Are the ultimate truths outside ourselves or are we better off listening to what arises from within?
Should we be guided by books and others, or are we better off fine tuning those inner whispers and feelings to lead the way?
Listening to great speakers, writers and other resources, is a great way to see things in a different light or different perspective, but let that little voice inside you have the final say. That little voice is there for a reason and should not be ignored.
"Listening to what arises from within" is what has sunk society to the level it has fallen to. Crime, pollution, wars, violence, anger, egos, and other blights to society were all created by people concerning themselves only with their own "inner whispers and feelings"--completely disregarding the effects their behavior has on everything and everyone around them.
As a Christian, I believe ultimate truth comes directly from God in Jesus Christ and the Bible. Though I know everyone reading this will not agree, I hope they will at least agree that if truth comes from within each one of us, there can be no ultimate truth--and we can kiss any sanity or goodness left in the world goodbye.
Life is a series of lessons. All that we experience teaches us something whether good or bad. We need to listen to others who have had more life experience that we do. We need to weigh all that we read and learn then make educated decisions. "Inner whispers" can be very self-serving as can feelings....so I think the wise course is to find a happy medium between learned truths and inner whispers.
I was reared by very " old school " grandparents. HARD, Demanding, Expecting much, but not without a sense of fairness.
The greatest single thing my wise and skilled Grandfather ever said to me.......as he was helping me with my homework, and I was in a " guessing game".......
"Learn to trust your own thinking"...........
those few words, guide me today..........and I now have my own Grandchildren!
The more you learn and grow, the greater the capacity for thinking on your own.
There are, to be sure, some questions that can only be suitably answered by internal exploration. The questions of ultimate truth are not, I think, among these. There is a world of wisdom and thoughts that you very likely would never have had, had you not read a particular book or saw a certain piece of art. On the other hand, some ideas are so disgustingly unintuitive that it would seem that even if they are true you would not accept them.
It seems that when it comes to the Ultimate Questions we might explore other ideas as different from our own as possible. Only from that path can we come close to any actual truth.
The kingdom of God is within. I say listen to the quiet, still voice for answers.
But I say also that it remains difficult at times to discern that quiet, still voice. There are many sources of wisdom and some are far better than others. Let that quiet, still voice within guide you in determining which is which.
For many, the dogma of their current church overwhelms that quiet, inner voice, so ego clings to the sense of belonging to the group, rather than to truth. They interpret scripture the way the Constantine and Justinian followers were instructed, with some variation between denominations.
Above all, remain humble and hungry. Don't accept anything that feels wrong, but also question the correctness of your own views. Keep refining your views, listening to the quiet, still voice, within until it is very easy to hear it.
The danger with listening to the inner voice is that ego also resides near there. And ego is the source of all evil. Humility is the antidote to ego.
That's why trusting in God, Jesus and the Bible are so important. They are true ego busters.
From within us flow the issues of life. Within us are stored all the programs to help us understand better what happens around us. Every one of us needs to be a little more introspective.
It's really a little bit of both if you think about it. When you read resources and listen to the wisdom of other people, you get a sense of what they are doing with their lives and how they are living them. Then in time you start to think about what kind of lifestyle and choices best fit your needs based on other people's experiences. In other words, you may have the same goals in life as a lot of other people (such as owning a house or landing that dream job), but you have different ideas on how to achieve them. Learning from others is a good start to give you that push you need to go for it, but ultimately, you have to do it based on what feels right to you.
I wouldn't say that we are better off, listening to our inner voice alone. External knowledge is necessary for us to reason and understand. We then can evaluate that knowledge and form our own opinions.
The inner voice is the core of all human thought and should not be ignored, it is our basic instinct.
What I am trying to say is that internal whispers, combined with external knowledge is the way forward. In my opinion.
darn good question! Statistically the odds be 50/50 either is true/false. However, while realizing I have been known to write long answers, I am learning to be succinct - see what I mean. First, which whisper? The whispers begin when? If I remember correctly memory formation or where whispers originate, begins about age 8 mths then as memory develops through age 2 - object permanence.
So, now I ask you. Is there a significance to the wings being - two. Are there memories, which in ancient days were called spirits, inspiring this question?
A lot occurs at age 2. So, maybe books or the learned of books - legitimate doctors, of which I am not, may have the solution. The books they have written offer guidance. I'm still intrigued more by the picture than the question - uh-oh (smile). Remembering that movie with Matt Damon, Ben Affleck and Linda Fiorentino - Dogma I am tempted to go on a path of re-discovery to discover an adventure in learning.
OK, now you went and done it. Do I listen to the whispers or do I try answering the proposed question above. Reminds me of an old joke, which goes like this "is the inside on the outside or is the outside on the inside when looking through a window?" (Remember the sequel of Alice in Wonderland - Through the Looking-Glass. Read that then do a little research on 'The Looking Glass Self' by Charles Horton Cooley. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Looking_glass_self
Oh yeah, I didn't mean any offense when I said 'you' I was talking 3rd person plural and not assigning blame, but rather seeking learning.
Well, I think it is time for some sleep very soon. A few more glances here and there. Thank you for this very intriguing question of mystery. I shall ponder it as the fairy's sprinkle their sleep dust upon me; nite-nite
The ultimate truths are inherent within every human being. The information coming from outside ourselves is a means by which human beings can develop in an ever changing materialistic world; however, trends in this changing world tend to lead towards deterioration of fundamental truths. Fundamental truths, which lie deep inside the body, spirit and soul of every human being, are there within us just waiting to be listened to.
We were designed by God to have dependance on our environment, also dependance on other people, but God also designed us to always have a need to counsel with Him who is within all of us. The bible states that he who is within you is greater than he who is in the world. I found this to be very true. Although, there is spiritual warfare going on constantly within each of us. I hope that you choose Jesus as the guide of your ship of life within You.
I want to say it's a little bit of both. Ultimate truth lies within, but it is affected by what we experience and know.
The truth remains the same reguardless of how anyone percieves it.
My understanding is that, whenever you pray or think, listen to the inner feelings and whispers inside.
More often than not, the way will unveil itself, if you persist.
My experience is that it will lead me to Books and Teachers, that can give you detailed answers.
It cannot be outside of us. For all material world is subjected to Change.(Buddhism) It is of death. (Christianity)
I think the ultimate source of truth and discernment lies within ourselves. If we follow those things, then though our understanding of the world may be flawed at times, it is at best permissible. Other sources from outside of ourselves are there to confirm those truths and to offer guidance in it's application as it relates to our every changing circumstances. However those sources should never become a substitute for intrinsic truth. I'm against any frame of thought which claims otherwise. I believe that before we read up on anything we should first listen to the inner whispers of our child. It is deeper than the conscience because it is not subject to conditioning.
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