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Originally Posted by dibrisim  I’m always wary of use of “absolute” in any form and meaning. It does appear as a power grabbing exercise rather than a quest for truth. The concept might have gained strength in our Western thought during internal, political struggles between Christian factions some two centuries after Christ. (Women bishops of the time were quite intriguing episode.) The “recognised holders of absolute truth” were implicitly entitled to be ultimate judges and dogma was born. For more than thousands years the concept has been ingrained in our habitual thoughts resulting in a quagmire of 17th century philosophies and science that latter fell apart in numerous schools of thoughts all in search of illusionary “absolute truth”. By now, nobody was able to spell out a single one resulting in desperation that “we will never know anything for sure” well reflected in a school of thought called nihilism.
I would suggest that we change the tack and focus ourselves to a coherence of our truths, rather than thinking how insignificant they are in “absolute” terms. |
Very good point, and based upon past evidence. Power grabbing, yes; the allowing peace-of-mind that you are creating in every situation of your life, definitely. The lust for power is part of human desire, in fact it is the very component of nature. Not right nor wrong in any way, it simply is. It only strays away and becomes "wrong" when we as the developed minds we are place that judgment upon it. But exercising the right to also declare it wrong in the first place, and to imply that we must deny it, is exercising that same 'naughty' power all the same. Power is simply choice, and preference. A deep sense of infinite possibilities. And none of those terms are wrong, right, or even both. They are what they are, everything in between them and yet none of them. Choice, or power, is the living expressive-essence of what we term as 'free-will'. So then when does reaching for freedom from the perceived unchangeable become wrong? Whenever we say it is so. The past can hold us to limits, and it's when we question what was that we can become inspired to
not use it as evidence. What if we've never questioned the past tellings of the earth not being round, how long would it have taken someone to risk falling of the edge to come to a higher realization?
By no means are our truths insignificant under any terms, for they shape the very perceptions we choose to have of our entire existence. They are not meant to be avoided, nor should they become a prison that we cannot escape from. But, as Steve put so well, wake the cave-dwelling bear by opening his cell door
for him, and some are bound to get quite cranky; and others grateful beyond comparison.
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Originally Posted by dibrisim I have already expressed my reservations re polarity. It seems that many ex-Buddhists and surface glimpsing outsiders failed to hear the sound of one hand.
I have already expressed a simple "measure" for our truths, i.e. how they "fit together - within us and among us. I would also stress the importance of "among us" for there is no better way of keeping our thoughts "in check". They need to be tested by others, otherwise "how wild our thoughts can run" could be well illustrated by example of solitary confinement and its impact on our well being. |
Why reserve anything? To reserve is to withhold from yourself an experience you deserve with all your being should you choose so. The ex-Buddists are the same as you and I, to be embraced for they also have heard the sound of that hand, but perhaps in a different way. My perception of the color red could very well be equal to the color of blue for you, and either way we would both stand correct in our "truths". There is nothing that needs testing, only the living out of; to obtain the new and exciting emotional experiences. It only becomes a 'test' when we desire to put judgment where we decide it belongs to measure up our truths, and improve upon them as we see fit. Some view how wild our thoughts can run and hold a sense of fear, while others become starry eyed at the vast possibilities in store for them.
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Originally Posted by dibrisim Well said, but residues of “absolute truths” and measurements of our “relative truths” against them (towards insignificance of the later) still remain.
I have even better question. Could anyone, PLEASE, let me know a single “absolute truth” that will remain unchanged for ever?  (Physicists, modern version of priesthood, have tried with “universal” constants but they are falling apart on almost daily basis.) |
Absolute truths
are our relative truths, they are one in the same! But this is good! Your question is the answer to mine. You have found the limitedness in this concept, and are expanding even further on this idea. The earth isn't flat after all, questions are answered with questions... and so the wheel of truth turns
