A Short Story About the Beginning of Everything

Recently, a good friend of mine composed this story and gave it to proofread.  After reading it through a couple times and making a couple minor changes, I decided it must be posted here.

Before the beginning of time, there was a single consciousness.  That consciousness thought and dreamed an infinity of thoughts, feelings, landscapes, and worlds, an infinity of possible creations. These mental creations thought their own thoughts, and these secondary thoughts also created their own inner worlds. The original consciousness observed and interacted with these inner beings as they interacted with one another, and that original consciousness begin to provide the environments required for its creations to grow and develop. All of the entities within the mind of the first longed to exist independently and grow and create as they had been created.

The first consciousness, in order to allow its progeny full freedom of expression, began to imagine the conditions that would be required for the release of these inner worlds into objective existence. As it did so, all of space, time, and matter, including our universe, exploded into being. On the highest level, this physical existence contains an infinite number of dimensions and environments that match the infinite variety of possibilities that had formed in the mind of the original consciousness.

This process continues as the progeny of that first mind grow and create new thoughts and new worlds. We are a result of that process, and our purpose is ultimately the same: to grow, to develop, and to create, in order to express all of the potentialities within ourselves. We are still in contact with the original mind because we are made of it, we sprang from it, and because time has no meaning outside of the physical universe, our past, present, and future exist together as an infinite variety of possibilities within that larger moment.

What Does Metaphysics Mean?

Recently, a friend and I were hanging out in downtown Lawrence on a sunny, Saturday afternoon.  After our usual trip to Subway, we went down to the Border’s on Vermont Street to see if we could find a few bargains.  As you might know, Border’s is closing over 150 of their bookstores across the nation, and the one in Lawrence is holding an “everything must go” sale.  Fixtures, furniture, and all books must be gone by the time the lease expires.  

While perusing the bookshelves, we came across a bookshelf labeled “metaphysics”.  The shelf contained books about pseudoscience, the occult, paganism, Wicca, and ghosts.  My friend then asked me what metaphysics are, and I didn’t have a great explanation off the top of my head, so I tried to wing it.  I used the example of a book.  “Metaphysics tries to determine whether there is a difference between my perception of this book and the book in itself.”, I explained.  I didn’t get the feeling that he was enlightened, so I went on to give a few examples of metaphysical questions...

-Does God exist?

-Is the external world real?

-What are the contents of reality?

For someone newly acquainted with the study of philosophy, these concepts can be daunting and confusing.  Because my explanation at the time was less than satisfactory, I wanted to give it another shot here.  

The word ‘metaphysics’ was first used by students of Aristotle to mean “after the physics”.  In the philosophical sense, metaphysics deals with questions that go beyond the physics.  Metaphysics attempts to wrestle with questions that lie deeper than other sciences- questions concerning the fundamental assumptions and theoretical foundations of all other disciplines.  As a result, metaphysics came to mean the branch of philosophy that addresses questions about the nature of reality.  Here’s a few examples of metaphysical questions...

-Is there a difference between the way things appear to us and the way they really are?

-Does mental or spiritual reality depend on the physical world, or is it the other way around?

-Is everything that happens predetermined?  If so, does this eliminate the possibility of us making free choices?

-What makes something the same thing at two different times?

-What makes a person the same person throughout the course of his/her life?

As you can see, metaphysics covers a wide range of philosophical topics.  If it helps, you can think of all these questions as having one common theme- the nature of reality.  Particular sciences focus on some aspect of reality, but metaphysics takes in everything that exists and tries to reach conclusions about its basic nature. 

Dispatch 3/27/11

Sitting in my dorm room back in Lawrence, Kansas.  The weather here is gloomy, but students are beginning to arrive, which makes the atmosphere more collegeseque.  The Jayhawks tip off in about an hour against Virginia Commonwealth.  If 'Hawks win, they go to the Final Four.  I can't imagine Lawrence when KU makes it to the Final Four.  There is probably scenes of pandemonium everywhere. Assuming a victory today, the Jayhawks will face Butler next.  Butler is a scrappy team, but the Jayhawk's size and speed will be too much for the over-achieving Bulldogs.  


The uprisings in the Middle East have proliferated in the past week to Syria and Yemen.  While it's a positive thing that the people over there want democracy, America and its allies should be very careful because there are radicals who desire authority.  What if the groups we are assisting turn out to be sympathetic with Al-Qaeda?


Former Vice-Presidential candidate Geraldine Ferraro died last week at the age of 75.  She was the first woman to be nominated for vice-president in the United States.  President Obama's latest tweet called her a "trailblazer".  Sarah Palin also tweeted her condolences and posted her memories of Ms. Ferraro on Facebook.  It took 24 years before another woman (Sarah Palin) ran for Vice-President.  The 2008 election also saw a woman running for President- Hillary Clinton.


Earlier this week, I read in the Wall St. Journal about a huge telecom merger in which AT&T has planned to but T-Mobile for $39 billion.  This might not mean much to you, but the impact on consumers could be a price-hike.  With less competition in the cell phone market, there will likely be higher prices.  Innovation will take a hit because T-Mobile is smaller and more nimble than AT&T.  When AT&T takes over, that kind of small-company inspiration might be washed out by the cash cow.


Schoolwork and exams will come back with a vengeance starting tomorrow, but I still plan on publishing a post a day here on Joe's Musings.


Have a wonderful week,


Joe

Questions to Get You Thinking

One of my favorite blogs, Marc and Angel Hack Life, has recently published a list of 365 Thought Provoking Questions to ask yourself this year.  I skimmed through the list and thought deeply about several of them.  Here they are.

When is the last time you tried something new?

What is a belief you hold that many people disagree with?

What is the difference between living and existing?

What activities make you lose track of time?

Would you break the law to save a loved one?

What’s important enough to go to war over?

What’s the most desirable trait a person can possess?

Where do you find inspiration?

Amusing Courtroom Quotes

So far, Joe's Musings has been a rather serious project with most of my posts covering topics such as college advice, life hacks, and current events.  Today, I want to take an amusing break and focus on the humorous aspects of our legal system.  These quotes illustrate the various uses and interpretations of language.  Everyone of these are genuine, real extracts from courtrooms.  It's a good thing recorders and transcripts are required in the courtroom, or else none of these funny blunders would have been preserved.

Lawyer. What is your date of birth?
Witness. July fifteenth.
Lawyer. What year?
Witness. Every year.

Lawyer. This myasthenia gravis, does it affect your memory at all?
Witness. Yes.
Lawyer. And in what ways does it affect your memory?
Witness. I forget.
Lawyer. You forget.  Can you give us an example of something you have forgotten?

Lawyer. Now doctor, isn't is true that when a person dies in his sleep, he doesn't know about it until the next morning?

Lawyer. The youngest son, the twenty-year old, how old is he?

Lawyer. She had three children, correct?
Witness. Yes.
Lawyer. How many were boys?
Witness. None
Lawyer. Were there any girls?

Lawyer. All of your responses must be oral, okay?  What school did you go to?
Witness. Oral.

Lawyer. Was that the same nose your broke as a child?
Witness. I only have one, you know.

Accused, Defending His Own Case: "Did you get a good look at my face when I took your purse?"

Lawyer. Did you blow your horn?
Witness. After the accident?
Lawyer. Before the accident.
Witness. Sure, I played for ten years.  I even went to school for it.

Lawyer.  How far apart were the vehicles at the time of the collision?

Lawyer. What happened then?
Witness. He told me, "I have to kill you because you can identify me."
Lawyer. Did he kill you?
Witness. No

Lawyer. Now sir, I'm sure you are an intelligent and honest man--
Witness.  Thank you.  If I weren't under oath, I'd return the compliment.

Lawyer.  Were you alone or by yourself?

Lawyer. You say the stairs went down to the basement?
Witness. Yes
Lawyer. And these stairs, did they go up also?

Lawyer. Any suggestions as to what prevented this from being a murder trail instead of an attempted murder trial?
Witness. The victim lived.

How To Decide On A College Major

Many college students switch their academic major multiple times, but it’s important to at least have a general idea of what disciplines interest you.  After all, it would be a waste of time for you to major in sociology when you are far more interested in business for instance.  Fortunately, there are many resources out there to help you decide what you want to major in.  Here’s my list of tips to make a more informed decision.

1. List your interests and talents

You are going to want to major in something that interests you.  While it is possible to pursue a college degree in a field without much passion, going after such a degree will likely make you miserable in the long run.  So take about 10 minutes and list out the things that you are passionate about.  Then research available college majors at your school and see if any of your interests correspond with academic majors.

2. Talk to a Counselor

Back in grade school, going to see the counselor was something that was frowned upon.  It made you appear weak and prone to personal problems.  In college, the opposite is true.  Seeking out assistance in choosing which courses to take is often a wise decision.  On almost every college campus, there are individuals who make a living by informing college students advice and insight you might not get elsewhere.  

3. Experiment

Never be afraid to venture out and take new courses.  I didn’t even know what philosophy was until my freshman year when I took an introductory class.  Now, philosophy is one of my majors.  I caught the philosophy bug so to speak, and the same thing could happen to you if you take an elective course that you find very interesting.

4. Audit Classes

Most professors are more than willing to let you “sit-in” or audit their class.  If you sit in on a class, you can avoid the embarrassment of dropping the course if you don’t enjoy it.  After auditing, ask the professor a few questions about career paths or requirements related to their field.  If they don’t know, they will probably point you in the direction of someone that does.  

5. Talk to Other Students and Your Family

Often times, people have a different perspective that you hold of yourself.  Just as you can see talents in others that they cannot see in themselves, others can see talents in you that you might not perceive.  Ask your close friends and family what careers they could see you in.  However, it is important to take what they say with a grain of salt, because after all, the career path you choose is entirely up to you.

6. Consult a Course Catalog

A course catalog will list information about each major as well as provide a synopsis of each course.  Look at this book early and often to find out if a class is a right fit for you.

The Dalai Llama's 18 Rules for Living

I stumbled upon these a few days and I was impressed enough to post them here.  

1. Take into account that great love and great achievements involve great risk.

2. When you lose, don’t lose the lesson.

3. Follow the three Rs- respect for self, respect for others, respect for all your actions.

4. Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of luck.

5. Learn the rules so you know how to break them properly.

6. Don’t let a little dispute injure a great friendship.

7. When you realize you’ve made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it.

8. Spend some time alone every day.

9. Open your arms to change, but don’t let go of your values.

10. Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.

11. Live a good, honorable life.

12. A loving home in your home is the foundation for your life.

13. In disagreements with loved ones, deal only with the current situation.  Don’t bring up the past.

14. Share your knowledge.  It’s a way to achieve immortality.

15. Be gentle with the earth.

16. Once a year, go someplace you’ve never been before.

17. The best relationship is one in which your love for each other exceeds your need for each other.

18. Judge your success by what you had to give up in order to get it.