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Permalink Reply by steven on February 13, 2012 at 2:34pm

Energy does not need "boundaries" to exist, energy is everything in the universe including matter (as Einstein showed with E=mc^2) and it exists in a constant amount. The energy in my body and will dissipate back into its countless other forms without being destroyed, that is the law of conservation of energy. The experiences and personal knowledge that is contained within the brain structure of this body will cease to exist when not being powered by energy, of course, but I know that 'I' am not this body or this mind due to the scientific fact that all the molecules in my body are constantly being replaced (including the ones that make up my neurons), and every 5-7 years I have an entirely new body. I realize that these beliefs are somewhat religious, but I do not believe them because I was told to; I came to these conclusions on my own based upon my scientific knowledge of the universe and a handful of psychedelic experiences (all natural), and I do not attempt to force them upon anyone as the beliefs would have no meaning without the underlying knowledge from whence they came

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Permalink Reply by Unseen on February 13, 2012 at 2:39pm

It need boundaries to of any use. If you want to use your laptop out in the park, all the energy in the universe is useless to you other than the energy captured and held (bound) in your laptop battery.

Or does your laptop work with unbounded energy?

A boundary of sorts exists that allows you to continue to exist despite the constant loss and replenishment of cells. Otherwise your energy would spill out of you and not be available to you.

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Permalink Reply by steven on February 14, 2012 at 9:40am

When you say energy needs boundaries "to be of any use" you imply that energy has a purpose. It is true that we use energy to suit our own purposes, but that is not the reason energy exists. The energy that we use in our bodies and our laptops has existed in this universe for 13.7 billion years before we were born; we have no idea why it exists or if it has any reason to exist other than existence itself. The biggest difference between our viewpoints is our definition of 'I'. I believe 'I' am all the energy of the universe, not at all bounded to this body, but this mind mistakenly believes that it is me when in fact there is only a minuscule part of me temporarily flowing through it; that is the folly of so-called "self-awareness"

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Permalink Reply by Unseen on February 14, 2012 at 10:46am

If you have something to do (using a laptop or living your life) that requires capturing and holding onto energy, you need something to hold it in. A boundary. And this slobber about energy being around for so many billions of years, etc., is great but doesn't really confront my point at all.,

"I believe 'I' am all the energy in the universe" may be good poetry, but it's nonsense in almost any other way,.

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Permalink Reply by steven on February 14, 2012 at 3:52pm

I realize there are parts of my theory that cannot be explained, but must be experienced. I have stepped outside of my body and seen the world from an entirely novel perspective, and I would not expect anyone to understand what that means that has not had that experience. There are a great many things about the universe and ourselves that we do not scientifically understand yet, and while I know my theory may not be right, it is the best way I can reconcile what I have experienced with the scientific knowledge I do have. Agree to disagree I suppose

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Permalink Reply by Becca on February 13, 2012 at 1:00am

There is no mind without the brain. When my brain dies I as an individual with consciousness will cease to exist. Any genes that I've passed to offspring will continue to live on until that lineage dies out, my body will become parts of other things maybe one day the molecules in my body will become parts of other living things. I think the best anyone can do is be thankful for the life they have and work to improve life for those who exist now, those who will continue to exist after my death and for those who haven't yet been born.

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Permalink Reply by Codie L Miller on February 13, 2012 at 4:11pm

well said!

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Permalink Reply by Becca on February 16, 2012 at 12:53am

Thank You :)

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Permalink Reply by Rosemary LYNDALL WEMM on February 13, 2012 at 5:40am

Once the brain stops functioning you will have no awareness of anything.  You will be dead.  No thoughts.  No memories. No pain. Nothing.  Blank.

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Permalink Reply by Unseen on February 13, 2012 at 1:39pm

Although you won't be EXPERIENCING blanknes or memory loss or absence of pain. It's hard to talk about death without inadvertanly implying there is something there and someone to experience it.

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Permalink Reply by Craig Nomazlab on February 13, 2012 at 10:47am

Your friend is most likely right. You no longer exist as a living thing after your dead, just as you no longer existed as a living thing before you were born. Why would you be in a "hazy, dream like state?" Your brain would no longer be able to function.

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Permalink Reply by Codie L Miller on February 13, 2012 at 4:09pm

goodness, I've been trying to sum up exactly what I believe death is like. I could just never, for some reason, put it into words until now. Great.

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