The world is full of pain, misery, unpredictability and death. Disappointment is your daily companion. People's main coping mechanism with these realities has been denial and escapism. I think most of religion is yet another form of escapism which fails to confront these realities.

Ever since I stopped being a "Christian" (whatever that means), I have been searching for meaning in these dire consequences. As one book said "Life is difficult". --- for everyone. Even wealthy superstars.

Is "peace" (or Nirvana) even attainable in this krazy world? Or is it an illusion.

http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/study/aids/

Does one ultimately accept circumstances beyond his control and shape only what he / she can?

I know most people only care about every day kinds of things - how to put food on the table kind of thing, versus abstractions and philosophy. Nevertheless, it is important not to loose track of the big picture, too. What's the point of it all, aside from eating, mating and then dying?

 

Carpe - I enjoy your posts, but you seem to dwell a lot on the dismal side. I believe that happiness lies between the ears. Think sad, be sad. Think happy, be happy. Simplistic? Yes, but it works for me.
Dono

 

I understand how you feel, I too am searching for enlightenment/peace/ nirvana/whatever

in this forum, I'm sure you'll get some "you need christ or you're going to hell" replys, from people who think that it works for them so it should work for you. Been there done that, was a "born again christian" for a while, till I realized it was hypocrasy and smoke and mirrors.
I still "wander in the wilderness" so to speak, but I feel I'm learning some answers, for me anyway.
for me I believe what I seek lies within not without, god created me in one way or another, and gave me a concience. in the end I think that concience is what truly matters, and the ultimate for me I think, would be knowing that I am right even if everyone believes I am wrong.following your concience, even if persecuted, is a goal to strive for.
spiritual questions torment me sometimes, heres my latest one:

suppose god revealed himself to you.if you tell people god spoke to you, at best you'll be ignored, but people will probably assume you are insane.now assume god points out a world leader to you who will grow more evil and powerful than Hitler.what do you do?if you act on concience and kill the tyrant, men will label you a criminal and insane, and they would never know what you had saved them from.it would be an act of heroism that would destroy your existance as you know it. so what would you do?

I think of enlightenment as a mountain, and there are different paths to the top, some are easier and less rewarding, some are more difficult yet more rewarding.I think some can just be "good" christians, or moslems or jews, and get to the top, but some are just more inquisitive and need to find their own way.or maybe we are reincarnated and must experience all the paths.

I'm sure I haven't answered anything for you, but I do hope you realize you aren't alone in the emptyness you feel.

 

Carpe - I enjoy your posts, but you seem to dwell a lot on the dismal side. I believe that happiness lies between the ears. Think sad, be sad. Think happy, be happy. Simplistic? Yes, but it works for me.

Dono,

You are right. But if you got a car with a flat tire, you will be thinking, gee I need to replace the tire - not admiring how well the radiator works, how nice the paint job is, etc. That's why I want a resolution to the problems.

Is that resolution mere acceptance? That is, the old:

Is it really simple as that? Maybe.

drunkenmonk,

Maybe that's the answer you have been seeking it. If you cannot change something, don't worry about it, just do your best with what you can.

E.q. I have some difficult people in my life, tried to change them for the last 20 years and my efforts have been met with total failure. So I stopped worrying about it. The difference is now that I am finally OK with it. On the other hand, I may have good things others don't. Acceptance?

I'm sure I haven't answered anything for you, but I do hope you realize you aren't alone in the emptyness you feel.

I think deep down, I never truly accepted the design of this world, which is what worried me. Lots of things I haven't come to terms with it, much like anyone else. Fanstasy is easier.

Strange. I clearly remember I was pretty happy until about 18. Then I endured a lot of stress - in college, elsewhere and lost that happiness. Only recently I have been rediscovering it again. It seems to me that it is entirely pointless trying to change the unchangeable, trying to play God.

 

They're a rock band,
From Seattle;
'Cause it sure beat,
Raising cattle.

Wierd Al

 

Carpe,

that serenity prayer is great, I often think of it in day to day life.
I sort of went off on a tangent there, but part of the point was the difference between the illusory world we live in, and the grand scheme of things.And, NO I don't hear voices telling me to assasinate anyone, it was just hypothetical.

they say that ignorance is bliss, so maybe the happiness you (and most of us) lost is indicative of realizing there was more than meets the eye.

I believe there is a buddist prayer that basicaly says let me experience enough adversity in this life that my soul may learn the lessons that it needs to.that thought also helps me along, when I become disheartened.I also realize I can't play god, or change anything except for parts of myself.that realization is liberating in a way.I also trust karma, you have to take the bad with the good, with out one you couldn't have the other.

anyhow merry christmas
I enjoy discussing...

 

I thought that Nirvana was where contestants on Wheel Of Fortune stand?

 

I too have been searching for enlightenment. Every day I start to think I am geting closer, only to go to bed feeling even further. I believe it is there to all who care enough to seek it out. I've felt alone in the world since I was born, like there is something missing that I must have to become complete. That is what keeps me going. There are so many things you cannot change in this world, yet most of which I feel need to be. There are many people who are content with their lives, most of which thank God for that. It may be ignorance, or there very well may be a God, But I belive that happiness comes from within, but only after finding that missing piece, that yearning that has kept me awake many nights.

I don't know if any of that helped, or if it was just a jumble of words taking up space. But don't give up! You will find what you are looking for, if you look hard enough. If you accept the woefullness you feel as the absolute, nothign you can do to chang it, you will be another sheep herded to a pasture. Wander from the pasture, journey among the unkonw, and you will find that which you are searching.

 

bcf,

thanks for the encouragement. I've had some epiphanies lately (at least I would like to think so). Instead of wanting something impossible, I am now beginning to focus on what I *can* do -- which is lots.

It is a fact you will always be restricted by the parameters of the environment. Too much utterly beyond your control, so it is pointless to even think about it. Maybe that's why most people don't. This is a screwed up world with screwed up people, kind of, and is it even possible to find a full-time inner-balance in it? At least be content?

Weird. Over the years, what I wanted has changed. I no longer want what I wanted in my early 20's for example, and it is true that what I want now will change again. Happiness is not a fixed ideal, my understanding of it really changes.

 

If it doesn't change, consider yourself stuck in a rut and unable to explore the limitless horizons in life. For many, that seems to be adequate, but resistance to change often brings disappointment and dissolution of established happiness as the world changes around them. That's why many people live their lives within belief systems and adamantly defend mythology that has little relation to contemporary society and requires that they condemn reality.

 

I believe in changing the things i can and accepting what i cant.

 

The old saying "if your happy notify your face"
It is so much how you think