Who are we?

[Eltu]

Thank you all for your replies. First off all, I really encourage you all to watch the video in the end of my original post - a "scientifically accurate" rendering of the human cell.

So, to answer your replies:

Originally Posted by Devourment

In short, we're highly intelligent mammals who like to think we have purpose other than reproduction.

So what makes us think this way, give us these feelings?

Originally Posted by ZenitYerkes

The whole shares similarities to its parts. Perhaps we're part of something greater: the biosphere. As the other spheres on Earth (atmosphere, hydrosphere,...) it acts balanced and as a whole.

Perhaps we as individuals or just part of our society, we don't notice this effect of connectedness. But...

We don't need tsahaylu or whatsoever to take part in our environment. We are already part of it; and we move and interact with our surroundings constantly. It's a chaotic movement, yet makes one of the most beautiful effects just like we see the weightless clouds forming or the imposing waves crushing against the rocks; with no order but in time to the most precious symphony ever made.

A symphony of a trillion colors, scents and feelings.

We're part of something greater. Something beautifully greater.

How I agree. It's interesting, since there is so much pointing towards this, and yet so many sees it as impossible without even considering it.

Originally Posted by Aquaplant

Not to diminish the value of Eltu's post, but sadly this is all we are or will ever be. Still, if one is not depressed like me, one can find loads of stuff to do for no apparent reason. Because after all, there's no point in anything, so anything makes as much sense as the next thing, which is none.

How do you know? You say there is no point in anything - but how can you know that? Look at the video in the bottom of my original post - and then say to me that there is no meaning in life. I am not saying that we have a predefined meaning - but I definitely think we can do great things in our lives.

Originally Posted by Human No More

Technically, individual cells from a larger organism don't count as a lifeform on their own.

If you're talking about a kind of Earth equivalent to Eywa, I'm not so sure. There's no observable/demonstrable connection between organisms.I guess such a relationship could exist on a more subtle level, but it's a lot more abstract than that (and not sentient), just based on living in the same world.
It would be a nice idea, but Devourment is right.

Technically, individual cells are very much alive.
As zenityerkes said - the connection is all around us. We may have lost much of the connection we used to have... but it is still, in a way, present. We interact with Earth all the time.

Originally Posted by Toshowlove

WOW. Quite the post there Eltu!

I think you can tell where i'm going to go with this, just because you know me... BUT I shall begin:

As super trippy as it is to think of us as individuals on a large scale, and how easy it is to ask profound quesitons we must come back to reality! (Sooner or later though, you've gotta wake up). I agree, i too feel like i am part of something bigger, i can relate to people, have complex relationships with many people... it unites us. BUT-

We are indeed organisms, mammals so to speak... but we are all unique. We make differences to people, we have a wide range of constantly changing emotions that intermingle with those of people around us. We are complex and individual, every SINGLE one of us. we may be small and insignificant in the larger picture, but we REALLY aren't when it comes to the way we live our lives.

That's just my opinion anyways lol

I really, really agree with you here. I think that we all are special, we are, as you say, not at all small and insignificant. I don't really need to develop my answer further because... well, you know that I agree with you


Lastly - watching that video - and realizing the insane complexity of our existence fills me with awe, but also with a great sadness. All of this, happens BILLIONS of times right now, inside me, inside all of us... and I sit here and drink Coke and type on my computer? It feels like... life is so wonderful, like all life is meant for something - and we are wasting that away... Every single lifeform is a masterpiece, something to deeply respect and appreciate.

There is so much... and it feels like we should appreciate and respect this so much more.