Do you consider yourself a deep thinker? With what intellectual honesty can you claim this?

I consider myself a definite deep thinker. Every once in a while I sit on the internet trying to grasp concepts far beyond a high schoolers ability, such as dark matter and the "infinity" of space and stuff like that. In fact, every once in a while, if I'm really struggling with something I'll take some physcedelics and sit in my yard and meditate. It has really helped me understand some things about existence, and the idea of movement and space (not outer space "space", the idea that things take up room) that I never thought I would be able to grasp. I consider myself a very philosophical and deep person. Probably not as much as some others because to think that you are the deepest would be an extremely arrogant statement. Anyhow I believe anyone has the "tools", they just might put them to use for thinking about other things that wouldn't be considered deep. Like how you think about philosophy really deeply, maybe someone else thinks about hunting just as deeply. I suppose it's all has to do with perspective.

I used to play baseball, when I was in college. I remember an opposing coach said to me "You've got all the tools, kid." In the best Bones McCoy tradition, I replied, "I'm a shortstop, not a f*****g plumber." Point there is, even though I went to the school, a pretty good one, though I say it myself, on a baseball scholarship, the REASON I went there was to get an education. My field was military history (and I wore the uniform myself for a number of years), but I can hold my own in literature, mathematics, and science even with the pros. I'm committed to being a lifelong learner, and I'm tenacious.Once I get hold of a concept, or an idea, or even a paragraph, I will NOT give up until I've got my mind thoroughly wrapped around it. Does that make me a deep thinker? I dunno. I suppose it makes me a wide thinker, but I don't think that's the same thing, in the sense that you mean it. Certainly I'm no Joyce, no Kant, not even a Doug Hofstadter, but I've had my moments. I suppose I'll just have to give it more thought.

No. Not to most people. A long time ago I discovered the ultimate purpose for all knowledge that every generation of man learns during his life time. And I learned why they could not see the answer.

Edit. I learned a long time ago that man is an arrogant being. To such an extent the he thinks he knows all the answers. Even more than the creator does. So much so that when the creator became flesh and blood they rejected his wisdom and killed him. But the answer they could not see , whom the creator is, was more powerful than death

I learned also that experience that man does not know what true wisdom is. And that men would rather reject what holds the world together in it's solid reality, rather then let ting go of their petty ideas of knowledge accepting the full power in the strength of simplicity.

To say you are a deep thinker isn't the same as laying claim to vast resources of wisdom. I think it is an ever searching, curious mind. It is one that can stay on a though and enjoys working it like a rubic's cube. I enjoy exercising the little gray cells but make no claims to great wisdom. I see myself as a student rather than a teacher. What I do know is that everyone I meet can teach me something.

A deep thinker will savor a concept and be willing to entertain ideas that are foreign and challenging.

A deep thinker also knows rubbish when they see it and doesn't need to sound off on it just to make his voice heard.

A new question to ponder is a treasure.

I am a shallow thinker. If I do not know the answer I will look for a reference in a flash. The truth needs to be simple. That which requires deep thought or rationalization worries me. So many others have said it so much better before. I do not strive for original Philosophical thought. Just reasons and direction to read more.

Learning To Live

[Images: Dream Theater]

[Words: Myung]

There was no time for pain

No energy for anger

The sightlessness of hatred

slips away

Walking through winter streets

alone

He stops and take a breath

With confidence and self-

control

I look at the world and see no

understanding

I'm waiting to find some sense

of strength

I'm begging you from the

bottom of my heart to show

me understanding

I need to live life

Like some people never will

So find me kindness

Find me beauty

Find me truth

When temptation brings me to

my knees

And I lay here drained of

strength

Show me kindness

Show me beauty

Show me truth

The way your heart sounds

makes all the difference

It's what decides if you'll endure

the pain that we all feel

The way your heart beats

makes all the difference

In learning to live

Here before me is my soul

I'm learning to live

I won't give up

Till I've no more to give

Listening to the city

Whispering its violence

I set out watching from above

The year 2000 bring new questions

New solutions to be found

I fell in love to be let down

Once again we dance in the

crowd

At times a step away

From a common fear that's all

spread out

It won't listen to what you say

Once you're touched you stand

alone

To face the bitter fight

Once I reached for love

And now I reach for life

Another chance to lift my life

Free the sensation in my heart

To ride the wings of dreams

into changing horizons

It brings inner peace within my

mind,

As I'm lifted from where I've

spilt my life

I hear an innocent voice

I hear kindness, beauty and

truth

The way your heart sounds

makes all the difference

It's what decides if you'll endure

the pain that we all feel

The way your heart beats

makes all the difference

In learning to live

Spread before you is your soul

So forever hold the dreams

within our hearts

Through nature's inflexible

grace

I'm learning to live

I do consider myself a deep thinker. In fact, if I were to be entirely honest, I might say that I think too much and too deeply. I over-complicate everything that I encounter by over-thinking it. I search in everything I encounter for a meaning or a purpose, and try to find out how it affects my life.

I can claim this with a great deal of intellectual honesty. I do not lie without reason, and I have no reason to lie to you. You do not know me, and your opinion of me cannot affect me in any way. Therefore, because I have no reason to lie to you, it better suits me to tell the truth.

Whereas I reflect and analyze things a lot, I don't think I'm too deep of a thinker. However, I would love to expose myself to more profound ideas! :) Where do I start...?

Thinking is OK. Being able to help people resolve their problems and become self-sufficient and happy is a lot better.

Ever since I found out how to use Nichiren's teachings to my advantage, I have been able to help myself medically, financially, romantically and psychologically. Then I've been able to do the same for others with the same teachings..

I used to be a deep thinker until I found out that it was the biggest obstacle to my own awakening. Now I shoot for no-mind at all.