depression

Lately I find myself amazed at how many of these universal truths have yet to be embodied as second nature by many participants in these interactions. Up until some of Liquid's expressions of discomfort with the direction of the conversation somewhere mid-thread I was under the impression that everyone was "in on it" -- that we were all playing roles in a little drama within a drama.

For me, this thread was an affirmation of the disparity between my own understanding and the understanding of others. It was also an affirmation of my understanding of the ego-distortions of those I have periodically encountered during my time on hip forums.

All in all, I'd call it a rich learning experience indeed.

Travis

 

Travis...I find myself that not seeing facial expression or hearing voice tone that sometimes things are misinterpreted. I remember on some other thread awhile back, someone thought I was angry with them and I wasn't at all You kinda lose something in the written word.

 

True. But then again, interactions like the one we all just had probably wouldn't be possible in person.

Travis

 

That was terrible, Travis.

 

Yeah I know Neo. Sometimes I just get a little indulgent.

Sorry.

Travis

 

I realise Travis that yourself and neodude are quite used to whatever kind of ping pong you were playing and i noted it wasn't entirely serious. It was only after several pages of this ping pong that i got bored and felt it was detracting from the thread. ... so i found a way to amuse myself without actually entering the discussion. Did you feel i was mocking? I guess i was a little. Sometimes you just have to laugh about it.

 

...the thread that wouldn't die....

 

Not really. Actually, that was only our second game.

It didn't occur to me, no.

Yeah -- that's kinda the point.

Travis

 

I'm picking up sarcasm, but it's probably just me.

But don't we all get a little indulgent sometimes...
Although, at least with yours, we get humor out of it.
If I laughed, does that make me indulgent also?

 

A little, yes. But not to worry -- yours is a much more innocent (and good-natured) indulgence. Mine was partially premeditated. And I'm already suffering the karmic consequences as we speak.

Travis

 

What does this suffering consist of? Just curious.

Funny that you mention karmic consequences, because even when you say things like that, it's my understanding that they are usually intended to be good natured. Although I'm most likely missing something deeper...

 

Well, even as I wrote the post that you quite accurately said was "terrible", my energy had to redistribute itself in order to accomodate the transmission of knowledge that originated with spirit but was being channeled through my ego. This resulted in decreased mental clarity, increased subconscious tension in my body, decrease in capacity for appreciation and good-will -- amongst other things.

In the broader scheme of things they are always for our benefit yes. But in the short term, they can be quite agonizing.

Travis

 

Don't you find that the consequences come very quickly?

 

Yes, very quickly. Instantaneously, really.

Travis

 

Yes, I've noticed that as well. Although I think the timing is reflective of the ability to perceive.

 

Was actually typing it and submitting it the cause of these consequences, or was just having the original thought enough for suffering?

Let's say a desire to indulge in a particular ego distortion arises within me. Then let's say I ignore it, or suppress it, and do not act on it. To me, this doesn't seem to be enough, and seems to cause more stress than if I hadn't. It seems that they key would be to transcend the entire situation, but how do we consciously transcend something that we are an active part of (life in general?). Is all this another instance of "fake it til you make it"?

 

Do you think that it's a universal phenomenon and that you just have a greater capacity to trace the consequences from their point of origin, or do you think that your path is somewhat accelerated?

Travis

 

The thought is enough if we believe the thought, and indulging the thought further exacerbates the consequences. The key is to recognize whether the thought seems "true" and "real" to you. Ignoring or denying just keeps it unconscious. Recognizing the lack of meaning there, we can let it go without hooking into it.

 

Honestly, I don't have a clue. haha! What do you think?

 

We must strive for impeccability in thought, word, and deed. Generally speaking, thought, word and deed are like progressively larger stones being dropped in a pond -- the larger the stone, the greater the ripple.

There must be a balance point between suppression and indulgence in order to transcend the ego distortion.

Travis