what is your philosophy?

[relaxeus]

Before CF's crash there was a thread titled "what is your philosophy". Can't recall who wrote it, but in any case I will resurrect it with the proper credit going to whoever it was that initiallty created it.

Please don't use any quotes from religious texts but instead just use your own words. Here is what I'm looking for, but feel free to add anything else you think is important: a philosophy that you live your life by, your worldview, what is important to you...

So, what's your philosophy?

 

[relaxeus]

I believe that happiness is the greatest state of existence, greater than any other state of being. I aim to use my energies in seeking my own happiness and in helping others to find happiness.

I believe that all humans are almost completely alike, with only very minor differences between people. Every human has the capacity for intelligence, happiness, pain, laughter, kindness and respect. All humans are tremendously important and of equal value to each other. I desire for all humans to live lives perfectly full of happiness and totally void of suffering - to have the best lives possible.

I believe that it is our responsibility, as compassionate and virtuous people, to help those in need. Priority in helping others should be exercised, so that those who are most in need may receive our help first.

I believe that it is our responsibility to improve ourselves throughout the whole duration of our lives by nurturing our virtues. I find that the expansion of knowledge and the growth of wisdom are essential in our quest for personal improvement.

I believe in using reason and logic in understanding any aspect of the existence in which we live. I realize the importance of drawing conclusions only when there is sufficient reason and evidence to do so. Keeping an open mind is a healthy way to live a life of reason and integrity.

 

[ondaball]

from the Greek, philo-sophy = love of wisdom, rather than any particular set of ideas..

& if only I could quote my fave book..

but maybe a paraphrase might just get by..

wisdom is You-Know-Who

There are more things in Devon & Eartha Kitt..

than are dreamt of on your full sofa, Awr Eh, C O??

 

[michabo]

philosophy of what?

 

[relaxeus]

philosophy of what?

I edited the OP for vaguely what I was looking for - "Here is what I'm looking for, but feel free to add anything else you think is important: a philosophy that you live your life by, your worldview, what is important to you..."

 

[ReluctantProphet]

philosophy of what?

Philosophy means how you handle your existence. The word, as stated above, comes from the concept of a love of wisdom. But of course what you believe to be wisdom is the real question being asked.

Wisdom of what? Wisdom of how to handle your life or your existence.

Now as to the OP...

My Philosophy that I can support with extreme logic to any who might have a strong backing in such (of whom I find extremely rare) can be stated in one line. Unfortunately that line is not easily understood without explanation, but that is a function of the language and mindset of the day.

In all endeavors Clarify both the Need and Resolve to Maximize the Situational Momentum of Harmony.

For those of you who are clear anti-religious, this one statement, once fully understood and implemented, will overcome any and all religions of blind faith.

If you truly want to rid yourselves of the perils of the religions, then merely post that line, with explanation, everywhere throughout the world in every language and DO exactly what it says. Absolutely no religion can stop it regardless of its make and Science wouldn't even try.


It is unfortunate that it requires explanation, but such is the state of the world.

 

[Abbadon]

I follow what I call divine command hedonism. God made it, so it's good. I'm also interesting in existentialism, utilitarianism, and to some extent Hegel (just the thesis, antithesis, synthesis bit, I hate his collectivism, so I'm really more with Nietzsche here.)

Carl Jung and Alchemy are also looking interesting to me, but that's heading towards mysticism.

 

[moogoob]

The universe is absurd- where else could the duck-billed platypus manage to not only evolve but thrive.
Don't interfere with the free will of others, unless they're trying to interfere with yours.
Race means little, culture means a lot.
Empathy as morality(I do bad to you, I feel awful and punish myself for it).
God created the universe, and has been trying so very hard to keep his hands off ever since.

 

[Sojourner<><]

Reality as we know it is subject to change and is not absolute.

All philosophies founded upon or within this reality are ultimately temporary and unprofitable.

Religion is unprofitable unless it involves helping those in need.

Pleasure is good but over indulgence only produces lack of satisfaction.

Internal peace is produced through the overcoming of life's circumstances.

Faith in Jesus Christ is the beginning of all true wisdom.

 

[JGL53]

...Here is what I'm looking for, but feel free to add anything else you think is important: a philosophy that you live your life by, your worldview, what is important to you...

So, what's your philosophy?

OK - here ya go:

All of perceived reality is interdependent and interpenetrating. We understand reality in terms of logical dualism &#8211; This vs.That, yin and yang. Nothing perceived stands alone &#8211; everything that exists defines everything else that exists.

There is an apparent implicit unity within the perceived explicit multiplicity of the &#8220;universe&#8221;. The latter is a &#8220;manifestation&#8221; of the former. There apparently isn't and never will be an articulation of the &#8220;mechanism&#8221; involved in this manifestation. Mechanism imples logical understanding. Reality just is &#8211; a &#8220;thus-ness&#8221; or &#8220;such-ness&#8221;.

Human consciousness is a mirror by which the universe perceives or knows itself.

All explicitly perceived reality is in constant flux and flow &#8211; and is transitory, temporal, and finite. The implicit &#8220;ground of being&#8221; is timeless and infinite (or indefinite). Yet both are one and the same, i.e., are contained within each other.

There is no perceived or graspable &#8220;substance&#8221;. All existence is a vibration, waves, forms without concreteness, constantly changing. The only permanence is change. You never step into the same stream twice &#8211; it will always be a new stream, and a new you.

The seeming concreteness of &#8220;matter&#8221; is an illusion or unreality. Any &#8220;thing&#8221; that you perceive now &#8211; well, come back in X number of years and it is gone &#8211;utterly &#8211; just like a dream. So what was its permanent &#8220;thingyness&#8221;? (Matter is atoms. Atoms are 99.99999 per cent nothingness. E = MC2. Matter is energy. Energy is a wave or vibration &#8211; of what? And &#8220;consciousness&#8221; is an abstraction &#8211; a word describing the function of or process within of a group of atoms &#8211; the brain.)

I, me, myself, and mine are all illusions &#8211; as are spirits, souls, demons and gods. Ultimately there is only the TAO, Brahman, Nirvana, the Undifferentiated &#8211; the ineffable oneness of all being (and non-being).

You are the entire universe, as am I, and all else, i.e., every perceivable &#8220;thing&#8221;. All things reflect the totality of reality, as ALL is ONE. There is no &#8220;ultimate&#8221; separation of anything from anything - such is a temporal illusion.

We are thus free to live the dream. As we are ultimately literally &#8220;one&#8221;, then what sense does &#8220;immoral&#8221; or insane behavior make? None, since such is basically war against &#8220;oneself&#8221;. Acting with compassion (the Golden Rule) seems the best way to be nice to &#8220;yourself&#8221;.

Ultimate reality is beyond opposites. It makes no more sense to say Ultimate Reality is &#8220;alive&#8221; or &#8220;conscious&#8221; or a omniscient mind acting with intention than to say it is a deterministic automaton. It is &#8220;thus&#8221; &#8211; i.e., ineffable and incomprehensible in terms of dualistic logical comprehension, i.e., &#8220;thinking&#8221;.

Thus, there is no birth or death &#8211; since such concepts are temporal and transient, as both are part of the explicit multiplicity that is a transient &#8220;manifestation&#8221; of the timeless implicit unity.

BTW, none of the above makes a great deal of sense, granted &#8211; but that is the whole point. Those who spend their lives trying to make ultimate sense of existence -in terms of answering the question &#8220;WHY?&#8221; - are apparently wasting their time, since this task is seemingly unachievable. The only answer is &#8220;Let it go.&#8221; &#8211; or, perhaps, just simply&#8220;Let go.&#8221;

- Google &#8220;Alan Watts&#8221; to find material for a better understanding of what the above yammering is all about.

 

[ReluctantProphet]

[FONT=&quot]

Faith in Jesus Christ is the beginning of all true wisdom.

I'm glad you to see the word "beginning" in there.

But isn't it a must that the beginning of ANY journey is from exactly where you are rather than some place else where you "should be" in order to begin that journey? Mustn’t that faith be gained as a first essential step and thus the process of the gaining of it is the real beginning?

Who takes (or what) the person from the non-faith" point which could be vastly varied in nature, to the faith point where more could be obtained?

Note: I'm really not trying to argue, just reflecting a little rather than leaving these posts to be merely covered by the next and even less attended.[/FONT]

 

[ReluctantProphet]

OK - here ya go:

All of perceived reality is ...

I always enjoy seeing actual thinking going on.

But could you perhaps sum this perspective up, leaving out explanation (thus exposing yourself to critizism) so that the "bottom line" could be seen?

Some of what you have said, I could agree to, some not. I suspect it is more the conclusions that I see objection in, rather than much of the reasoning behind them. ..thanks

 

[Sojourner<><]

[FONT=&quot]I'm glad you to see the word "beginning" in there.

But isn't it a must that the beginning of ANY journey is from exactly where you are rather than some place else where you "should be" in order to begin that journey? Mustn&#8217;t that faith be gained as a first essential step and thus the process of the gaining of it is the real beginning?[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]

The beginning of this journey is not, metaphorically speaking, a point of space but a direction in which to travel. Real faith is just that, real. It is something that you can, in a sense, put your weight on and is nothing unless acted upon. If I were to tell you that three blocks from your house there is a subway station that leads to a train that will take you to Hawaii, what good would that bit of information do for you unless you checked it out for yourself? It would never solidify until you actually acted upon it. Likewise, once real faith in Christ is established, real wisdom in something more stable than this changing universe begins to take shape.

Who takes (or what) the person from the non-faith" point which could be vastly varied in nature, to the faith point where more could be obtained?

Only God can do that.

Note: I'm really not trying to argue, just reflecting a little rather than leaving these posts to be merely covered by the next and even less attended.

[/FONT] Not a problem. I'm glad that you're reflecting.

Peace.

 

[JGL53]

...But could you perhaps sum this perspective up, leaving out explanation (thus exposing yourself to critizism) so that the "bottom line" could be seen?...

The basic ontological understandings of eastern thought are correct. I judge philosopher Alan Watts as the best interpreter of such. Read his stuff - or not - and have a nice day.