BigSkyDiamond

The Dao Bums
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Everything posted by BigSkyDiamond

  1. Stranger things

    we did this at work, as a way of confirming the person would be able to talk on the phone, i.e. not busy with something else. But for personal calls, if someone doesn't want to answer, then just let it go to voice mail.
  2. Stranger things

    i dated a Dine' (Navajo) guy for awhile. There was no word for attorney in the Dine' language, so a phrase was cobbled together for attorney: Dinébe'iiná Náhiiłna be Agha'diit'ahii This roughly translates to "those who talk too fast and help revitalize the well being of the Dine' people"
  3. simplify

    and then there is "Complexicate" which is in the urban dictionary
  4. Marketing and Magic

    Neither of which demonstrate or indicate an understanding of why AI is not sentient.
  5. Marketing and Magic

    duplicate deleted
  6. Marketing and Magic

    regarding inability to understand why AI is not sentient, research it. or start a thread. it is a fact that AI is not sentient. not a "viewpoint" or opinion or belief or "assertion". A fact.
  7. Marketing and Magic

    post above is another that indicates an inability to grasp (a) why AI is not sentient, and (b) what it is to be sentient.
  8. Complify

    progeny
  9. simplify

    posting on a public forum is in and of itself an invitation and act of soliciting advice.
  10. Has anyone tried the course on ancientmasters.org?

    In reading through the site, it clearly states that the focus is on magic. The goal and motivation is to become a "magus." The site itself states: "Generally, a Magus is someone who possesses enough power to influence external events/objects or people via the use of spiritual force. " So the focus is magic, power, and use of force. Is that what you want and why? It is helpful with any practice at any time, to get clear within yourself and be able to answer with self-honesty: what is it that appeals to me about this practice? what do i hope to get out of it? what is it that i find attractive about it? what is my motivation in learning this, in practicing this? When I have ______________ then I will feel ___________. When I have this ______________, then this is what i will do _______________. The more you are able to examine within and clarify within and be honest about within, regarding your own motivation and intention, then the more clarity you will have about what is a good fit for you in terms of choosing or discarding a practice. Personally for me, there are way too many red flags particularly on this page (link below). See how it resonates for you. Ask yourself "Is this who i want to be?" "Is this the kind of person i see myself as?" "Do i see myself embracing this view, saying these things" "Is this how i view myself in relation to others" "Are these the kind of people I want to hang out with?" "Are these the ideas i want to ingest and allow into my life and shape who i become?" https://ancientmasters.org/library/spiritual-development-in-magic Read every page on the website (for any practice you are considering) keeping the above questions in mind, and paying close attention internally as you read and research, to observing and noticing what your own internal thoughts, feelings, desires, responses, and reactions are. That process in and of itself will stand you in good stead with regards to developing your own internal compass. Best wishes to you on your path, growth, practice, and development.
  11. Newbie

    Welcome! i would like to hear more about the pull. and your sense of it. This is a good forum for sharing, discussion, exploration of meditation experiences .
  12. Marketing and Magic

    when a video is posted it would be helpful to hear in your own words the point or points you find most interesting for discussion, or that made the greatest impression on you. this gives the reader an idea of whether they want to perhaps delve further and watch the video. otherwise, for me, the link is ignored. It is like any text posted from AI. Dismissed out of hand.
  13. Marketing and Magic

    Statement above demonstrates a lack of understanding regarding what it is to be sentient. And also why AI is not sentient.
  14. Paintings you like

    i just discovered Lois Dodd. She paints a lot of windows, which are favorites of mine. I like that she simply paints what she sees from where she sits and where she lives.
  15. Perspectives on Morality

    Regarding entropy: "disorder in a system, randomness" I remember hearing a definition of G O D as being: Good Orderly Direction and that a measure of how aligned we are with Divinity, is the extent to which all three of those are present in our daily life: good and orderly and direction. And that we feel there is good orderly direction in our life. Instead of life feeling random and having our life in disorder.
  16. i remember about 30 years ago taking a class on "prosperity based on spiritual principles." My financial life was well, in the toilet. Unemployed, out of the work force, unstable and unhealthy romantic relationship, ongoing health problems, court appearnces and legal battle with ex over money and custody. The class was very practice-based so there was interesting homework which I faithfully carried out, more out of desperation than anything else. Sort of an "i'll try anything" mindset. Some of the homework assignments made a big impression on me (and still do, to this day). Every time i wrote a check for anything (this was before online banking, when people actually wrote paper checks to make payments) in the comment field write "God is my Source of supply." I did this for years. After a while i shortened it to "God is my Source." Carry a $100 bill in wallet at all times (yes, a real one). It is impossible to feel "poor" while seeing a $100 bill every time opening wallet. All financial debt is related to forgiveness. Make a list of all people in my life needing forgiveness, and do it. Include self on list. Repeat as needed. I found it surprisingly effective.
  17. simplify

    Simplify: I am the very model of a modern Major-General, I've information vegetable, animal, and mineral. I know the kings of England, and I quote the fights historical, from Marathon to Waterloo, in order categorical. I'm very well acquainted, too, with matters mathematical, I understand equations, both the simple and quadratical. About binomial theorem I'm teeming with a lot o' news, with many cheerful facts about the square of the hypotenuse.
  18. Haiku Chain

    fly like an eagle, dive like sea turtle, and know deep still mysteries.
  19. simplify

    Simplify: "The metaphors of sky and spaciousness are often used to describe the nature of mind in Dzogchen."
  20. Perspectives on Morality

    also from the same Source as post just above: Dialogue is collaborative: two or more sides work together toward common understanding. Debate is oppositional: two sides oppose each other and attempt to prove each other wrong. In dialogue, understanding is the goal. In debate, winning is the goal. In dialogue, one listens to the other sides in order to understand, find meaning, and find agreement. In debate, one listens to the other side in order to find flaws and to counter its arguments. Dialogue reveals assumptions for reevaluation, and causes introspection on one’s own position. Debate defends assumptions as truth, and causes critique of the other position. Dialogue is open-minded and includes other views and solutions. Debate is closed-minded, determination to be right, excludes other views and solutions. Dialogue involves a real concern for the other person and seeks to not alienate or offend. Debate involves a countering of the other position without focusing on feelings or relationship and often belittles or deprecates the other person.
  21. Perspectives on Morality

    However for many people, argument and debate are neither relevant nor desired. It is seen not as a "goal" in conversation, but as a barrier and obstacle to understanding, learning, growth, and development. As the opening post astutely notes, this is not universal and it is based on personal values. Excerpt below is from a resource that compares and explores the various elements, differences, motivation, and intent within: dialogue, discussion, and debate. "In debate we try to: Judge other viewpoints as inferior, invalid or distorted Search for flaws in logic Focus on right and wrong Listen with a view of countering " "In dialogue we try to: Allow for and invite differences of opinion and experience Discover collective meaning Express paradox and ambiguity Listen without judgment and with a view to understand " Source from the University of Michigan, Program on Intergroup Relations
  22. Perspectives on Morality

    yes yes yes yes well said. brilliant. all of it.
  23. What made YOU laugh today/tonight ?

    i listened to comedienne Zarna Garg on "Being an Indian Immigrant in America" and find her hilarious. (One of my daughters in law immigrated here from India.)
  24. The leader Akenhaten was demonized by his own culture. After he died, the sun-disk deity Aten which the leader Akenhaten imposed and forced upon his subjects, was removed from place of prominence and the previous pantheon of deities (polytheism) was restored. Worship of the sun-disk deity Aten (the new religion which some today are now labeling"monotheism") was never widespread in Egypt nor was it long lasting. It was local and specific to the imposed rule of Akenhaten, who reigned for only 17 years. Polytheism in Egypt on the the other hand lasted 3,000 years. "Akhenaten was deeply unpopular by the end of his reign. There had been many plagues and droughts during the end of his rule, and the high priests were essentially planning a civil war or coup against the royal family. Basically, Aten worship was seen as a bad thing, and the cause of the ruin of Egypt, so Akhenaten’s works, his family’s works, and his temples were wiped from the slate of history and the old religion reinstated without much protest and with great joy. And this all happened within a span of 40 years." A successor Pharaoh changed his name from Tutankhaten ("living image of Aten") to Tutankhamen ("living image of Amun"). read more here.
  25. Haiku Chain

    all the forms filled out all the boxes packed. Time to start my new life now.