Natalie Nessus
Gypsy Soul
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I am puzzled at this time
Life, what is it?
Life, what is it?
Life?
- Thread starter Natalie Nessus
- Start date
BlazeofLife
Maleficent Messiah
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Oh boy, is this a study in existentialism? Or simply a rhetorical question?
to quote somebody, somewhere: "Life is what you make it."
to quote somebody, somewhere: "Life is what you make it."
Natalie Nessus
Gypsy Soul
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I know I am sorry, I am just thinking aloud.
Life is what?
I am sorry, I am just thinking aloud.Life is what?
cymbidia
unrepentant pervert
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- Mar 8, 2001
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It is embracing the good and learning from the bad and moving forward, Nessus, always forward into the beauty that awaits.
It is the care and respct and love and laughter that others feel for us, and we feel for them.
It is laughter and ache, tears and sorrow, smile and frowns. Life is the ultimate yin...
... with death as it's sidekick yang.
Ultimately, my friend, life is about death.
Timely or untimely, whether or not we've yet to make our mark or know what we want to be when grow up, ultimately it's the province of old life to die and give way for new life.
But it's the journey that makes life so sweetly worthwhile, don't you think?
It is the care and respct and love and laughter that others feel for us, and we feel for them.
It is laughter and ache, tears and sorrow, smile and frowns. Life is the ultimate yin...
... with death as it's sidekick yang.
Ultimately, my friend, life is about death.
Timely or untimely, whether or not we've yet to make our mark or know what we want to be when grow up, ultimately it's the province of old life to die and give way for new life.
But it's the journey that makes life so sweetly worthwhile, don't you think?
Natalie Nessus
Gypsy Soul
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But of course my friend but it is the paths in the journey that puzzle, yes?
but it is the paths in the journey that puzzle, yes?
JaymesBlond007
...
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Life = Not Dead
T.H. Oughts
Oh the thoughts of Oughts
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Life is what?
It's about learning a lesson...
If we do not learn that lesson and show it, we return untill we learn it.....
And the beat goes on......
It's about learning a lesson...
If we do not learn that lesson and show it, we return untill we learn it.....
And the beat goes on......
BlazeofLife
Maleficent Messiah
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Life is learning.
Learning about others, and ourselves...
Learning about our hopes, and our fears....
about our dreams, and goals....
our ideals...
about what can make existence better for ourselves....
and what can make it worse...
about learning to share ourselves with others...
and about what we don't want to share...
I have no idea if that makes sense, but I guess that's something I'll have to LEARN!
Blaze
Learning about others, and ourselves...
Learning about our hopes, and our fears....
about our dreams, and goals....
our ideals...
about what can make existence better for ourselves....
and what can make it worse...
about learning to share ourselves with others...
and about what we don't want to share...
I have no idea if that makes sense, but I guess that's something I'll have to LEARN!
Blaze
Natalie Nessus
Gypsy Soul
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No, there is more
It is the lapsed French Catholic in me, perhaps?
We must see more,yes?
It is the lapsed French Catholic in me, perhaps?
We must see more,yes?
Natalie Nessus
Gypsy Soul
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juicylips said:Just stopping by and saying HI!! Nessus.
I don't do that enough.
Cassidy
No, you do not do this
but it is nice, thank you
Natalie Nessus
Gypsy Soul
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Do we appreciate our life, yes? The fullness? Do we take the time?
I am sounding very spiritaul for a lapsed Catholic, yes? Ignore me, let this sink to the bottom I am in a thinking spiritual mood, that is all.
Ignore, yes?
The fullness? Do we take the time?I am sounding very spiritaul for a lapsed Catholic, yes?
Ignore me, let this sink to the bottom I am in a thinking spiritual mood, that is all.Ignore, yes?
riff
Jose Jones
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Life is like riding an bike in search of a bike.
You've got the bike. Now, where do you want to go?
I hear ya:
I think we are born to learn and teach. Sometimes we are students and sometimes we are teachers. But like I said in another post somewhere, "As we create, so are we created."
Personally, I see my life as a series of lessons. I do not have a choice about taking them, I only have the choice as to when I take them. I can avoid lessons all I want, but life will continue to offer them to me until I master them. My experience has been that this is true.
You might sum it up by saying: If nothing changes, then nothing changes.
Edit-add: I try to live to the fullest. Life is a very deep experience for me sometimes, but like everyone else, I get caught up in sucking the devil's dick too.
You've got the bike. Now, where do you want to go?
I hear ya:
I think we are born to learn and teach. Sometimes we are students and sometimes we are teachers. But like I said in another post somewhere, "As we create, so are we created."
Personally, I see my life as a series of lessons. I do not have a choice about taking them, I only have the choice as to when I take them. I can avoid lessons all I want, but life will continue to offer them to me until I master them. My experience has been that this is true.
You might sum it up by saying: If nothing changes, then nothing changes.
Edit-add: I try to live to the fullest. Life is a very deep experience for me sometimes, but like everyone else, I get caught up in sucking the devil's dick too.
Svedish_Chef
On Walkabout
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- Apr 26, 2000
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The concert I went to the other night... they played this song.
The lead singer said "We have a friend over in canada that is very important to us and he is going through some trouble and may not make it through. I think he will make it through , you know, think positive and that. Anyway this song seems to have become more about him that we ever would have believed. I'd like you all if you could to place your thoughts during this song to this man who you dont know because he means a lot to this band.
This song is about hope"
Requiem - The tea party
and you say life is bitter sweet
you've tried so gracefully
but its faceless company has let you donw
Say it comes to this
all the things you'd miss
a requiem won't change you fate
lost and they set you free
concerned by what they'd see
and you begged on bended knee
still they let you down
Say it comes to this
all the things you'd miss
a requiem won't change you fate
It passes over you, passes over
Say it comes to this
all the things you'd miss
a requiem won't change you fate
It passes over you
passes over you
passes over
so soon
this requiem
The lead singer said "We have a friend over in canada that is very important to us and he is going through some trouble and may not make it through. I think he will make it through , you know, think positive and that. Anyway this song seems to have become more about him that we ever would have believed. I'd like you all if you could to place your thoughts during this song to this man who you dont know because he means a lot to this band.
This song is about hope"
Requiem - The tea party
and you say life is bitter sweet
you've tried so gracefully
but its faceless company has let you donw
Say it comes to this
all the things you'd miss
a requiem won't change you fate
lost and they set you free
concerned by what they'd see
and you begged on bended knee
still they let you down
Say it comes to this
all the things you'd miss
a requiem won't change you fate
It passes over you, passes over
Say it comes to this
all the things you'd miss
a requiem won't change you fate
It passes over you
passes over you
passes over
so soon
this requiem
G
Guest
Guest
Everybody has written with such eloquence and wisdom, I started reading this thread thinking about what I'd like to say and everyone has about covered it.
a few thoughts;
I think of the quality of life also. Like when you hear someone say that people who are mentally disabled shouldn't be alive as they don't function well. I worked with adult developmentally disabled people for ten years and they are a hoot. Yes, in some cases there are those whose level is so severe that they really have no awareness of life--but who are we to say? Staff would get in discussions often about this and it's a very interesting thing to contemplate. Really, take an autistic person, who is to say that inside there isn't a genious who can't express themselves due to physical impairment? Some have said that the highest form of karma is the state of being mentally disabled as to their level of purity. Well I cleaned enough shit off the walls so I don't know about that but it's a thought!
And what of the animals? Have you ever wondered what the whales are considering tonight?
Oh I know about the moods that affect our lives and all I can say is, I'm trying to go with the flow of things. This is new to me as I was very tense and anxious about where my life is headed, but now I say, "whatever happens, happens, and it's gonna fucking happen"
And the wind, the sun, the planets and stars....trees and growing living things everywhere, all part of life.
Of course we could get into discussion of quantium physics and be here all night...the life of atoms and molecules that are reproduced over and over again...
I talk too much. Hope I made some sense for you.
a few thoughts;
I think of the quality of life also. Like when you hear someone say that people who are mentally disabled shouldn't be alive as they don't function well. I worked with adult developmentally disabled people for ten years and they are a hoot. Yes, in some cases there are those whose level is so severe that they really have no awareness of life--but who are we to say? Staff would get in discussions often about this and it's a very interesting thing to contemplate. Really, take an autistic person, who is to say that inside there isn't a genious who can't express themselves due to physical impairment? Some have said that the highest form of karma is the state of being mentally disabled as to their level of purity. Well I cleaned enough shit off the walls so I don't know about that but it's a thought!
And what of the animals? Have you ever wondered what the whales are considering tonight?
Oh I know about the moods that affect our lives and all I can say is, I'm trying to go with the flow of things. This is new to me as I was very tense and anxious about where my life is headed, but now I say, "whatever happens, happens, and it's gonna fucking happen"
And the wind, the sun, the planets and stars....trees and growing living things everywhere, all part of life.
Of course we could get into discussion of quantium physics and be here all night...the life of atoms and molecules that are reproduced over and over again...
I talk too much. Hope I made some sense for you.
riff
Jose Jones
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- Nov 22, 2000
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- 10,348
WHALES ARE PEOPLE TOO!
And manatees. Don't fuck around with any manatees if I am around! These people never did nothing to nobody! I have a thing about manatees.
I have a brain-damaged brother (traumatic head-injury, car-train collision, 1985- he was 25 at the time).
He loves as a child loves. He's beautiful.
And manatees. Don't fuck around with any manatees if I am around! These people never did nothing to nobody! I have a thing about manatees.
I have a brain-damaged brother (traumatic head-injury, car-train collision, 1985- he was 25 at the time).
He loves as a child loves. He's beautiful.
Lost Cause
It's a wrap!
- Joined
- Oct 7, 2001
- Posts
- 30,949
I think John Lennon said something like, "Life is what happens while you're busy making plans"!
Let's see...
You're born, you cry.
You grow up, you cry.
You get old, you cry.
You die, everyone else cries.
In between that, you love and laugh..and learn whatever.
Then again, I believe life spans forever so this just another class to attend. No A's or F's in this school!
Let's see...
You're born, you cry.
You grow up, you cry.
You get old, you cry.
You die, everyone else cries.
In between that, you love and laugh..and learn whatever.
Then again, I believe life spans forever so this just another class to attend. No A's or F's in this school!
Dillinger
Guerrilla Ontologist
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- Sep 19, 2000
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- 26,152
Actually the quote is "Life is what happens when you're busy making OTHER plans." *smile*
Nessus, your question almost begs a Zen response, and there have been many. I truly believe that the Zen Masters understood that the only way to understand such a thing is to "not" understand it. English doesn't quite do justice to the concept. You have to also think Yin/Yang - there is no either/or - there is only IS...
These koans are about death... which, explains life:
Four and fifty years
I've hung the sky with stars.
Now I leap through -
What shattering!
-- Dogen, 1200-53
Coming, I don't enter at the gate,
Going, I don't leave by the door.
This very body
Is the land of tranquil light.
-- Gyokko, 1315-95
Poems of satori and death are poetic expressions of the Formless Self at the most significant moments in life (of satori and death respectively.)
You ask what is life? It is something to cherish. In yourself and in others. It is a gift. It is a trust. It is sacred. It is the outward expression of the gods and goddesses we all are.
"Every man and every woman is a star."
-- Aleister Crowley
We all too often take life for granted. We get up and go about our business each and every day almost automatically. Almost always it is only the unusual - the things that stick out for not being ordinary - that jar us from the rote.
I've talked in aother threads about "Chapel Perilous" - which is a turning point. A moment where your choice changes the future. In moments like that we have the opportunity to choose life.
But we should choose it each and every moment of every day. Appreciate it. Cherish it. Asking this question is life affirming, Nessus.
There are other moments when we become confronted with our own mortality. Its such a shame that it takes the very real fear of dying to make us aware how precious life is. I've been to that fear all too recently... and one finds oneself each day looking around and appreciating so much that had been taken for granted. And questioning the importance of other things that eat at our time and steer us away from our true will.
And life is love. Love is life. How cliche! *grin* But true. Love is perhaps the only thing that is not unusual that makes us aware in every waking moment how wonderful life is. The one thing that can fill us day to day with the inner knowledge of life. Of every breath, every smile, every leaf falling to the ground...
"Believe in the simple magic of life, in service in the universe, and the meaning of that waiting, that alertness, that "craning of the neck" in creatures will dawn upon you. Every word would falsify; but look! round about you beings live their life, and to whatever point you turn you come upon being."
-- Martin Buber
Nessus, your question almost begs a Zen response, and there have been many. I truly believe that the Zen Masters understood that the only way to understand such a thing is to "not" understand it. English doesn't quite do justice to the concept. You have to also think Yin/Yang - there is no either/or - there is only IS...
These koans are about death... which, explains life:
Four and fifty years
I've hung the sky with stars.
Now I leap through -
What shattering!
-- Dogen, 1200-53
Coming, I don't enter at the gate,
Going, I don't leave by the door.
This very body
Is the land of tranquil light.
-- Gyokko, 1315-95
Poems of satori and death are poetic expressions of the Formless Self at the most significant moments in life (of satori and death respectively.)
You ask what is life? It is something to cherish. In yourself and in others. It is a gift. It is a trust. It is sacred. It is the outward expression of the gods and goddesses we all are.
"Every man and every woman is a star."
-- Aleister Crowley
We all too often take life for granted. We get up and go about our business each and every day almost automatically. Almost always it is only the unusual - the things that stick out for not being ordinary - that jar us from the rote.
I've talked in aother threads about "Chapel Perilous" - which is a turning point. A moment where your choice changes the future. In moments like that we have the opportunity to choose life.
But we should choose it each and every moment of every day. Appreciate it. Cherish it. Asking this question is life affirming, Nessus.
There are other moments when we become confronted with our own mortality. Its such a shame that it takes the very real fear of dying to make us aware how precious life is. I've been to that fear all too recently... and one finds oneself each day looking around and appreciating so much that had been taken for granted. And questioning the importance of other things that eat at our time and steer us away from our true will.
And life is love. Love is life. How cliche! *grin* But true. Love is perhaps the only thing that is not unusual that makes us aware in every waking moment how wonderful life is. The one thing that can fill us day to day with the inner knowledge of life. Of every breath, every smile, every leaf falling to the ground...
"Believe in the simple magic of life, in service in the universe, and the meaning of that waiting, that alertness, that "craning of the neck" in creatures will dawn upon you. Every word would falsify; but look! round about you beings live their life, and to whatever point you turn you come upon being."
-- Martin Buber
Last edited:
Gilly Bean
Princess Spanky Pants
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- Aug 29, 2001
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- 7,173
It's a board game.
Life is everything around us. The hopes, joys, sadness, love, miracles, tragedies, everything you experiance. What you feel, think, how you act, and what you say. It's all life.
Life is everything around us. The hopes, joys, sadness, love, miracles, tragedies, everything you experiance. What you feel, think, how you act, and what you say. It's all life.
MunchinMark
You int seen me, right?
- Joined
- Apr 6, 2000
- Posts
- 6,148
"What is Life?" is at least three questions. I don't know much about any philosophy, I just make up my ideas as I go along, so I'm not going to quote anyone.
Too be honest I would be more comfortable trying to answer the scientific 'what is life?'. The answer we have at the moment is 'I don't know. Some proteins get involved in this reaction and it works. But it doesn't work if you take any one piece out. Life is a wonderfully intricate house of cards where the lower story is invisible.'
What is Life, the thing that you experience? What is its meaning? Maybe your life is your time here, what you do with it and the way in which you affect those around you. To be honest the entire concept is a bit iffy anyway. I'd have to define before I could understand before I could explain. And does it need aany meaning? Is it so bad if there is no reason why? Perhaps Life can be what we make it.
Too be honest I would be more comfortable trying to answer the scientific 'what is life?'. The answer we have at the moment is 'I don't know. Some proteins get involved in this reaction and it works. But it doesn't work if you take any one piece out. Life is a wonderfully intricate house of cards where the lower story is invisible.'
What is Life, the thing that you experience? What is its meaning? Maybe your life is your time here, what you do with it and the way in which you affect those around you. To be honest the entire concept is a bit iffy anyway. I'd have to define before I could understand before I could explain. And does it need aany meaning? Is it so bad if there is no reason why? Perhaps Life can be what we make it.
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