An Atheist's Glimpse of God

Ninety percent of Maslow's pyramid has been taken care of for as long as I could remember, leaving me to arrogantly believe it's my responsibility to improve this world

-- that resembles a feeling that often brings me angst, but I always struggle to put into words.

Re: An Atheist's Glimpse of God

#5

Post by agentultra » Mon, Feb 18, 2013, 5:39 PM UTC

So you sat on some stones under extreme physical duress. Congratulations. Your puny mammalian brain acted in a manner dysfunctional from its normal operating environment. Now you can go to parties and feel even more superior to your friends. They won't get it of course because there's no way for you to accurately explain it to them.

Re: An Atheist's Glimpse of God

#6

Post by SageRaven » Mon, Feb 18, 2013, 5:50 PM UTC

agentultra wrote: post #5

So you sat on some stones under extreme physical duress. Congratulations. Your puny mammalian brain acted in a manner dysfunctional from its normal operating environment. Now you can go to parties and feel even more superior to your friends. They won't get it of course because there's no way for you to accurately explain it to them.

Why so dismissive? Religious or feel-good benefits aside from the 100-hour regimen, the guys deserves kudos merely for sticking with the exercise to its conclusion. Even without the discomfort, sitting/standing/whatever for 10 hours a day doing nothing physically takes some dedication.

I find his experience amazing on so many levels, and I am gracious for such a intimate account of that experience (I read the full-on article he references).

Re: An Atheist's Glimpse of God

#7

Post by f1codz » Mon, Feb 18, 2013, 6:16 PM UTC

Thanks for sharing this amazing experience. I have been wanting to do this same very course myself.

Even today evening I was thinking of just this.

Your experience has inspired me even more. I believe i must stop thinking and just plan go at the next best available free time.

Re: An Atheist's Glimpse of God

#8

Post by hnriot » Mon, Feb 18, 2013, 6:22 PM UTC

SageRaven wrote: post #6

agentultra wrote: post #5

So you sat on some stones under extreme physical duress. Congratulations. Your puny mammalian brain acted in a manner dysfunctional from its normal operating environment. Now you can go to parties and feel even more superior to your friends. They won't get it of course because there's no way for you to accurately explain it to them.

Why so dismissive? Religious or feel-good benefits aside from the 100-hour regimen, the guys deserves kudos merely for sticking with the exercise to its conclusion. Even without the discomfort, sitting/standing/whatever for 10 hours a day doing nothing physically takes some dedication. I find his experience amazing on so many levels, and I am gracious for such a intimate account of that experience (I read the full-on…

* the guys deserves kudos merely for sticking with the exercise to its conclusion

why? If I pierce my scrotum a hundred times should I get kudos? No of course not, just doing something uncomfortable for no reason isn't admirable.

Meditation is great for some people, and a total waste of time for others. Each to their own, but let's not pat anyone on the back for it.

Re: An Atheist's Glimpse of God

#9

Post by jeremyarussell » Mon, Feb 18, 2013, 6:22 PM UTC

Meditation is one of the things that most people should do, it enlightens you as to your faults, bringing them to light so that you may change yourself for the better. It's also nothing to do with making you superior to other people(if it is you have other issues that won't work themselves out until you learn some empathy.)

Re: An Atheist's Glimpse of God

#10

Post by geon » Mon, Feb 18, 2013, 6:24 PM UTC

I like to run once a week or so. It helps me shed a lot of stress, and is supposed to be good for me.

At first I hated it. But then I began bringing my iPhone and listen to music. I mostly listen to electronic dance music, but there was a specific genre that I found worked well for runnig; Trance.

There is one "song" that illustrates this very well. It is 9.5 minutes of very monotonous, slowly building "umm-tss". http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v...

There is a reason for that name. I found that this music, in combination with the deep breathing in coordination with my steps sort of lets me enter a state of trance. I can empty my mind and just be. Stress over deadlines and finances - and even stress over being stressed - pretty much are gone when I get back home.