"Everything 'happens'. People can 'do' nothing. From the time we are born to the time we die things happen, happen, happen, and we think we are doing. This is our normal state in life . . .
We have a certain aim, but many of our 'I's do not want to go that way, so naturally conflict increases. But the creation of unity is not the result of conflict—it is the result of struggle with conflict. We are many and we want to be one — this is one formulation of our aim.. . . We decide to be at least less divided, instead of five hundred to become five."
(Read more on this from the book itself. An electronic version of this book is available from the link on the right.)
D asked M what was his aim now, at his time of life.
M replied that life is eternal, that he is only dealing with the now. He is reincarnated and will be reincarnated.
D said he no longer believes in reincarnation. He used to but now thinks there is nothing.
L asked, if we believed in reincarnation, whether we would choose to live for ever if there were a scientific advance, and commented that Ouspensky thought recurrence a more scientific theory than reincarnation, as a person has less evidence for reality outside the span of his own lifetime.
D recommended the recent Stephen Hawking programme on Channel 4 suggesting life appeared as a result of an accident - the earth was at the right distance, and carbon formed.
L said it does not matter whether or not we believe we are here by design or accident, in terms of developing will power now. If playing chess, it is irrelevant who made the chessboard and fashioned the pieces, or whether they arose by chance.
We have a certain aim, but many of our 'I's do not want to go that way, so naturally conflict increases. But the creation of unity is not the result of conflict—it is the result of struggle with conflict. We are many and we want to be one — this is one formulation of our aim.. . . We decide to be at least less divided, instead of five hundred to become five."
(Read more on this from the book itself. An electronic version of this book is available from the link on the right.)
D asked M what was his aim now, at his time of life.
M replied that life is eternal, that he is only dealing with the now. He is reincarnated and will be reincarnated.
D said he no longer believes in reincarnation. He used to but now thinks there is nothing.
L asked, if we believed in reincarnation, whether we would choose to live for ever if there were a scientific advance, and commented that Ouspensky thought recurrence a more scientific theory than reincarnation, as a person has less evidence for reality outside the span of his own lifetime.
D recommended the recent Stephen Hawking programme on Channel 4 suggesting life appeared as a result of an accident - the earth was at the right distance, and carbon formed.
L said it does not matter whether or not we believe we are here by design or accident, in terms of developing will power now. If playing chess, it is irrelevant who made the chessboard and fashioned the pieces, or whether they arose by chance.
D said that Stephen Hawking did believe in God but 20 years ago changed his mind, but his desire to find out has given him the will power to stay alive.
Referring to self-study, L noted that artists and writers often do self-portraits.
