Definition of Infinity.

[infinitethoughts]

In general, infinity is the quality or state of endlessness
-----or in other words this moment.

Welcome to infinity.

[JOE]

I am having trouble even getting that but still ike it for some reason

Intuitively there is something ringing in the remote distance but I am waiting for my AHA!! moment and my left brain to catch up

[infinitethoughts]

If you think about it, this moment is endless, just goes on and on and on and on.

Then you take a break, and then wake up and you pick up right where you left off and it continues going on and on, etc.

(Technically I should be using the word eternal, but for some reason I think they're the same thing.)

[infinitethoughts]

Reading Steve's blog's re-reminded me of what I used to know.

You're smack dab in the "middle" of infinity, and the "almighty" past are simply memories.

Literally, the conceptualization of the "flow of time" is responsible for aging.

(EDIT-- the "collective conceptualization")

[impaul99]

What's weird is that on a physical level, since the universe extends outwards into infitity in every direction, any point within it can be called the centre of the universe. THerefore, where we are here on earth, we must be at the centre of the universe, so that means that the sun revolves around the earth not the other way around since we are at the centre.

If we were on the sun, then it would be the centre, but that doesn't matter since were not there, we're here.

[infinitethoughts]

Along those lines here's something trippy...
"the Big Bang happened everywhere. "

From Astronomy magazine:
Astronomy - Have astronomers found the center of the universe where the Big Bang took place? Where is the edge of the universe? - Thomas Vitale, Eureka, California, and 21 others

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[Keith]

Originally Posted by infinitethoughts

Along those lines here's something trippy...
"the Big Bang happened everywhere. "

I would've thought the otherway 'round; "Everywhere was happened by the Big Bang". Not as grammatically pretty, though.

[John Wesley]

Definition:

infinity - The only way to quantify the pointlessness of this thread.

[infinitethoughts]

Originally Posted by John Wesley

Definition:

infinity - The only way to quantify the pointlessness of this thread.

Hahaha.......Oh and John? Piss off why don't you.

Why are you really on this forum???

[infinitethoughts]

Now that we got that negative bonehead outta the way......

---

Anybody ever study Zen? Infinity is lurking deep in there.
Alan Watts is a brilliant writer.

[Matthew Shea]

That linked article about the Big Bang makes complete sense to me. We, as humans, are indeed limited by our ability to perceive our world and many of us are unfortunately stuck with the notion that if we can't perceive something, it either doesn't affect us or it doesn't exist. Both of these, in fact, couldn't be further from the truth.

BTW, that comment may have indeed been boneheaded, but I still find it funny. If nothing else, it acts as a caution against taking ourselves too seriously.

[moviestar]

I was thinking about the concept of time one day. My thought train was like this: time is divided into past, present and future. The present is really this moment. The whole time is composed of moments. An infinite number of moments... But what is this moment. How much time does this moment take?
... And suddenly I saw it or felt it or whatever you might call that experience. I realized the true nature of time. It was exactly what you wrote, but I understood it with every part of my being. For a split second I was free of time...
And then it went away and to this day I know what I was thinking about I understand it intelectually but don't experience it. Time is just an illusion, I know that, but how can we really free ourselves from it forever?

[infinitethoughts]

Originally Posted by moviestar

Time is just an illusion, I know that, but how can we really free ourselves from it forever?

Good question.

Only thing I can think of is maybe practice? Cause, consider this. 'Time' is just a "collective conceptualizational" habit.

Who knows it may be another step in evolution....

[moviestar]

Originally Posted by infinitethoughts

Who knows it may be another step in evolution....

I think it is the opposite of evolution (what's the word?). You see, animals live in the eternal now because they don't have the concept of time. So maybe to live like that you need to regress, cut out a part of your brain that is responsible for that.

[Keith]

Originally Posted by moviestar

I think it is the opposite of evolution (what's the word?). You see, animals live in the eternal now because they don't have the concept of time. So maybe to live like that you need to regress, cut out a part of your brain that is responsible for that.

"Devolution" is the opposite of evolution.

Firstly, I suspect from your comment that you may subtly misunderstand evolution. Evolution is not about 'progress'. It's not about lifeforms progressing up a ladder to become increasingly superior. It is purely about species and individuals that are best suited to a particular place and moment in time thriving and multiplying.

Secondly, I don't think you give the human race enough credit. Yes, we developed 'monkey mind' which (though sometimes useful) can often be a downer. But we are also rare amongst creatures in having developed self-awareness. Animals may live in the eternal now, but most of them can't appreciate it. Most of them can't consciously refine themselves and grow, because they aren't capable of consciousness. That's an awful lot to give up.

[John Wesley]

Why are you so sure animals don't have consciousness? Primitive man worshiped the higher animals as his equals and in many ways his superiors. Animals have a certain innate understanding of existence that most people don't appreciate. You are correct in asserting that they aren't self aware, but I'm not sure this is grounds for inferiority. Isn't the bulk of human 'awareness' really delusional? We foolishly believe that the world is centered around us, and greatly overestimate our individual worth.

And no infinitethoughts, you aren't getting rid of me that easily.

[infinitethoughts]

Originally Posted by moviestar

So maybe to live like that you need to regress, cut out a part of your brain that is responsible for that.

Well I'm sharpening my knife just for that.

Originally Posted by John Wesley

Why are you so sure animals don't have consciousness? Primitive man worshiped the higher animals as his equals and in many ways his superiors. Animals have a certain innate understanding of existence that most people don't appreciate. You are correct in asserting that they aren't self aware, but I'm not sure this is grounds for inferiority. Isn't the bulk of human 'awareness' really delusional? We foolishly believe that the world is centered around us, and greatly overestimate our individual worth.

And no infinitethoughts, you aren't getting rid of me that easily.

Hey, as long as you make constructive critism, I have no problems.

But when you start doing this stuff:

Originally Posted by John Wesley

Definition:

infinity - The only way to quantify the pointlessness of this thread.

you start moving into the land of trolls. IE: meaningless statements meant to antagonize.

If you disagree give me a reason and we'll discuss. Thats why they call this a "discussion group."

[John Wesley]

You asked for the definition of infinity and I posted the one I thought most relevant. Just because I put it in a somewhat sarcastic form doesn't make it trolling.

[Keith]

Originally Posted by John Wesley

Why are you so sure animals don't have consciousness? [...] You are correct in asserting that they aren't self aware [...]

Conscious = Self-Aware.

And I didn't say animals were inferior - I just questioned the claim that humans were inferior.

[DoAnyOfYouExist]

Every time I see two mirrors(one behind me, one in front of me, or two on either side of me) I can easily understand infinity. I've been looking into fractals alot lately and I think they hold answers to alot, trees are fractals.

[moviestar]

we are also rare amongst creatures in having developed self-awareness. Animals may live in the eternal now, but most of them can't appreciate it.

That's the key. They don't need to appreciate it. They just live. If all their needs are satisfied they are happy. On the other hand if human needs are satisfied you still probably will be unhappy because your mind is in the future creating new problems.

Most of them can't consciously refine themselves and grow, because they aren't capable of consciousness. That's an awful lot to give up.

I believe self-awareness is the beginning of all our problems, it is the source of suffering. It is a useful tool, for the species, for the society but not for the individual. Why do you think there is a need to change, grow, refine yourself? Don't you think that is precisely your problem, your need for change?

[infinitethoughts]

Originally Posted by DoAnyOfYouExist

Every time I see two mirrors(one behind me, one in front of me, or two on either side of me) I can easily understand infinity. I've been looking into fractals alot lately and I think they hold answers to alot, trees are fractals.

Good point.

Here's something else that's interesting. I'v read somewhere, Infinity is qualitatively different from very large.

Infinity is something that is beyond numbers, beyond the counting system.

That's why it hard for people to see infinity in the now, cause we've become too unbalanced, too numbers based.