scottedward

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Everything posted by scottedward

  1. No problem at all. Thanks for convincing me. Keep doing your good work, Vitki.
  2. I wish to know God, but in a way that I can believe in, and get behind with enthusiasm. A God whose first name isn't Profit. A God that wishes to be worshipped or loved outside, where He/She/It thinks we're going to be happiest and healthiest; surrounded by the sun, and His/Her/Its best works. A God that wants us to both worship and respect the world that He/She/It created for us and the animals. A God wishing that we would care more for His/Her/It's other creatures. A God that can recognize a soul when he creates it for the animals, even if we can't sometimes. A God that does not wish for us to focus all of our love and devotion on Him/Her/It, when so much of it can be offered to our brothers and sisters. A God that wishes for us to adore and care for our bodies, because they were His/Her/Its greatest masterpiece. A God that does not wish for us to continue purposely having babies, when we're unable or unwilling to properly feed, educate, or care for everybody that exists already. A God that mourns every time one of us gets tortured, burned, beheaded, or otherwise harmed during conflicts over Him/Her/It. A God that frowns whenever a child's mind is poisoned by hatred, prejudice, and bigotry. A God that never speaks to us directly, and never performs any actual miracles, because He/She/It knows at least one or one thousand of us might take it the wrong way. A God that has to watch--sadly--as ministers and churches use Him, Her/It to endorse and support their own agenda of hypocrisy. A God that prefers silent worship under our sky, and doesn't have to be reminded of our love each and every Sunday. A God that is pleased whenever two people find one another and fall in love, regardless of gender. A God that touched our hearts and minds, and cared enough about us to give us our Hope. A God that truly exists, because how can he not? I am Scott, and I am One of The Hopeful.
  3. Love certainly has it's position in the universe, because yes, it's often a beautiful feeling. My only problem with it is that a lot of horrible things have been done in it's name, such as the Trojan War for example. if it was ever possible to freely give so much power or responsibility to an emotion, I'm tempted to suggest Hope. I know that this is an old argument, and that I've suggested it isn't going to surprise anybody, but absolutely everything has its place. I feel that sometimes Hope isn't given the credit that it's earned. I'm not trying to step into anybody's spotlight here, so forgive me.
  4. Epiphanies are awesome, aren't they? It sounds to me like you and I have a few things (if not more) in common.
  5. I think each of us are the sum of our experiences; it is for this reason that I also think that some mistakes are supposed be made so that we might learn from them. Unfortunately, the world we live in is a fairly careless one, filled with countless wrong-turns, broken tail-lights, and a complete and total lack of large enough 'wet-floor' signs. In other words, we have far too many mistakes that can kill us, rather than mistakes that can teach us or make us better people. Fact of the matter is, I'm no longer even sure that 18, 21, or even 32 is old enough for some of our offspring (like my twin teenage step-kids, for example). Many are constantly over-exposed to a careless media, that still tries to teach them that smoking is bad, while at the same time showing television programs where drinking, unprotected sex, avoiding homework, and the occasional violent fit of criminal behavior is cool or at least socially acceptable. I worry about our world sometimes, not because it has too many people in it, but because most of them act like idiots. Steps off of his soap-box.
  6. I've found that the best advice for me to offer is that you give up. It's not how it sounds; the idea is for you to stop wishing for what you don't have, so that you might focus instead on what's currently within reach. Build something, find a goal, or become a part of something you can be proud of. The idea is for you to strengthen yourself intellectually, emotionally, and spiritually. Once you've accomplished this (a continual practice that never has to end), you will have become strong enough that you won't need anybody other than the company of friends to be satisfied. After you've accomplished this, suddenly all of the men will notice you. Those who are truly secure with themselves won't be looking for a woman who needs them. The focus of their search will be women who want them. It is that difference (in you) that will get their attention. Before you know it, you'll be beating them off with a stick every twenty minutes, and making all of your friends jealous. Happy hunting
  7. I believe in Brahman. Brahman is what we call the Hindu 'aspect of supreme reality'. Brahman is responsible for creating the universe, and comes to all of us in many forms and as many gods. Each of his many avatars have their own identity and history, and each of them are adored by those who worship them; I offer my devotion for each of them, depending on what I'm needing. Some might say that I'm a monotheistic-polytheist.
  8. I'm impressed with you, and yes; for the most part it's accurate. Hinduism is annoyingly difficult to define, so I think you've done as well as most.
  9. That's a tough question, because I think I made too many stupid freaking decisions in the interim.
  10. It's great to see everybody.

  11. Yes, and I appreciate your interest. Thank you.
  12. o great shree hanuman! son of the wind, and the greatest of rama. here me; you give me the strength to accept my loss, yet still I treasure every day. you keep me on my feet; straight and steady, and keep my ache at bay. o hanuman, i Hope for rama's peace, and I dream of sita's joy! by your grace, one can enjoy all happiness and one need not have any fear under your protection.
  13. Quetzal, I came back, after all of this time, because of an idea I couldn't let go of. There are times when I feel surrounded by those that won't accept my thoughts or notions, and how they react sometimes puts me on the defensive. It's a challenge to keep my chin high, and the challenge is greater still to keep from cutting down the voices of open dismissal. There isn't a day, or a discussion that goes by, where I don't find myself shutting my eyes after; I meditate and chant from the Chalisa, but only because I question myself. I question whether or not I'm strong enough to keep doing what I'm doing, or whether or not my message of Hope will be heard. Quetzal, I think the two of us have similar doubts, or at the most, are sensitive in many of the same ways. If you're having difficulty because of how I responded to your input in 'challenge', please forgive me; understand that no harm was intended. I offer the same love to you that I offer to everybody, and it would please me, should you gain some measure of strength from that. "With the dust of Guru's Lotus feet, I clean the mirror of my mind and then narrate the sacred glory of Sri Ram Chandra, The Supreme among the Raghu dynasty. You are the giver of the four attainments of life."
  14. "A great man shouldn't ever have to worry about staying that way." --Mister Rant
  15. Variety is the spice of life, and what is the point of positive, without the negative around to compare it to?