First of all: I'm so happy to see you here again, Cassie! huge hugs!!!! Then I love your visualisation of the three legged donkeys trot! There's such fun and great logic in it! And your essay is great to read too. It needs lots of thinking, there are such huge connections and referrings to so huge things and thoughts. But what I can say is that the essay shows your knowledge and research skills, and there are lots of remaskable notices. And one more thing: Cogito ergo sum; what Descartes meant with that is not "I think, Itherefore I am" but rather "I doubt therefore I am" - and that's quite a different thing... So critical thinking makes us know our existence, not knowing what we are. Descartes wasn't that interested of the question "what" but a question "how can I know"; and that was the basic for modern western philosophy. It's the question of knowledge and knowing, how one can be sure of what they know, not that one of self, or "what/who I am?". Oh, cassie, there are so lots of things to discuss, so many thoughts to share but I won't bore you and possible other readers more. I just stay here chewing what you've said, learning, thinking.... Thanks for the challenge!

Cassie, thank you or sharing your thoughts. It is not easy to put words to a wordless state. I don't think this is weird, it is spiritual as far as genre goes. I understand what you are saying, and it is well thought out with important points shared. Bottom line for me is to just still the mind, surrender self, and wait. Self appears. Oneness. Hugs, Suzanne

Oh Cassie, you've been lost and greatly missed, then you drop this bombshell. I don't claim to understand it all, yet it's endearing to see your parody of logical scribblings trying to square the limping donkey's trot. Personally I admire three legs, as you can always be sure of a stable structure, just as I admire the sound of one hand clapping, which I plan to use on my next musical collaboration with jim :-) Me, I'm still waiting for Godot, but if he ever turns up, I think I'd be rather disappointed ;-)

Thank you so much Titta for your well educated insight into Descartes' actual intent. I feel what you've explained serves to prove a point I was trying to make, much of Western philosophy requires further discussion to truly understand its meaning. Much of Eastern philosophy requires no education or discussion, but is a personal journey of discovery through meditation. biggest hugs back Great to be back and I hope to catch up more soon :) Nigel - ROFLMAO & throws you a chicken bone Keep waiting my friend, I've heard he'll arrive soon, in the meantime we can watch some lucky dude dance to your tune of one hand clapping ;) Thank you all for your thoughtful comments :)

Cassie, had to support my mother and wasnt able to reply more detailed, but I must do now. As a former Information Scientist I am constrained and chained up to somekind of pure being, but a non scientific one, not one wich is only explained with rules. The reasons for are deep inside me. Philosophy and religion as far as I was able to explore until today opened access to other coherences regarding to the comparisons you show up in your Essay. I am grateful for this knowledge but it wasnt an answer at all or in other words, all our creations can only be part of a possible beginning for us. Thanks very much for sharing this most inspirational Essay Cassie!!