Timy vs. Gur

Dear Timi! "Rest is an intermediate stage between work." This phrase reveals a confusion of concepts. In this sentence, the word "rest" implies "absence of work," while in post #22, it refers to a state of mind (a state of tranquility). Confusing concepts is a violation of the laws of logic. Therefore, your statement from post #26 cannot be considered an argument. "Why do people strive not for what they love, but for where there is money? And many drive themselves to an early grave for the sake of 'base metal.' Why does everything come down to money?" Because, in order to get what we love, we need resources. If we didn't need anything (or if we decided to give up all comforts), we wouldn't need money. Regarding those who "drive themselves to an early grave for the sake of metal," again, this "base metal" is merely a MEANS. Money itself has no intrinsic value. I know only one person for whom money and accumulation were important – it's Gobsek. However, if we reflect on Balzac's character, we will understand that he treated money as something valuable to him. And an attitude towards something as valuable is love. Therefore, Gobsek LOVED MONEY. Before we analyze the second part of message #26, I will make a small digression. There is a concept called need. Need is the feeling of lacking something. Need is the foundation of human actions. Needs can be different, both physiological and social, and so on (it is not necessary to list all types of needs here). There is also another concept: need. A need is a need that has taken on a specific form depending on the individual's personality. Let me explain: a need is, for example, food; a need in this case is a specific product (for some, satisfying hunger will be a piece of lamb, for others – a dog). Needs are formed depending on our attitude towards something as valuable. That is, if someone feels a need for rest, then one person will develop a need, for example, to listen to music (and this person will take certain actions to listen to music: turn on the tape recorder, go to the store for a CD, buy a ticket to a concert of their favorite band), and the other will have a different need. But in any case, needs will be formed based on what is valuable to a person. If a person does not accept active sports as a form of relaxation, then, no matter how much money they have, they will never spend money on such leisure activities. Now let's analyze the second part of your message. You say: 1) "I believe in God because he exists." This is unarguable. I also exist, but you don't believe in me. 2) "Prayer helps to relax the nerves." Relaxing the nerves is a need. Prayer is a need (I relax my nerves by playing NHL). 3) "I meditate to get rid of feelings (which make us do rash things) and to gather my thoughts." In this case, getting rid of oppressive thoughts is a benefit for you. The absence of such thoughts is a value for you. Meditation is just a way to get rid of them. That is, the reason for meditation was your love for the state of "absence of feelings that make you do rash things." Sincerely, Gur