Will we ever live in paradise?

[Andy4]

Do you think that we will we ever live in paradise?

I was brought up as a strict catholic, I have no complaints about my chidhood, I enjoyed it. However I was indoctrinated from a very early age.

My first headmistress was a right bitch, she hated my family for some reason and decided to take it out on me from the age of 4-7yrs. I rejoiced when she croaked, I mean it.

I prospered with the new headmistress but was still taught the same old thing. Do as our religion says and you will go to heaven

I believe that paradise is out thre somewhere wether it is in a physical or more likely a mental state.

I am becomming more and more skilled at putting myself into euphoric states of mind. I believe I am nearing my peak performance. Everything I have worked for is somehow much closer these days.

But what I crave is mental satisfaction. Is this called spirituality?

Do you think all of us will one day live in paradise?

[Angela]

Originally Posted by Andy4

Do you think that we will we ever live in paradise?

Paradise is where I live. There's plenty of room here for anyone else who chooses it. But I recognize that not everyone chooses to live in paradise. I stressed out a little bit about that for awhile, and now I'm fine with it -- everybody's exactly where they should be.

I don't think you're going to find paradise *out there* though.

[Dreamline]

Originally Posted by Andy4

Do you think that we will we ever live in paradise?

You mean we don't already?

Jennifer

[MiBeloved]

The first thing is that nearly every religious system has some sort of paradise as the promise for salvation of the followers. If you are born in a catholic family and indoctrinated accordingly, you will have a certain belief in a certain type of paradise and it will suit the culture in which such a belief surfaced. For instance you won’t find angels in a Catholic-described heaven wearing Eastern clothing like saris and dhotis.

Now if someone else, say Mr. Chaudouri was born in India and was indoctrinated in some denomination of Hinduism, then he would have been indoctrinated in some type of heaven which fits neatly with the culture in India. The angels in that paradise would not be illustrated wearing robes, and they may not even be winged diving beings like cherubim etc.

You asked this question:

Do you think all of us will one day live in paradise?

That sound like:

Since none of us have any experiences to verify if there is a paradise as described by a particular faith, then do you believe or surmise that all of us will one day live in such a paradise?

Considering it from that position makes it a not-so sure thing, because there is no direct experience to verify it. It is more like a hope for something, where one is not sure that the aspect exists.
You said this:

I believe that paradise is out three somewhere whether it is in a physical or more likely a mental state?


Okay that is all well and good, your belief.
My question is this:

Why do most of the religions promise the factual experience of paradise only as a reward which the faithful will experience at or after death?
Which religion can show paradise during life?

[codenamesmiley]

Paradise is a state of mind.

Even a prisoner, can control his own thoughts.

Blessings,
Rebecca

[joelr]

Originally Posted by MiBeloved

[I][COLOR="Sienna"]

Why do most of the religions promise the factual experience of paradise only as a reward which the faithful will experience at or after death?
Which religion can show paradise during life?

Eastern mythologies do. "I am one with God" is the bottom line of these philosophies. Experiencing the true nature of reality or being enlightened, will in effect bring one to this state of "paradise". Here one seeks a relationship with himself because we are all a part of God.

The western idea of God which began to emerge in Greek times and with Judaism puts us as separate from God. We seek to have a relationship with him rather than ourselves and are rewarded with a heavenly afterlife. At first the separate Gods were harsh, Jerico refused to give in to Zeus and was punished, Jobe had to submit to a harsh God who punished him without cause. A more peaceful God emerged with Christianity but solidified this separateness in the West.

The Western creation story where God creates Adam in Eden and Adam gives rise to Eve (a strange alteration of the original stories, who ever heard of a man giving birth ??) comes from an older version where God has a thought of "that" or "something else" which gives rise to an entity that is still God but also something else. Shiva. They are still in Eden with the serpent and a tree of knowledge and a tree of immortality. Each new thought of "something else not me" gives rise to all life. A wonderful metaphor suggesting consciousness gives rise to all creation.

Now this concept of being "one" with God is becoming attractive to the West and the East is often seen as "more" spiritual.

So in life one can reach levels of awareness of God (heaven) through Hinduism and it's
offspring. Or by cultivating these ideas into ones own spirituality. If you believe in that particular process.

[newsbone]

Originally Posted by Andy4

Do you think all of us will one day live in paradise?

Yes! If we choose to.

[Aleksander Krstic]

Originally Posted by Angela

Paradise is where I live. There's plenty of room here for anyone else who chooses it. But I recognize that not everyone chooses to live in paradise. I stressed out a little bit about that for awhile, and now I'm fine with it -- everybody's exactly where they should be.

I don't think you're going to find paradise *out there* though.

Agreed. Furthermore I believe that after a long while we'll make this Earth a paradise, if we only choose to.

Originally Posted by newsbone

Yes! If we choose to.

[Andy4]

Thanks Angela,

I know paradise is where you live but swap it for rainy Manchester for a month and see if you still feel the same way! Actually it's sunny here at the moment but people are still walking around with umbrellas, must be habbit.

Seriously though, I'm very open-minded on most things and I think we have just scratched the surface of absolute knowledge.

As you say, not everyone wants to live in paradise or everyone's version of it is different but I believe there are such things as parallel universes and I wholeheartedly believe that paradise or a better world for all of us is out there somewhere.

Hi Jennifer,

Manchester.....paradise?

It's a difficult one. Fiday nights, not bad. Monday mornings, I hate Mondays, Definitely not paradise. NC is that North Carolina?

Us Brits, so parochial and unable to work the spell check. Good word though.

Hi MiBeloved,

The question you ask is similar to the one that I asked myself.

IE Why was I taught "Do as our religion states and you will go to heaven."

I think everyone is entitled to follow the religion of their choice but I'm not particularly religious myself. However I do believe in a 'God-like' force that drives the universe. I believe it to be our collective conciousness. Take care.

I agree CNS,

Have you ever read Victor Frankle's (Excuse me If I've spelt his name wrong) auto biography. He was an ex P.O.W. and shared you're belief.

I share it myself, up to a point. I just think we could become better at creating this state of mind though.

Hi joelr,

I definitely believe in connectivity as opposed to seperateness. I've said on the forum before that I believe we are all connected in some way. Thus by helping others and trying to be of service to people you are in fact helping yourself. Same goes for the opposite as well.

Hi newsbone,

Not heard from you in a while and when I do it's a one liner!

I'm very much into positive thinking, in fact I think it's my stronggest characteristic.

(I know this thanks to Angelas's post - 'Tell me one thing that you like about yourself.' In fact I got up to 913 but that was top of the list. I AM JOKING.)

What I'm saying is that even the most positive amoungst us feel down occasionally.

Hi Aleksander,

I hope we do make paradise on earth. I believe that we are getting there in many ways but we still have a long way to go. If we can focus on all the good things I think we have a genuine chance, unfortunately, as humans we have a fascination with all things negative.

Maybe one day we will master this urge. I hope so.

Regards, Andy

[Angela]

Originally Posted by Andy4

I wholeheartedly believe that paradise or a better world for all of us is out there somewhere.

I get that. It's just that hearing you say that is very much like watching my boyfriend frantically looking all over the house for his glasses, getting more and more stressed out wondering where he left them, and not noticing that they're right there already on his face.

I know, I'm evil, I should tell him right away, but it's very amusing!

[Andy4]

Nice analogy Angela,

Maybe he's related to my wife.?

This is absolutely true, by the way.

One day as we were approaching our house she started to panic. When I asked her what the matter was she replied that she thought that her car may have been stolen.

When I asked her if she was being serious she confirmed that she was.

She was then somewhat amazed and relieved when I told her that she was in fact driving it!

I am saying nothing about women drivers on the grounds that I may incriminate myself.

Regards, Andy.

[Angela]

Originally Posted by Andy4

Maybe he's related to my wife.?

Maybe he's related to YOU.

Just notice what you're driving, and what's driving you.

[StuartPE]

What exactly IS paradise? If everything is good, then how do we learn, grow, and how do we know it's good when there is nothing to differentiate it from?

What if it's like this YouTube - Reverend Meets His Maker...?

[Andy4]

Maybe he's related to me?

Now that means one of two things.....

Either we share the same inability to spot the obvious? OR the more likely assumption is that we share the same rugged good looks. I'm an optomist so I'm going to plump for the rugged good looks. Thanks for the compliment, Angela, I feel quite touched.

I currently drive a white Audi A4, by the way and what drives me is desire.

Hi StuartPE,

Paradise in my oppinion is a world without hunger, suffering or pain. A world where everyone gives without wanting to recieve. Global contentment.

I agree, we do learn from adversity but maybe paradise is not the easy ride a lot of us imagine it to be.

Regards, Angela's brother in law.

[Angela]

Some people's idea of paradise is driving an Audi A4!

(p.s... how did you know that Danger Man is ruggedly handsome like you? Cuz he is.)

[Andy4]

Yes the Audi is nice, much better, than the BMW I used to drive but that was a nice feeling as well, especially for a poor boy from the sticks. However, both cars are/were company cars but don't get me started on motors, I'm obsessive about them and I've got OCD especially around vehicles. As that reached the States yet?

Obsessive cleaning disorder. Well I work hard so I'm entitled to a designer ailment.

Please tell me 'Danger man' is not you're pet name for you're guy?

If it is, I just daren't ask why.

How come you're posts are like five words and it takes me 105 to reply?

Danger man's accomplice.

[codenamesmiley]

Originally Posted by Andy4

Yes the Audi is nice, much better, than the BMW I used to drive but that was a nice feeling as well, especially for a poor boy from the sticks. However, both cars are/were company cars but don't get me started on motors, I'm obsessive about them and I've got OCD especially around vehicles. As that reached the States yet?

Obsessive cleaning disorder. Well I work hard so I'm entitled to a designer ailment.

Please tell me 'Danger man' is not you're pet name for you're guy?

If it is, I just daren't ask why.

How come you're posts are like five words and it takes me 105 to reply?

Danger man's accomplice.

For the record...it's C.D.O. (That's O.C.D. spelled alphabetically....as it should be)

[Angela]

Originally Posted by Andy4

Please tell me 'Danger man' is not you're pet name for you're guy?

If it is, I just daren't ask why.

Yes, and it's because "Danger Man" is our favorite TV show.

[Andy4]

OOOHHH CNS,

I didn't have you down as a jobsworth.

I'm not much into following the system or being alphabeticaaly or politically correct for that matter. I like spontenaity, freedom and self expression and for the record we DO call it OCD in the UK.

That's not how it SHOULD be it's just how it is.

Thanks for the input on the dream interpretation and the paradise thread by the way, these are things that are very inportant to me.

Hi Angela,

Nice name. I like things like that. MY pet name for my wife is bunnykins. I'm not teling you what hers is for me though, no way.

Regards Adny. (that's alphabetically correct, Accbeer.)

[StuartPE]

Audi S4, now that's a car.

[codenamesmiley]

Originally Posted by Andy4

OOOHHH CNS,

I didn't have you down as a jobsworth.

I'm not much into following the system or being alphabeticaaly or politically correct for that matter. I like spontenaity, freedom and self expression and for the record we DO call it OCD in the UK.

That's not how it SHOULD be it's just how it is.

Thanks for the input on the dream interpretation and the paradise thread by the way, these are things that are very inportant to me.

Hi Angela,

Nice name. I like things like that. MY pet name for my wife is bunnykins. I'm not teling you what hers is for me though, no way.

Regards Adny. (that's alphabetically correct, Accbeer.)

To explain the joke....o.c.d. is the need to make everything perfect, some people have to alphabetize their music collections, books and whatnot. everything in perfect order...a place for everything and everything in it's place.

My doctor about fell out of her chair, when I corrected her and told her that I preferred to call it c.d.o.

I apologize for having not explained the joke, or seeming malproductive.

Blessings,
Rebecca

[Andy4]

Hi stuart,

Never seen an s4 before but will check it out. I do love a nice motor though and I love to keep it gleaming. Oh no, we're back to O.C.D. I'd better quit whilst I'm behind.

Hi Rebecca,

I am a man you know, you've got to speak to us in simple terms otherwise you will confuse us and even upset us.

Only kidding, you're input as never been unproductive, take care.

Regards, Andy.