Things are not what they seem
- Thread starter Tiassa
- Start date
So...if things are not what they seem, than that phrase is not what is seems, and what it seems to be is a whole mess of stuff.....but since it seems to be a whole paradox it isn't a paradox...but it seems as if it's not a paradox because it is a paradox because it doesn't seem to be what it seems to be?!
*brains splatter on walls*
Darn you to heck, Tiassa!
*brains splatter on walls*
Darn you to heck, Tiassa!
Interesting, isn't it. I think that this single fact is a key issue for everyone. It is so fundamental and troubling that it is rarely discussed. I found a wonderful truth quoted the other day that demonstrates the point "Fanaticism is always a sign of repressed doubt." (Dune the Butlerian Jihad) Taken in context we all become fanatical at some point. Theistic / atheistic, objectivist / subjectivist, deterministic / Indeterministic, empiricist / rationalist, materialist /idealist, etc...
That we cling to our central beliefs so fanatically belies the doubt we all have.
~Raithere
That we cling to our central beliefs so fanatically belies the doubt we all have.
~Raithere
A paradox ...
Is that like two doctors that have
contradictory qualities.
From the Tao Te Ching
Mitchell translation
78.
Nothing in the world
is as soft and yielding as water.
Yet for dissolving the hard and inflexible,
nothing can surpass it.
The soft overcomes the hard;
the gentle overcomes the rigid.
Everyone knows this is true,
but few can put it into practice.
Therefore the Master remains
serene in the midst of sorrow.
Evil cannot enter his heart.
Because he has given up helping,
he is people's greatest help.
True words seem paradoxical.
Is that like two doctors that have
contradictory qualities.
From the Tao Te Ching
Mitchell translation
78.
Nothing in the world
is as soft and yielding as water.
Yet for dissolving the hard and inflexible,
nothing can surpass it.
The soft overcomes the hard;
the gentle overcomes the rigid.
Everyone knows this is true,
but few can put it into practice.
Therefore the Master remains
serene in the midst of sorrow.
Evil cannot enter his heart.
Because he has given up helping,
he is people's greatest help.
True words seem paradoxical.
Re: No, no, no!
What you mean to say is that none of us has a clue as to what you are talking about.
Second Response:
Isn't that the point?
Third Response:
Of course things are not what they seem, things are what they are.
~Raithere
P.S. I always found it odd that people expect there to be a 'correct' answer to a koan.
(edited to add third response and post script)
First Response:
What you mean to say is that none of us has a clue as to what you are talking about.
Second Response:
Isn't that the point?
Third Response:
Of course things are not what they seem, things are what they are.
~Raithere
P.S. I always found it odd that people expect there to be a 'correct' answer to a koan.
(edited to add third response and post script)
Re: No, no, no!
Oh yeah? Where's the runner's up prize then? I want my loser prize! j/k
I am wrong. I am not wrong. You are not wrong. But you are wrong. Is this what you meant?
Maybe by "things", Tiassa meant physical objects? Which would be completely correct, because things as we see them are different in everyone's eyes...
Originally posted by tiassa
So far none of you have a clue what you're talking about.
You are WRONG.
(bzzzt! Thank you for playing.)
--Tiassa
Oh yeah? Where's the runner's up prize then? I want my loser prize! j/k I am wrong. I am not wrong. You are not wrong. But you are wrong. Is this what you meant?
Maybe by "things", Tiassa meant physical objects? Which would be completely correct, because things as we see them are different in everyone's eyes...
Oh well you can't win them all.
Although this might be regarded as a clueless comment and set
myself up for further comment on my cluelessness, I will throw
caution to the wind and state that (IMO) "A Psalm Of Life" is a
great poem by Longfellow. I also enjoy the poetry of Rumi.
Although this might be regarded as a clueless comment and set
myself up for further comment on my cluelessness, I will throw
caution to the wind and state that (IMO) "A Psalm Of Life" is a
great poem by Longfellow. I also enjoy the poetry of Rumi.
Various ...
Raithere
If it pertains to the first point, yes, you win a prize.
EvilPoet
Rumi is quite compelling.
BlueSoulRobot
I believe such speculations can be fun. And I do not object to them. While there is, technically, no wrong answer in the grand scheme of life, I must maintain my position here that you're wrong.
In General
I'll go ahead and escalate it a little wit two clues:
• Yes, I'm enjoying this tremendously.
• I'm wondering how long before someone actually figures it out. It will happen, eventually.
thanx,
Tiassa
Edit to fix tags.
Raithere
First question? Does the second response pertain to the first response or the assertion that things are not what they seem.
If it pertains to the first point, yes, you win a prize.
EvilPoet
Rumi is quite compelling.
BlueSoulRobot
I believe such speculations can be fun. And I do not object to them. While there is, technically, no wrong answer in the grand scheme of life, I must maintain my position here that you're wrong.
In General
I'll go ahead and escalate it a little wit two clues:
• Yes, I'm enjoying this tremendously.
• I'm wondering how long before someone actually figures it out. It will happen, eventually.
thanx,
Tiassa
Edit to fix tags.
Last edited:
Most excellent
Good outlook, Walker. I shan't argue.
(I am obliged, having advised other people, however, to advise you that, while I appreciate the concept and even agree with it, it is wrong in the sense that it is irrelevant.)
thanx,
Tiassa
Good outlook, Walker. I shan't argue.
(I am obliged, having advised other people, however, to advise you that, while I appreciate the concept and even agree with it, it is wrong in the sense that it is irrelevant.)
thanx,
Tiassa
"You cannot see the back of your own head, no matter how
intently you stare into the mirror or how quickly you turn around.
Even the most clear-sighted have blind spots. These places to
which we ourselves are blind are often astonishingly visible to
others. The sword of self-knowledge, the ability to see oneself
clearly, spans the abyss of ignorance. Below its stretched length
blaze the swirling fires of ego while fogs of delusion and self-
deception flow from every side." -Essential Sufism
"A donkey with a load of holy books is still a donkey."
-Traditional (Essential Sufism)
intently you stare into the mirror or how quickly you turn around.
Even the most clear-sighted have blind spots. These places to
which we ourselves are blind are often astonishingly visible to
others. The sword of self-knowledge, the ability to see oneself
clearly, spans the abyss of ignorance. Below its stretched length
blaze the swirling fires of ego while fogs of delusion and self-
deception flow from every side." -Essential Sufism
"A donkey with a load of holy books is still a donkey."
-Traditional (Essential Sufism)
So it should be why things are not the way they seem?
...Because we're dumb animals?
.....Because we don't smoke enough weed?
........Because we are so caught up in our own little realities inside our head that should we ever come up for air our minds would explode at the idea of enlightenment?
..........Because what we see is what we get, and what we get is limited by our blindness caused by the fact that we are trapped within our own minds?
...Because we're dumb animals?
.....Because we don't smoke enough weed?
........Because we are so caught up in our own little realities inside our head that should we ever come up for air our minds would explode at the idea of enlightenment?
..........Because what we see is what we get, and what we get is limited by our blindness caused by the fact that we are trapped within our own minds?
No, Tiassa sorry but you are wrong. This question need not be considered. In fact, no question needs considering for things are not what they seem.