Signs wrote:Religions once started wars, but religion has evolved since then. The exoteric religions may bring war and zealotry, but the esoteric religions hold our only hope for Enlightenment. Exoteric religions simply recognize reality's central nature as it arises, or Enlightenment. What good is living without external conflict, under the Machines' sense of order and control, if Enlightenment is forbidden. It is true that under the Truce we were allowed to free people in small numbers, but this was merely the previous phase of Enlightenment. Enlightenment, like everything, evolves. Progress must be made. The fact remains that the Machines would not, and still will not, return the body of The One, or give as any answers as to what truely happened to him, so that we may further explore our own reality as it arises, with the answers that Neo continues to provide, even in death. Furthermore, the Matrix itself is a place where they allow nothing to actually happen. No major event can take place, because that would wake up masses. But the nature of humanity is full of a desire to create major events, massive landmarks through an existence that is ultimately fleeting. If the bluepill's "choice" to remain in their pods is so fragile, is it really a choice at all?
And also, as the dictators you speak of, if they produced truly harmful results, they were not working for the cause of true Enlightenment. However, also remember, that long ago, there were those ironically called Enlightened Despots, and many of them layed the institutional foundation for the democracy you seem to so enjoy. This is not quite the Enlightenment I am speaking of, but I just thought I'd point it out.
Exactly when did religion evolve? Zion was constantly getting wiped out not too long ago and in the Matrix it is always 1999.
As for the body of the One, he's as much their savior as your if you wish to see it in a religious light. He was a part of the System, he was part program as well as part man. He is also the only know anti-virus for defeating a full breakout of the Smith virus... what do you want an autopsy and burial or a possible return to the Matrix?
You next point is correct, very little happens in the lives of the blue-pills but it is NOT the nature of humanity to strive for greatness, it may be the nature of say 1% or so of the population but the rest are quite content to live quiet, routine, peaceful lives. Yes, this peace is fragile, but it is what they choose, would you rather they were forced into a world of torn woolen sweaters, protein goop, and cold war? They may be living in denial but as has been said ignorance is bliss and they should be allowed to live that way if that is what they choose.
Democracy... where? I certainly enjoy no democracy, I receive my orders, follow them, and do pretty much whatever I want the rest of the time provided it doesn't disrupt the System. Does Zion run on a democracy? Is the council so elected? I don't recall ever getting the chance to vote when i was in Zion.
The Enlightenment you seek seems to be the realization of the self. "Know thyself" As the Oracle would put it. This philosophy is not for everyone, some people are quite happy not knowing, failure to realize this is or ignoring their view is zealotry.
Any of the great minds of the esoteric religions would tell you also that Enlightenment of the self requires no external change, no evangelism, you do not need to save the world to save yourself in fact such efforts are quite contrary to inner peace, acceptance, and the efforts to enhance spiritual wellbeing of the self and those around you. One is only expected to live as they feel is right, to follow their path, not to force others to it. That is the true nature of knowing yourself, knowing your path is different from others, what is right for one person is not bey extension right for all.
Of course these same minds would have been quick to tell you that their philosophies were not religions.
Now until you formalize code, dogma, ritual, mythology, etc could you please stop referring to your philosophy as a religion.
A religion is not necissarily a set of myths or dogmas, there are different levels of religion, and not all great spiritual teachers were against religion, as you seem to suggest. Religion is merely institutionalized spirituality, and spirituality is a line of development that involve's a person's understanding of the ultimate.
And I suppose "Know Thyself" would apply to the Enlightenment I speak of, but that is only if the "Self" in this instance is the infinite Self, where there is no distinction from one phenomenon to the other, and even to call it "infinite" cannot even begin to describe it. This is not merely an abstract philosophy, but an actual experiential reality.
Those who truely experience this, and are responsible, require not just "inner peace" from their lives, but action. I belong to EPN because the action I beleive supports the nondual infinity of experience is waking up as many people as possible, regaurdless of the Machines' grasping, contracting desire for control. If this causes a war, so be it, I think it has been a war all along.
People will be givin a choice, of course, as always. To choose the red pill or the blue pill. To choose a side. But I beleive these choices are so important that they must be made explicitly, not by default.
Also, the democratic comment was in refrence to the comment of someone responding "democratically". I wasn't saying you were in a democracy, but you seemed to be idealizing democracy, maybe I was wrong there. Ignore the democracy comment if that'st he case.
