tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13617569.post7960438721948668132..comments2024-03-27T02:13:58.088-07:00Comments on Integral Options Cafe: David Pearce - A World Without Suffering?william harrymanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06981478282688361274noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13617569.post-87514750275337789962009-05-03T10:23:00.000-07:002009-05-03T10:23:00.000-07:00I came here to have a human experience. That incl...I came here to have a human experience. That includes negative emotions and suffering. The kind of attitude espoused by the Dalai Lama is one of the things that turns me off of Buddhism. It seems that many people who follow these practices are trying to escape their humanity.<br /><br />If we only ever experienced positive emotions, regardless of what was going on around us, what would be the impetus for change? A solution like an electrode that eliminates negative emotions -- without actually dealing with the situations that caused those emotions in the first place -- sounds dangerous. It could end up being a means to ignore to all sorts of atrocities; nobody would care about what was really going on or trying to change it, because they couldn't feel negatively about it.<br /><br />I'm sure very few people become vegetarian because they feel good about killing animals and eating their flesh. Negative emotions have their place... as catalysts for change.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13617569.post-12053648717621049012009-05-03T10:05:00.000-07:002009-05-03T10:05:00.000-07:00Steve,
I'd like to believe that I would choose to...Steve,<br /><br />I'd like to believe that I would choose to earn it through effort and learning. For me, and I might be a little weird, happiness is tied to learning and growing - no struggle, no reward. So I think I would choose to be less happy and keep growing through the struggles.<br /><br />Peace,<br />Billwilliam harrymanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06981478282688361274noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13617569.post-6707237377281360522009-05-03T09:52:00.000-07:002009-05-03T09:52:00.000-07:00Bill--
Suppose you had a choice between being "mo...Bill--<br /><br />Suppose you had a choice between being "more evolved" but unhappy and less evolved but happy. Which would you choose? Furthermore, suppose you could take a magic pill and instantly become as fully evolved as you possibly could. Would you take it, or would you turn it down and try to earn your evolution the hard way?Stevehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02549770321948541384noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13617569.post-56817381689012987822009-05-02T20:36:00.000-07:002009-05-02T20:36:00.000-07:00Ernest,
Yeah, I agree - as near as I can tell, Ho...Ernest,<br /><br />Yeah, I agree - as near as I can tell, Holosync is like using drugs, a temporary state experience, not a sustained stage experience.<br /><br />I'd rather "earn" it.<br /><br />On meat: Gave up red meat, but couldn't quit eating meat altogether. Doing free-range and all-natural chicken and turkey, and still eating fish. I don't feel as "grounded" without meat in my diet (not sure what that even means).<br /><br />Peace,<br />Billwilliam harrymanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06981478282688361274noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13617569.post-31976694578093249052009-05-02T20:32:00.000-07:002009-05-02T20:32:00.000-07:00Steve,
My sense is that growth is why we are here...Steve,<br /><br />My sense is that growth is why we are here - I would be OK being as evolved (or not) as I currently am for the rest of my life, but I would much rather be MORE evolved. So I'm not down with this idea.<br /><br />Peace,<br />Billwilliam harrymanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06981478282688361274noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13617569.post-91075585904184431712009-05-02T17:58:00.000-07:002009-05-02T17:58:00.000-07:00In a world without suffering, why would you NEED t...In a world without suffering, why would you NEED to keep growing as a person?Stevehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02549770321948541384noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13617569.post-18567275324959856012009-05-02T16:22:00.000-07:002009-05-02T16:22:00.000-07:00I've read about this before. I still find it VERY ...I've read about this before. I still find it VERY unsettling. I'd normally want to provide good rational reasons for disliking something but in this case, it just feels wrong.<br /><br />It may be similar to my impression of holosync - I feel that progress should be self-directed and 'organic'. We shouldn't skip ahead or have some piece of technology or genetic engineering do the work for us.<br /><br />Regarding the "abstain from eating meat" thing - did you make a decision on giving up meat?Solastilianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02235878878207316494noreply@blogger.com