I saw a church sign today

[BabylonHoruv]

My favorite church sign ever said "WE PROBABLY ARE NOT AS JUDGMENTAL AS YOU MIGHT THINK!"

My second favorite one:

My favorite was " The most powerful position is on your knees. "

I like "We seek spiritual fruit, not religious nuts"  Largely because my brother in law is a fairly spiritual, kinda flaming, gay man.

[Prince Glittersnatch III]

The attention of others justifies my existence.



EVERYONE LOOK AT ME

[Kai]

Significance to whom?

When You and I behind the Veil are past,
Oh, but the long, long while the World shall last,
Which of our Coming and Departure heeds
As the Sea's self should heed a pebble-cast.

We are no other than a moving row
Of Magic Shadow-shapes that come and go
Round with the Sun-illumined Lantern held
In Midnight by the Master of the Show;


But helpless Pieces of the Game He plays
Upon this Chequer-board of Nights and Days;
Hither and thither moves, and checks, and slays,
And one by one back in the Closet lays.

significance shmignificance.

In A Beginner's Guide to Immortality, Cliff Pickover presents the new york times best seller list from 50 years ago. And today, you wouldn't recognize a single title on the list. His point is that most of us will leave no mark on history. Your legacy will be carried for a few generations at most, and then your entire existence will simply fade into the mists of time.

If this thought disturbs you, you're holding on.

J. Krishnamurti went to great lengths to impress this on his listeners.

And it's worth considering:
In the grand scheme of things our lives are awfully petty. Our heartaches and tragedies, our triumphs and accomplishments, our ego, our pride; these things mean little to those not actively involved in, or otherwise compelled to give a damn about, our lives.

And that's only while we're given ANY prolonged attention that we've collectively deemed inherently due to the living. Once we're dead...even our remembrances fade. After enough centuries have passed even our headstones, IF we have any, will be worn down, eventually they'll just be gone to dust. I chuckle every time I see an "In Loving Memory" decal on the back of a car window; mostly they fade well before the memory should be able to.

All this leads directly to a whole load of existential crisis and musings.

However, while I will be totally forgotten about in perhaps 100 years, and most definitely after 1000 years, that doesn't mean I will neglect the things that give ME significance RIGHT NOW. In fact, those things seem to be even more important because they're the things I can add to this world while being able to witness the effect.

I said that my words give me significance, and I suggested that may be a stupid thing to count on. That's because words wear so very thin, are easily forgotten, and even more easily ignored.

Do they fill me with purpose? Some end goal that I have dutifully contributed to? No. That's pathetic and laughable. Again, Rick Warren. He capitalizes on that significantly, fueling people's thirst for purpose, for a sense that their actions have inherent meaning.

I don't need that. I do need my words, and the people they affect. And I don't have any good reason for why that's so. And I'm just fine with that.

I still don't buy it though. 

What if significance isn't a matter of metaphysical worth, or even historic or emotional value?

I think significance is in everyone's lives.  If you've read the Dark Tower, I think of significance in this context as a lot like Ka:  A nebulous concept encompassing one's present conditions, the meaning behind things in life, the people you're with, the direction events are proceeding in, and the perceived reasons for various occurrences.

Great posts, the three of you. Gives me much to think about.


Also, I want to read Beginner's Guide to Immortality.

[Cramulus]

[Fujikoma]

What gives me significance? Not really sure... The people I know seem to know something, but I'm not asking because that will sound like fishing for compliments and/or sympathy... I guess I get my significance from others, as unwelcome as that may be at times. There is significance in one's work, one's hobbies, a beautiful sunset or sunrise, a stormy day, a bird's song... There is so much that is of significance to me all around that I don't have a lot of time to ask what makes me significant...

I suppose it's one of those deep questions, but as seems the gist of much of what is in this thread (sorry to generalize, it's likely a product of my flawed perception), the significance is in dropping the question and getting on with the things that matter, rather than wasting time on finding a way to phrase an answer to a question with a mind-jarring number of possible answers. While it can be a fun thinking exercise, letting the search for the answer obscure your vision is going in the completely wrong direction.

When people bring up that tired old question about the meaning of life, I usually request that they stop asking that, because while they're paying attention to that, they're missing the answer right under their nose... This doesn't always go over well. I know there was a time when that was what I mostly thought about, and all it brought was misery. I won't pretend my life is all puppy dogs and rainbows now, but at least I am mostly present for the good bits before they're gone.

And what will you do once you have the answer simplified into a small phrase? What good will it do you? Will it bring you happiness? Do not mistake the finger pointing for the answer, it is the direction in which the finger points where one should conduct one's search.

[Bu🤠ns]

Oh nice thread everyone!   

The question is interesting because where I place my significance seems to be directly related to my attention and focus. What I really dug when I first started doing drugs was how the content and detail of my focus and attention shifted to things that might, while sober, seem less significant. HAVE you ever looked at the back of a $20 on weed?

So it seems to me my significance is wholly based on where I'm attached in both attraction as well as aversion, or, as Cram put it, where I'm still holding. 

It's all just so fucking shiny and pretty and awful and SERIOUS ain't it?   

[Jasper]

I'm starting to see it more Cram's way.  Significance need not be a lasting thing to be valid.  My limbic system assigns significance to things.

[Bebek Sincap Ratatosk]

I'm starting to see it more Cram's way.  Significance need not be a lasting thing to be valid.  My limbic system assigns significance to things.

Yeah, I think he stole the mind control lazors.

[The Good Reverend Roger]

Significance need not be a lasting thing to be valid. 

BAH!

[Bebek Sincap Ratatosk]

Your significance is the story that is tied to you. Every issue you have overcome, or failed to overcome is part of what you embody in your significance. We are all significant because we have all lived our life, we have met challenges and survived. We signify the survival of a species, the survival of ideas, some of us signify the passing of the torch to the next generation... some of us signify the society of today, with little or no "family" to speak of.

We are neon signs, blinking across a desolate void all of us signifying that somehow, a weird combination of chemicals and reactions survives and thrives in an inhospitable universe... that despite our best attempts to wipe ourselves out... Life continues on.

We may never have a sign that is huge and visible for miles, we may never have a sign that has our name as Stars in the Next Big Thing... but each of our little signs mark an amazing accomplishment, we may never have peace in the Middle East, or Universal Health Care, or Legal Pot, or Gay Marriage... but we have Life.

And that's a pretty significant thing.

[Adios]

Your significance is the story that is tied to you. Every issue you have overcome, or failed to overcome is part of what you embody in your significance. We are all significant because we have all lived our life, we have met challenges and survived. We signify the survival of a species, the survival of ideas, some of us signify the passing of the torch to the next generation... some of us signify the society of today, with little or no "family" to speak of.

We are neon signs, blinking across a desolate void all of us signifying that somehow, a weird combination of chemicals and reactions survives and thrives in an inhospitable universe... that despite our best attempts to wipe ourselves out... Life continues on.

We may never have a sign that is huge and visible for miles, we may never have a sign that has our name as Stars in the Next Big Thing... but each of our little signs mark an amazing accomplishment, we may never have peace in the Middle East, or Universal Health Care, or Legal Pot, or Gay Marriage... but we have Life.

And that's a pretty significant thing.

*scratches head*

Personally I think the gift of life itself is meaningless. It is what you do with it that makes a mark.

[Bebek Sincap Ratatosk]

Your significance is the story that is tied to you. Every issue you have overcome, or failed to overcome is part of what you embody in your significance. We are all significant because we have all lived our life, we have met challenges and survived. We signify the survival of a species, the survival of ideas, some of us signify the passing of the torch to the next generation... some of us signify the society of today, with little or no "family" to speak of.

We are neon signs, blinking across a desolate void all of us signifying that somehow, a weird combination of chemicals and reactions survives and thrives in an inhospitable universe... that despite our best attempts to wipe ourselves out... Life continues on.

We may never have a sign that is huge and visible for miles, we may never have a sign that has our name as Stars in the Next Big Thing... but each of our little signs mark an amazing accomplishment, we may never have peace in the Middle East, or Universal Health Care, or Legal Pot, or Gay Marriage... but we have Life.

And that's a pretty significant thing.

*scratches head*

Personally I think the gift of life itself is meaningless. It is what you do with it that makes a mark.

We all do something with it, and our significance is tied to what we do. Significance isn't necessarily good or positive... Its kind of like the BiP, its not just made of the Good experiences, or the Bad experiences... not just the Positive influences or the Negative influences... but its all those taken together.

[Adios]

Your significance is the story that is tied to you. Every issue you have overcome, or failed to overcome is part of what you embody in your significance. We are all significant because we have all lived our life, we have met challenges and survived. We signify the survival of a species, the survival of ideas, some of us signify the passing of the torch to the next generation... some of us signify the society of today, with little or no "family" to speak of.

We are neon signs, blinking across a desolate void all of us signifying that somehow, a weird combination of chemicals and reactions survives and thrives in an inhospitable universe... that despite our best attempts to wipe ourselves out... Life continues on.

We may never have a sign that is huge and visible for miles, we may never have a sign that has our name as Stars in the Next Big Thing... but each of our little signs mark an amazing accomplishment, we may never have peace in the Middle East, or Universal Health Care, or Legal Pot, or Gay Marriage... but we have Life.

And that's a pretty significant thing.

*scratches head*

Personally I think the gift of life itself is meaningless. It is what you do with it that makes a mark.

We all do something with it, and our significance is tied to what we do. Significance isn't necessarily good or positive... Its kind of like the BiP, its not just made of the Good experiences, or the Bad experiences... not just the Positive influences or the Negative influences... but its all those taken together.

So Ted Bundy holds the same significance as Albert Einstein?

[The Good Reverend Roger]

Your significance is the story that is tied to you. Every issue you have overcome, or failed to overcome is part of what you embody in your significance. We are all significant because we have all lived our life, we have met challenges and survived. We signify the survival of a species, the survival of ideas, some of us signify the passing of the torch to the next generation... some of us signify the society of today, with little or no "family" to speak of.

We are neon signs, blinking across a desolate void all of us signifying that somehow, a weird combination of chemicals and reactions survives and thrives in an inhospitable universe... that despite our best attempts to wipe ourselves out... Life continues on.

We may never have a sign that is huge and visible for miles, we may never have a sign that has our name as Stars in the Next Big Thing... but each of our little signs mark an amazing accomplishment, we may never have peace in the Middle East, or Universal Health Care, or Legal Pot, or Gay Marriage... but we have Life.

And that's a pretty significant thing.

*scratches head*

Personally I think the gift of life itself is meaningless. It is what you do with it that makes a mark.

We all do something with it, and our significance is tied to what we do. Significance isn't necessarily good or positive... Its kind of like the BiP, its not just made of the Good experiences, or the Bad experiences... not just the Positive influences or the Negative influences... but its all those taken together.

So Ted Bundy holds the same significance as Albert Einstein?

Ted was only trying to have a good time.

[Adios]

Your significance is the story that is tied to you. Every issue you have overcome, or failed to overcome is part of what you embody in your significance. We are all significant because we have all lived our life, we have met challenges and survived. We signify the survival of a species, the survival of ideas, some of us signify the passing of the torch to the next generation... some of us signify the society of today, with little or no "family" to speak of.

We are neon signs, blinking across a desolate void all of us signifying that somehow, a weird combination of chemicals and reactions survives and thrives in an inhospitable universe... that despite our best attempts to wipe ourselves out... Life continues on.

We may never have a sign that is huge and visible for miles, we may never have a sign that has our name as Stars in the Next Big Thing... but each of our little signs mark an amazing accomplishment, we may never have peace in the Middle East, or Universal Health Care, or Legal Pot, or Gay Marriage... but we have Life.

And that's a pretty significant thing.

*scratches head*

Personally I think the gift of life itself is meaningless. It is what you do with it that makes a mark.

We all do something with it, and our significance is tied to what we do. Significance isn't necessarily good or positive... Its kind of like the BiP, its not just made of the Good experiences, or the Bad experiences... not just the Positive influences or the Negative influences... but its all those taken together.

So Ted Bundy holds the same significance as Albert Einstein?

Ted was only trying to have a good time.

Dammit.