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In the beginning was a ball of highly compressed particles. Particles which would prove to be capable of simple, complex, exotic & even sublime constructions. Particles which within their aggregate were able to create their own rules.
Whether through a slowing of movement or some internal juxtaposition of the particles, an instantaneous expansion occurred and space was created between particles. The particles aggregated and coalesced into a cosmic brew. The universe was alive.
Some particles bonded. Some particles freed themselves from bonds and became the edge of the universe. It seemed that what had been forced apart would never be able to be put together again in exactly the same configuration.
Every instance of the universe was unique. Eternity was now the process of change and the question of whether it had always been so.
That which was created was a matter of environment and the gradually diminishing effects of the aggregate. Though the particles now had space that space was still generally under the control of the motion which had been produced & proximity to other particles. Particles were adjusting themselves to new conditions.
The temperature rose dramatically. Tremendous quantities of particles formed massive configurations similar to that from which they had sprung. But the rules had changed and what had been all encompassing was now just a singularity within a rapidly expanding & broad creation.
Particle interactions and the lessening of particle attractions caused some particles to be energized. The Universe was illuminated. Whether these waves of energy were inherent to particles or simply the result of conditions became another cosmic question.
All was in motion as the particles sought to reconfigure themselves. Matter clumped together. The first short-lived celestial bodies were born. The clustering of matter and the pattern of motion within a rapidly changing dynamic caused friction & the first stars ignited.
Galaxies and star clusters formed. Motion caused conflicts & mergers within the celestial bodies. Stars consumed their fuel. The aggregate continued to expand. It was now easy to become lost in the vastness resulting from the creation of space.
Yet all remained connected through the bonds of their initial configuration. Though expanded, all particles were still part of the same whole. That which links them remains the universe.
We now stand amidst an infinitely minute portion of that creation. Our eyes normally lower than the horizon. Our focus on the remains mainly upon the conditions in front of us as the all around us continues to move & change. The universe has surrounded us with miracles. All we have to do is take the time to admire, enjoy & understand them.
We have arisen from the genetic adaptation of our ancestors to the conditions which existed. We continue exist because of our own adaptation to those conditions. How long that existence will continue, both for ourselves & our species, remains an open question.
That which has come before us should teach us that our function is to adapt to condition. Yet what is performing a function without that function having a meaning?
As conscious beings we are given the ability to define our own meanings. Some chose to define meaning as only those things which impact themselves. Other find meaning in abstract forms and methods. The creation of meaning is a key human endeavor.
It is difficult to look past our own singular existence. Yet, the simplest of all meanings would seem to lie within we & our descendants continuing to exist. That we should accumulate the knowledge and skills to continue to further that existence.
To continue to exist seems to be what the universe is about. What also seems clear is what has brought us existence is change. What continues to sustain our existence is change. Yet we often choose to be dismissive or seek to be impervious to change.
At present our birth has been our most significant change. Death looms over us as our final change. Change brought us here. Change is going to take us out of here. The hope for most being that they can continue to live a pleasurable existence as long as circumstances will allow.
What the universe shows us is that nothing except change is final. Whatever we are, were or are going to be is part of the universe. How that manifests itself through death is beyond our control other than that which we manage to leave behind for those coming after.
We are about the universe; the universe is not about us. What humans have constructed will lose significance when humans are gone. The particles which provide us with bodily form shall remain part/parcel of this universe.
What remains is that which we have created. Either in the form of new humans, new intelligence or new ways of being. Hopefully what will have been gained through our human existence is increased understanding and better ways of being.
Just as each particle forming the universe, each being is unique. A temporal mix from the same cosmic recipe formed when this universe began. Our uniqueness too often causes us to lose sight of the fact that we are part of a much greater whole.
Understanding our present comes through understanding the universe’s past. God exists in the same place that gods have always existed: in the minds of humans.
Humans have consciousness & free will. To a lesser degree, many other beings on our planet share these traits. Whether other beings with such abilities exist within the vastness of the cosmos remains to be determined.
What we do know at present is that human beings are the only beings actively seeking to understand, document and make use of the story of this universe. As far as humans know at the moment, we are the only conscious caretakers of this universe.
That which we have been given has come from the universe. That which we may achieve comes from within ourselves. Our understanding of the rest of the universe is the key to our survival within it. The universe demands acceptance & adaptation not allegiance or obedience.
Perhaps the enormity of understanding the universe & creating our own destiny within it is simply too much for the human community? In which case we are more likely than not to end up as the inheritors of extinction with our creation simply another set of fossils buried in our planet’s landscape.
Or perhaps humans now & in the future will choose to move forward? Making the best use of ourselves and means the universe has provided. Hoping to better understand the universe and our own place within it.
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what then is existence if not the quest to further existence?
the only direction that eternity moves is forward
change built upon change
humanity has arrived
at this point in time
we are because the universe is
believe in that which you are able to experience: the universe
have faith in that which you are able to participate: the goodness of humankind
continuing human existence is not a matter of conquests, rather it is the matter of adaptations
religion is a state of mind; reality is the state of being
the truth is ours to find
you are one with the universe; come to terms with it
change has produced us; change shall sustain us
that from which we are made is the universe
we are the caretakers of human existence; we are the pathway to human continuation
there are no shortcuts through eternity
the survival of humanity is addressed sequentially not independently
the universe demands neither worship or praise
the universe demands only acceptance
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Welcome to our universe 13.7 billion or so earth years on and counting. Perhaps the time has come for humans to begin a process of understanding and exploring our cosmic roots. All that we have, all that we are, originated from a single entity. This one structure coming alive and expanding into space. Creating existence as we now know it.
Let’s put away our religious and ideological misconceptions based upon supreme beings, understanding that humans are in control of their own future within the limitations imposed by sub-atomic particles. We have the ability to determine the path for a future. We have the ability to contemplate and adapt for that future. Rather than focusing our beliefs upon teaching/rote learning dogma and mythological tales tailored to make us feel better, humanity would be better served understanding the universe within which we exist and our role therein.
The modern human species has been in existence for approximately 200,000 generations. This is a very short period of time from the reference point of the beginning of this iteration of our universe. From the human perspective, however these 50K earth years have involved a great deal of advancement and overcoming obstacles. Contemplating the end of this adventure is not an option for me. The little that I am able to offer is pointing the way toward human continuation. Join me in choosing and developing a philosophy which may in some small way assist in human advancement & continuation.
The history of planetary evolution has been that at some point in every species gradual diversion occurs and new species are born. This has been the continuing story of biological development from almost the beginning of our planet. Yet most humans believe that what humans are now, is no longer subject to evolutionary forces. Most humans are wrong.
The reality seems that those such as Newton, Edison, Einstein, Tesla have had more to do with the world in which we exist than any of the many any varied deities of our planet’s religions.
Technology has become the primary driver for deviation from that which humans were to that which humans are & will become. That technology, just like all human adaptations, is seen as making human existence better. This technology may well become the dividing line between what is now classified as human and that which will supplant humans.
Many worry that technology, either through misuse or development of its own intelligence, may put an end to humans. Perhaps but the more likely outcome is that technology will continue to put an end to human existence as we have known it & create new ways of living, just as has been happening throughout human history.
The most likely critical dividing line between what is now seen as human and that which will succeed it, may well turn out to be the human drive to move off planet. Just like all human expansions, that drive will initially have an umbilical cord to existing planetary cultures. If that drive & the development of technology is successful, at some point that cord will wither and fall away. What may well be left may turn out to be the evolutionary successors of humankind.
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humans have but scratched the very surface of existence
dream far out into the cosmos while remaining grounded within reality
we are adrift upon the eternal vastness of a cosmic sea
in search of that which humanity may or may not be
Human Continuation should mean a happier, more rewarding and knowledgeable existence
Human Continuation is that which is written into our DNA
an ideology either serves the people or that ideology serves to control the people
The drive for human continuation should trump the need for self-gratification
humans perceive; eternity proceeds
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we are all headed to the same destination; the path we follow to get there writes our story
Any philosophy of continuation begins with considering how our current actions will impact the future. Will our actions result in creating serious risk for future generations? Is the knowledge and lessons which we are passing along worthwhile? Are we pointing our children toward a brighter future or a repetition of the past? Our planet and solar system offer a broad expanse upon which to work. The universe has much more to offer. Push safe advances of medicine, technology, space travel and intelligence gathering. Encourage future generations to study the past and think for themselves. Don’t sugar coat issues such as climate change, overpopulation and diminishing planetary resources. Seek truth and clarity over short-term self-gratification. Recognize that human continuation is merely a possibility unless humans take their future seriously.
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Time is the measurement of change. All that we ever have is the eternal now. That now is driven by the interaction of particles released during our universe's initial expansion. The configuration of those particles drives the evolution of existence.
Gravity controls us. Gravity appears to be a matter of particle density. The greater that density, the more powerful what we term to be gravity. Gravity drives the motion of the universe.
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drifting through a cosmic existence
our lives but a droplet
within the continuity of humanity
the future will not always be moving in a positive direction
some die because lightning strikes them
some die because they are caught up in war
some die because their hearts fail them
all eventually die & yet existence manages to carry on
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learn from the trees as they bend in the wind & reach toward the cosmos
what we want may be improbable
what we have is the universe
any ideology or religion which is truly great does not have to force people to follow it
evolution is not a guarantee; evolution is an opportunity
we live in forever, forever defined by how we change
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adapt, thrive and advance mankind
the purpose for existence
has been coded directly into our DNA
this life
a gift provided by the universe
13.7 billion years in the making
that which is to be formed
from such a unique cosmic endowment
being each individual’s primary responsibility
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NG Ripple
realist
writer of words
planetary & cosmic observer
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