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Steven Berger's avatar

It is no exaggeration to say that all of our troubles in this world come from believing in mirages and acting accordingly; from taking this temporary and extremely limited framework that we have become familiar with and thinking that it is the Be-All and End-All of life rather than a place that we have been given to prepare to enter into life proper.

“Prepare Thyself in the vestibule before entering the Banquet Hall.”

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Crapp's avatar

Whilst i agree with the mirage analysis and the surface conscious rejection analysis entirely, going back is not feasible. The evidence is abundantly clear - natural movement is ever changing, ever evolving, ever ‘forwards’ (forwards in our perception at least)

We are literally never in the same place again. Where i am having breakfast now is not where i’ll be having breakfast tomorrow. Even though it’ll be the same chair etc.

Back is also an illusion. We need to get to somewhere we haven’t been before.

And before western civilisation, there was plenty of brutality. So it doesn’t all start with just us.

Have a read/watch of Jidhu Krishnamurti for an interesting exploration into much of what you are describing, minus the solution.

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Steven Berger's avatar

I see what you are saying and agree, there is certainly nothing in our history worth going back to.

The 'going back' that I am thinking of has more to do with a relationship that we once had with the 'ground of our being' that we have somehow lost touch with in our present culture and, implies a decided, 'going forward' if we were to regain this integral relationship that we have lost.

I wouldn't be surprised if Krishnamurti speaks of something similar.

It all comes down to which form one decides to use in order to regain this 'lost relationship' I've mentioned.

All the best to you along the way!

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Steven Berger's avatar

The reformation of fallen human nature is the ultimate aim of the Spiritual Life.

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