Without the third, you do not understand the picture's reason for existence. Without the fourth, you do not understand what you are seeing. Without the fifth, you cannot gain as much knowledge from the experience or know how your knowledge would compare to another's. All of these bits of information are necessary for drawing an accurate conclusion, one which verifies the right ideas gained from the experience. This new piece of information that is created by the individual can now be used to construct the premises needed to reach related conclusions or form relating ideas.

This interpretation of information is the first step of the cycle that is human experience. The next is goal formation, which creates determiners of choice using past stimuli received and interpreted. Future goals then influence what stimuli is created in the final step of goal progression (or human interaction), as well as how future stimuli is perceived during the first phase. This is the basic structure of the Unified Theory of Human Experience.

It is important to remember that things are not always true when they appear logical, and things are not always untrue when they appear illogical. These laws exist because we do not possess perfect information. Logic helps us reach reasonable conclusions, but it does not always help us know if either the conclusion or premises are true. We must not only use our knowledge, but our experience, to form our opinions about various topics. In other words, wisdom and insight are needed to compensate for human imperfection.

Tuesday, September 23, 2014

Recent Ideas: Perfect Judgement, Perfect Mercy

Judgement, or justice, is an obsession of mankind. Yet fair judgement is rare, and perfect judgement impossible. Few consider every aspect needed to be the perfect judge. A frequent saying is as follows: people judge themselves for their intentions, and judge others for their actions. While largely true, this does not hint at perfect justice, because perfect justice requires information that cannot be gathered by human hands. The following is a list of the minimum requirements for perfect judgement:

1. Perfect knowledge of intentions -- knowing what the individual is trying to accomplish and why.
2. Perfect knowledge of actions -- knowing everything the individual did and likely will do.
3. Perfect knowledge of short-term results -- knowing everything which resulted right after a person's actions.
4. Perfect knowledge of long-term results -- knowing everything which resulted long after a person's actions, including the potentials of the future.
5. Perfect alignment with the highest of universe values -- making decisions in accordance with the will of God.

Only God and the Ancients of Days are capable of accessing this kind of data and making the best decision. Humans can attempt to be just, and occasionally they will make the best decision possible, but humans cannot access the vast knowledge required to make the right decision every time.

Speaking of judgement brings me to the topic of mercy, though I believe I have written about this previously. I will define mercy as the following: the reduction in sentence, the removal of a sentence, the stalling of judgement, or the removal of judgement. The requirements for granting perfect mercy has a similar list of minimum attributes:

1. Perfect knowledge of intentions.
2. Perfect knowledge of actions.
3. Perfect knowledge of all potentials being made actuals as a result of the person's decisions.
4. Perfect alignment with the highest values.
5. Perfect knowledge of all potentials being made actuals as a result of mercy.
6. Perfect knowledge of the person's past growth and future potential.

It must be stated though that God cannot always be merciful. Mercy is something that is earned. If mercy was granted to everyone unconditionally, then there could never be justice in the universe. Evil would remain forever. It falls upon God to make the tough decision whether a person (which God instinctively loves) deserves to keep existing or to serve in a particular manner. God must read the soul, and decide what to do in result of an individual's free will decisions. However, there also exists a dual reality where a person is judged by both God and the individual in question, so that the sentence is jointly recognized as fair. The person is granted the ability to see the truth of the matter from which God operates (I believe through the Infinite Spirit). Perhaps mercy is applied in a more automated fashion, the same way actions are known to be right or wrong, or perhaps it is more the role of the Creator Son to provide mercy to the individual while the Ancients of Days recognize how this person would normally be sentenced.

Thursday, August 28, 2014

New Ideas: My Father's Temple

I have violence on the brain. I am a young adult, and have had my fill of it throughout life. Violence is simply a part of human culture, even though it's not supposed to be. It is our history and our ongoing present. It is watched on television, heard through music, and enacted digitally through video games. Admittedly, I have enjoyed all of these activities. I have probably been as physically violent as the average person, though far less so as I have aged. I am thoroughly entrenched in a world that cannot seem to escape the grip of violence, whether it is all too real, or simply worshiped through entertainment.

This aspect of society and human nature is not just an old necessity from early history that we have failed to shake off. It is a remnant of the Lucifer Rebellion and its lasting hold on this planet. It is a force that blinds us, granting the temporal illusion of power and strength. Its lingering existence will continue on while man remains ignorant of his relationship with all other humans and with God.

The human body is the Father's temple. It holds a fragment of the Father, and this fragment experiences all that the human personality does. As long as the Adjuster is present, one's body is a holy site which houses the divine. Even those without an Adjuster still hold the God-granted personality, so these bodies may still act as shrines erected by the Father, holding within them the most precious gift we have received. I do not mean that we should idolize the body, but to treat it with the respect it deserves.

I have written about violence a few times before. To me, it is pretty much any threat to any type of survival -- something necessary for properly functioning in this world. In summary, violence is a threat to a being's ability to thrive, and thriving includes quite a number of possibilities. Ultimately, violence on a human level represents man neglecting God's gifts and God's presence. It is an attack on the Father and the human He indwells. It is a rejection of the Father's will, for the Father cannot help an individual grow spiritually if the human's life or means of survival are on the line.

When a person truly understands the significance of these details, it is clear that hurting another is a direct act against God and a clear roadblock to spiritual perfection that must be dealt with over time. Hurting another becomes spiritual baggage that we carry. Receiving mercy does not remove this load, it just makes us strong enough to deal with the weight that we must slowly remove -- replacing misdeeds with good deeds that outweigh the negative mark we leave ourselves with.

Understanding the severity of violence requires one to understand the realm of potentials. I have written on potentials and actuals before, and it is a lesson that must be learned in order to understand the importance of God's will, free will and both willful and ignorant selfishness. The immense possibilities of the future are in the direct hands of each person. No environment is a vacuum. Even actions that affect no one else on a physical or mental level may have a spiritual impact down the road. One can slightly impact their environment, creating no observable influence in one lifetime, but can act as a small contributing factor to an event further in the future that is unforeseeable. Both positive and negative actions can create lasting change. This change may not be noticed, but its effects can last forever, soul death being a very serious example.

I wished to write about this topic of violence when I realized that I could care so little about fake violence, brutality and gore, but become incredibly distraught by the real thing. I realize now that there is such enormity to one cruel act because it is a lasting image of ungodliness, of barbarism, that impacts many in time. I realize now that seeing another injured, even from a wound he or she can heal from, is a form of vandalism against one of God's many temples and against one of His children which He cherishes deeply. I realize now that my empathy for other people extends down, not just to their personality, soul or Thought Adjuster, but to their very cells. I realize now that the remaining roots of the Lucifer Rebellion, which shall be uprooted from the earth, have clung onto things I came to enjoy. These things are all examples of my own imperfections (noticing them so late). They are examples of the poorer qualities of my race (many not noticing at all). However, I know that I shall be made anew, and hopefully then, I can put these troubles of temporal struggle behind me.

Wednesday, August 20, 2014

Analysis of the Self: Reducing Depression

I personally battled through depression while growing up, and I am almost convinced it is one of those things most battle as a teenager, alongside the swings between apathy and emotional outbursts. There are many possible reasons for depression, including a chemical imbalance in the brain that may only be dealt with using a certain medication. I am no psychiatrist, so I do not know what medicine is best under what circumstance, but I have an idea on how to deal with depression when it is based on one's personal experiences. This comes with a three-part solution: improving your thought process, emotional stability and physical health.


Thought Process:

One aspect of depression is the inability to reach goals, or the feeling of it at least (i.e. powerlessness). As the individual receives and perceives stimuli, there is an inner reaction of thought which takes the perception of stimuli and uses it to form goals for the self. When an individual reaches a state of goal formation, action is taken to get closer to reaching that goal. The action then creates new stimuli for the individual to receive and perceive. Stimuli can come from the said  individual directly, from another person or from the environment itself.

Improving the underlying thought process requires one to understand how they perceive stimuli and how this impacts their behavior. After knowing how the behavior is impacted, one can now observe if said behavior actually gets one closer to personal goals, short-term or long-term. One should also analyze the value of the goals, the steps to achieving them and the time needed to perform those steps. Reasons for depression include not having valuable goals and not having a clear method of attaining goals. Changing how one thinks and acts can fix the latter dilemma. The former issue requires one to look at their personal value system and decide what it means to have a satisfactory life. Goals should then be built around that model.

Emotional Stability:

Depression can act as a form of emotional instability, where the feelings of the self can contradict with experiences or the environment. Bipolar disorder (manic depression) may be seen as an intense form of this, but I do not have experience in this area. If one's personal situation or environment is negative, then they can act as the source of the depression, and fixing these issues (if possible) is the best method. If a contradiction is involved, meaning one is depressed when they shouldn’t be, then this is either a physical (chemical/hormonal), mental or spiritual problem. These issues are ailments of the present which are not influenced by present (outward) circumstances, but they may still be circumstantial in that they are impacted by past situations. Physical issues dealing with the brain itself can be improved with physical health, as mentioned in the last section. Mental problems can likely be improved using the advice in the first section. Spiritual problems will be explained next.

One source of depression (which I call a spiritual problem) is a lack of love, whether it is for the self, for others or from others. Loving the self requires self-forgiveness as well as balance. One should not reach for selfishness. Loving others is a form of spiritual connection between people, and is necessary for not only learning selflessness, but the joy of service as well. However, receiving love is needed at first in order to give/show love. Without a beginning source, an individual simply cannot learn how to properly use the heart, and perhaps not even the conscience. Opening yourself up to God's love is a solution, but is difficult for those who did not receive proper love from their parents. Finding a soulmate may help correct this issue, but romance itself is not what is needed. Another spiritual issue is a lack of perceived beauty, whether that beauty involves your inner/outer self, others, or once again, the environment you must function in. The last spiritual issue involves ones comprehension of truth. This is involved with the thought process mentioned above, and is rooted in a person's beliefs, ideals and morals. Depression could be caused by not measuring up to personal standards. It could be from not knowing the way to move forward. It could even be from not knowing what to believe.

Ultimately, improving emotional stability is about controlling your response to what you experience. There are two sides to this same coin: thought response and emotion response. One must understand what comes first thought or emotion and then focus on if the thought or emotion should be adjusted. Improving thoughts involves learning, planning and practice. Improving emotions involves searching for what causes the imbalance and fixing that imbalance. This may involve a lot of trial and error.

Physical Health:

This requires a combination of physical exercise and nutrition. Body mass may play a factor in the depression, but the point of exercise and a good diet is not meant to solely fix this issue. A healthy mind comes with a healthy body, and a healthy body requires a minimum amount of movement and balanced food. However, I am not a nutritionist, nor am I a physical education instructor, so you will have to do a little personal research.

Sunday, July 27, 2014

Recent Ideas: The Time Pyramid

Occasionally I try to develop a model of time that can help explain both the human and celestial perspective. It’s a bit difficult for someone stuck in concrete linear time that only has one particular experience of the now moment. ABC-22 has attempted to describe the different layers of time before, as well as how the midwayers utilize the band of time they exist in, and I have attempted to figure it out a bit at a time (pun unintended).

At one point I thought of a possible clock/watch design that could show these different bands of time at once, showing the time of the linear “now” moment, along with the stretch of time the celestials could be inhabiting. In my mind, this was done through the display of various rings or concentric circles (with different colors) and time measurements on the side. I wasn’t sure if I was imagining something from science fiction or a real morontia machine, but either way, it didn’t really solve the issue of understanding time from a higher perspective. The original posts:

"This was a quick dive into my imagination. I was rethinking the circle, which became the front of a cylinder. I began looking at its side and rolling it. How can I change these dimensions? I saw the top, bottom and side at once. The shape was collapsing in on itself. I switched it around and thought of a clock. A shape always expanding, like zooming into fractal geometry. This was a time device. The shape expanded on the front and collapsed in on itself in the back, but it was completely flat. There were no sides. The expanding image showed the current time. Every measurement of time on the face could be maneuvered in. This was a representation of time bands, all aspects of the now constantly in motion, expanding outward. It was like a colored radar, but instead of a single line moving around the screen, circles pulsed out from the center. This was a multidimensional time travel watch."
"It has this dual function where each hour appears as a circle (creating a long "ping") expanding from the center. When the hour (let's say 7:00) reaches the outer edge, it disappears as 8:00 appears in the middle. There would be a horizontal measurement of the minutes. When used from a higher time band, the circle would then represent how much of our time a person could manipulate (go back and forth through). For this form, there would be a fixed circle in the middle used for human time. The individual's time would be represented by another circle. If the second circle gets closer to the middle dot, they are going back in time. If the circle expands closer to the outside, they are moving into the future."
"I had a new idea for the item. What I wanted to do was understand these higher bands of time that the midwayers and angels so easily know and experience. The problem is, the higher band you are on, the more flexible time may be. This probably means that while a secondary midwayer could go one or two hours in the past or future, a primary may go three or four. This is just an example though, and there are most certainly things midwayers cannot change, such as our free will decisions once we make them. Anyway, the face of the clock would get too cluttered with all of this information, so there needs to be a face for each band of time, which will be projected outward as a hologram. If you have seen the (CGI) holograms in Ironman or Pacific Rim, you would have an idea what I was thinking. Each would be a different color, and would create a cylinder in the air (which could be condensed or removed altogether). However, time may actually be better represented if the faces increased in size, creating a cone or funnel shape."

While getting ready for work, I got an idea of a new model of time and how those may experience it. I have no idea if I was the direct source or if it was someone else. The model may not even be right, but I would at least like to describe the idea. It is basically an upside down triangle, cone or pyramid. The bottom point is the now moment that is experienced at our level – the incredibly inflexible present moment. This pyramid has layers, and those finding themselves at a higher layer have a room of freedom that is theoretically measurable on the diagram. Right above our band of time is a layer that is slightly larger, and within it the midwayer in question can inhabit an area of time that we are not a part of in our world (or at least do not consciously experience at that moment). However, the effects of the midwayer’s activities can impact the present moment. A line can still be drawn from their current position to the bottom point of the pyramid. If his or her actions do not impact the physical world, the “line of influence” leaves the pyramid itself, failing to manifest itself in time-space in a way that impacts those experiencing the lower band of time. However, those of a higher band can be impacted, as they can experience or observe everything going on in the band below them. Thus, these lines of influence do not necessarily start at the point of existence that being is operating on.

These plot points can act more like the center of the line. The only question is whether the line of influence is straight no matter which way it is pointing. If it is pointing toward the now we experience, then it can either influences the past or future now which the higher beings can operate on. One more thing to realize is that this pyramid is not real in structure, only in how the bands operate. Basically, the pyramid is moving, and the bands inside the pyramid leave a straight and definite trail that becomes recorded history. The last thing I’ll mention is that the very top band is inhabited by God, and this contains all past, present and future. In reality, if you could may this idea out, it would not look like a triangle, but a very odd shape.

There is also one more way of looking at this time concept, and that is a thing of experience. Time, for the most part, may be uniform, but the experience of it doesn’t have to be. If time is simply the measurement of events, then the celestials may simply be capable of performing far more tasks in less time and can also multitask far better than we can. A band of time may really be the ability to manipulate, experience or know multiple events at once, or perhaps this is simply what one can do when inhabiting a higher band than us.

A basic model of this pyramid is provided below (click for full size):

Sunday, July 20, 2014

New Ideas: The Journey to Cosmic Citizenship

There are some fundamental truths that all searching for citizenship in the cosmic sense will find out. These are issues that will indeed appear as one grows spiritually and learns to plan for future service in the ascension career. This list comprises of a few things I know of personally, but there are many aspects to this subject not discussed.

1. Every thought, feeling and action is recorded or known, though not everyone access to all information. Realizing that God knows more about you than you do is a simple thing. Comprehending the magnitude of every action contributing to a future spiritual resume, of sorts, is not. There are no secrets.

2. What you do now impacts your future, a future that can extend so far forward that you simply cannot know the full consequences of what you do. These consequences can be both good and bad, so forget the negative spin that word usually holds. All actions have effects, and these effects can snowball so far down the road that you won't know what to expect. Do not get so worked up about it that you can't sleep, but realize that doing good can have a far more beneficial effect on the world, the universe and yourself than what you would expect to occur in the short-run.

3. Planning for the ascension career, or the billions of years it will take to reach Paradise, can start during the evolutionary experience, provided you have the right information. It is not just a thing of figuring out what you want to study, but what you can do in the flesh to make the ascension experience easier or more flexible.

4. Learn to love as many people as you can on this planet, and learn to stop worrying about minor differences. You will be socializing with people from other planets not too long from now.

New Ideas: The Many Facets of the Magisterial Mission

The Magisterial Mission has quite a few branches, all impacting a variety of projects. However, there are two main categories, one dealing with physical sustenance, the other with spiritual sustenance. For now, I will just post a short look at these two general categories.

1. Spiritual Growth:

A category that largely impacts things at the individual level, which begins with the confirmation of God's presence and love. For a Descending Son of God to appear in the flesh means that scripture becomes largely outdated and almost useless. Why rely on a bible or even the Urantia Book when a Paradise Son and his staff is present and can answer questions? Organized religion is bound to change chaotically, some of it disappearing entirely over time. Ultimately, people will be led to develop their personal relationship with the Father, and part of the reason there is to be a Magisterial Mission is to substantially boost such a relationship that fosters soul growth.

2. Societal Growth:

A category that deals with sociological changes and sustainability issues. The next reason for the mission is to improve society as it restructures itself in response to a changing planet. This is a thing of both physical sustenance and cultural longevity and evolution, meaning that societal growth is broken into two more categories of physical sustainability and social sustainability.

Physical sustainability involves reorganizing human groups so as to survive potential calamities, as well as introducing new technology utilizing ultimatons so as to bring basic utilities to all of mankind.

Social sustainability involves reorganizing human groups so that society will come to reflect the three values of: life, equality and growth. The value of life is about the quality of life. Do the right requirements for this quality exist, and if not, why? Is there a lack of resources, or is there some social issue at play? The value of equality is a simple matter, and that is about everyone being capable of growing and thriving, which concerns the other two listed values. The value of growth is about whether an individual has every opportunity to grow in skills, knowledge and responsibility. This growth encompasses the physical, mental and spiritual aspects of life, which help lead to life quality something that everyone will eventually have access to.

Tuesday, July 1, 2014

Recent Ideas: Limits of Love

This was a previous concept I put together, but I cannot find my original post about it. I believe it to be an important one, so I might as well recreate it here.

There are two human limits on love, or more specifically, how it is expressed, and that is in giving and receiving.

People naturally have a cap on how much love they can show others. These limits are created by time, circumstance, energy and focus. Time dictates the number of times you can do things through love. Within your life, you must dedicate a certain amount of time to yourself in order to simply survive, but you can still serve others daily. However, this service relies on circumstance. You have to be capable of interacting with people (being in the right place) and also capable of creating a positive effect. Your ability to create a positive effect depends on how much energy you desire to expend, and how much you have in reserve, and this also relates to time. Lastly, there is the focus of the love or service itself. How many people are you helping or showing affection? Is it one person at a time? Is it a group? Will this love be passed on to others or to later generations? There can even be an inward focus, and the person may desire to love themselves over others. These are all limitations of expression that exist for temporal beings.

People also have a cap on how much love they can receive. Normally, this is a level of comfort involving how much love you desire and how much is taken in. Too much can create discomfort, and a person who receives too much may find the giver to have ulterior motives or to be too attached. It is also a thing of expectations: what you expect to receive (or earn) and what you expect others to try to give. The former is an internal focus on the individual (you), and involves the reception of love from all interactions. The latter is an outward focus on someone else, and what you expect them to give to those they interact with. Though there are good social reasons to create certain limits on love reception, this behavior can also result in misunderstandings when one receives far more than expected, or far less.

Remember, no matter how much the reader may wish to serve others, there are still physical restrictions created by your body and the involved natural laws, and mental limits created by those you interact with and choose to serve.

Wednesday, June 11, 2014

Blog Design

One thing I wish I could do with this blog is properly sort the material. The search function does not seem to search for titles, so organizing things based on title is not too helpful. I would sort posts and put them on different pages, but it seems these pages simply act as a lone post. This is not very helpful. I did not want to do this, but I am starting to think WordPress would offer the right options needed. I do not wish to move as I like the Google+ integration, but it is obvious to me that I cannot get everything I want while using Blogspot. Hopefully I will find a solution.

Saturday, June 7, 2014

A Friendly Face: Plateau


I’ve climbed up to a plateau of understanding spiritual reality. Experience and ideas integrated by illumination were the rungs of my ladder. The final pieces of the puzzle just clicked into place. My quest started with a conviction that there was a spiritual realm although I knew nothing about it. It ended with a sufficiently useful understanding of the universe to provide a solid foundation from which to continue further exploration.

The level I’ve achieved is analogous to my understanding of electricity. The ‘laws’ that allow me to use electricity are simply descriptions of predictable results based on repeatable observations. In truth I don’t really understand electricity’s fundamental nature but I can still use it. In spite of the fact that human exploration of the physical universe is far from complete, a plateau of usable knowledge is still valuable. The same is personally true in the realm of the spirit. My odyssey was motivated by a painfully acute awareness of an inability to feel Love, an overwhelming need to understand how the universe works and a desire for practical answers.

I started with the idea that thoughts were consciousness but noticed that my common thoughts were an internal dialog that was emotionally driven. Careful observation of emotions led me to conclude that the solar plexus and the Heart are two distinct locations of very different feelings. The emotions of solar plexus are desires and fears that create reactions such as happiness, anger, sadness, disgust and surprise. The Heart feels values such as beauty, truth and goodness. Reactions to those are hope, delight, wonder etc. Each of those centers is linked to a different hemisphere of our brains. We really have two minds and the feelings associated with them really are unique to each.

The solar plexus is the origin of our animal/reactive mind in conjunction with our material senses and the left lobe of our brains. We reach out from that center and attach ourselves to comforting elements of our environment. We defend ourselves with emotional armoring designed to protect us from the fears created by events of our lives and those inherited from our ancestors all the way back to ooze. Attachments and fears are the source of the unconscious mind, the origin of our reflexive emotional reactions and the source of the constant internal dialog we hold with ourselves.

The operation of the left-brain is analogous to a serial processor. It constantly picks out individual aspects of the environment upon which to focus, remembers their historical relationships and projects future possibilities. It works in a linear mode and ‘thinks’ in symbols (language, math etc.). Because it breaks down our picture of the world around us into isolated pieces for analysis it is the genesis of our rudimentary sense of self, the ego. In conjunction with the solar plexus we believe we are separate and try to gain material substance to achieve a sense of reality and security. That is perfectly normal and valuable for our animal survival unless a run-away pathological sense of self-exaltation causes us to attempt become greater at the expense of others.

The right hemisphere is the interpreter of the Heart. It is akin to a parallel processor in that it accesses multiple streams of data all at the same time. It lives in the present moment, ‘thinks’ in pictures and learns kinesthetically. It is our transmitter and receiver of cosmic communication. The Heart feels in values, the product of relationships. It integrates us into the larger unseen universe of spirit and gives of itself to become greater. This is where we have access to the spiritual mind (the superconscious) and a little Spark of God that resides within us to be our guides toward perfection.

Living in the Heart is a very different experience. It requires mindfulness to live there. Purity of intent is the power that gives substance to our thoughts and allows us to create. Creative actions yield the wonder of discovery, the uplifting feel of beauty and the satisfaction of goodness. We are assisted by moments of inspiration. The old light bulb going off in the top of your head is the feeling of your momentary access to the superconscious. The result may be realization, literally becoming more real. Perhaps you will experience the gift of genius, that ability to bring forth new, relatively enlightened concepts or actions to advance humanity. You may hear that quiet voice within guiding you on your unique path toward becoming relatively more perfect.

To open our Hearts and access our spiritual minds requires a conscious choice. The accuracy of our visualization of the universe is the platform on which we advance. It is through the eyes of the mind that we first begin to see the Divine nature. The feelings of the Heart are the effects of the realization of spiritual action. The emotions of the solar plexus compel us to react. Our material mind is reactive, the spiritual mind creative. Emotions are the primary stimulus of the animal/reactive/material mind but secondary effects experienced as a result of using the creative/spiritual mind.

There is a cross connection between our two minds. Unfortunately the solar plexus driven, left-brain, material mind is so noisy that it frequently commands center stage. When our spiritual mind is in charge the material mind can be used as a dynamic part of the creative process. In that case we reach out with the same energy we used in establishing attachments but then withdraw it to ‘read by feeling’ the qualities and attributes of the physical realm. This capacity is one of our most important tools in becoming co-creators of our lives. On a day-to-day basis we are able to respond more capably to our circumstances when we can feel what is going on accurately.

How do you make the transition from the material mind to the spiritual? Practice. Experience. Finding meaning. Your path will be unique. Many people are making this same transition and are sharing their personal discoveries. That may help. Most important is your own inward inquiry. Ask inside for guidance and try to still your animal/material mind long enough to receive an answer. Those moments of Stillness accumulate to create a ‘critical space’ within your Heart’s mind that will be filled with the answers you need. Learn to listen to and then follow your inner guide. Only the tiniest bit of faith is required, just enough to overcome your initial skepticism.

Mind interprets the values of spirit for the intellect. So if you are in pursuit of spiritual knowledge the simplest approach I’ve discovered is to note whether you are reacting to your animal mind or finding direction through the Heart. Your journey is powered by conscious intent. Which do you choose, for it is a matter of choice? That is the question. Love is the answer.


http://www.theoreticsinstitute.org

Saturday, May 31, 2014

Project: Defining Love

What was originally a short means to reduce misunderstanding has become a larger project to define what love is and what it creates. Speaking of feelings, or anything relating to such, can be a difficult task. The topic holds diverse opinions and ideas, so going into enough detail to compensate for this can be a major undertaking. I am still working on this here and there, but I might as well post what I have so far.


Love as a Value:

Love as a value concept holds different forms, ranging from the finite, conditional and imperfect, to the perfect, unconditional, infinite and absolute. The values which are born from the value of love, much like the actions, thoughts and feelings created from love, hold similar levels of existence as well.

Love holds both quantitative and qualitative aspects. Love on the ultimate level is when love is quantitatively infinite and qualitatively absolute.


Love as a Creation:

The love of the Father is based in the love of the Son and for the Spirit, which is how love is used in infinity.

If you look at the brain, there is a place just above the cranium spot where the crown chakra appears.  Somewhere in that general area is the seat of personality bestowed at fertilization of the ovum. It is that bestowal that is the seat of the ability to love. It is not a neurological construction although it has neurons and other tissues connected through it, but it is supermaterial. It is supermaterial because it loses no effectiveness when crushed by rejection or by error of judgment. It is renewed constantly by the power of God to nurture personality God the Father bestows to the human mind.

We all love the Father more because of his nature than in recognition of his amazing attributes. Love leads to affection, which can create a reaction of affection from others when the mind is not blinded by negative feelings. We come to love what loves as well, thus we love based more on the use of attributes (nature) rather than the attributes themselves. The experience of loving is very much a direct response to the experience of being loved.

Knowing that God loves me, I should continue to love him supremely, even if He were divested of all his attributes of supremacy, ultimacy, and absoluteness. God loves us first and grants us the ability to love, so it is natural for us to love Him in return. Love is reciprocated. Finite love (creature perspective) can be seen as a reciprocation of infinite love (Creator perspective). All in all, loving God would certainly be a reciprocation if we love those who love us.

Love creates a connection between us and something or someone else. As God’s love is infinite, He can maintain infinite connections or bonds. In this sense, love’s usage has a quantitative aspect. And because God is the ultimate source of love, there is a qualitative essence to it – the fact that it is the most perfect example of love to be found. Thus we find that it is infinite in mass and absolute in meaning.


Love as an Experience:

Love is expressed primarily through three functions: action, thought and feeling.

Action – the expression of love through the developing of relationships, primarily through service.
Thought – thoughts of love usually come in the forms of forgiveness, appreciation, compassion, understanding or humility.
Feeling – the reaction of the heart in response to receiving and providing love or its various expressions.
 
Another way of looking at the experience of love is to divide it between three forms: physical, mental and spiritual.

Physical – the desire to be close to something or someone, or to engage in some form of bond. It is a thing of comfort and desire.
Mental – the approval or acceptance of ideas, things or beings. It is a thing of preference and belief.
Spiritual – the desire to devote oneself to another (or the self) in a fashion which reaps a positive result (likely following the Father's will). It is a thing of offering and respect, and includes selfless service and worship. 


Love as a Thing:

It is clear that human language cannot perfectly describe what love is, but we can at least try to ask the right questions. These are some of mine:

Where does love come from?
Does love exist as energy?
Does it exist as a field?
Does it create energy?
Is it a value hidden within an interaction?
Is it in you waiting for release?  
Is it received in a way so that you can store it for the day when you want to use it?

Thursday, May 29, 2014

Recent Ideas: The Effects of Time

Many of the reasons for human experience are known to us, as we must be capable of experiencing or witnessing the lack of perfection in order to understand the greatness of perfection. But there is something else. Why are our bodies so weak? Why don't people stay on a planet until fusion or until they advance in spiritual standing? Why does there need to be death when there are others who begin their existence in morontia form? One of the great reasons for this body of flesh is that it makes us overly conscious of time. This is one of the few experiences in the ascension career where time is truly of the essence. The human body is an expression of time itself!

Even if the progression and regression of the soul is not witnessed, the course of time is still evident not just by our action, but by our existence. With a body that does not age or die, progression is more like an eventual activity, not something that always needs to be accomplished today or tomorrow. However, in the human form, there may not even be a tomorrow. Time is bearing down on you 24/7. Whether it is through action or inaction, the consequences will teach us to take time seriously, and that will certainly help us reach Paradise at a faster pace. There are other reasons for valuing this time experience, but I believe acknowledging the possible consequences of slothful behavior and valuing the succession of events within time-space are two of the biggest things to gain through the experience of temporal life.

Recent Ideas: Unknown Angels

I am not sure how many have reached this conclusion, but it is an interesting one worth mentioning. The Urantia Book only names one class of angel for us, the seraphim, while there are seven types in total. The other six of these are not mentioned as they do not regularly become involved in the human ascension career. Some may have picked up on this right away, but I did not. I included cherubim, sanobim, supernaphim, seconaphim, tertiaphim and omniaphim to that list, mainly due to the similarity in names. These other spirit types (including the seraphim and midwayers) are classified Ministering Spirits, and thus grouped together.

(420.1) 38:3.1 Numerous orders of spirit beings function throughout the domains of the local universe that are unrevealed to mortals because they are in no manner connected with the evolutionary plan of Paradise ascension. In this paper the word “angel” is purposely limited to the designation of those seraphic and associated offspring of the Universe Mother Spirit who are so largely concerned with the operation of the plans of mortal survival. There serve in the local universe six other orders of related beings, the unrevealed angels, who are not in any specific manner connected with those universe activities pertaining to the Paradise ascent of evolutionary mortals. These six groups of angelic associates are never called seraphim, neither are they referred to as ministering spirits. These personalities are wholly occupied with the administrative and other affairs of Nebadon, engagements which are in no way related to man’s progressive career of spiritual ascent and perfection attainment.

 I should also mention that there are seven groups of seraphim:

1. Supreme Seraphim.
2. Superior Seraphim.
3. Supervisor Seraphim.
4. Administrator Seraphim.
5. Planetary Helpers.
6. Transition Ministers.
7. Seraphim of the Future.

 However, these seraphim are not fundamentally different beings. They differ in their function and competencies. I should also mention that the archangels are not real angels, nor are they Ministering Spirits, as strange as that may sound. We traditionally think of Archangels as a type of angel since "angel" is in the name, but these are actually dual-origin beings coming from both the Creator Son and Mother Spirit, and beings are only known as angels (as far as I can tell) when they are from the Infinite Spirit (or local Mother Spirit) only. Archangels are listed as Descending Sons.

In contrast, the following is a list of those mentioned in the Urantia Book which only come from the Infinit Spirit:

1. Solitary Messengers.
2. Universe Circuit Supervisors.
3. Census Directors.
4. Personal Aids of the Infinite Spirit.
5. Associate Inspectors.
6. Assigned Sentinels.
7. Graduate Guides.
8. Havona Servitals.
9. Universal Conciliators.
10. Morontia Companions.
11. Supernaphim.
12. Seconaphim.
13. Tertiaphim.
14. Omniaphim.
15. Seraphim.
16. Cherubim and Sanobim.
17. Unrevealed Spirit-origin Beings.
18. The Seven Supreme Power Directors.
19. The Supreme Power Centers.
20. The Master Physical Controllers.
21. The Morontia Power Supervisors.

Thursday, May 22, 2014

Semantic Misunderstandings: Frequency and Vibration

I often have trouble understanding someone when they mention frequencies or vibrations in a spiritual sense, as these concepts lack true explanations. The idea of personal frequency or vibration is used so numerously that it seems almost a thing of common knowledge, at least among certain groups. However, there has been little to no scientific explanation. I can understand why if this is a spiritual phenomenon, but if this is the case, then it is not a thing of physical vibration. So what is vibrating? What holds the frequency? The soul? The energy body? The mind? I have my own personal answer, but I do not know how correct it is.


A frequency can be like a radio signal. It is used to communicate meanings which hold certain values. Higher frequencies relate to higher values being communicated. In this case, raising your frequency equates to the ability to communicate with higher teachers or those of greater authority. What this means is that a personal frequency is an attunement to certain communication circuits used for transmitting/receiving and even reflectivity. Thus, having a greater frequency can literally get you closer to God, but it does not necessarily mean you are more like God unless accessing such forms of contact is a direct result of personal growth. Only then could frequency be used to measure spiritual growth, but this still does not explain vibration.

Perhaps I will eventually find the answer, and I certainly welcome any new ideas from those who come across this post.