Been a While - A few Questions

What is there to gain in knowing the big picture, why do we speculate
 
There's a thing here that the more secure my life becomes, the less I can experience the full 'frisson' of existence that I have when I am living day to day, not knowing what my life will be like by the end of the day, walking out of my door in the morning not knowing what I am going to experience and who I will be by the time I get home -- how life will have changed me?

Perhaps a big city policeman experiences this intensity: every day could literally be his last, he has only his wits to get him through?

Comfort and stability brings a dullness and sameness.

I'll say this much ... for about 4 to 6 years I was the exact same way ... Not knowing if I'd make it home, so everyday I left my home I just anticipated not coming back. 4 to 6 years I lived like I was dying, but at the same time it was a most miserable time of my life. I guess it took that long to umm ... make peace with it and find comfort. Anymore, I realize it's the same for everyone whether you fear it or not. We never know what a day will bring is the gist. So yeah, I understand the sentiment, and agree ... yet disagree also. I don't think we should ever lose our edge, but comfort is important. Beyond comfort, happiness and excitement and fun, yet there's a serious side to life that requires attention also. I guess in the end it's about balance 69 ... yin yang kind of existence ya know?
 
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What's the big picture? I can see a bigger picture, but in your opinion, what's the big picture?
Well, do you mean the ultimate picture? Impossible to know. But if you're going to travel, it helps to use a map. Or to know how to use one, in case the GPS fails, lol
 
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Well, do you mean the ultimate picture? Impossible to know. But if you're going to travel, it helps to use a map. Or to know how to use one, in case the GPS fails, lol

I meant the big picture as the individual meant it in the post I replied to. Ultimate picture? I guess that's as individual as moral values.
 
There is no big picture to the best of understanding (sarcasm)
 
Metaphorically speaking perhaps life is more like a movie than we care to admit. Imagine a movie projector playing a movie. Individually one single movie frame would not reveal the entire movie. However, a series moving picture frames tells the story of the movie until the ends. Life is a lot like that movie projector taking in every single living frame. As we live day after day we can only speculate what our big picture might be or even become.

I don't know if the movie of our lives will be revealed. maybe it won't be necessary.
 
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Metaphorically speaking perhaps life is more like a movie than we care to admit. Imagine a movie projector playing a movie. Individually one single movie frame would not reveal the entire movie. However, a series moving picture frames tells the story of the movie until the ends. Life is a lot like that movie projector taking in every single living frame. As we live day after day we can only speculate what our big picture might be or even become.

I don't know if the movie of our lives will be revealed. maybe it won't be necessary.


Ohh I know ... believe ... it's like it's in the air or something ... I like eyes too and hope we can capture frames with a blink of the eye. no biggie. It's been like this for as long as I remember. Ever watch City of Angels? Great flick and the song Iris rings a bell or true or something too. I like it but it seems to drive others bat shit crazy.
 
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Ok, but time&space and nature and everything came into existence 13.8 billion years ago. That is when time started. I as a part of nature am surrounded and contained and permeated by spirit, which is both inside and outside of time?
 
Ok, but time&space and nature and everything came into existence 13.8 billion years ago. That is when time started. I as a part of nature am surrounded and contained and permeated by spirit, which is both inside and outside of time?
i especially appreciate your last sentence as part of nature surrounded and contained and permeated by spirit..etc. a defining truth.
 
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What's the big picture? I can see a bigger picture, but in your opinion, what's the big picture?

I believe the "Big Picture" is unfolding before us constantly and that it is the reality & totality of material & spiritual existence and our "place" in it.

Still much to know and see, but in spite of so many things, the Big Picture is slowly coming into view. As it does, we get more & more answers to the questions of how, what, when, where and even why?????

Science - specifically the fields of physics, astro physics and quantum mechanics - has been giving & and continues to give us a better view (in the context of space/time) of our place in the universe and an understanding of the nature & function of the universe.

I also see psychology as something that has really increased our understanding of who and what we are, thereby expanding and/or enhancing our perception of the Big Picture.

I also see an increasing Spirituality - while there is a trend happening with "organized religion" decreasing - I believe this Spirituality, as well as a deeper & more accurate understanding (and thereby application) of Religion, is giving so many of us a better/larger view of the Big Picture and will ultimately be a great help to Religion itself - for I am a firm believer in the balance of Spirituality and Religiousity.

I believe that striving to perceive the Big Picture expands our consciousness, resulting in a better orientation in the context of our material and spiritual existence.
 
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Ok, but time&space and nature and everything came into existence 13.8 billion years ago. That is when time started. I as a part of nature am surrounded and contained and permeated by spirit, which is both inside and outside of time?

When you say spirit what do you mean? If you mean the intangible, unseen space in and outside ourselves and all it entails I would agree. Spirit means so many different things to so many different people it's difficult sometimes to know what is meant when the term is used. Like air or breath or rather O2 ... Inside myself, both breath and emotion and mind and all the intricacies of how my organs function without conscious thought ... it's pretty amazing really. What's outside of this atmosphere? Empty space or is it filled with something different than what we're accustomed to here on earth? Some say all is mind, and I would agree aside from the unknown aspects of ... like subconscious mind and what mechanism and how do our organs function without our effort? As living organisms ... some would say souls, we are able to experience life because of how we're built. Also, I'm a firm believer that time is illusory in that it doesn't truly exist outside of our carnal and/or temporal understanding of life.
 
I believe the "Big Picture" is unfolding before us constantly and that it is the reality & totality of material & spiritual existence and our "place" in it.

Still much to know and see, but in spite of so many things, the Big Picture is slowly coming into view. As it does, we get more & more answers to the questions of how, what, when, where and even why?????

Science - specifically the fields of physics, astro physics and quantum mechanics - has been giving & and continues to give us a better view (in the context of space/time) of our place in the universe and an understanding of the nature & function of the universe.

I also see psychology as something that has really increased our understanding of who and what we are, thereby expanding and/or enhancing our perception of the Big Picture.

I also see an increasing Spirituality - while there is a trend happening with "organized religion" decreasing - I believe this Spirituality, as well as a deeper & more accurate understanding (and thereby application) of Religion, is giving so many of us a better/larger view of the Big Picture and will ultimately be a great help to Religion itself - for I am a firm believer in the balance of Spirituality and Religiousity.

I believe that striving to perceive the Big Picture expands our consciousness, resulting in a better orientation in the context of our material and spiritual existence.


I have nothing to say expect I think I agree completely. Science, spirituality, religion ... life. O.k. so ... umm ... I had something more to say. It's all life and since all three fields deal with life, I think it beneficial to at least consider them all in our (some of our quest) to understand life better in hope for better quality in the present and in the future for all who will come after.
 
If planet earth has been around for 4.5 Billion years It would be very logical that Man existed on this planet for millions of years, if not a billion years or more. The nonexistence of recognized evidence of humans as we know them for the last 6000 yrs does not justify a limited conclusion.
 
If planet earth has been around for 4.5 Billion years It would be very logical that Man existed on this planet for millions of years, if not a billion years or more. The nonexistence of recognized evidence of humans as we know them for the last 6000 yrs does not justify a limited conclusion.

What does that even mean?
What does it mean that the earth is ~4 billion years old?

It all depends on our comprehension of "time".
Is time absolute, or is it as Einstein claims an illusion :)
 
It would be very logical that Man existed on this planet for millions of years, if not a billion years or more.
Why would it be logical?

Best evidence is for Homo Sapiens existence for 200/300 thousand years.

Did man walk with dinosaurs?

EDIT
Essentially one can speculate anything one wants to. Speculations will differ between different schools of thought, often greatly?
 
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I don't care about the big picture because it is futile and a distraction from now
 
Why not indeed ... for one I'd say both those attitudes, the 'we must change' and 'what the hell' require someone looking with their eyes open. Largely, we shuffle on through lives with our eyes shut. How else do we explain phenomena like the current political situation — China is locking down its barriers, India is waiting in the wings, Russia is dismantling the US global outreach, here in the UK the right is in pursuit of a fantasy vision of England that never existed and cannot today...

I once held, briefly, the Illuminati-kind of idea (It's actually a lot older than that) of the King of the World, a kind of secret court wherein the esoterically-occultly great-and-good pulled the strings on human affairs ... well if such a council exists, they've made an absolute dogs dinner of managing the affairs of man :D

Now I realise the human being is a deeply superstitious creature, but where once religion was the melting pot of all our superstitions, we in the west have now rationalised them. 'Conspiracy theories' come from the same place. A blind faith in the idea that science will answer all the questions/work the solutions/save the planet comes from the same place ...


Great post and points made in it. The thing is, the bible is true. The way some view the content therein is where the troubles stem. When read, and the words contained within the pages are powerful, some get lost very easily. It's extremely easy to get lost in that book, but ... It's true just the same. Now, when I stated that we need a solid foundation on which to build upon, I wasn't speaking of the scriptures. I keep them because so many people have so much invested in them. Otherwise I'd be just fine with never mentioning, or speaking about, or ever even attempt to convey the truth present in them. For example: Its a history book written in prose ... I mean it's pure unadulterated poetry that also provides insight into our history. The question I guess would be, as you somewhat alluded to, would it be better to utilize a more modern, less poetic, and more sholastic type of text to go back in time, so to speak? I different type of history book, one that has less stigma attached, might be a better option ... for some. Not so for many others. I for one truly enjoy conveying a more hopeful understanding, as opposed to the typical doom and gloom and fear based understanding, yet I do understand the necessity for the fear. The question is ... Is it possible to do what needs to be done without them? I'm alluding to the reconciliation of all things both in heaven and on earth. Honestly, I don't think it can be done without the scriptures, as without them also, there is no "true" reconciliation of all things.
 
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