Well, the forum has gone quiet, which in ways proves to me that what is most attractive about these forums is the entertainment, and that entertainment inevitably comes from conflict. If we all agree with one another it gets pretty boring. It's nice to proclaim our intent, or perhaps I ought to say my intent for the forum, that being Spiritual Evolution. Perhaps all that does is help to define the areas where we can disagree...that is, limit our discussions to items of spiritual interest.
I have often believed we evolve spiritually whether we choose to or not, whether we actively pursue evolution in one form or another, or not. Each moment goes by, and each moment we are changed somehow, both physically as well as psychically. Change is the essence of life. Therefore, even the homeless helpless drunk is evolving spiritually. One way to look at that is to realize he has experienced being a homeless helpless drunk. Who's to say that's wrong, or bad, or wasteful? Is it better to achieve something? I think not. It's a life lived, and a unique life lived.
I've invested a lot of time in spiritual studies, and not much time in spiritual disciplines. Running this forum has been an instructive exercise. I've found, really, that I am a, as Jed McKenna put it, "Spiritual Dilettante" - a little of this, a little of that, avoid anything that requires change or lengthy effort.
Anyway, I think I'm going to now sort of use the place as a personal blog, and invite anyone else here to do the same if they wish. I'm planning on writing out some of what I've learned, and some personal ideas about the ways of the world, and about my ways.
In the meantime, we have a NASCAR race from Las Vegas, and baseball spring training is about to start. We set a record temperature here two days ago when it hit 101. The grass is about to come back alive, and with it, the notorious Texas chiggers. The beer is cold, the sun is out - I have my ten days rice.
G