Xonas Pitfall

Value = Meaning = Worth = Significance = Importance = Merit = Purpose = Relevance = Benefit = Desire = Utility = Priority

These are just silly examples, but they highlight the absolute relativity of what value is and isn’t. The only reason we might think value is objective is if we look at it from a human point of view, for example: Decreasing suffering is usually better than increasing it. Safe, collaborative environments are generally better than hostile, dangerous ones. But I’m sure you can think of examples where the opposite is true: A spoiled luxury child might need a metaphorical "punch in the stomach" to get going. An ungrateful, lucky narcissist might need some suffering to self-reflect and grow. Human perspectives, but especially from a god’s or the universe’s point of view, value is absolutely relative and undefined. Value is relational and mental. Value only exists through relationships and perspectives. Potential and undefined until an observer actualizes it through their bias, preference, or meaning. God or the universe contains potential "undefined experiences". All are possible until they become actualized through fragmented perspectives, preferences, and meaning-making.

+------------------+--------------------------------------------------+-----------------------+---------------------+------------------------+ | Observer | Perspective | Object 1 | Object 2 | Object 3 | +------------------+--------------------------------------------------+-----------------------+---------------------+------------------------+ | Artistic Human | Emotional, symbolic, beauty-aware | Abstract painting → | Custom rifle → | Tax forms → | | | | Deep meaning | Design, craft | Dull, lifeless | +------------------+--------------------------------------------------+-----------------------+---------------------+------------------------+ | Ant | Survival, instinct, function-first | Sugar crystal → | Twig → | Human → | | | | Colony treasure | Bridge/path | Obstacle, unknown | +------------------+--------------------------------------------------+-----------------------+---------------------+------------------------+ | Abyssal Octopus | Sensory, spatial, harmony-based | Current → | Anchor → | Reef → | | | | Orientation guide | Disruption | Home, camouflage | +------------------+--------------------------------------------------+-----------------------+---------------------+------------------------+ +------------+----------------+---------------------------------------------------------+------------------------------------------------------------+ | Perspective| Object | Interpretation | Underlying Value | +------------+----------------+---------------------------------------------------------+------------------------------------------------------------+ | God | Act of evil | Expression of distortion - hunger, power, rebellion, | To know what it's like to not be all-loving, to feel | | | | inability to love, inability to see self in other | separation, disconnection, fragmentation | +------------+----------------+---------------------------------------------------------+------------------------------------------------------------+ | | Human brain | Self-reflection machine for the human - | Experiencing limitation, duality, identity, and choice | | | | biological interface of consciousness | through a finite lens | +------------+----------------+---------------------------------------------------------+------------------------------------------------------------+ | | Distant nebula | Silent explosion of gas, dust, and starlight - | Beauty without witness, raw cosmic creation, | | | | cradle of stars, chaotic balance of forces | art that exists regardless of observation | +------------+----------------+---------------------------------------------------------+------------------------------------------------------------+ +------------------+----------------+----------------------------------------------------------+ | Object | Perspective | Interpretation / Assigned Value | +------------------+----------------+----------------------------------------------------------+ | Act of Evil | God | Fragmented self - to feel separation, powerlessness, | | | | inability to love - a lens on disconnection | | | Artistic Human | A tragic character arc - a study in suffering, trauma | | | Ant | Irrelevant unless it disrupts the colony | | | Octopus | Sudden violent movement - a predator, danger to avoid | +------------------+----------------+----------------------------------------------------------+ | Human Brain | God | Self-reflection machine - interface of finite mind | | | Artistic Human | Source of creativity, emotion, identity | | | Ant | Possibly a large, moving obstacle - no concept of brain | | | Octopus | Emits electricity and sound - complex lifeform to watch | +------------------+----------------+----------------------------------------------------------+ | Distant Nebula | God | Cosmic art - creation without audience | | | Artistic Human | Unreachable beauty - inspires awe and humility | | | Ant | Beyond comprehension - sky is just light/dark | | | Octopus | Unknown pressure pattern above - meaningless visually | +------------------+----------------+----------------------------------------------------------+

What do you think you were hoping to understand when you asked that question? I completely agree that exploring and questioning are incredibly valuable and meaningful in their own right. But I’ve found it helpful to also be honest with myself about what kind of expectation I’m bringing into those questions – what kind of clarity or relief I might be unconsciously hoping for. It’s similar to when people begin exploring spirituality and ask, “What is God?” If they don’t acknowledge the expectations tied to that question, like hoping for something overwhelmingly majestic or a perfect solution to all their problems, then even a genuine insight can feel disappointing or uncomfortable, simply because it doesn’t match the imagined ideal. As a result, you might completely overlook or reject the actual truth simply because it doesn't feel right. When we don't examine those assumptions beforehand, we risk filtering out insights that don't align with what we hoped to find rather than seeing things as they truly are. It makes the process less honest, open, and objective. It doesn’t take a lot of contemplation to understand that value isn’t something built into an object by default. It’s something that arises from the relationship we have with that object, idea, or experience. For example: A stone has no inherent worth. But if it’s your grandfather’s lucky stone, it becomes valuable because of your relationship to it. I have an old videotape of my mother, who has passed away. To anyone else, it might just look like a cheerful woman singing and smiling. But for me, watching it always brings me to tears. The same thing happens in countless other contexts. Someone raised on rigid conservative media might see LGBTQ people as threatening or wrong, even demonic, while a young person struggling with their identity could see those same people as symbols of hope and freedom. A highly logical and technical person might look at abstract art and see only randomness, while someone more creatively inclined could be moved by just a few notes of a melody or the colors in a painting. Different things hit each of us in different ways and hold different kinds of meaning, and honestly, I find that beautiful. It doesn’t take away from the idea of value at all – if anything, it makes it more real, more personal, and more deep.

You look too fucking cool!

Sales, CEO/Entrepreneurship, Content Creator (Social Media Influencer)

The title says it all! Inspired by some of the recent blog posts shared, I thought it would be valuable to open up a space for reflection and discussion on the darker sides of human behavior - selfishness, corruption, underdevelopment, and the systems that perpetuate them. Of course, we'll aim to keep everything within the forum's guidelines - and moderators, feel free to step in or close the thread if it veers off course. On a balanced note, I’ll also be creating a companion thread focused on humanity’s goodness, love, selflessness, and progress - both aspects are real and worth exploring.

Amazing shares! Thank you guys!

@UnbornTao Here! +------------------------+------------------------------------------------------------+ | Non-Dual | Dual | +------------------------+------------------------------------------------------------+ | All parts are equally | Importance is relative to the perspective of the | | important, as they | fragmented self. | | complete the wholeness | | | or infinity of God. | | +------------------------+------------------------------------------------------------+ | No hierarchy of value -| Some things are seen as more important than others, | | all expressions are | depending on personal or collective ego. | | part of the same whole.| | +------------------------+------------------------------------------------------------+ | Sees through the | Operates within separation, prioritization, and comparison.| | illusion of separation.| | +------------------------+------------------------------------------------------------+ | Importance is intrinsic| Importance is conditional and situational. | | and universal. | | +------------------------+------------------------------------------------------------+ This is really the essence of it. The meaning of importance depends entirely on the point of view from which you're using the word. From a non-dual perspective, importance is universal and evenly distributed across all parts of existence. In this view, every aspect of reality holds equal weight because it contributes to the totality - the infinite wholeness - of God or the Absolute. God, being infinite, must include all things equally. If God were everything except an apple, He would be limited by the absence of that apple. If the totality included A, B, C, D, and E but dismissed Z, then Z becomes a limit on infinity. Therefore, from the non-dual perspective, all things are equally important because all things are necessary to the completeness of the whole. From a dual perspective, however, importance is entirely relative - it depends on who or what is observing and assigning value. Here are some examples: A baby might find a soft toy, their mother’s presence, or milk to be the most important things. An adult human may prioritize financial stability, health, relationships, or career advancement. A stage Orange individual (in Spiral Dynamics) might emphasize entrepreneurship, scientific achievement, rationality, or personal success. An ant might consider pheromone trails, colony signals, and food sources as paramount. A collective ego (like a political movement) might value ideology, national borders, or group identity above all else. So again, in the dualistic view, importance is relative - shaped entirely by the perspective of the observing "fragment/ego", whether it's a single human ego, an animal, a microbe, or a collective consciousness. If you want to generalize what importance usually points to, it's the drive for survival or expansion of the self. But again, that depends entirely on which version of the "self" we're observing, as said above. Hope that helps!

You don't. Don’t waste your time dealing with anyone you dislike or don’t respect, it’s simply not worth it. If you’re ever forced to interact with them, keep the conversation limited, neutral, and look for a way to exit. You could even use those interactions as an opportunity to practice your social skills, see how well you can influence, engage, or teach others. But if they’re arrogant and lazy, they’re not worth your effort. Good Luck!

@UnbornTao It must be! Importance, by definition, carries an inherent duality - for something to be important, it must hold greater value over something else. If one thing is deemed important, its opposite is meaningless, useless, or simply less prioritized. Meaning, this immediately leads us to the realm of the non-dual: the ego, survival instincts, and our limited, fragmented sense of self. What is considered important is always relative to that fragmented self, typically tied to survival, personal growth, enjoyment, pleasure, leisure, exploration, curiosity, connection, meaning, creativity, etc. Ultimately, on a higher level, no fragment is truly more important than another, as all pieces collectively complete the whole of God. Yet, in the relative, ego-driven sense, importance is determined by whatever aligns with the desires and values of the “ego” or “collective ego” at a given moment.

Hobbies, common interests, and shared values are the best! Why would you even want to talk to someone you have nothing in common with? Pre-built communities - even forums like this one - are such a good shortcut. You can find Discord servers, educational communities, local events, or even travel-related meetups. Honestly, that's probably the best approach. Alternatively, you can create your own community - whether through social media or promoting your own groups or events. Over time, you’ll start attracting the right crowd. It also depends on how social you want to be. Once you have a few people, you can add them to a group chat. That makes things easier on your end, since conversations can happen without you always being the one to initiate. If you're more of a one-on-one person, then it's even more of a numbers game. You just need to find that one person (or a few) you genuinely click with. The strategy is pretty much the same, but afterward, you’ll be more focused on initiating conversations, planning hangouts, and putting in effort to maintain the connection. Also, don’t be afraid to get creative. I’ve seen people use shared Google calendars to plan hangouts 😅, find friendships through dating apps, or even start a TikTok, Instagram, or YouTube channel just to connect with like-minded people and build lasting relationships. There are probably a billion ways to find your people. And honestly, no one’s judging you. You only care about a few people’s opinions - the right ones. Until you find them, everyone else is background noise. One nice thing I’ve noticed about adult friendships - at least in my experience - is that people are way more understanding about long gaps in communication. When we were younger, not talking for a while felt like the end of the world. Now, most people get that we’re just busy. And if you can find people who are growing in the same areas you want to improve in, that’s one of the best kinds of friendships to have! Good Luck!

I think a lot of the misunderstanding around God and consciousness comes from trying to fit them into a strictly material or logical framework. For me personally, seeing these strange or paranormal experiences taken seriously in places like CIA documents, scientific research, and other credible sources really helped connect the mystical with something more familiar. Leo's blog was a big inspiration for this, so I figured I'd start this thread! https://www.actualized.org/insights/the-boy-who-could-read-with-his-ears Feel free to share anything that looks at the paranormal in a thoughtful or scientific way. Whether it's research, reliable sources, or even personal stories, anything that helps bridge the abstract with the rational is welcome! P.S. My bad if a thread like this already exists. Feel free to close this one and point me to the original – I’ll gladly continue the discussion there!

@Keryo Koffa @All 🤍 What a beautiful tag! 😊 @One @God @Everyone

Ultimately, everything is equally important! Importance over something else is a duality of the fragmented self. What matters is what helps it survive or expand, LOve!

The title says it all! This thread is meant as a companion piece to the recent discussion on corruption, selfishness, and underdevelopment. Here, we’ll focus on the other side of the coin - highlighting humanity’s potential, progress, and the systems that are actively helping to uplift, stabilize, and evolve society!

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLBEIBBdgAOAqhMHX1xpwvotP1jnC9AgSS Soft White Underbelly's Poverty Playlist

https://www.actualized.org/insights/afghan-underdevelopment

@Puer Aeternus All sounds very interesting! Maybe it could even become a full thread if it aligns with the forum's guidelines?

@Puer Aeternus Thank you! Mind sharing more? Very interesting.

Time will pass anyway, now is the perfect time!

Hey! Just a small suggestion for the blog - sometimes the videos aren't playable in my country (and maybe others too). Since the video is embedded, I can't see the actual YouTube link to try accessing it directly. If possible, could you include the video link as plain text or a clickable hyperlink alongside the embed? That way, people who run into country blocks can still copy the URL and watch it with a VPN. Loving the blog a lot - thanks!

I appreciate that in Islam, there are no images of God – it helps avoid worshipping a figure or reducing God to a limited, anthropomorphized form. But at the same time, during some of my trips, I’ve encountered imagery that deeply resonated with the feeling or presence of “God.” Sometimes I’d see something and immediately think, that’s God! So I thought it would be interesting to start a thread and share those kinds of images, and also see how others’ experiences compare. Note: I'm not saying this is what God looks like or what God is. I'm just pointing out that some images seem to serve as powerful pointers or symbolic representations – they can evoke something deep or even help trigger or confirm an awakening!