Metaphysical Cruising

[atoll]

is their a spiritual aspect to moving around on a boat or is it just hedonistic materialism?

are we on this earth purely to use it and abuse it?

i survived the sunami in thailand purely by good fortune and kharma.

interested to hear other's meta physical expriances whilst cruising,close to life,yet close to death...........

[SurferShane]

Really depends on the individual. I know for me being on the ocean has a direct relationship to my spirituality and the divine. This is why I am so glad I moved onto the boat where I can avoid the hedonism that had me penned into an unhealthy neighborhood. In that sense being on land was nearing killing me or maybe even someone else who wanted block my path or sit on my “spot” with their piles of materialistic B/S?. In contrast, I am now am starting to sit back, relax and find myself in an environment that is not destructive.

Opps – for a Lawyer I have to admit I am one of the few of my class who excelled and enjoyed ethics and jurisprudence. For me the boat is somewhere I can sit about and philosophize/theorize in peace with the sea and nature.

[Mark Johnson]

Some of us are. We tread lightly and live conciously...

M.

[Pelagic]

Some would say we are cowards… running away from our responsibilities on land and society… unable to contribute to the betterment of mankind and instead drifting away from any commitment.

Basically a selfish lot!....

[Dame.n.Jess]

Originally Posted by Pelagic

Some would say we are cowards… running away from our responsibilities on land and society… unable to contribute to the betterment of mankind and instead drifting away from any commitment.

Basically a selfish lot!....

But what if you don't agree with the direction society it telling everyone to go?
I don't think its running, so much as confidently marching towards something that is more in line with who you are. Some people love living in tall buildings making money of other people, others like dropping an anchor in a sheltered bay so they can think for a while.

Each to their own

I think those whom choose the cruisers life are a brave and adventurous lot, its a privilege to be able to meet true travellers in this lifetime.

Thank you all for making the choices you have so we can (collectively) have great conversations in beautiful parts of the world together.

Damien

[four winds]

A few years ago I cashed out of a once rewarding career. I got great satisfaction from helping the students, but the peripheral baggage stressed me to the point it affected my health. The only peaceful waking moment in a day occurred just as I woke. For a few seconds I felt fine, then as full consciousness settled in the weight of my life fell again onto my shoulders. I spent every moment trying to figure out how I could make things better. I thought I had no other choice. I was locked into whole mess, so I thought.

I haven't seen a doctor since my exit physical from the Air Force 25 years ago. I don't take any meds, hope to never do so. But if I had not changed my life the only way I could have coped would have been with medical help. That would have only postponed the inevitable.

I finally summoned the courage to cash out (instant physical/mental relief), pay off my debt, and move onto my little spot of wilderness that was part of my grandparents farmland. My uncle owns the rest. I built a cabin and settled in to "be able to have a complete thought" without the distraction of most folks misguided ambition.

I'm convinced it saved my life.

After a year of solitude, and catching up with an old, old friend things started making sense. Thanks to my friend's input I was able to get back to where I had once known I should be...... on a boat.

Dusted off the old Hobie18 and went sailing, and things started making even more sense. I checked the funds balance and started researching monohulls. I continued sailing the Hobie and planned the next chapter in my life.

Now, two years later I sit on my Pearson typing this. I have no job and less than a grand in the bank, and I don't care. I'm in better health than the last 10 years and I have a tan.

A couple of days ago several dolphins were fishing around the boat. Yesterday a large osprey flew over with a huge fish in it's talons, just as a bald eagle swooped in and took it from the osprey. A couple of days from now I'll probably go for an offshore sail on my birthday.

Life is good, and for me it's certainly not about hedonism or materialism. My sympathies to those for whom it is.

[daddle]

Originally Posted by Pelagic

Some would say we are cowards… running away from our responsibilities on land and society… unable to contribute to the betterment of mankind and instead drifting away from any commitment.

Basically a selfish lot!....

I prefer to say that I getting myself out of the way of the younger generation. Giving them a shot at the betterment of mankind. My generation failed.

[SurferShane]

Originally Posted by Pelagic

Some would say we are cowards… running away from our responsibilities on land and society… unable to contribute to the betterment of mankind and instead drifting away from any commitment.

Basically a selfish lot!....

And maybe equally unable to react like sheep or Pavlov's dogs? Then there is nothing like the brutality of being in the elements to make one REAL?

[Hudson Force]

Originally Posted by atoll

is their a spiritual aspect to moving around on a boat or is it just hedonistic materialism?...................

Is there a rule that says that hedonistic materialism has no spiritual value?

[atoll]

hedonistic materialism has no rules,but is limited to a large extent by wealth,or lack of.

this was the counter argument,but am more interested in cruisers expiriences when totally outside the material world, over the last 30 years iv'e traveled once around the world in a tent and by foot,
twice and a bit by boat,
and another time by conventional transport.
starting to see parrellels in the natural world,and communities.
wondering if others see this..........

[Hudson Force]

There's a great connotation that is packaged with hedonism and material weath may not be related to monetary weath , but one's weath of material Earth! Nobody on or off a camel needs to fear their joy of life and the material wealth that the Earth provides.

[four winds]

Originally Posted by atoll

starting to see parrellels in the natural world,and communities.

.........

I'm curious about this, if you would elaborate to help me understand I'd appreciate it.

Hopefully my edit of the post didn't destroy context.

[atoll]

Originally Posted by four winds

I'm curious about this, if you would elaborate to help me understand I'd appreciate it.

Hopefully my edit of the post didn't destroy context.

found myself bare foot in the middle of the sudan,africa in 1982,with a group of dinka tribesmen,realised that although i had superiour education ,equipment,and just as fit as these blokes their skills at surviving in their environment were far superiour to mine.

though i was only able to communicte with sign language found that there were many parellels between their world and ours.

since then iv'e traveled to many remote places and lived with very primative people.

iv'e also spent much time in deserts,oceans ,and up mountains in remote parts of the world.

funnily enough ive never wanted much,never had a sponser,nor published but every thing ive ever wanted to achieve has come to me,and never had more than $3000 dollars in the bank......work that one out....im still trying........

[Pelagic]

Originally Posted by atoll

starting to see parrellels in the natural world,and communities.
wondering if others see this..........

Fish school, so do people. Tide working against wind creates similar destructive forces to opposing political parties

The point I am making is that it is all relative to your perspective (perhaps changing thru the years) and is a talking point… nothing more, nothing less

If you go searching for universal metaphysical Truths, you will probably find them. But that does not make them valid.

Personally, I get very nervous when someone tries to enlighten me and prefer to deconstruct that thought process down to given perspectives.

“Under the skeptical analyses of the philosophical movements known as postmodernism and deconstructionism, all of these facts have resulted in a modern repudiation of both metaphysics and science. Their criticisms are based on the cultural and historical relativity of all knowledge. These two philosophical "schools" deny any existence at all of an objective or universal knowledge. Thus, metaphysical claims stand today between the absolutist claims of science (scientism) and the complete relativism of postmodernism and deconstructionism.”

[atoll]

Originally Posted by Pelagic

Fish school, so do people. Tide working against wind creates similar destructive forces to opposing political parties

The point I am making is that it is all relative to your perspective (perhaps changing thru the years) and is a talking point… nothing more, nothing less

If you go searching for universal metaphysical Truths, you will probably find them. But that does not make them valid.

Personally, I get very nervous when someone tries to enlighten me and prefer to deconstruct that thought process down to given perspectives.

“Under the skeptical analyses of the philosophical movements known as postmodernism and deconstructionism, all of these facts have resulted in a modern repudiation of both metaphysics and science. Their criticisms are based on the cultural and historical relativity of all knowledge. These two philosophical "schools" deny any existence at all of an objective or universal knowledge. Thus, metaphysical claims stand today between the absolutist claims of science (scientism) and the complete relativism of postmodernism and deconstructionism.”

but as bertram russel said "if science is true how do we know it is true?"

oh and would not try to enlighten you or anyone,one can only enlighten oneself....

but that is by the by the by im talking about chance,and near misses,good luck,call it what you will..... it exists