Hi Chumley I read in one of medium doris stokes book that you can have a rest period in the afterlife if you choose to be alone to collect your thoughts . i feel like that sometimes just want to be alone with my own thoughts . God bless juditha

The issue of not being able to hide things due to thought being openly communicated there is also interesting to me.  In some ways, the experience may be liberating.  The baggage is out there, and I would bet that most spiritually aware people are not going to try to look for your personal or darkest aspects.

I'm also musing on the ideas of Hells, such as Bruce describes in Max's hell.  It would appear that telepathy may not be present in the lowest levels of the afterlife.  If sadists were in a location where other sadists are perpetrating acts on them (and vice versa), then that self-imposed game could only be played if one's thoughts were not an open book.  So perhaps there are degrees of spiritual openness, and we open ourselves up more and more as we advance spiritually.

Just a thought,

Matthew

I feel a lot the same way...I like people...certain people, in small doses.

It does occur to me that there is a pretty cross-culturally constant image of the "wise man on the mountian"...i.e., the most spiritually advanced person(s) in the story-teller's world go off to be alone and meditate or whatever.  The man-on-the-mountain character is usually perfectly happy to see and enlighten (though sometimes pretty cryptically) the passing pilgrim, but he usually makes himself hard to get to for the "madding crowd".

Hey,

I like a bit of quiet time but only a very small amount! If the wise spiritual man being on his own is true i dont think im very spiritually advanced! I love being around people and having a laugh and a good time!

Ryan

So, Chumley,
you would trade in the joys of solitude to go into training to be an alpha male?
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-I wouldn't want solitude ALL the time, bets. I was concerned there might not be ANY solitude on the "other side."

If you read the Intervention thread, you'll see alpha males are no longer in; Darwinism is passe'.
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-Wanna bet..?

"the alpha-bully role."
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-Is the past, present, and FUTURE elite of mankind. Read the papers lately? You can't argue, or even reason with, GENETICS...

B-man

B-man wrote:
There is nothing so wretched or CONTEMPTIBLE to
me, than a person who will put up with being shoved around, because "it's better than being alone." I'd rather go to "Hell", complete with fire, brimstone, and flesh-gobbling worms than sink to THAT level.
Hence, my belief that there's nothing better than alpha-maledom. You get the benefits of sociality (which CAN be a great thing!) without the bust-down to ZERO (in fundamental personal worth) that the "toady" or (***ESPECIALLY***) the "designated deviant" gets.
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B-man, I know that you don't believe in a "Supreme Being" or "Creator," but have you considered that if there is such, you are a "toady" so to speak?

Also...unless you are ruler of the universe, you are getting pushed around to some extent now.  You are a part of the 'human race group' and bound by the same limitations that all humanity must observe.  Of course, this is unless you are an extra terrestrial...one option that I haven't completely ruled out! Ha ha.  The fact that you participate in this forum is a testament that you don't enjoy solitude all that much.

Stubborn isn't even the word for "I don't wanna play if I can't be the leader" mentality.  Come on...loosen up for goodness sake!

Much love,
Bug

Mattb, you wrote...
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You are a member of the human race and are not a world leader (I doubt) 

Perhaps you cannot choose.
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-Ah, but I CAN, Mattb. And I have...
I DID specify ""voluntarily join." I didn't volunteer to be "created" (assuming there is a "creator.")

I think this poses the question of what we revert to if there is an afterlife. Many groups in nature are without an explicit leader.

What purpose are leaders in flocks of birds, schools of fish and fields of grass?

What are the functions of an apha male?, and are those functions needed in a group that does not need sustenance and reproduction?
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-If I can't reincarnate at some point, and set right things I did wrong in this life - well, I'd just as soon forget the whole schmear.

Do we become light or pure consiousness at a level that ignores physical social structures?

Does hierarchy occur in a dream state or OBE's?
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-One thing's for sure... I'll choose obliteration over being the sh!tbag/scapegoat who's at the BOTTOM...
Or maybe even "Hell," barring obliteration (greatly preferable I'll admit!) FEAR is an inexcusable emotion, fit only for dumb animals and small children. If as an ADULT, you succumb to fear in ANY way, for ANY reason... YOU ARE A COWARD. I knuckled under to my last bully long, long ago. Perhaps "God" is a bully? The Old Testament sure as heck makes him out as one, not to mention the Book of Revelation.
If so - well, F*CK "God."
And if this means no "heaven" for me, and eternal torture...
So Be It.

B-man