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Messages: 61 until 75 of 572
Number of pages: 39
6:29pm 08-19-2020
Tom Pavlik

Location (State or Country)

Washington
I imagine an Infinite-I getting ready to bet it all with the possibility of the grandest of outcomes only to be road-blocked by the rules of its own game because I said "no" to some early critical step
Replied on: 8:29pm 08-19-2020

Dear Tom,

True, except that if it were that important, I imagine an Infinite I would create numerous experiences to give the Player lots of opportunities to change its mind. So I don't think in terms of a Player losing out on some "grand outcome" because of a single decision made early on. I think we get multiple chances to make a different choice of YES!

9:22pm 08-05-2020
Thuy
Dear Stephen,

I read this from Mort Fertel, "Do we have free choice or is everything predetermined? The answer is YES. Everything is predetermined AND we have free choice.

It's like when you play a card game. You get dealt a hand. And you have no control over the cards you get dealt. It's predetermined.

But you also get to play that hand. You also have free choice.

Ultimately, it's the COMBINATION of the hand you're dealt and the way you play it that determines the outcome."

My question is "Is the OUTCOME the result of our reaction/reponse, ie. our free choice, or is it determined by our Infinite I, or is it the COMBINATION of the two?

Many thanks and I wish you all the best.

Thuy
Replied on: 10:19pm 08-05-2020

Dear Thuy,

The OUTCOME is always a result of how we choose to react/respond to our experience. If an Infinite I could control the outcome, we as Players would be meaningless. Once again, the Infinite I creates the experience, and when that experience stops, the Player has free will to choose its reaction/response. (As I have said before, the point at which the experience stops and the Player's free will kicks in can vary widely from experience to experience.)

But is the OUTCOME a result of the "combination" of the "hand you're dealt and the way you play it"? In poker, you can be dealt a lousy hand and still win because of the way you decide to play it. Conversely, you can be dealt a winning hand (they call it "the nuts") and still lose because of the way you decide to play it. I know that for a fact because I've done just that.

So I say, NO, the OUTCOME is the result of the Player's choice of reactions/responses.

Of all the things I've written about in Butterflies, this is one that I feel very certain about, along with 1) a Player does not choose or create its own experiences, 2) letting go of our beliefs, opinions, judgments and fears - and eventually the ego - is the "secret" to peace of mind and real happiness, 3) the greatest lie all religions have told us is that there is an "afterlife" (as a solution to our deep-seated fear of non-existence), when in fact, it's only here and now that counts, after which there is likely nothing.

6:38pm 08-05-2020
Randall Scott

Location (State or Country)

California
Creative writing.

Awakening. Becoming a "butterfly" (verb)

Trust, confidence — that got me to eventually leave the theater on more than harmonious terms. Not sure where that sensation first came from; (trust/harmony) all of the sudden there it was, I could count on those feelings being truthful within me; (communication) — feelings I was taught I shouldn't trust, which was most of them; except anger and jealousy and resentment —ego-essential. People thought I went completely insane trusting the way I do. Some even said I was putting them at risk trusting so freely, so openly, continually, without interruption. Trusting. Freedom. Feeling. There will be consequences some advised, over and over, and over. Surely. Astonished, in an appalling way I suspect, but nonetheless eagerly attentive, of what they could only interpret as really, really good luck, over and over again; while others ogled from their distant locations, waiting anxiously for the wheels of my tour bus to come flying off. How bizarre it must have all looked to them I surmised, their discerning inquisitiveness failing them; examining a strange person with no true beliefs. How do you do it, how do you function? —They would ask. Do what exactly…...live? —I'd reply. Was trusting doing something? Is functioning doing something? Or is it more like surrender. A default mental aperture with blackhole like energetic intensity — irresistible. Trust. Compelling. Irrefutable. Feeling. What's the opposite of trust? I can only think back now and speculate…... so many prospects. Opposite. That same feeling of trust is still here in me. I no longer watch them, as us, like before. I used a trust to leave the theater; like I use gravity here on earth when I ride my bicycle. Used it to peel the layers. Used it to do nothing when I was continually warned I must do something, or else! Or else what? Punishment. There was just this knowing in me, even though I knew nothing. It's my wife and me now. Many years later. My daughter just got married. I did not attend her wedding, not did my wife (not mother); we weren't invited. She and her new husband will be visiting soon. We'll have a celebration of sorts then. She's somewhat aware of the hologram-like nature of the pursuit of Happyness (Will Smith movie reference) but the theater is where all the action is for her right now; she understands I'm not in the theater; she gets that I'm not her dad. Connection. Compassion. Freely.
3:00pm 08-04-2020
Tom

Location (State or Country)

Washington
So you think you can tell-
Heaven from hell?
Blue Skies from Pain?
Can you tell a Green Field
From a cold steel rail?
A smile from a veil?
Do you think you can tell?

From Pink Floyd's "Wish you were here"
A smile from a veil?
Do you think you can tell?
Replied on: 6:58pm 08-04-2020

Isn't it the way we perceive things
that makes them what they will be?

(Lyric from "Moon Rider" by Up With People
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TfbHOOiNOUI)

7:35pm 08-03-2020
Tom Pavlik

Location (State or Country)

Washington
Jesus is reported to have said "if someone asks you for something, give it to them". He didn't stop there but instead made it a point to talk about a number of other ways to offer no resistance and to "say yes" to what comes your way-in spite of how it may seem contrary to your own ideas about what is in your best interest.

A few years ago I had someone who had (ostensibly) treated me pretty shabbily, "ask" me for money. The person didn't ask it in any way that might have been considered humble but rather it was accompanied by threats and demands.

I said "no" and I was completely rattled over it. I was so rattled that it was difficult to recognize the dominant flow and to paddle along with that. So I just fretted and worried and of course my worries were not restricted to this situation that I'm describing. There were several heavy hitting situations that were really worrisome for me. It is silly for a person in that state to think that if one "problem" subsides that life will be "good". If one's ego is free to see "bad" as mine was then it doesn't matter what relief it is given-it will seek out a new problem to distress over. So the specific situation I'm describing is not important.

That issue resolved in its own fascinating ways that are precious to me and which are too complex to describe here.

But I'm reminded of your statement about "making the infinite I's job easier". My prayer is that I will one day completely release my grasp on my own limited understanding for what is in my best interest so that blessings may readily flow into my life.

Now a days I think I'd be better prepared to say something like "I think that you taking the money by force (I was being threatened with legal action) could open up some doors for me that would otherwise remain shut. I won't give you the money outright because that doesn't seem to be in keeping with the path that is opening up before me...but if you successfully take it, I'll be grateful for the opportunities which never could have come my way without this."

I think that both you and Jesus might be giving the thumbs up from the sidelines for that one

So that's my way of saying "welcome back" Stephen.

And also-have you yet listened to this version of Twain's Mysterious Stranger?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LqlzI4QZPCI&t=10637s
Replied on: 9:58pm 08-03-2020

Dear Tom,

I was with you all the way until you named me and Jesus in the same sentence.

But I especially liked the part about "releas[ing] my grasp on my own limited understanding for what is in my best interest so that blessings may readily flow into my life." You'd think we'd all know what is in our best interest most of the time, but I'm constantly amazed at how often I don't. It's especially difficult for me to grok how my recent physical disabilities are in my best interest, and yet I know they must be and I'm just unable to see it in the present time. Sometimes I have to remind myself over and over that this isn't real, it's a simulation in which I'm playing a part, even if I don't consciously understand why that part was written as it was and how it fits into the overall plot.

So I appreciate your reminder as well, that "I'll be grateful for the opportunities which never could have come my way without this."

10:23pm 07-28-2020
Stephen

Location (State or Country)

NC
I'm back and fully recovered from my surgery. My thanks to Randall for filling in for me so well while I was out.

I do want to follow up on the question of free will posed by Nari....

You said, "the different reactions are up to the different levels of different hormones in your brain, blood, body etc. which is not in your hands and under your control." That, my friend, is exactly backwards. The different hormones, etc., are the RESULT of the decisions you make using your free will. Just like Dr. Bruce Lipton has proven that we are not the victims of our DNA, so too we create our neurochemical reactions based on the choices we make when the experience created for us by our Infinite I ends and our reaction/response begins. I agree with Randall that you would benefit from doing Spiritual Autolysis on this belief to find out for yourself.
7:12pm 07-27-2020
Patrick

Location (State or Country)

Netherlands
Still doing this..There is always further..when its indicated..Thank you Steven..and good luck..
5:01am 07-20-2020
Nari

Location (State or Country)

IRAN
Dear Stephen and Randall
When you talk about Free Will and saying that it's completely up to you how to react or respond to what you see in the RIDE, I think even the reaction and response aren't up to you. Because as you definitely know better than me, the different reactions are up to the different levels of different hormones in your brain, blood, body etc. which is not in your hands and under your control. So, I think there is no free will in any form. What do you think? Please convince me that I'm wrong. Because without any form of Free Will, life can be really meaningless. I like to find a MEANING to be able to continue.
Thank you so much
Replied on: 8:26am 07-21-2020

Hello Nari

Well, what I see right off the bat is, how impossible it would be for something to change, given you’ve already made up your mind about what free will is and how it works.

Until you begin running spiritual autolysis on those preconceptions about “free will” though, you're pretty much stuck with what that belief offers in terms of options. Apparently, a belief that has a lot to do with the meaning of life for you.

After I let go of the first half of the human game, the meaning of my life, for many years, was simply to run the process on whatever fear came up in my day-to-day activities. It was a very exciting time. It felt to me like free will to react to that specific experience in just such a manner by leaving the theater. It felt critically meaningful to me at the time, letting go of all my confusion, pain, and suffering.

Sincerely,
Randall

2:40am 07-18-2020
Nari

Location (State or Country)

IRAN
Dear Randall Scott,
Thanks for doing a wonderful job. I have read and listened Stephen's butterflies are free to fly many times. I'm so interested to read his second book, but I'm living in a part of the world right now that it's not possible for me to buy any form of his book. Is there any way to access a PDF or sth?
Thanks a lot
Replied on: 6:58am 07-18-2020

Sorry, I can't help with that. Something for Stephen to address when he returns.

Thanks for your interest.

4:50pm 07-13-2020
Tom Pavlik

Location (State or Country)

Washington
This is like having to walk like a baby again. It is really astonishing to see the commonly accepted cause and effect relationships exposed as false.

I don't want to say "I've emerged from the cocoon". I don't talk like that. But something about my understanding of events has undergone a sea-change.

Best regards to Stephen whatever he's up to and to you Randall.
1:13pm 06-21-2020
Randall Scott

Location (State or Country)

California
There’s no such thing as an ‘objective view’ of something

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/theres-no-such-thing-as-an-objective-view-of-something
11:07am 06-17-2020
John Joseph Gagat

Location (State or Country)

VA
I can't tell you how much I enjoyed your book. I bought it about 3 years ago and have read it 4 times. I also enjoyed your Holographic Universe series on YouTube. My question for you is this: How does the spirit world figure into all of this? And, how do NDE's figure into this as well? I can see how the spirit world could be part of the hologram but if there is no brain wave activity, then how can people have NDE's? Also, how does dreaming figure into all of this? I hope you have time to address my questions.

Thank you
John
Replied on: 7:13pm 06-18-2020

Hello John

Randall here. Stephen is away temporarily and has asked that I manage the guestbook during his brief absence. I’m sure upon his return he will browse through the comments to see what grabs his attention. In the meantime allow me to respond…………..

The purpose of the hologram is to create a player environment. NDE's and the spirit world and dream interpretation figure right in there quite well during the first half of the game; while one rigidly follows the rules for the First Part of the Human Game trying to theoretically connect the supposed dots that claim to give us answers regarding the unknowable. In the second half, they don't really fit, in the sense there's anything serious to consider with regards to the truth. That's just more stuff that requires a faith-based approach that leads a person into more limitations. But who knows right, maybe someday we'll have a scientific method that can really probe for some hard evidence like in the movie "The Discovery" starring Robert Redford. Below is a link to the movie trailer on YouTube.

https://youtu.be/z9j6WcdU-ts

2:10pm 06-09-2020
Tom Pavlik

Location (State or Country)

Washington
The words of Nisargadatta are worth looking into

“There is no such thing as a person. There are only restrictions and limitations. The sum total of these defines the person. You think you know yourself when you know what you are. But you never know who you are. The person merely appears to be, like the space within the pot appears to have the shape and volume and smell of the pot. See that you are not what you believe yourself to be. Fight with all the strength at your disposal against the idea that you are nameable and describable. You are not. Refuse to think of yourself in terms of this or that. There is no other way out of misery, which you have created for yourself through blind acceptance without investigation. Suffering is a call for enquiry, all pain needs investigation. Don’t be too lazy to think.”
― Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj
7:00pm 06-08-2020
Stephen

Location (State or Country)

NC
I'm going to be out of commission for an undetermined length of time, starting soon. So I have asked Randall Scott to manage this Guestbook for me during that time, to make sure your comments get read and posted and acknowledged. Thanks for your understanding. I'll be checking back in again shortly....
4:06pm 06-07-2020
Randall Scott

Location (State or Country)

California
All living creatures born of the flesh shall sit at last in the boat of the West, and when it sinks, when the boat of Magilum sinks, they are gone; but we shall go forward and fix our eyes on this monster. If your heart is fearful throw away fear; if there is terror in it throw away terror. Take your axe in your hand and attack. He who leaves the fight unfinished is not at peace.’
— The Epic of Gilgamesh

When I first began reading this book the cover struck me in a gravely way. In the title were the words "New" and "Radical." Although my intellect was able to easily dismiss them as baseless, somewhere deeper in my mind I realised why those words were probably the most important part of the book. There was a part of me that knew if I applied this model to my life things would never be the same. What once seemed so radical now seems so sensible and risk free. In my conversations with others about the model I try to emphasise these words "New" and "Radical."
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Number of pages: 39
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