If you play the lotto, here in one of the U.S. areas, for around (approximately) 500 times — on 500 separate occasions, or so — and do not win… you need not automatically assume that the prize money doesn’t exist (and never existed for anyone, ever). It is easy to come to conclusions about things without ever having had deeply explored, without ever having seriously enquired. One might ask, “Well, why doesn’t God, if he exists, help us more… reveal himself to us more?” Of course, the aforementioned question is full of loaded, anthropomorphic assumptions. The natural world is natural because it is not interfered with much; if it was frequently interfered with, it would cease to be natural. Period. The sacred, however, may be what blossoms naturally if one is serious and if perception beyond the distorted occurs. Perhaps the sacred does indirectly reveal itself (somewhat), naturally, through (and “as”) the movements the wise. Perhaps the sacred directly reveals itself to those few who are truly wise. It does not reveal itself by way of mere reactions of the conditioned and indoctrinated. (Many — filled with self-delusion — may think that they are wise and may try propagandizing or selling their version of the sacred to others, but what they are distributing or selling is almost inevitably some form of conditioning, symbols, and methodology that they have absorbed from others.) What is truly sacred cannot merely be directly told or shared in words or writing; it may visit one, and (as was suggested) one may be directly aware of it as it is visiting, but that awareness cannot merely be shared (adequately) in writing or through mere symbolic words. The sacred is too vast and immeasurable to merely be fully shared via limited words and symbols. The sacred, in actuality, may be of tremendous order and integrity; merely projecting images or conclusions about it from a field that consists of conditioning and disorder may have very little value. It is never what can merely be possessed or held. Real love is like that. It is a passion that is like a beautiful spring rain and it dries up if one merely tries to pigeonhole it, propagandize it, or use if for the self alone.
Conjecture has no place here; you either discover something or intelligently investigate (without forming an opinion)… or (as so many do) you “believe that God exists” or “do not believe that God exists.” Belief and disbelief are — despite the protests of many — fundamentally the same thing; with both, opinions, conclusions, and symbolic thinking are involved. Formation of an opinion on incomplete evidence is naive and constrained. Direct, untainted, intelligent observation is another matter, and there are (fortunately) ways to test whether it was indeed legitimate or merely fallacious. Most of us are symbols, measurements, and images about energy; very few of us were ever in communion with the actual, unadulterated, limitless, timeless, immeasurable energy… pure, orderly, and pristine, pouring through one’s empty vessel. That energy has its own intrinsic intelligence beyond the superficial limitations and boundaries of time.
Exploring. Photo by Thomas Peace c. 2016
Tom's Nature-up-close Photography and Mindfulness Blog 
thanks for sharing your wise thoughts with us, Thomas, regards Mitza
Thanks, Mitza! Tweetie says, “Hi”! The new food for them comes in tomorrow; i sure hope that they transition to it OK.
Interesting post, Tom. I often wonder if I’m unusual in not wanting there to be a god or an afterlife.
Thanks, Jean! 🙂
That sure isn’t the norm! I’m not familiar enough to realize the extent or full nature of your “not wanting,” but it certainly is interesting. A lot of people have internal projections and images of God that they tend to admire, worship and ask favors of, but these images are essentially projections of themselves. Unfortunately, it’s often a dog chasing its own tail sort of thing. Dismissing any possibility of God or sacredness, additionally, may be constituted of mere projections, conclusions, and images formulated by (and “as”) the self. The best likely thing is to be intelligently open and to enquire… and not always merely “wanting” may be part of that openness/intelligence.
I had a feeling it mightn’t be the norm alright!
Everyone can be a god and attain immortality if only they are able to become 100% mindful as Tom propounds, placing all duality aside and allowing oneself to merge with the boundless bliss of Nirvana.
it does get tiresome when all theists make the same claims: that if one doesn’t agree with them, then one isn’t “truly” wise, “truly” sincere, etc.
I understand, C! 🙂 Agreeing (or not agreeing) is inevitably a projection of one’s stored background. Real wisdom may be (pristine) perceiving beyond the influence or distortion of any background. So “agreeing” may have very little place regarding truth whatsoever.
I do believe agreeing have a fair amount to do with regarding the truth. Since people can agree on a great many things, and they agree because facts allow them to, there is no reason not to apply that agreement and cognizance of facts to be applied to everything. If something has no facts to support it, then there is no reason to accept it. For example, people agree that holding a white hot bar of iron on one’s bare hand will severely injure someone. It is based on evidence. Now, when people don’t agree on something, and there is no evidence to support a claim, there is no reason to accept it as true.
C: Very interesting points! Thank you! 🙂 Of course holding a hot bar of iron will severely injure the bare hand that holds it. I was, however, referring more to aspects of intangible things, like what wisdom and awareness entail. A lot of people might insist that truth/wisdom is in everything that Christ said. They will find all kinds of things in the Bible that — they say — held up to the test of time for eons as facts for millions of people. Yet many current Biblical scholars are revealing (with excellent examples) how most of the (likely) original sayings were severely distorted — and added to — by others (with their own personal agendas). Many Buddhists are doing the same kind of thing… all agreeing with each other — in their own little groups — that what they believe in is based on “facts.” Other religions and sects do the same kind of thing (as well as governments) and we then are at each others’ throats.
A lot of people will maintain that there is no question that the state of Florida really exists… that its existence is a fact. However, Florida, like all the other states, is a fabricated, man-made thing.
I’m not suggesting to hold flaring hot bars of iron. I am suggesting that we need to be extremely cautious and the most prudent thing to do is to look without coming to conclusions from what anyone (including me) says. Pure, unadulterated perception is beyond all this; however, most of us are so contaminated with conclusions (and on accepting falsities) that that is not easily done.
Amazing and beautiful ! 🙂
Thank you, Marcela! 🙂
There are a lot fewer butterflies in our area (this year especially); i hope it is not due to pollution from man…(and that it is just a temporary thing)!
Spectacular shot, so lucky! 🙂
Excellent piece of writing.. This experience sacred for the human is definitely beyond words, as it was before man’s word and will be after.. Attempting to ‘categorize’, ‘label’ that which is omnipresent, non-restricting, evidenced by the diversity of living presences.. Well it’s a unworthy effort and unnecessary… Though the motives match the outcome and therein lies man’s demise…
Thanks, Taruna! 🙂 People tend to be stuck in words, which are merely dead, limited symbols. It’s a tragedy that needs to change.
Tom, these photos are stunning and balance the meticulous writing which is pure pleasure to read – not just because I happen to share your thinking but because you speak the truths that Nature accords us only if we pay attention…
Thanks so much, Sara! Great that you like the photos, and even greater that you are appreciative of the writing. 🙂 More people need to pay attention!
yep… they surely do, but my life experience indicates that most folks prefer the ostrich syndrome – that’s why it’s such a pleasure to read writing like yours –
Ostrich syndrome… yes! 🙂
This. Yes. THIS.
Ditto. It is true atheists are cowards who, unable to understand the path to Enlightenment, and attached to mundane desires, resort to believing in “Nothing” just to sate their desires of INDULGENCE.