There are realities that you were given.

[Milneman]

Truth exists innately within every single one of us. Our lives, to a great extent, are spent finding ways of circumnavigating the truth we innately know to get what we want. The cookie.

Yes, friends, the truth is we've spent our entire lives trying to justify getting the cookie. When we were small, it was all about the cookie. And when most men were 15-25 years old? Cookie. You know what I'm saying. People spend time trying to fit into the skinny jeans and still getting...the cookie. I'm fat, and I don't know why! (While eating...you guessed it, the cookie.)

I have all the answers to life's problems! says the Pilsburry Dough Boy! If you don't eat my cookies, you're going to get fat!

That brand new car? Cookie.

That shiny new computer? Cookie.

We biography, preach, and even ask for donations! We need cookies bigger than dozens and bakers dozens!

Extra terrestrial cookies.....global warming cookies.....fossil fuel cookies....sexual abuse cookies....

Read a message today that made me realize if you want to truly see the reality of our world, you don't have to look any further than this forum. Everything is here in black and white (between the lines) to tell you exactly every game that is being played, every personality, every crown head and freemason plot you've ever imagined. Avalon is a microcosm experiment, or maybe better yet, a manifesto of why the world is having such a difficult time getting past this mess we, not the extra terrestrials, or the freemasons, or some rogue planet that keeps being proven and disproven by no real science, have created.

So! I've given up my cookies. I'm ditching my gas guzzling jeep end of this month in favour of my own two feet and public transit. I'm putting my money where my mouth is. Small move, but a start. I guess if I start doing youtube videos I'll have to find a bus shelter somewhere....

We have the realities and the truths right in front of us, so the question I keep begging to answer is: why will we not accept the truth if it means giving up the cookie?

Maybe if I send another donation it'll get better.....

...to be continued...

[Shezbeth]

I agree, and the cookie comes in as many forms as there are forms of gratification. Even depriving one's self of cookies can be said to be a cookie!

Unfortunately, in a physiological sense the gratification sensation is derived by the actions of the hypothalamus and the resultant brain chemicals (brain-drugs). As long as that is in place (and I have found no circumstances from which one can operate without it) there will always be the pursuit of whatever cookies a person desires whether conscious or not of the pursuit.

A critical question is 'what is the nature of the cookie', which directly ties into the dichotomy of STS vs. STO. Does the cookie benefit the self or does it benefit others, and more importantly (IMO) does it come at the expense of self or at the expense of others? Moreover, is the cookie to do with a need (sustenance, sleep, etc.) or a want (shiny car, toys, etc.)?

Personally I applaud your choice to ditch the car, at least in general practice. One never knows when they will need a reliable/serviceable vehicle, but if your circumstances allow I have found great benefit to removing myself from automated transport. The physiological, psychological, dispositional, and other benefits are manifold and seem to increase in number the longer I do it. Even bicycles require maintenance and upkeep, yet the act of hoofing is its own upkeep and maintenance of the body; drink plenty of water tho.

[joeecho]

Posted by Milneman (here)

We have the realities and the truths right in front of us, so the question I keep begging to answer is: why will we not accept the truth if it means giving up the cookie?

Maybe it is because you do not have to give up the cookies while accepting the truth. The cookies only have the power you give them. The cookies have no calories but the ones that you imagine them to have. If you imagine them to have too many calories then, sure, go on a diet that suits your pursuit.



The record number of cookies consumed resulted in a big bang.

[Grizz Griswold]

Posted by Milneman (here)

We have the realities and the truths right in front of us, so the question I keep begging to answer is: why will we not accept the truth if it means giving up the cookie?

Because we don't believe this simple statement.
The secret of salvation is but this: That you are doing this unto yourself....ACIM
and plus we've got an awful lot invested in that precious, lovely, sweet cookie
and that cookie seems (illusion) to be more valuable than all else...
i Have a Nephew that has a forty year mortgage on his cookie
Didn't know you could get one for that long?

Why would anyone want to give up that cookie for er well just ......Everything?!!!

Stay away from Colonel Sanders if your'e on foot
He might want you over for lunch.

All the best ....barry

[Matt P]

Sorry, I have to blame this on my kids' influence...

"How did you get up there"
"I don't know. Just gettin' a cookie."

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=mWNb-PuRYGU

[joeecho]

You know the thing about all cookies, they are crumbly. Even the crumbs have crumbs! When I first discovered this, I thought it was really crummy.

And then I realized I was the one making the cookies so who am I to judge?



*== Edit ==*

And an indulgence....

Cookie am not Cookie.
Cookie am this one
walking beside Cookie whom Cookie do not see,
whom at times Cookie manage to visit,
and whom at other times Cookie forget;
who remains calm and silent while Cookie talk,
and forgives, gently, when Cookie hate,
who walks where Cookie am not,
who will remain standing when Cookie die.

- Cookie (aka. Juan Ramón Jiménez)

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=Ck-K7JzIz_s

*== Edit Part 2 ==*

Posted by Shezbeth (here)
I agree, and the cookie comes in as many forms as there are forms of gratification. Even depriving one's self of cookies can be said to be a cookie!

Isn't that the truth!

The Great Cookie and its cohorts (crumbs) is quite comprehensive. When a non-cookie (crumb) is essentially a cookie you're pretty well screwed.

[Joanne Shepard]

Cookies are alive then

I think I'm a cookie Monster I want my cookie AND EAT IT TOO

[Zaya]

(Not to further derail this into a conversation about the deliciousness of cookies, but I'll be damned if I don't want a cookie now...)

Our lives, to a great extent, are spent finding ways of circumnavigating the truth we innately know to get what we want. The cookie

Ah yes. We all deceive ourselves all the time because it is easier for our fragile egos to put our attention and focus on the cookies so that we do not have to accept hard facts. This particular metaphor strikes me personally because it reminds me of my mother... She has spent her entire life's energy looking for the cookie. And as a result, she possesses an entirely different view on reality than I do (ie: she has her own version of the truth -- the sugarcoated kind). She doesn't like the truth because it paints her in a really crappy light, so she prefers her altered version of history.

Good for you for ditching your cookies. Congrats! I am not as ready. I think I am getting there...

[Mercedes]

Well, it's hard to live in this dimension without any cookies at all.

[joeecho]

Posted by Grizz Griswold (here)
The secret of salvation is but this: That you are doing this unto yourself....ACIM

I was meditating on this subject material from a particular aspect and then remember your post, Barry.

I believe it to be a good description of existence and why any of 'us' have been here, is here, or will be here.

A great metaphysical scene that illustrates this....

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=G86IOYNMI9M

Posted by Joanne Shepard (here)
Cookies are alive then

Cookie are apparently alive but they are not Life.

Posted by Mercedes (here)
Well, it's hard to live in this dimension without any cookies at all.

Shall we go further down the rabbit hole?.... It's impossible to live in any dimension without any cookies at all.....not to mention that dimension is a cookie as well. Wouldn't you agree cookie?

[TargeT]

My better half one time said on the phone:

"I want to come over and get some of your cookies"

I replied, confused.

"I don't have any cookies; I'm not a fan of baked goods"


there was a long pause, then laughter............

Sorry, these cookies reminded me of those cookies

Maybe we aren't looking at cookies the right way, maybe the cookies are what we came for and someone has just twisted/manipulated the methods that we use to obtain cookies (sts vr sto) I don't think the cookies themselves are an issue, the means of obtaining them probably are.

[joeecho]

Posted by TargeT (here)
Maybe we aren't looking at cookies the right way.

Now that you mention is, depending on how they are made, they do resemble Frisbees.

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=jRidb21duGY

Not the right way? Damn it! I hate it when I don't see things the right way!

Posted by TargeT (here)
I don't think the cookies themselves are an issue, the means of obtaining them probably are.

But it is all part of the same magnum opus so the means is but a plot twist. You can re-write the plot twist for effect but ultimately a twist is a twist is a twist.

[Milneman]

Posted by Shezbeth (here)
I agree, and the cookie comes in as many forms as there are forms of gratification. Even depriving one's self of cookies can be said to be a cookie!

Unfortunately, in a physiological sense the gratification sensation is derived by the actions of the hypothalamus and the resultant brain chemicals (brain-drugs). As long as that is in place (and I have found no circumstances from which one can operate without it) there will always be the pursuit of whatever cookies a person desires whether conscious or not of the pursuit.

A critical question is 'what is the nature of the cookie', which directly ties into the dichotomy of STS vs. STO. Does the cookie benefit the self or does it benefit others, and more importantly (IMO) does it come at the expense of self or at the expense of others? Moreover, is the cookie to do with a need (sustenance, sleep, etc.) or a want (shiny car, toys, etc.)?

Personally I applaud your choice to ditch the car, at least in general practice. One never knows when they will need a reliable/serviceable vehicle, but if your circumstances allow I have found great benefit to removing myself from automated transport. The physiological, psychological, dispositional, and other benefits are manifold and seem to increase in number the longer I do it. Even bicycles require maintenance and upkeep, yet the act of hoofing is its own upkeep and maintenance of the body; drink plenty of water tho.

The bingo moment is realizing that you "can" retrain your brain to not go gonzo over the cookie as fast as you do. It's really tough...but...anyone who's quit smoking will understand what I'm saying.

[Milneman]

Posted by Mercedes (here)
Well, it's hard to live in this dimension without any cookies at all.

Ah but that's the big thing I had to realize. Part of the veil is telling yourself that the cookies you give up won't be as good as the other stuff you'll get once you give them up. Then I did. Then o holy cow. Cookie! :D

PS? Thanks everyone for proving that changing doesn't require a dictionary or a metaphysical encyclopedia. You just need willingness to change, and the humour to deal with the hiccups. This thread proves to me that it's not only possible, it should be fun as well.

Considering changing the pic of the chicken to one of cookie monster...HMMM

[Shezbeth]

It is undeniable that though one cannot escape the presence and pursuit of cookies, there are certainly cookies that are more (or less) healthy. I suppose that would/should be the ideal, the pursuit of better cookies?

And yes, quitting smoking is a bitch. X_X

[Milneman]

It's the hardest thing anyone who smokes will have to do. If you can make it a year without having a cigarette, it'll get better.

[Shezbeth]

In contemplation of my previous, I arrived at the following classifiers for the cookie: conducive and non-conducive. I apply these as they involve no moral or dogmatic constraints, they simply pertain to whether a cookie can be said to benefit or malign the individual, though philosophically even the distinction of benefit vs. malign is questionable.

I suggest that the most malignant cookie involves both the conviction, and the perception of something/one being 'correct', right, or beyond scrutiny to the point that they/it are depended on. This would seem to apply to the general thesis of the Bias thread in addition to others, as the dependence on something would naturally involve a bias to it from which one or others would be unwilling to see, think, etc. beyond it. Something that appears dependable is often then built upon, from which ideas can be convicted to, leading to an increasing dependence. This cursorily explains the ease and want of society to remain in the dark about governments, corporations, and manipulations of all kinds, as well as more specific and individual social problems and aspects. In relation to the thesis of the Outdated Beliefs thread, this would lead to a situation where a person would be either/both unwilling and/or unable to effectively validate or invalidate, as their whole structure of operant activity would depend on the validation of that which they were convicted to and the invalidation of that which would contest it.

However, if a person's stability is dependent on the maintenance of their established convictions (i.e. if they would become unstable if their convictions were to be rendered invalid in their perception) which can be said to be more conducive? Is it conducive to raze the cookie of established ideas or is it conducive to maintain the cookie that allows the individual to continue to function? Numerous colloquialisms come to mind: "You can't teach an old dog new tricks", or "A Zebra can't change its stripes"; are these true observations or are they cookies that prevent emergence?

[Skyhaven]

Excellent topic! Getting rid of cookies is awesome.