Sports

[Tenet Nosce]

Here is something I have long wondered about: Why is it that I observe so many people who are otherwise spiritually aware (for lack of a better term) throw all caution to the wind when it comes to "The Game"?

It seems pretty obvious, at least to my perception, that competitive sports are one of the foundation stones of everything that is antithetical to growth of awareness and consciousness.

First and foremost, sports promote an "us vs. them" dualistic mindset where everybody is divided into two sides, and fight over who gets to be the "winner". It is also associated with all manner of "mass consciousness" type phenomena, from overly priced sports paraphernalia, to consumption of vast quantities of processed foods and cheap beer, to the "hood rich" and "gangsta" mentality, to "fame and fortune" for its own sake. Narcissism, egotism, and heroism. Even pedophilia and hypersexualism.

Why is it that so many people make excuses for their obsession with sports? I've even heard people say that they would otherwise cancel their cable service due to all the media lies and propaganda, except for that they wouldn't be able to watch sports.

Really? Can anybody shed some light on this? What is so great about sports that it is worth everything else that comes along with them?

And if anybody cares to take a stab- What role does any of this play in a "higher density" existence? Do people really think that evolved beings chase pigskins and dogpile upon one another on a regular basis? Or...?

I guess what I'm really asking here is: What takes the place of competitive sports in higher densities?

[βαθμιαίος]

I was raised to think of sports as a "good thing" where one learned teamwork, self-discipline, etc. It was a mild surprise to me to read Ra's statement that they were "ways of investigating the feelings of power; more especially, power over others or a group power over another group of other-selves."

However, once I thought about it I realized that I agreed with Ra. I still enjoy playing sports, but I don't really watch them any more.

We haven't encouraged our children to participate in sports; that's been one of the parenting choices we've made that's been hardest for our families to understand.

[AnthroHeart]

I don't pay attention to sports either. Even when the olympics was going on, I didn't go out of my way to watch it.

[TheFifty9Sound]

I love sports. I'm invested in the spectacle, competition and outcome, but only within the boundaries of that particular game/league etc. For example, inside the game, I want Chelsea to win everything. Outside of the game I'm just as thankful when Chelsea win, as I am when they lose. Both outcomes offer opportunity to exercise emotional flexibility of response.

[Sagittarius]

Here is something I have long wondered about: Why is it that I observe so many people who are otherwise spiritually aware (for lack of a better term) throw all caution to the wind when it comes to "The Game"?

It seems pretty obvious, at least to my perception, that competitive sports are one of the foundation stones of everything that is antithetical to growth of awareness and consciousness.

First and foremost, sports promote an "us vs. them" dualistic mindset where everybody is divided into two sides, and fight over who gets to be the "winner". It is also associated with all manner of "mass consciousness" type phenomena, from overly priced sports paraphernalia, to consumption of vast quantities of processed foods and cheap beer, to the "hood rich" and "gangsta" mentality, to "fame and fortune" for its own sake. Narcissism, egotism, and heroism. Even pedophilia and hypersexualism.

Why is it that so many people make excuses for their obsession with sports? I've even heard people say that they would otherwise cancel their cable service due to all the media lies and propaganda, except for that they wouldn't be able to watch sports.

Really? Can anybody shed some light on this? What is so great about sports that it is worth everything else that comes along with them?

And if anybody cares to take a stab- What role does any of this play in a "higher density" existence? Do people really think that evolved beings chase pigskins and dogpile upon one another on a regular basis? Or...?

I guess what I'm really asking here is: What takes the place of competitive sports in higher densities?

I played sports all my life especially rugby, I can tell you from experience it is a great lesson of love especially the team sports.

We didn't hate the other team and in-fact most of the players in others team we were mates with and used to chill with at parties (with the occasional brawl hehe) I learnt a lot about brotherhood and friendship from playing team sports.

All in all it's just another microcosm of a macrocosm with a mix of different feels and experiences meant for the entities that ask for that experience. For me it was mainly self-confidence and brotherhood. Running at 110 kg Samoans for 80 minutes tends to rid one of the fear of physical pain.

---

I was raised to think of sports as a "good thing" where one learned teamwork, self-discipline, etc. It was a mild surprise to me to read Ra's statement that they were "ways of investigating the feelings of power; more especially, power over others or a group power over another group of other-selves."

However, once I thought about it I realized that I agreed with Ra. I still enjoy playing sports, but I don't really watch them any more.

We haven't encouraged our children to participate in sports; that's been one of the parenting choices we've made that's been hardest for our families to understand.

Is team work and self discipline not learned through investigating feelings of power over others or group power over others? Working as a team to achieve something has to have the thing to be overcome to work. Whether that's another group of people or a simple deadline it's the same concept.

Again of course it has negative and positive as does everything else, it is a tool or an event to help balance and discover where ones intent is positioned.

[Eddie]

TN we live in the density of Duality....one side vs another. It's inherent in the fabric of our lives.

I must admit I love a good basketball game. I love Unity and Oneness but sometimes I just have to open a beer and watch the Cats beat the opposing team...which they usually do....

[Patrick]

I do not watch sports either.

[BrownEye]

I can't stand sports.

I recently got myself a metal detector for experimentation. Gathering info online I find that they call walking around slowly waving that thing a "Sport".

[Oldern]

I have been quite indifferent towards sports in my whole life, but the e-sports scene fascinates me to some extent.
I keep jumping from one competitive game to another (UMVC3, SSFIV, SCII:WOL, now soon Persona Arena and TTT2, etc..), but I do not get too invested in them - I simply enjoy playing against my friends, and I would not ever consider them my enemies even for a second, even if our characters are "fighting" against each other.

Regardless, what I observed in sports (watching pro StarCraft II games, watching Go and Chess games, etc) is that there are deep lessons that are being learned within the games. I firmly believe that somewhere out there, higher density beings veil themselves in a temporary manner just so they can play Go against each other - and I am not joking! But back to us: the players actually invest a lot of training, emotions, expectations and those are all attached to the games - and when they win or lose, that sometimes shows. I am not going to enjoy or cheer at one player crying after an important game, but the fact is that they are undergoing through HEAVY lessons - lessons that would have otherwise involved heavy violence and a few lifetime of killings in past incarnational ages.

Does not really matter to me, personally. I think that no matter where we go, we will find souls that are doing things differently than we do - sport can be one of that. It is anything from red chakra-based struggle for survival (fighting, boxing, reflex-based games) to blue chakra-based struggle for a deeper understanding of a tangible material compared to the opponent. Reading different state of games, calculating between them in an important Go or Chess match is nothing less important and heavy than a 4d being calculating our own lives, depending on which way we turn once we go out of that restaurant next week. Same principles, same mechanics, only perceived difference. And it can be safely ignored by those that do not want to participate in.

Sports are struggle emulators, basically, and with lessened impact on the physical vehicle, in most cases. In some cases, not, but that is a struggle that the individuals need to learn (boxing,etc), imho. I have no problem with it existing, but at the same time, I am glad to have had the opportunity to not be considered an outcast just because I have not watched a single olympic event since I was able to decide what to watch on my own

[Ashim]

Sport has been a big part of my life I'm a pro sportsman but do not follow stuff on tv so much now.
There were times when we would all stay up late to watch the Masters (86 for example when Nicklaus won) , for that I'm grateful for tv as a medium.
Some of the olympic stuff is great, the family enjoyed watching it. Nice to see the UK come over so well.

[Spaced]

I used to love sports when I was a small child and we just played and didn't care about scores or anything, but when I got into High School I tried out for the soccer team and I remember being so repulsed by the idea of 'try-outs,' that not everyone got to be on the team, that I actually started crying and had to go home lol

[hogey11]

Sports can be both STO and STS. There are personal relationships that are formed being part of a team together. You can learn great lessons on responsibility and letting others down. The environment in which the sports are played is the great factor in it all.

I want my daughter to play sports because I don't expect life to always go her way. I want her to deal with a little adversity, and like Ra says, I want to give her safe catalyst to work with in order to learn the lessons of 'power'. I will do my best to teach her to use her personal power to encourage and empower those around her, rather than herself. If so, I think sport will be a great foundation and learning experience for her life.

That's assuming all goes right tho....

[Patrick]

Sports can be both STO and STS. There are personal relationships that are formed being part of a team together. You can learn great lessons on responsibility and letting others down...

You know, you could substitute "Life" in place of "Sports" in there and that would describe veiled 3d.

[hogey11]

I think it's definitely a strategy... build these little systems that can be built to expand into the next level higher.

As she learns through sports growing up, hopefully she will be able to take those lessons and apply them to the next 'level' - adult life. I think the key will be not aspiring for her to play sports as a vocation, but rather for interest and social aspects.

One aspect I have been thinking about tho in terms of influencing is that certain interests definitely lead to the elite having a leg up. Take entertainment media for example; an average person cannot produce a TV show on whatever it is they want to talk about. I think sports is one of these types of interest in that there is a very STS attitude that can pervade it as a whole. The focus is often on winning and losing and personal accolades. However, that doesn't mean that you have to do the same or not participate to avoid it. Just like 'Life', we have a choice at all times to act one way or another. By doing so in exemplary fashion, we help those around us to do the same and follow similar goals. While some might flee the scene, others can be the refreshing mist of a gracious, respectful and humble sportsperson. One can always strive to provide more balance.

Now expand back to me... oh no, what did I just agree to?!?

[Tenet Nosce]

Some very interesting comments so far! My initial reactions:

1. I may have overlooked the value of team building, and the virtues which can come from the practice of true "sportsmanship".

2. As with many things, there seems to be a more pronounced "STS" influence on sports in the US as compared to other countries around the world. Just basing that on some of the comments from people I know are not in the US.

Looking back to my childhood, I know that I had some aversion to sports that was a subset of an aversion to physicality. I was scared of getting hurt. But I sort of grew out of that by middle school years, and often enjoyed playing sports with my friends non-competitively.

But it was also around that time- middle to late eighties- I remember that a lot changed in and around American sports. For example, growing up I had collected baseball cards, but in a very short time all of these "Ultra Premium" brands came out and card collecting was no longer affordable as a kid.

Also- there was a lot more licensed apparel that people were wearing to school. I especially remember "Air Jordans" because we had some friends down the street who somehow cajoled their parents into buying them a new pair every time the style changed. The whole superstardom of Michael Jordan seems to be a good temporal marker for when attitudes started shifting.

[Meerie]

I don't get it either... two of my male friends are angry and frustrated when their favorite team loses or it even makes them cry.
(so obviously men do cry, on some occasions )
I asked one of them "why is it impossible for you to simply enjoy the game, no matter who wins?"
Because even if they lose this time, they will win some other time again, so what's the point of crying over that?
he just looked at me, and said "because I want my team to win".

Agree with Eddie, it must be inherent in the dualistic world we live in. I don't think it makes sense in higher dimensions, to think of "us vs. them"
- it is rather "us with them".

[norral]

sports in america has become the national religion. it is actually beneficial imho. its something people can talk about and disagree with in a friendly manner unlike religion ha ha. i mean no one talking sports cares whether u got an abortion or not or is going to tell u it was right or wrong ha ha unlike religion. its a good way to release our agressions without being agressive ha ha.
personally i grew up playing sports all the time. as kids we just moved with the seasons and played whatever sport was in season. i learned teamwork, how to lose , how to win a bunch of lessons .i do remember one thing from when our oldest son was a about 12 or thirteen. i bowled with him in a family league. there was one father who bowled with his son about the same age as mine. this guy would tell his son how to throw every ball . every one. he put so much pressure on the kid . i would say a few things to my son but basically it was about us bowling together. we bowled him and his son for the championship of the league. i didnt bowl that well but my son bowled great and we won. i always felt for that other kid because his dad was just so overbearing. so there are lots of lessons to learn in sports imho . its just another part of life which can be very beneficial

norral

[hogey11]

Sports is a fractal of our greater life. It contains the same relationships and dynamics in many ways, and gives us places to experiment without 'ruining' the larger picture. I know my on-court personality was very different from my off-court one, in both good and bad ways. I think realizing that the lessons and teachings can apply across boundaries can be very beneficial. Even this thought alone is making me very pensive towards my past experiences (as exercise has been not happening lately - gotta change that!)

[Tenet Nosce]

sports in america has become the national religion. it is actually beneficial imho. its something people can talk about and disagree with in a friendly manner unlike religion ha ha. i mean no one talking sports cares whether u got an abortion or not or is going to tell u it was right or wrong ha ha unlike religion. its a good way to release our agressions without being agressive ha ha.

Yeah- I see what you mean. Kind of like a release value for all this pent up negativity.

---

But I wonder- why all the negativity in the first place? If we changed our cultural myth to one that wasn't constantly reinforcing the "us vs. them" mentality, would it still be necessary?

I see what some folks are saying about it being part of duality. But I don't know that I buy it is a necessary part. I think that attitude plays a little too much into the whole manipulation. Oh- that's just the way things are here in 3D. Umm... maybe THIS here 3D. But I don't think 3D in general. Just because there is a dualistic realm doesn't mean the "us vs. them" knob needs to be turned up so high.

And besides, whether or not this realm has certain inherently dualistic aspects, does not change that the point of it is to outgrow dualistic thinking. Saying "that's just the way it is" as an excuse to be lazy about one's spiritual growth doesn't quite cut it in my book.

[Patrick]

I use video games for this purpose. Just like our true self uses our current illusion for this purpose. Ra did call our "reality" a game after all.

[hogey11]

I think the same concepts apply with video games, Patrick. I've learnt many lessons through video games that saved me the real life headache had I not been made aware of certain pitfalls. One thing I have definitely noticed as i've gotten older is how much video games have really built my understanding of so many systems I now have to deal with professionally and otherwise. Thinking back to SimCity and balancing my first budget as a 10 year old was far more academic and educational than most of the video-game hating 'older' set might realize. I still remember signing up for my first loan in SimCity (before I knew the 'God' codes) and sitting there just angry about 45 minutes later as my debt spiraled out of control.... Now tell me that doesn't apply to real world!

All of these 'games within the game' are a way for us to min/max our way to completion. Some people spend their time maxing out certain skills and stats, other's look for versatility and adaptibility, and still others just look to create chaos and break things (even the game itself if they can). I actually heard a quote from a comedian the other day on a podcast where he more or less said "taking an interest in religion and philosophy are really just proof that you're taking the game (of life) seriously." An analogy that fits quite aptly in my opinion is the Grand Theft Auto series. For many people, they enter that game and there is no direction; they kill, steal, murder, and have fun doing it. Others search out the first mission and start to make their way through the game, staying out of trouble's way as it will set them back on their path being distracted or punished. Life is the same way; some people are here for a good time and have no interest in their standing within the game. Learning to strategize and complete the goals you desire is part of getting better. The same goes for Life.

(sorry if i'm just ranting to myself here, I like sports and games haha)

[Etude in B Minor]

I love sports. It is just another stage on which 3D teaching/learning on. Watching top levels sports is experiencing the glory of the creator, just as much as listening to talented musicians.

Of course, like everything else in 3D duality, the pure aspect of sport can be polluted with darkness and saddled with crassness bringing the level down to mundanity. The same is true of music. But I would argue that sport (and music or any other activity) that is tainted by darkness still provides a way for people at that level to experience the light, and to instill in them the desire to move towards the light. Even a beer-swilling ass-pinching slob may have an epiphany while watching some exquisite moment a sport, and decide that he really does "want to be like Mike", and make a small step, albeit unconscious, toward raising his polarization (either positive or negative).

I guess what I am saying is that sport is excellent catalyst. One can be a watcher rather than a player and still benefit from the catalyst.

[Plenum]

those are good points hogey and etude.

past a certain point, the 'nature of the catalyst' becomes separate from the 'originating catalyst'; ie the lesson learnt by the individual is distinct from what is observed on the field of play.

for example, in my years of following baseball and cricket, I have observed:

* people 'cracking' under pressure, ie, they had the skills, but could not execute because of internal anxieties (a mirror for the self)

* teams winning because of 'heart' over a better salaried team (a soul effort)

* teams coming back from seeming insurmountable deficits (the world is not predictable, and there is a continual creative flow)

- -

observing the emotions that I invested into certain outcomes, certain players to do well, I have been able to correct some of my distortions.

[Tenet Nosce]

Wow! We really know how to pick some real "winners" to be our heroes and role models here in the USA! (HINT: Maybe "winning" at sports shouldn't be considered so high on the priority list.)

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