smartsingh24

around the time that the sun goes down.

I got a little bit bored, and there aren't that many wallpapers that are mac compatible (i.e., 1400x900), so I made a couple. Nothing too fancy, but I hope you enjoy the space one, that one took ages

Hardware means nothing if the games are pants.

Ive owned probably every console since 1985, and the XBOX 360 is probbaly my fav out of them all.

I love my ps3, but Sega Genesis is by far the best console ever released upon mankind.

just because u paint something white it doesn't make it gurmat/light side.

ps is BS :D ps is anti-gurmat...

360 all the way

It's so sad when someone crosses over to the dark side.

Sorry, but the vast majority of people I've been around had their marriages arranged, and further more, I haven't seen one divorced person around here. Perhaps NJ is just impervious to these kinds of things...

LOL @ stats! :D

Man, arranged marriages are only performed by pindus! These people also believe in "honour killing" and other strange rituals. Also, these people don't believe women have equal rights. If anything, men always have the last word in the house. Remember that women always stick to their men in "pindu" culture no matter what. So to compare arrange marriages to "love" marriages is useless. It is like comparing apples and oranges.

Although it could be put a bit better (lol) you make a strong point. Often those who really push for arranged marriages are also behind the honour killing crap when things go wrong. It might go down in the pind but here in the west we actually lose our honour when they plaster this all over the media. Look at the stupid buddhi who took her daughter in law back home and had her strangled in the UK for example. Yeah and your point about pressure to stay in abusive relationships is also valid.

But you know plenty of arranged marriages work so I wouldn't totally knock them.

Sorry, but I believe that to be a generalization, and based on facts, If I were to make a generalization, I'd say that Non-arranged marriages are useless because those people say, "If this doesn't work out, don't worry about it, we can get a divorce". If I were to make a generalization that is...

40% of marriages in America have ended in divorce, and I'd bet that most of those people didn't have their marriages arranged for 'em. Wish I could get statistics on divorce rates for arranged marriages, but I bet it wouldn't be quite as high...

http://www.sikhitothemax.com/page.asp?ShabadID=2884

Link to full shabad. If we are going to bring Gurbani into the discussion, please quote the whole passage, or at least link to it.

you are correct, it is a useless ritual and it is not necessary, and I believe, is not allowed in Sikhi.

u know i can't answer that. I already agreed that science and religion can be complementary. Fact is, at least in cases like pseudoscience where people use religion for their own ends (putting down science in the process), i support science. And i also support science because it is essential in the modern world, whether ur religious or not. Ur simply safer if you know how to think rationally, because u won't fall for people who twist the public for their own ends.

I'm sorry if i sound negative, but what i really am is inquisitive. I'm also a little exasperated at times when people just don't know what true skepticism is like. Skepticism is not cynicism, and if done right, is constructive, because rational questions never assume the answer to be negative (that's cynicism). I won't say i'm not a little rude at times tho, but just ignore that...

i do try to find support for my opinions, and TRY to change that opinion if i'm faced with logic that points otherwise...i don't see that as negative...

And as for pessimism...i think that's not a rational position to have. Things do turn out well sometimes...

Sorry, but I am forced to disagree with you there. Science was formulated to figure out how God had created the world around us. Science is a tool, but Sikhi is a way of life. Science can give you answers, but Sikhi gives you salvation. Sikhi is innumerable and I fail to see how anything could complement it.

firstly, i'll say that that little convo you quoted between t and g is probably from the matrix. So here's some deeper analysis. You know that in the matrix, the basic plot was that machines gained consciousness, defeated humans, and captured and put the ones that were left in huge simulators. The experience of the humans were entirely digital, and the machines somehow used humans as their energy source. Well, when Neo returns to "reality", how can he KNOW that that is real? Can that not be yet another simulation in which a third entity is controlling everything? Read up on the "simulation argumen"t; interesting stuff...

The very fact that you cannot put into words what love is means that it is "vague" (not "clear cut"). And it really is an umbrella term because it encompasses so many emotions and phenomena. I didn't just throw those words around.

And you say gurbani trumps science? do you think science is a religion? Because if that is what you think, i shouldn't even bother trying to talk to you. Why talk about logic to a person who doesn't know the first thing about science?

Science is a tool to discover the truth about EVERYTHING. The truth is not just about the planet and soil and excrement, it's also about the nature of consciousness, the cosmos, and life itself. Gurbani is a philosophical and religious document, but it is not scientific. It is not scientific because it doesn't have hypotheses or experiments that can be replicated. That doesn't detract from it one bit; its simply classification.

How can the two ever trump each other? Keep your beliefs in God strong, but don't diss on science. A tool of inquiry can never be worthless or pointless, just as philosophical thinking can seldom be worthless or pointless.

smartsingh's comment made me wish i had thought enough to say this: you CAN believe in the Gurbani and still be logical otherwise, because in many cases, Gurbani doesn't step into the realm of science. I DO however reject the idea that up in the clouds sits a creator God, because I've flown enough times to check.

Jokes aside, there is something i do disagree with in smartsingh's post. Taking the example of a child and a teacher, the child doesn't have to make a leap of faith because logic ensures that 1+1 will always equal 2. The teacher doesn't matter. Math is self-evident.

I DO agree that "leaps of faith" are involved, and for practicality's sake we do take those leaps in order to get thru life. For example, we trust an airlplane pilot to fly the plane expertly and get us down safe. But what I absolutely hate is when people put down logic. That happens because firstly, they've never had a critical thought in their lives, and secondly because they have built their whole life around superstitions and can't abandon them now. For instance, creationists, or homeopaths, or astrologers, or the nutty chiropractors who claim to heal everything with just some knuckle-cracking. THEY are the ones i think are beyond all reasonable help.

On the other hand, there are deist skeptics in the world too, who believe in a God but never abandon logic otherwise; its their personal choice. You can also, in today's world, believe that god initiated the world, and that the cosmos simply evolved from the big bang onwards on the basis of a few, basic, maybe discoverable laws. You can believe that and not be in scientific error. It is your own choice to do that. But please question your steadfast beliefs and know what you believe through science, and what you simply assume through leaps of faith.

I think, that you are looking for, or perceiving, a problem that isn't here. I don't see creationists, astrologists, or anyone that generally hates logic on this forum (sorry, but homeopathic doctors and chirocpractors are legitimate followers of science and such). I can't quite respond to most of ur post, mostly because I agree with it (cept the part about the teacher and the child. There is no way that you just KNEW math off the top of your head, someone had to teach you the basics. Addition, subtraction, etc.) However, I will say this about the last bit. For me, Sikhi is one giant leap of faith. You're taking a chance and following a path just because you believe. And belief is a powerful thing, one that intimates and sugg

sts that you don't know, but you do more than just think you know. You feel that you know. Questioning it isn't easy, but it also isn't necessary, because if you Truly believe, then what's the point in questioning it if you know nothing is going to change your mind?

well, love is a vague umbrella term for some basic things like trust, respect, treating another as a unique individual, and a general platonic sense of affection. I think we can pretty much agree on that....the rest you can find in the libraries full of poetry and philosophy, or in psychology and neuroscience journals.

to smartsingh: i really should explain what i mean by critical thinking. What i'm getting at is the idea of using logical, rational thought to analyze a phenomena. So, believing in a conclusion and inventing post-hoc rationality for the validity of it is NOT critical thinking. And it's my view that critical thinking, if used in these simple terms, is ALWAYS better than straight out believing something to be true (which is superstition).

The basic format of logic is the old If-Then statement, right? You make a premise, you apply a logical function to it, and THEN you arrive at a conclusion. The premise part has to be a fact if the conclusion is to be valid, and the logic also cannot be faulty. In math, you can think of it as functions. There's x (the input), then there's f(x) (the function applied to the input), and then, when you solve for the function, you get an output. This is what i mean by logic; in fact, math is the best example.

The reason i say all this is that when you say you don't need questions because u think your at the "height of reincarnation" and when u think this is your "last chance", you're making assumptions. That's the case with every true-believer; their belief is just that, a belief. Its illogical (by definition; i dont mean to offend) because it subverts the logical process by straight out reaching a conclusion. See, I'm not putting you down, or calling you stupid. I'm saying that you can never claim to be logical if you believe in a conclusion without first having a valid premise and logic. For centuries, the only explanation most people seemed content with was "God did it". Now that we have a fragile system of logical inquiry FINALLY in place (which is called 'science' by the way) that reaches conclusions logically, most people still don't follow it. So it is human nature to NOT follow logic, and to simply pander to their sense of contentment.

You talk about "basics", which i'll say are premises. God is really not a good premise to have, because everyone has a varying, personal view on the matter. Yes, its a personal choice to believe. But wherever science intersects with religion (in consciousness, in ghosts), science wins the logical battle (maybe not the PR battle).

And you know why science is the best way to reach truth? It is the only known method that is logical. Also, science can disprove itself, commit the most heinous of heresies against previous theories (think about quantum physiscs in relation to classical physics), and CHANGE and survive as a single entity. And lastly, a truth reached by science is never incontrovertible, because it can always undo itself given enough logic.

That's why i see science as the best, most impartial, most understandable, most rational, and the only chance humans have of discovering the REAL truth.

Fact of the matter is, you believe religion is post-hoc rationality. But, Sikhi is not. Sikhi states what has happened, what will happen, and what is happening. Look, and you will see. When I say that you are at the height of reincarnation, that is because Gurbani states that as human beings, we are at the height of reincarnation. That is absolutley indisputable if you believe in Gurbani. And, i'm sorry to say, but I don't see how that is illogical. The Gurus were messengers, and they carried with them the message of God. They had become one with God, and understood things that were so far beyond our minds that we'd probably collapse from information overload. The Gurus were our teachers, and just as a student studying math must take his teacher's word that 1+1=2, we have to take our Gurus word that there is One God, quite simply, because they know more than us. And therein, lies the problem. Even in this logical situation, where a child is taught that 1+1=2, he is still taking a leap of faith and trusting in his teacher. Similarly, we have to take that leap of faith and trust our Guru to have taught us the Truth. That there is, One God.

Please, tell me if this is not logical.

It doesn't have vga. You neeeeed vga.

I understand the god of the gaps theory as the theory in which true-believers filled in gaps of understanding with God. Basically, they looked at stars and said "god did it". Which is exactly what you said. But I don't see why that counteracts any of what I said. This theory is not a theory, it's just the way a true-believer, who discounts logic and makes leaps of faith, makes.

Again, i agree with you dancing warrior; the right answer to that little issue of whether buddha was an atheist is actually deeper than what it may seem. What you describe is pantheism, or very close to pantheism. Or maybe not...because its about the primordial essence, and pantheism purports that the world itself is god. I guess buddha doesn't conform to just a few philosophical descriptors...

i also was rather amused by that "save yourself" post. What is my last chance? What are you even talking about? A reasonable mind can still live morally and be a good person in this world, so there is no compulsion on my consciousness (apart from that imposed by the recognition of the fact that others are just as conscious as me). I can reasonably understand the essence of the message that so many philosophers have hinted at; ofcourse, i don't know everything, but still. And answer me, if you purport to have studied science and math, and to have that little thing called critical thinking and rationality, how come you don't apply that logic to every compartment of your knowledge? How come you don't question religion? Why do you not want to ask questions? What is the harm of inquiry?

This life is your chance. I don't know if it's your last chance, but this is the height of reincarnation, and you're supposed to use this as your chance to meet God and liberate yourself from reincarnation. And, quite frankly, Science and Math are quite different from English, Philosophy, Religion and other studies. In Math, you are given the basics, 1+1=2, etc. In Religion, you are also given the basics, There is one God, etc. But then you have advanced studies in Math and Science, such as Calculus and Organic Chemistry. In Religion, there is also advanced studies, but it requires a different skill set, just as Calculus requires more knowledge than 1+1=2. And it isn't the fact that I don't want to ask questions, It's that I don't Need to ask questions.

i think the question i was really getting at was blasphemy, and why we are so scared of it that we accept a philosophy without critical thought.

sorry, but you need to write out your full thought process for what you're writing to be considered critical thought. Otherwise, it just looks like skepticism without reason...

i just want to know what the sangat's opinion according to gurmat is on modding gaming systems like xbox 360 n ps3..

i wanna buy one but only if its modded, otherwise games are just too expensive.. (plz dont turn this into a 360vsps3 debate) .. i jus wanna know if modding either one is ok according to gurmat.. thx

why wouldn't it be? Is breaking the waranty a sin? Sure, it isn't smart, but I don't really see anything wrong with it.

By the way ps3 totally pwns the 360

1337 h4X0rz skillz

are you kidding me? do you have some kind of vendetta against the site? what's with the caste comments? if you expect to be banned, then you're going to be banned. And if you're banned, then you should take a long hard look at yourself in the mirror.

EDIT

I just read B4nd4's post.

Utterly disgraceful. Good thing the mod's closed it.

Does Vaheguroo feel our pain?

Does Vaheguroo care if we are in pain?

Is Gurbani telling us Vaheguroo only cares if his holy 'favourites' are in pain?

Is Gurbani telling us Vaheguroo doesnt bother at all about "manmukhs" who dont jap naam 24/7 and that they deserve everything they get and that Vaheguroo will not help them?

1. In terms of "feeling" our pain, God is on a different level than us and I doubt we could comprehend feelings and stimuli on that level, and I doubt God would be constrained by human stimuli like pain.

2. God cares for all of his creatures no matter how wicked or holy they might be.

3. See 2.

4. I doubt this very much, because Gurbani preaches the betterment of yourself, 

nd everyone has to start from some place.

Je tohi prem khelan da chav, sir dhar tali gali mori aav,

Je it maarag pair dharijai, sir dijai kaan no dijai.

If you are interested in playing the game of love, put your head on your palm and then only enter my lane. In case you put your feet on this path don't fall back, even if you have to loose your life.

You mis-quoted, it is

jau qau pRym Kylx kw cwau ]

jo tho praem khaelan kaa chaao ||

If you desire to play this game of love with Me,

isru Dir qlI glI myrI Awau ]

sir dhhar thalee galee maeree aao ||

then step onto My Path with your head in hand.

iequ mwrig pYru DrIjY ]

eith maarag pair dhhareejai ||

When you place your feet on this Path,

isru dIjY kwix n kIjY ]20]

sir dheejai kaan n keejai ||20||

give Me your head, and do not pay any attention to public opinion. ||20||

http://www.sikhitothemax.com/page.asp?ShabadID=5475

Fact: 30% of 360s get returned because they're red-ringed (i.e., junked/bricked, and can't be used anymore)

http://www.smarthouse.com.au/Home/D3Q7G8S2?page=1

PS3s don't have a failure rate that high.

And Final Fantasy is THE best franchise in the industry.

PS3 has a graphics processor in it that can support HDMI, whereas the 360 upscales using some software patches, which produces 1080p, but not quite as good as the PS3's.

Wii is gimmicky

the xbox 360 is a gr8 system with gr8 games the ps3 is a very fast big pc which u can only play pacman on for the next 2 yrs!

*sigh* Dude, come on, stop with the fanboyism and use facts to back up what you say.

ha yes it it but do u kno of any games out there that need that hardware to run...check graphic details and xbox 360 wins by a mile!

Ok, but that depends on which games you check and which games you want. Sure, halo 3 looks great, but I have no desire to play that. Gears of War is a much better game in my opinion and a much richer game experience for me. But still, even though they have games like GoW, i'd rather pick up my copy of Spiderman 3 any day of the week, and look forward to picking up Lair, Star Wars: The Force Unleashed, and FFXIII when they come out. I can't think of a single game for the 360 that I'd want to pick up past Gears of War 2, and even then, I'd be hesitant to spend the money on it.

P.S. Warhawk 40 person multiplayer online will totally own Halo 3.

Leopard WILL be amazing. For those Windows people who don't know about leopard,

http://www.apple.com/macosx/leopard/

Crazy stuff indeed.

i didnt want to get personal but WAAAA, lol thats jst nt true with the new fifa the ea sports games the lotr and call of duty games along with yes shrek 3 make the xbox 360 a formidable system! as for the prices no where near in the same region, xbox 360 with controllers and hard drive maybe 350-400 ps3 same thing would cost ya 600! as for games as it was released a yr before most game developers have gone with the 360, the gpu on the 360 is much mre powerful 2 so graphics wise its better, the online gaming however is where xbox 360 really dominates the ps3 so THERE :wub:

written by me: THE ARMCHAIR GENERAL

Sorry guy, but I believe it was Team Ninja that said the PS3 was more powerful than the 360. They purposefully make their games so that they'll tax the game system. They made their 360 literally set on fire, but the most they could do to the PS3 was make it smoke a little bit. If you think the 360 is more powerful than the PS3, then you are truly a fanboy, like me