[Buddha-l] Moment of individuation

[Stanley J. Ziobro II]

On Wed, 13 Apr 2005, Richard P. Hayes wrote:

> On Wed, 2005-04-13 at 20:15 -0400, Stanley J. Ziobro II wrote:
>
> > Matter itself does not function; just look at a stone.  Whatever it is
> > that brings about life, movement, growth, psychic functioning, and
> > intelligence is an organizing principle that cannot be reduced to chemical
> > bonds, etc.  With regard to your second statement, I take that to be your
> > opinion.
>
> Surely when dealing with these questions, we are all dealing only with
> opinions, for the evidence is inconclusive. Why is it less an opinion to
> say that matter itself does not function than to say that some kinds of
> matter do function without anything but mechanical principles? Just look
> at a human (or an amoeba's) body for examples of things that are
> regarded by many as nothing but matter arranged in special ways through
> random mutations.

I don't know that we are dealing only with opinions.  People (sometimes
large crowds of them) have experienced visitations by those who had passed
from this realm of existence.  With regard to your second question, I
thought that Larry and JoAnna were speaking about genetic principles, not
mechanical ones.  But granted there are things that function solely on
mechanical principles, these are artificially constructed by beings (human
beings) who do not operate only on mechanical principles.  How is this
possible?

Regards,

Stan Ziobro