ForumGarden

Technically, I shouldn't feel that way as I've been brought up in a very spiritual environment and later became a pagan, close to nature, natural energies and all sorts of stuff that doesn't occur to modern man, who's generally immersed in work, the media, telly, gossip, etc etc.





Sorry pink but I think youre selling millions short. For those that get up each morning and immerse themselves in work and blah blah, as mundane as that might sound for most of the world that means taking care of their families.

Plain and simple thats enough for most.

I imagine the satisfaction that comes from raising a human is extremely spiritual and all encompassing.

Ernest Becker has woven a great tapestry, which represents his answer to the question ‘what are we humans doing, why are we doing it, and how can we do it better?’

Becker has written four books “Beyond Alienation, “Escape from Evil, “Denial of Death, and “The Birth and Death of Meaning; all of which are essential components of his tapestry. Ernest Becker (1924-1974), a distinguished social theorist, popular teacher of anthropology and sociology psychology, won the Pulitzer Prize for General Nonfiction for the “Denial of Death.

Many weeks ago a forum member suggested that I might be interested in the author Ernest Becker and I was given the following web site.

http://faculty.washington.edu/nelgee/hi ... nsound.htm This is a great one hour audio about Becker’s ideas given by a very good lecturer.

Becker provides the reader with a broad and comprehensible synopsis of the accomplishments of the sciences of anthropology, psychology, sociology, and psychiatry. Knowledge of these accomplishments provides the modern reader with the means for the comprehension of why humans do as they do.

Becker declares that these sciences prove that humans are not genetically driven to be the evil creatures that the reader of history might conclude them to be. We humans are victims of the societies that we create in our effort to flee the anxiety of death. We have created artificial meanings that were designed to hide our anxieties from our self; in this effort we have managed to create an evil far surpassing any that our natural animal nature could cause.

Becker summarizes this synoptic journey of discovery with a suggested solution, which if we were to change the curriculums in our colleges and universities we could develop a citizenry with the necessary understanding to restructure our society in a manner less destructive and more in tune with our human nature.

The only disagreement I have with Becker’s tapestry is in this solution he offers. I am convinced that he has failed to elaborate on an important step that is implied in his work but not given sufficient emphasis. That step is one wherein the general adult population takes up the responsibility that citizens of a democracy must take on; adults must develop a hobby “get a life—get an intellectual life. In other words, it will be necessary that a significant share of the general population first comprehend these matters sufficiently to recognize the need for the proposed changes to our colleges and universities.



.

I have had a reawakening, so to say, I am and so is my hubby going to dedicate ourselves to something other than our own selffish selves. Why? Because we can.

We attended a memorial service today for a friend and it was really amazing how much he did, so we need to do more to try to do something. I am going to try to do something and look into doing something - other than ourselves.

Pinky;754161 wrote:

How do you see your time upon earth?


As a learning experience. I may wonder now and then what's the point of it all - and I do, believe me; but I don't fret too much over it. I don't feel I'm meant to know what my life's purpose is; in some ways, it's purpose in itself. I feel everything I do adds up to the bigger picture whether I'm fully aware of it or not. I try to be nice to people, I try to improve myself in different ways and I press on from day to day, hoping I'm of use somewhere.

You know Pinky, Mercury is going to be in Retrograde from January 28 to March 10. Don't do too much soul seeking at that time. Try to stay "up." :-6

A part of me sees my time here as a letting go, as an unlearning of everything I think I am. Another part of me reacts to this by becoming more and more insecure, and it clings desperately to people, things and the distractions of life. The gift from the first part is the occasional glimpse of something far greater and more beautiful than anything I could ever imagine, whilst the gift from the other is insecurity, deep anxiety and a sense of futility.

I wrote in another thread that I see my mother, now in her mid eighties, struggling with the same two parts. I saw my father, after several years of the hell of Alzheimers disease, eventually reaching a state of happiness and innocence that I envied.

I liken my father's last few months in this world to the time when we first awaken from sleep. For just a moment, there seems to be no thought of what went before or what is to come. We seem to be nothing, but that nothing is everything. Then our thoughts come flooding back and we once again reach for our well worn garments of past and future.

I just thought the other day... how I have always been a deep thinker. A dreamer... a kid who would lie under the arms of a Weeping Willow tree, and wonder.. Why am I here? How did I get here? This thought came to me, because of suffering over recent news regarding the suicide of a friend. I wanted to be somebody for all of my life. I wanted to leave something behind. I was very opinonated, and very strong willed. I carved out my own concept of spiritual understanding, always refusing to hold on to doctrine formulated by others. At 55, I am ambivalent about most things. I realize that I am not going to be anything special. I have absolutely no desire for material possessions. I can do without almost everything. Past experiences cause me no pain. A virtual feast of pleasures has always been set before me. The moon, the stars, a sunny day. The strains of violin music, the unforgettable joy of small arms wrapped around my neck, some love, many tears, and great times filled with laughter. I have been here on a very personal, very unique journey. It was my choice to grow to learn, to share, to be kind. I know for certain now that the only reason for being here has been to interract with others. The only thing that I will leave behind, is words. The memory of anything that I have said in my life that may have been an influence on someone else. I get up everyday now, expecting very little, but every little thing is a gift. I am opened and prepared to accept any nice little experience that comes my way. There is no great mystery to being here, and for me no great reason. There is no great power judging our choices. We are our own judge and jury. We make the ride whatever we want it to be, and when its over, its over.

maybe thats why it is always such a shock when a celebrity dies, eeven if they are very old and ill, because you have proof that here was a person who touched the lives of thousands if not millions, and suddenly they are gone - what's the point in that then?

Wow you lot are deep thinkers. Weather you have 1000 at your funeral or 10 remember you touched lives during your journey. You may not be remembered for an eternity, you may never have a monument raised in your honor, but you plain and simply touched lives during your stay this term.

Anyone who threw a bit of trash in a trash can or recycled anything contributed to the preservation of our environment. Anyone who taught one single person one single thing contributed to their future.

Anyone who came onto FG and offered up a story or a bit of advise you influenced another some way shape or form.

Everyone has a personal greatness, and as long as you have not hurt another human, an animal, or nature in a vicious way you have been a great asset during your life.

Or well those are my thoughts anyways.

I wrote in another thread that I see my mother, now in her mid eighties, struggling with the same two parts. I saw my father, after several years of the hell of Alzheimers disease, eventually reaching a state of happiness and innocence that I envied.
I have a customer that always says, "Once a man, twice a boy". So true.

Touching lives is so simple. My mother was big on sending cards, whether they were get well cards, thinking of you, or birthday cards. So many people told me how much those cards meant to them. Something so simple had a large impact. A simple gesture or word, can make a difference in someone's life.

minks;754362 wrote: Wow you lot are deep thinkers. Weather you have 1000 at your funeral or 10 remember you touched lives during your journey. You may not be remembered for an eternity, you may never have a monument raised in your honor, but you plain and simply touched lives during your stay this term.

Anyone who threw a bit of trash in a trash can or recycled anything contributed to the preservation of our environment. Anyone who taught one single person one single thing contributed to their future.

Anyone who came onto FG and offered up a story or a bit of advise you influenced another some way shape or form.

Everyone has a personal greatness, and as long as you have not hurt another human, an animal, or nature in a vicious way you have been a great asset during your life.

Or well those are my thoughts anyways.
Always good to hear your thoughts Mel.. Its always great to see some thought provoking topics that motivate me to break my silence, and see glimpses of the old me... who couldnt resist responding. Like the old days..

[quote=Pinky;.

How do you see your time upon earth?


I see my time on earth as being able to see beauty in sunsets and sunrises, fields of flowers, the stars at night, a child's laugh, a puppy sleeping, a lover's

smile, the ocean's grandeur, the mountains majesty, and so much more.

I see my time on earth as being able to impact someone else in a positive way, make them happier, healthier, secure, and so much more.

I see my time on earth as being able to hear the beauty of song, birds, wind, waterfalls, rain on the roof, and so much more.

I see my time on earth as being able to taste the flavor of honey, salt, sweetness, a kiss, and so much more.

I see my time on earth as being able to plant a tree or bush that will survive me, sire a child that will survive me, and so much more.

:yh_rotfl:yh_rotfl

You aim for the moon, Pinky, and you reach the sky.

Sometimes we see the possibilities and we know what it might be possible to achieve. That is our aim and we try our best.

Sometimes, despite our best endeavours, we fall short or our own expectations. Do not look at what might have been, look at what is.

Sometimes we achieve far more than we think. Look at what you have done rather than what you hoped to do.

So many good points have been made here.

I especially like the mention of the greeting cards.

You can't always know how your actions will affect someone. You may have a person in your store buying bullets because he's got a plan to check out and you might show that person some kindness, unknowing of what he's planning, and turn that person around. You might never know it happened. But the cosmic record knows.