Everything Only Happens Right Now

Oh we must see that reply Ona!!! Please create a new take when you have the time! Please  

Tom Otvos wrote: I can vouch for the forum existing, since I have been quite the absent "landlord" and yet conversations merrily continue without me.

Yes Tom but your post here could only be a fabrication in my own mind. I see it now sure. I see my kid now as well and he is playing with his toys  

Now I’m walking away into another room (actually doing it) … I can not be certain my son is still there, or the room he is playing in or his toys … 

… so I walk back now and I see him playing with his toys in our living room. All indeed seems very real … while I’m experiencing it. 

It could be a bit like walking in the dark (emptiness) and only having one 180 degrees flash light. It only lights up so far ahead. So I move through that darkness (emptiness) and that illuminated part from the flashlight is having form (of this room I’m in and the phone in hand and my son playing). However as I turn away with the flashlight and walk into another room the previous gets swallowed by the dark (emptiness) and is dismantled. 

How does this sound as a possibility? I’m brainstorming and having fun but also considering options how THIS Now relates to any other assumed This which relies on memory. 

Are we concluding that this subject really comes down to Believing either options? Are we concluding that this can’t be verified? 

Ok but the forum starts off as a bunch of database records and related files, nothing like the forum we see on the screen.

When you request a page the content management system digs up the records, smooshes them into a template, and builds an html file (which also looks nothing like the forum), then that gets fired into your browser and that renders the forum that you see.

So what is it that exists that makes up 'the forum'?

Does the forum inherently exist? Or does it only have existence because of all the components in the chain?

What happens if the datacenter burns down and the files are restored to a new system? Is it still the same the forum?

(At this point Ona & Chris roll their eyes and think 'stage-related obsession with dependent origination' )

I still think the 'reliability of stuff' is selection, we automatically think things are things because they have apparent persistence.

Not rolling eyes. 

It's normal to explore our experiences of and concepts of reality. 

I think it's not very useful to try to repoint people to other perspectives unless they ask for help. 

My own views or particular fascinations are also stage-influened. Even within a specific tradition the aspects of the faith that draw me, the things i struggle with, or the way i understand or fail to understand a teaching changes all the time. 

It's okay to be a bit of a mess, not know much, and flounder along doing as best one can. 

Ona Kiser wrote:
It's okay to be a bit of a mess, not know much, and flounder along doing as best one can. 

I might make that my slogan for the rest of 2022!

Yes, from a physical and practical perspective there's an elsewhere and stuff happens in it.

Chris Marti wrote: So... is there only one human sentient being to whom all other humans are just imaginary figments, or are there a whole bunch of sentient human beings (~8 billion) who think they're "me?"

Ha! Now you are talking! Me likey! Now this is a good one to ponder and an interesting one. Am I but a fragment in God's perverted imagination mind or are all these folks but inside my mind! 

I like it! This is what I call a fun and funky talk to have over pint or three Slainte!!! 

Philip Stone wrote:

Ona Kiser wrote:
It's okay to be a bit of a mess, not know much, and flounder along doing as best one can. 

We could make that the official AN's T-shirt of 2022! Or maybe just for this April month as we seem to be on the roll over here and more such nuggets are incoming!!!  

Chris Marti wrote:

How does this sound as a possibility? I’m brainstorming and having fun but also considering options how THIS Now relates to any other assumed This which relies on memory. 

What does this mean?

Honestly I have no clue Chris! Im reading it now and I too can't make sense of those words! I blame the often diaper change over here and then posting stuff on the forum in between them! Best to ignore at least half of what I write! I like to think that there is hope for me still  

Philip Stone wrote: Ok but the forum starts off as a bunch of database records and related files, nothing like the forum we see on the screen.

When you request a page the content management system digs up the records, smooshes them into a template, and builds an html file (which also looks nothing like the forum), then that gets fired into your browser and that renders the forum that you see.

So what is it that exists that makes up 'the forum'?

Does the forum inherently exist? Or does it only have existence because of all the components in the chain?

What happens if the datacenter burns down and the files are restored to a new system? Is it still the same the forum?

(At this point Ona & Chris roll their eyes and think 'stage-related obsession with dependent origination' )

I still think the 'reliability of stuff' is selection, we automatically think things are things because they have apparent persistence.

Yeah me man!!! Love that! Makes total sense to me and could be one of the ways our "reality" comes online as we are Consciousning along Uncertain but fun to ponder nonetheless! 

Dusko wrote: Am I but a fragment in God's perverted imagination mind or are all these folks but inside my mind! 

In defense of my beloved Creator, whom I associate with love, beauty,   truth, mercy, and a superabundant amazingness, the word 'perverted' would never come to mind. 

Maybe “my” creator perverted?  

Dusko wrote: Maybe “my” creator perverted?  

Dusko, an appropriate response may be "Excuse my language". What you did just seems to double down on the disrespect. 

I was just joking in a friendly way Sam. 

I do not know Ona’s God. I only know the gods from my mind. I doubt they are the same “thing”. 

Also I doubt the word “God” can be copy righted to only “my God”. it means so many thing to different people. To me it’s the same as Santa Claus. But that is only my view and others may have theirs. No disrespect meant here Sam  

But yes I’m likely a very insulting guy from Europe behaving like an elephant inside a China shop!  

Best wishes to you Sam! And apologies to Ona if my views insult her believes. (I have a feeling her faith can withstand my wronged views). 

It’s nice of you for protecting her though. I will take the rotten tomatoes now! As long you don’t stone me to death  

SigmaTropic wrote:

Dusko wrote: Maybe “my” creator perverted?  

Dusko, an appropriate response may be "Excuse my language". What you did just seems to double down on the disrespect. 

Sam got my point. 

Why does the word 'perverted' seem appropriate, Dusko? It's a strong word, not so much a joking word. 

Ona what is wrong with my creator (whatever that might be) being perverted?

Actually don't answer this I think your serious reply says a lot. 

I know of people who cant take a joke about their holy books and then they go and burn your embassy. 

I think I might be a wrong person for this sensitive community  

Please excuse my presence and be at peace. 

Dusko wrote: Ona what is wrong with my creator (whatever that might be) being perverted?

Actually don't answer this I think your serious reply says a lot. 

I know of people who cant take a joke about their holy books and then they go and burn your embassy. 

I think I might be a wrong person for this sensitive community  

Please excuse my presence and be at peace. 

My question was a gesture towards engagement, not chasing you away. I was offering conversation. 

Have a nice day Ona  

(Everything will be just fine)