Native Son
Senior Member
You came to me first and not I to you. And my subsequent post to your comments was not that kind of post, as to engage you personally. Rather, it was just an observation from my perspective, although you seem to believe that our personal perspectives are the same as reality. Reality can only be a singularity, and the same for all of us. Anyway, I was not meaning to have a sparring session, arguing that I have the better of you. Since I have adopted Socrates' motto of, "God only knows", it follows that I cannot retain my opinions superior to others' opinions. And one of my opinions, again, same as Socrates', is that mankind's best can only be limited to opinions. However, there is such a thing as correct opinion, which is one that hits upon the truth. But not with authority, because it is still not certain due to our inherent inability to know for sure, which is limited by the soul being restrained by the physical body. When we all see and understand the same thing, at this point we will be as close as humanly possible to the absolute truth, but still short, as only God knows for sure. In other words, even if anyone hits upon the truth with correct opinion, a slight doubt will, of necessity, always will remain.
It may be otherwise in that realm of Absolute Love, although you say is beyond description, since you believe, in your reality, to have experienced. "Beyond description" is an oxymoron, I believe. As "Beyond" contradicts "Description". But if my memory serves me right, others have provided some small details, describing what you say is beyond description. However, apparently you must be in the right about personal reality, as not all these slight descriptions by those experiencing this place of absolute love an light, correspond and agree with each other. Although it appears that there are numerous accounts that do agree. Therefore, your opinion that reality is a personal and unique experience has to be classified as being an oxymoron, because you may be both right and wrong, if we have many that report the same, while many others report contradictory details. And to be both right and wrong is an oxymoron, by definition, and description. Actually, many wise people have stated that "life itself is full of contradictions."
And since this is meant as "constructive" criticism on my part, and as you previously correctly stated, it can be classified also as an oxymoron. Justly so, because constructing is inherently opposing to criticism, since criticism is meant to tear down, in general. But the term, "Criticism," taken out of context is like telling someone they are wrong without providing to them what is right. Ant that is where the term, Constructive, comes in. It is meant as providing the "right" in place of the perceived wrong being criticized. But, sometimes, the best constructive measure is not one of providing the right directly. As this is the case when one can attempt to make the other realize that they have performed an incorrect operation at arriving at the "bottom line", as in a mathematical operation. Provided that whomever is providing the constructive criticism has correct opinion in mind, or in the example, one is a proficient mathematician.
Bottom line is that we are all in human bodies, and as such, we are always prone to mistakes, as perfection is not of this world, as it is always changing and becoming what it was not. If I can, politely, point out to you something that you obviously do not see, or hear, as you say that your reality is different than mine, than you may take it or leave it, as you please, since you are under no compulsion.
Now, you say you will not engage me, and by engage I take it that you mean discourse, because you stated that your reality and mine are too different. Apart that you really have no idea as to what my idea of reality is really, since is "subjective" and different for each of us, based on your statements and admission, you seem to contradict yourself again. As you believe that you are here to progress on your intellect, especially to control your emotions, and yet, you reject the opportunity to expand your intellect and understanding by conversing with someone whom you perceive to have a totally diverse opinion. Is not this very act one of limiting your progress in intellectual gain? Because to expand the intellect for the purpose of knowing and understanding, which also encompasses the knowledge of controlling your emotions, means looking around you 360 degrees, and not just limiting yourself to those few degrees that you feel comfortable with, and in unison.
The momentous thing in human life is the art of winning the soul to good or evil. Francis Bacon
Admitting that there is a knowledge of what we know and of what we do not know, which would supply a rule and measure of all things, still there would be no good in this; and the knowledge which temperance gives must be of a kind which will do us good; for temperance is a good. But this universal knowledge does not tend to our happiness and good: the only kind of knowledge which brings happiness is the knowledge of good and evil.
Francis Bacon was a staunch Platonist.
I repeat the wise words communicated to me here on this forum; "Pleasant journey". And I add that, as you journey down eternity road in your reality, seek happiness and Love, besides intellectual progress, whether your reality be truer than mine, God only knows! But I know that of Love, there can never be enough, in this life or the other!
Love us All!