What remains?
When you are dead, when your time ends, when you are gone... just memories, stuff for the flee market or ebay?
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Dreammmer · 56-60, M
You can live in the mind of people? How does that go?
Serenitree · F
@Dreammmer: my parents and grandparents are still very much alive in my memory.
As long as one person remembers you, you live on. Whether that's good or bad, depends on what kind of life you led.
For example. Some of the US presidents will be mere footnotes in the history books. Only the best and the worst will live on for decades, perhaps centuries, depending on what they did during their term in office.
Physical death is not the end.
Apr. 12/17
12:39 pm
EDT
As long as one person remembers you, you live on. Whether that's good or bad, depends on what kind of life you led.
For example. Some of the US presidents will be mere footnotes in the history books. Only the best and the worst will live on for decades, perhaps centuries, depending on what they did during their term in office.
Physical death is not the end.
Apr. 12/17
12:39 pm
EDT
Dreammmer · 56-60, M
@Underconstruction: Sorry, but that just does not make any sense. Once you are dead, you are dead regardless of memories that others have of you. You are a person, not a chain of thoughts or memories. I know that many people find some comfort in the thought that they live on in the memory of others, but they cant explain how that is a life. Death begins when your heart stops beating and your brain stops working. Agree?
Dreammmer · 56-60, M
@Serenitree: So are you are a Buddhist?
Serenitree · F
@Dreammmer: yes. True. Your physical death is the end of you. But as long as one person remembers one thing about you, something of you lives on. Definitely, you are right, that physically we are gone, but the things you've taught never die. Socrates and Plato have been dead for many centuries, but their teachings are still being taught today, so in a sense they are still very much alive.
You are an intelligent person. I know this by your questions and responses, so I know that you understand what I am getting at.
I want to thank you for posing such a thought provoking topic. And for giving me a chance to actually clarify my own thinking, not for you but for me. All of these thoughts have always been with me, but in a fuzzy way. Until we are forced to explain our thinking so others can understand it, sometimes we don't even understand it ourselves.
Apr. 12/17
12:56 pm
EDT
You are an intelligent person. I know this by your questions and responses, so I know that you understand what I am getting at.
I want to thank you for posing such a thought provoking topic. And for giving me a chance to actually clarify my own thinking, not for you but for me. All of these thoughts have always been with me, but in a fuzzy way. Until we are forced to explain our thinking so others can understand it, sometimes we don't even understand it ourselves.
Apr. 12/17
12:56 pm
EDT
Dreammmer · 56-60, M
@Serenitree: you are welcome. Do I understand you correct that you reduce Socrates and others to their teaching and their discoveries? And are those really theirs in the sense that they have a copyright because they invented the teachings... or did someone else long before created the truth they discovered?
Serenitree · F
@Dreammmer: now, you are going beyond me. I have never been much of a philosopher. I used Socrates and Plato, only because they were the first names that came to me....
But, yes. I do reduce them, and everyone who ever lived, to the teaching (memories) they left behind. I have no doubt that what they taught, their thoughts, were not original to them, but they are the names I've heard. My thoughts, although some of them feel like they are my original thoughts, have been formed by everything I've ever heard or read; by every person I've ever met or talked to, starting with my parents and at this point, continuing with this exchange with you. As long as I breathe, as long as I can still think, I hope to never stop learning and growing. And I hope that every day a small bit of my learning will be passed on to others. We all want to leave something behind.
That's why everyone wants their fifteen minutes of fame. I want so much more than that. I want to live on in the hearts and minds of all those I've ever touched. I just hope I leave behind more good than bad.
Apr. 12/17
1:27 pm
EDT
But, yes. I do reduce them, and everyone who ever lived, to the teaching (memories) they left behind. I have no doubt that what they taught, their thoughts, were not original to them, but they are the names I've heard. My thoughts, although some of them feel like they are my original thoughts, have been formed by everything I've ever heard or read; by every person I've ever met or talked to, starting with my parents and at this point, continuing with this exchange with you. As long as I breathe, as long as I can still think, I hope to never stop learning and growing. And I hope that every day a small bit of my learning will be passed on to others. We all want to leave something behind.
That's why everyone wants their fifteen minutes of fame. I want so much more than that. I want to live on in the hearts and minds of all those I've ever touched. I just hope I leave behind more good than bad.
Apr. 12/17
1:27 pm
EDT
Dreammmer · 56-60, M
@Serenitree: Im sure you do. But then it is not in your power, I attribute that to God. He is the creator and your longing and desire is part of his original design, I think. Thank you for your lovely reply, it is much appreciated. You are a great person, the way you respond betrays you. and now I am glad we met and that you are very much alive still.