Just When You Think People Couldn’t Get Any Dumber…
Part of what we like to do here on this blog — when we’re in the mood to stir up some good ole fashioned head-shaking emotion — is highlight stupidity !
You know… those parts of the human psyche / brain that either a) just don’t question things because they only see life in Black or White mode, or b) are afraid to confront their experience of life because, well, holy $*#!, they know they might see or hear something frightening.
Yes, while we know the above picture is an EXTREME example of flawed, tainted, even program-controlled (media, culture, family) thinking, and one that most of our astute community has gotten past, it’s still worthy of passing on… not only funny, of course, but again, somewhat disillusioning too.
Kind of like, “You’ve got to be kidding me !”
Hey, let’s face it… if we’re truly here to open up the world to new ideas, see different perspectives, challenge beliefs, and consider unlimited possibilities (we’re here for that, and much more… you ?) then we, collectively, sometimes just have to highlight the absurd so we have a foundation from which to grow — a barometer of inner-world growth, if you will.
So, this brings us to our complimentary 35-page report titled:
The Eckhart Effect and the Quest for Spiritual Accountability
We trust you’ll enjoy it, as our intention for researching the information and packing it up is to help folks challenge their beliefs and investigate competing evidence that either validates their own experiences, or causes them to see why or how results may not be happening for themselves.
All you have to do to read it is click on the link above. No opt-in required!
Enjoy!
Your Partners in the Quest For
Living a Life Without Limits,
P.S. Oh, by the way, with our tongues in our cheeks, we’re giving you the thumbs up… if you know anyone who puts up stupid signs like this, or passes out Bibles or The Secret DVDs at every family gathering, or tells you that they’ve given up on trying to change people’s thinking and yet still say “we’re all connected”, or stands in one place while the monkey at the zoo throws banana after banana at them… go ahead and pass along this blog post (and report) to them!
Filed under: Critical-Thinking, Self-Freedom
[…] Too Funny This came into my email today The Life Without Limits Community Blog
As a born again christian, I think of myself as someone capable of free thinking and making decision based on facts and logic. I don’t believe God expects us to act like robots while we are here on earth. But I also realize that God in his infinite wisdom has much better plan for me than I could ever create. So as I go through life I try to let God do the driving and avoid the temptation to grab the wheel out of his hands. So far, I can’t complain about the adventure!
Here’s an interesting definition from wikipedia: “Freethought holds that individuals should neither accept nor reject ideas proposed as truth without recourse to knowledge and reason. Thus, freethinkers strive to build their beliefs on the basis of facts, scientific inquiry, and logical principles, independent of any factual/logical fallacies or intellectually-limiting effects of authority, cognitive bias, conventional wisdom, popular culture, prejudice, sectarianism, tradition, urban legend, and all other dogmatic or otherwise fallacious principles. As such, when applied to religion, the philosophy of freethought holds that, given presently-known facts, established scientific theories, and logical principles, there is insufficient evidence to support the existence of supernatural phenomena.”
I am sure that definition makes Satan happy!
G
Are you for real? How is that sign any stupider than what you just said? Or how is it any more intolerant? Thank you for being the spirit police. This is enlightenment? May the universe help us.
Yes, it might look very stupid, but as we judge, so will we be judged …simple law of attraction… which works whether we believe it or not, and besides, free thinking can cause a lot of trouble, pain and suffering (ie hell or satan, or illusion) for somebody who is not aware of the the power of their thoughts , in such a case it might be easier and much less painful to just let Supreme Creator, the Unified Higher Consciousness, God, The Morphogenetic Field, Allah, The Universe, The Goddess, Love or whatever we personally choose to call That (which cannot be named) be the Pilot. I gave up my free will (which had caused me immeasurable pain and disease), surrendered to the Divine Plan and let my Soul/God guide me to be and do the work for the Highest Good of All. Just be Here and Now. In the FLOW. In the Love and acceptance. In the appreciation and gratitude. Simple, easy, effortless and ever so Blissful. All the best to both of you beautiful beings!
Ann-Charlotte Stewart, PhD in Medical genetics
Thank you Tom for speaking up on this! Who are we to judge where anyone else is on their journey, their path? Everyone is always doing the best they can with what they know at any given time. Thank God the Universe has plenty of room for growth & expansion – for all of us! “The Art of Allowing” by ‘Abraham Hicks’…
Barry and Heather, I read your report. I’m not into Tolle, his mainstream best sellerism creeps me out and so does Oprah, BUT your attitude, what YOU said was just plain childish. What Tolle is telling people is not HIS , its based upon ancient universal principles that all religion was founded upon [even if they’ve lost the thread] and your bitching is as bad as anything your so arrogantly point your finger at.
I’ve unsubscribed because you encourage questioning and yet appear way too skeptical to grasp the truth. Inconsistency is a real turn off.
In my humble opinion what i’ve experienced of you indicates that you do not question enough yourself.
Rejection of what Tolle goes on about, in his annoying weedy way, is infact nothing new and i can hear your lust and pride loud and clear…it threatens you and for others it’s just another high minded pretense at superiority with no substance or integration.
For all we know he may be largely conscious, enlightenment is only another step on the path and what you say about moments in contrast to a constant state is ludicrous! It’s like saying ‘be content with the crumbs and the glimpses’ while rejecting the ability we all have to find that state as a natural way of being that can be permanent with the cultivated powers of self awareness and constant vigilance.
Move Tolle out of the picture and the information stands by itself. What he says is basic! But its open to all kinds of misunderstanding if you’re coming from left brained and ego-determined lunar thinking.
Blind belief has never been an option for some.
I found the statement on the sign to be thought provoking. It sparked so many ideas for philosophical and theological discussion. I have even more ideas floating in my mind right now, and will list just some of them here:
Who is a free thinker?
What does it mean to think freely?
Can anyone really think freely?
How can a person be free and enslaved at the same time?
Who is Satan?
What does it mean to be a ‘slave of Satan’?
Can Satan really enslave people?
If a free thinker is enslaved by Satan, what kind of thinker is not enslaved by Satan?
This post also helped me realize my own prejudice. Although similar signs stirred my imagination, I have never actually taken the time to attend one of the services and try to understand what the pastor meant. I simply assumed I knew better than the pastor. I see now that my pride gets in the way of any further understanding. The next time I see a thought provoking sign like this one, I’ll go ahead and attend the service. Thanks for sharing this photo.
What a refreshing article! I read A New Earth, got a few good ideas out of it, but did not come away with a life altering experiencing. It was simply one of many tools for growth: I take what fits, leave the rest. Oh, and it never bothered me for a minute that I personally found a Eckhart Tolle video extremely boring. I like to think and be stimulated, neither of which occurred after the first 10 minutes. Thank God for the on/off switch!
dear barry & heather,
i am unable to open the report perhaps you could resend it.
to recognize truth you would first need to know it do you not?
there is no such thing as a free thinker unless one has or is in truth.to reach is not a feat of the mind. mind is merely a tool. even reading such articles is not done in a free or Open mind. even words are conditioned.
To Tom / DLK / Penelope,
Oh, my oh my… the defenders of the status quo – the crusaders of compassion and social norms (i.e., that you shouldn’t judge – er, more on that insidious thought shortly) always do come out to play when their feathers get a whiff of our irreverent, candid, hard-hitting commentary – the very insights, news, and thoughts that cause emotions to detach themselves, more often than not, from grounded logic and common sense.
You see, regardless of how many 100% feel-good, easy-on-the-soul, non-pugnacious blog posts, emails, interviews, or programs we disperse into the world (thousands, by the way – just scroll through the archives of this blog), there’s always a “sure thing” prediction when we occasionally highlight the DARK side of life in an opinionated (read: thought-provoking), confident, even tough-love kind of way:
The pseudo Metaphysical-Intellectuals and Ethics Watchdogs come out of the woodwork (and, Tom, “policing spirituality” – such a broad, hard-to-define gig by the way – is the last thing on our mind).
As guaranteed as it is that another dumb-ass will go to his/her Doctor and say, “I want you to prescribe me that drug I saw on a T.V. commercial yesterday,” it’s also guaranteed that we’ll get several, how shall we say, “interesting” people who cry wolf – yet still have nothing relevant to say about the matter at hand – when we step beyond boundaries of what’s considered normal (“oh, my gosh, Mildred, Heather and Barry are such mean heathens!”), lash out at cherished ideals, and even put our niceness / likability at risk sometimes (i.e., what we feel people will perceive us as by doing or saying a certain thing).
Pleeeeeeeeeease… the last time we checked, nobody made a difference trying to please everybody all the time, fearing being different, or even caring if a jittery subscriber, well, unsubscribes because he/she couldn’t handle the issue at hand with some intelligent debate or rebuttal.
Then again, for most (the masses who go through life inside their safe little comfort zone… is that you? If so, we do hope that pisses you off) acceptance is more important than money, dignity, or purpose.
In Barry’s post, How To Fight The Good Fight, he sparked some thoughts about what it means to be REAL and WHOLE as a person without having to fit some “spiritual / enlightened mold” that makes you FEEL “whole”, based off someone or somebody else’s interpretation.
He talked about having a belief in something whole-heartedly and not feeling “unevolved” if you stand up for it, get angry, or rant about something or someone who opposes, disagrees, or tries removing it from you.
He talked about keeping your view of life in full-color mode, always questioning what and why things are, and exploring how life can be received and given. And, to not feel you’re burning or selling out just because you may not be “beaming healing light” towards (or just ignoring) something you don’t like or oppose.
He talked about acting upon your inward courage, and natural inclination, to be an iconoclastic thinker – to challenge value systems, controlled processes, and anything or anybody that you KNOW (from a gut level) prevents you from expressing your opinions and your own unique ability to reason.
Just like we pointed out in the P.S. of this post, the very same people who get hot in the face at somebody who they feel is judging another (er, in our case, Tom’s perception was that our jestful humor about the Church sign was an abomination of spiritual coolness) are ALSO the very same people who think it’s their duty to promote this over-used slogan that “we’re all connected.” If that’s you, ask yourself: “If there’s something completely asinine or strange going on in my experience, in my awareness, and the group or person that’s doing it is connected to me (cause, again, after all, “were all connected,” right?), doesn’t it make sense for me to NOT allow the craziness or strangeness?” If it continues, or is dispersed to others (connected to you as well, right?), the craziness or strangeness could spread like a virus – a mind virus (even worse).
You see, the Art of Allowing, if taken to the extreme, can be dangerous… just like the notion of “who are you to judge?” is as dumb and irresponsible as the “A Free Thinker is Satans Slave” sign. Trust us, Mr. Tom, there are many, many people who are in a position to judge us (and you). The coach / mentor who’s getting paid to mentor us in business, for example… his judgment is worth its weight in gold. And, just like we’ve spent our waking days the last 4 years researching the ins and outs of human psychology, spiritual laws, metaphysical how-to’s, religious programming / dogma, etc, we’re in a position to judge, if we choose. We’ve earned that right. Just like a divorce lawyer has earned the right to judge whether his client is “playing the game smart” during his/her proceedings.
And, before we close out this comment, here are a few thoughts about no-limit living from the caliber of people we would call super-achievers (unbridled manifestors, not “enlightened beings”, which, for some reason, some community members feel this site is supposed to be about):
They engage life with massive energy, surround themselves with enigmatic people, and never use enlightenment as a crutch for NOT living large in this physical world now.
To us, enlightenment isn’t so much about striving to perfect our ego, or continually evolve into this beaming light sort of being, as much as it is being in a state to appreciate little amazing moments and be awake enough to SEE the magical things that are already happening in our life.
We see enlightenment simply as an “experience”, not a permanent way of life. We don’t feel somebody “gets” enlightened like they get a tattoo, get a college degree or get married. Instead, it’s just an experience. It begins, it ends, and another one takes its place.
Yes, you must be willing to explore your own truth, not the truth that others would have you believe (including our strong belief that a religious outfit insinuating that being a free-thinking individual is the tool of “satan”). You must come to know and experience your own direct path to spiritual consciousness.
We’ve spoken to, gotten to know, and have mingled with some pretty talented change-makers and new-thought leaders, and the ones we respect are always the ones that don’t tell us that their way is the way to enlightened freedom or anything nonsensical like that; rather, they suggest some very amazing alternative ways to think and DO!
This is one of the reasons we’ve put together the coveted audio package at: http://www.renegadegrowthpak.com
It highlights 4 RENEGADE teachers (you know, the same kind who would definitely make fun of – judge – the stupid things that go on around them) that disperse the most intense, outrageous, no-holds-barred metaphysical insights and “extreme” spiritual pep-talks ever caught on audio.
Until we comment again.
Your Partners in The Quest For
Living a Life Without Limits,
Barry Goss & Heather Vale
Free Thinkers = Creative Genius !
Come on everybody… Look around you, God IS a Free Thinker too !
Nice post Barry / Heather
They observed a rediculous sign and commented on it.
The sign is dumb in my opinion too. Let me say why I think so.
It is like this, “let me scare you into coming to church and believing you will go to hell if you stray from the bible as you will surely be sitting next to satan in hell forever burning if you dont”
What kind of old fashined non-sense is that? Fear based non-sense!
I hope more people recognize this, and free themselves from the “hell” and “satan” they have created in their minds.
It is all man made, fear based doctrine that keeps you paying their bills!
Doesnt the “SS” (assumin that means “sunday service”on the sign next to 10:00 look like two, dollar sings?? $$
Ah, the Church / the Sign…. all the wonders of arrogance fueling ignorance.
For those who understand, no explanation is needed.. For those who do not understand, no explanation is possible.
Heather and Barry,
I was raised in the Southern Baptist Church, and I do mean IN it – and this is the first kind of restraint put on my questioning mind. At age 4, I asked a rather quantum-physics type question about how people see each other and was told sternly and quickly “DON’T ask questions like that!” It has taken most of my life to emerge from the childhood fears instilled in me for my very actively questioning mind.
whew.
Barry and Heather — good stuff! As always. I love to read your work because you speak in such a clear and analytical way that I can follow what you say and decide clearly, while standing in my own power, whether I agree or disagree.
I just have this comment on Eckhart Tolle’s work – reading, writing, speaking –
When I look at his picture, I see an emotionless, ego-maniac staring from his eyes. Yeah, so that is possibly ‘judgment’ but as a human with both ego and Ego fully intact, I reserve the right to judge as I choose. And take responsibility for that judgment and accept any fallout.
(this probably dates me)
When I read his books, or hear him speak in that deadpan way, red flags go up, whistles start blowing and my shields instantly become fully active. I keep looking around for the guy with the kool-aid or the pudding.
Keep up the good work guys.
It is good for you, me, all of humanity
and the planet as well, no matter what
anyone else may say to the contrary.
I appreciate you both so very much!
Sybil
The mind naturally resists to defend itself.
it`s equilibrium is that which it has learned will become it`s building block. it paints worlds.
The fact that everybody`s world view is totally different means mind is still not totally aware of a reality beyond self-ish thinking.
Try to convince someone otherwise and they feel uncomfortable. Therefore let only the wise teach, they know that this uncomfortable feeling will be life threatening to ego and ego will defend itself, he who is wise will know how to draw him out and bring him to light and slay him with a love unbeknown to him. The unwise will draw him out and become his brother or fear his own life.
You will need to meet him in the dessert and overcome him before you can teach or create situations for others so they came to recognize him. In other words not just knowledge gathered but have experienced it yourself.
Thought provoking! My biggest fear is to realise on my death bed that I lived my life exactly the way others expected me to do. My life is my responsibility. The devil cannot do anything to me neither can God…all they do is to give me the option to choose eg to murder. The devil does not hold a gun against my head and INSTRUCT me to murder, he gives me the option. It is your decision and you must take the responsibilty.God is not the reason I am where I am…I am the reason. This way you can never be THE VICTIM and ask why did God or Satan do this or that to me…I MADE THE DECISION=i take the responsibility for my actions
Good for you for questioning Tolle’s writings. His books have given me such a pain-body I couldn’t believe it.
Thanks
Amie
Your commentary, with The Eckhart Effect report, was interesting, however possibly flawed. The core of Buddhist teaching, at least as I have come to understand it, is that the ego is certainly not evil, only delusional, in that it has conceived itself as separate from the whole, somehow separate from the infinite primordial force that we are apart of. Out of this small limited vision great fear arises. Fear of death, fear of life and fear of not being loved or cared for when you might need it from another. The limited analytical mind, certainly is useful when we are fixing our meal, driving our car, or doing any kind of planning for the future, however it of no use discovering your infinite nature, or true identity as a higher-self. This i suspect is because we may fear non existence as a unique or separate entity, as in the question who will i be if I am not who my thoughts identify with. This is very similar to what I thought Echart Tolle was saying in “The flowering of Human Consciences” As far as his other works I have not read these so I could not comment on them. I laughed so hard when you said Buddha was was fat and out of shape. I am always amazed at how we make up mental images with no historic relevance, at least that I am aware of. I am equally amazed and surprised at the way so many depict Jesus as emaciated and suffering. I could never see him that way. May your mind be clear, your heart open, and your spirit be full.
Hi:
I loved the article on Tolle.
To be honest, I never read his books or saw him with Oprah. I assumed (oh, oh) him to be just another pop star and there is too much to read anyway.
He probably works for the same people that get others to ignore the world as it is in order to distact them from what is going on in it.
For example, churches, as well as the “enlightenment” community look for the quick fix to the present conditions in the world by looking inward … “can’t fix the world unless you fix yourself first” … lay your treasures in heaven … etc.
So, all the “good” people are cloistered in church, or meditating, or doing something to better themselves instead of taking the time and mental effort to create the “ideal” world. If the forces came out of hiding, then we could, with the aid of a democracy, actually create a “good” world, a “new earth”.
Take all of the “good” people, engage them in restructuring the political and economic realities in the world, and it could be a really nice place to live. You would see that the good guys actually outnumber the bad guys.
The “good guys” just want to have a life. They don’t want to make a lot of noise or create psychological discomfort for society. People like regularity or the “status quo”. That is a problem, when change is required.
I can sit down, meditate, and really enjoy myself. But, if the world runs out of oxygen, or has no more food, or someone hits me over the head with a brick, then I am quickly brought down to earth with all of the pain and suffering it has to offer.
Who, of those that did a lot of things to change the world, spent years in meditation, etc., except the spiritual leaders? Who controls the world? Does the Dalai Lama have power over the government in China? Do Americans even have power over their president or over their economic rulers?
Seems to me that an object of meditation is harmony and balance between the two halves of the brain. Shouldn’t the “dualities” also be brought together in a more balanced manner? Shouldn’t the “rich” be only a little richer than the “poor”? Isn’t it the wrong way to go when the dualities get so far apart? Hmmm … imbalance makes things fall down.
People like Tolle want you to accept the duality and escape the real world so the monkeys can steal all the bananas.
Have a nice day,
Michael
Hi Darrell,
Many people like to say that Eckhart is just teaching Buddhist philosophy, but the quotes in the report from his book are, obviously, real.
There are many to choose from when you read it, but here’s just one: “Recognize the ego for what it is: a collective dysfunction, the insanity of the human mind.”
And here’s another: “Ego is no more than this: identification with form which primarily means thought forms. If evil has any reality – and it has a relative, not an absolute reality – this is also its definition: complete identification with form – physical forms, thought forms, emotional forms… if the structures of the human mind remain unchanged, we will always end up re-creating fundamentally the same world, the same evils, the same dysfunction.”
Right… so “ego” and “evil” have the same definition. But you’re saying he’s not calling the “ego” “evil”?
You’ll probably want to read the book (and the report) before you make any firm assessment on that.
cheers
Barry & Heather
Barry and Heather are just about one of the best couples in the world.Humility is the key.There are lot of supreme egos trying to wreck the planet. BArry and HEather’s mind movies, law of attraction,ask from the universe and receive it is perfectly peaceful and most successful, effortlessly.They re very kind and generous in sharing so many mind movies.
Sid and Ron
This comment is a continuation of my previous one because I want to express my thoughts and my ‘ego’ since I posted a comment yesterday.
In a way, thinking is not free and is like the functions of the body such as breathing or the beating of the heart. Am I always thinking just like I am always breathing–without consciously willing it all the time? Is ‘thinking’ a part of ‘being’, separate from being, or one and the same thing?
In another way, I don’t have control over thought. Even when I tell myself I’m not going to think. Well, I am still thinking. I’m thinking about nothing. I can’t really ever turn off thought.
There is a sense of freedom in thought because I can choose what I want to think about. I can change the topics from one thought to the next. But there are also times when thoughts just pop into my head without me consciously willing it like daydreaming or ‘aha’ moments.
Ok, I know I’m not discussing the central issue of the statement: “a free thinker is satan’s slave.” It’s because I don’t want to assume what the pastor meant unless I hear it from him. What’s more important for me is the statement got me thinking about a lot of other topics. And I could go on to share some more.
Thanks again for sharing this photo. Thanks for your review of Eckhart’s work, and pointing out some of the dangers of his ideas. I haven’t read the book yet, and I’ve known about the book for some time now through Oprah. I have to read it for myself before I can form any opinions.
Out of the countless Universes, There is this Milky Way, In this Milky Way there is a Solar system with several planets circling this Sun. Then there is the planet called earth. In the Earth are several continents. In this one continent is the U.S.A. and in one of its States there is this City say Los Angeles and in it lives this being, just like all of us. And we think we are all so great!
May the Supreme personal and impersonal Being enlighten us and direct our minds to the right direction and accordingly give us delusion or bliss! What I know is- the great people in the world are the ones with the greatest humility! May everyone just see 80 percent goodness and welcome the 20 percent in negativity.This is the sincere wish of my ego.
Hi,
a bit of word history. In the mid 1800s the phrase “free love” was coined However, at that point it referred to people who got married outside of the arranged marriage system. SO ALL of us free thinkers. which included the abolitionist the w omen’s rights movement, the new religious thought movements. such as Spiritualism and several other radical groups, were on the outside looking in. Unfortunately this same thought exist in some grass rots fundamentalist groups
picture in point.
Paul
Hi folks,
“Your mind is like a parachute – works best when it’s open.” No truer statement ever made.
Don’t close your mind to any new thoughts or ideas. Always be open. I shudder inside when people poor out endless “God” twaddle.
I always like to ask – where was God when little children were being thrown, still alive, into the ovens in Nazi Germany. On holidays? At a party somewhere and found out too late? Perhaps he was texed but his mobile was flat. Hard of hearing and didn’t hear the screams? God has a lot to answer for.
Think, think, and think again. Never stop asking questions. Question fearlessly.
Cheers,
Doug.
truth can not be reached by intellect
it lies in the center of feeling,the heart.
The reality of Eckarts teachings are bit confusing at times. I did find some value as it regards having clarity about what is means to be human. Some of his stuff seemed way off the mark and I had to flush it mentally as soon as I encountered it. Overall the 35 page review helped me better understand what was useful and what was not. It was also a lot to digest.
Thanks Barry and Heather
Ted
Thank you for posting this article! I only had to read the first few pages of “The Power of Now” to realize that this guy was not only not resonating with me but could leave me with some residual crap if I let it. I could feel the “brainwashing energy” and I put the book down and walked away. The problem with this is that it left me unable to actually have any discussions or arguments about the author. But the fact remained that I didn’t really want to waste a moment more of my time on the man, so I just let my friends express how great they thought his books were and that I was happy for them that they were searching.
Which brings me to my point. Even though in my mind I don’t think that this author is correct in what he is saying, I so respect the journey of those who do get some value out of engaging with that experience. I have to. Because when I look back at the crap that I used to believe in, the books that I used to love, and practices I used to keep, I can’t help but laugh at myself. But the fact remains that it brought me to this point. This amazing, joyous, happy place in my life where I can see my world that I’ve created and love my experience of it. (I’m not saying that I don’t have stressed out, cranky days. Just that I now seem to live my life with perspective.) I don’t know that I would have found this peace if I hadn’t journeyed through the silly things. So I have to respect that we’re dumb because sometimes we have to embrace what we are truly not, in order to discover the joy of what we truly are. I have a feeling that we love having this human experience and all that it entails.