define "dark"

[rabana]

please.


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(added later) if you want, touch on how the word "dark" is used in these threads.

[danz]

The Unknown could be considered Darkness. The Darkness of Unbeing is Motionless Potentiality. As soon as One's Intention stirs it up, it lights up in sparks of Experience, turning into the Light of Knowledge.

[Aion]

In order to define dark, we'd have to define light, and I can't define light. I can't even light as "life" because life is only a part of light.

But here's a radical idea: Maybe they're the same @#$%ing thing and beyond our understanding, and because they're beyond our understanding, we compartmentalize them in failed attempts to understand them.

[turtledove]

dark is mean

light is nice

[Belial]

(merriam-webster.com)


Main Entry:
1dark
Pronunciation:
\ˈdärk\
Function:
adjective
Etymology:
Middle English derk, from Old English deorc; akin to Old High German tarchannen to hide
Date:
before 12th century

1 a: devoid or partially devoid of light : not receiving, reflecting, transmitting, or radiating light <a dark room> b: transmitting only a portion of light <dark glasses>

2 a: wholly or partially black <dark clothing> bof a color : of low or very low lightness c: being less light in color than other substances of the same kind <dark rum>

3 a: arising from or showing evil traits or desires : evil <the dark powers that lead to war> b: dismal, gloomy <had a dark view of the future> c: lacking knowledge or culture : unenlightened <a dark period in history> d: relating to grim or depressing circumstances <dark humor>

4 a: not clear to the understanding b: not known or explored because of remoteness <the darkest reaches of the continent>

5: not fair in complexion : swarthy

6: secret <kept his plans dark>

7: possessing depth and richness <a dark voice>

8: closed to the public <the theater is dark in the summer>
synonyms see obscure
— dark·ish Listen to the pronunciation of darkish \ˈdär-kish\ adjective
— dark·ly adverb
— dark·ness noun



Main Entry:
2dark
Function:
noun
Date:
13th century

1 a: a place or time of little or no light : night, nightfall b: absence of light : darkness

2: a dark or deep color

— in the dark
1: in secrecy <most of his dealings were done in the dark>
2: in ignorance <kept the public in the dark about the agreement>



Main Entry:
3dark
Function:
verb
Date:
14th century

intransitive verb
obsolete : to grow dark
transitive verb: to make dark

[rabana]

guess i'm out of thanks. these words (started another thread for "negative") are used a lot here and i thought it would be interesting to confine and concentrate on them.

there are profound intellectual admiration points for the longer posts and brownie points for short and concise ones.

anyone want to touch on how the word "dark" is used in these threads?

[Aion]

People tend to separate light and dark, dark being the absence of light, or dark being evil, which can also be interpreted as the absence of light, blahblah, yeah yeah.

It doesn't mean either of those things, and a lot of people on these forums know this, but a lot of people don't know how to internalize and live by it.

We like to say, "Oh, I was in a dark place before, but now I've stepped into the light and found God!" We take this metaphor way too literally, way too often, when that's all it is - a metaphor, at best.

I say it time and again: dark doesn't exist. Neither does light, really, not in the way we think.

It comes down to this: Humankind is the embodiment of the saying, "A little knowledge is a dangerous thing."

If you want to know the truths about our existence, look at the trees, the animals, the Earth, look at your very own shadow. Do these things even know what light and dark are? Maybe when channeled through the Human Being, sure.

Animals war, rape, plunder. Animals love, take care of their young, protect people even. Do we look at an animal in the wild and say, "Oh, that's a dark animal." Maybe only when we're referring to the color of their fur, but otherwise that sounds ridiculous, doesn't it? No matter what an animal does, it's an animal. It's perfect, in a sense. Likewise, no matter what the Earth does, hurt us or help us, it's perfect, it functions beautifully, we revere it; we don't say "The Earth is dark because a tsunami hit South Asia."

Even your own shadow - look at it. How perfectly devious, or mischievous, how amazing it is at showing you parts of you that you don't want to face up to. No matter what your shadow does, it's perfect at it, without question.

But all we're doing is projecting our own perfection onto everything around us, even if we don't call it perfection, that's what it is. Why is it we only feel the need to compartmentalize ourselves?

My point is: if nature can be perfect, no matter what it does, so can we, and in the end, dark is just what we call things we don't understand and don't know how to properly use.

[spiritzzz]

Oh hell, darkness is light with nothing to reflect off of as in outer space. On threads it is whatever the being judging the action or thought or words of another chooses it to be though those that come on a thread looking to cause or attack seem to be of lower energy and if one considers lower energy to be dark so be it.


Dougie ( giggle)

[UntoldGlory]

I tend to associate 'darkness' with that which is 'secretive,' 'forbidden,' or 'hidden' from society as a whole, actually. We think of darkness as 'sinister' because we're afraid of what's hiding in it, so to speak. I don't see it as a negative term myself; I just see it as the hiding place of things that the world as a whole may not be ready to accept.

[sshenry]

Here's something to think about (and I'm know I'm not "defining" it Rabana, I just want to put it in perspective I guess).

Whether you are talking literally or metaphorically (or metaphysically), if you have either TOTAL light or TOTAL darkness, the effect is the same - you can't function; at least, not as a physical human being.

Our ability to determine everything from depth to distance, color, and visual texture depends on a MIXTURE of light and dark. The ability to blend the two in asthetic and functional ways.

This is even true on a metaphysical scale. Pure light is overwhelming, and, frankly, beyond our ability to truly appreciate (as is total darkness) as long as we are functioning with human brains and their connected minds, for the brain and mind are, like the physical senses, overwhelmed by complete light or darkness.

[rabana]

i'd say we are beyond only defining and ready for perspective and application. that's what i hoped would happen...

[UntoldGlory]

Well, I'm moderately evil, so I've already got the application thing going

[Patryc]

I guess it depends a lot on your personal experiences as to how you respond to the dark / light thing. If you have only experienced pain and suffering in your life for example even a small token of goodness or light may be considered light. Eg. a woman who is abused by her husband all her life and was abused by her family before that. She almost expects that darkness because the light is not in her field of experience. When she does eventually experience that light however, only then does she realize that she was living in darkness, that there is something out there that makes her feel good about herself. Many people take light for granted if they are raised in a family who were good to them and they didn't experience any violence or emotional trauma. It is only when they experience that true darkness that they appreciate the light they were raised in.

One thing that I would like to point out also is that no one is completely light or completely dark. All good (light people) have a shadow which will come out when necessary in order to balance things out. Likewise there will be moments that the most dark people exhibit light, especially if they have been given light they have that choice to respond with light as they realize how good this makes them feel. Of course there are no absolutes. We are constantly moving, a see saw of energy or light so to speak. Does the dimmer switch get turned up or down ? It is always your choice.

[ShootingStar]

I always thought "light" and "dark" were only different polarities

[rabana]

that residual darkness in everyone has been called "original sin", also "karma".

---------- Post added at 08:43 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:36 PM ----------

polarity isn't the only way its seen. some say they would still know goodness if they had never seen the dark.

[Patryc]

indeed, falun dafa actually helps you sense this karmic field - even to the extent of knowing what an individual needs to overcome in order to grow further and dissolve that karmic event that was holding them back. The more I do it, the more sensitive I am to the karmic field of those around me. Even just talking to people on the phone it will seem to pop up.

[spiritzzz]

Pat i have a feeling that all true spiritual paths have a tendency to do such if followed. i would like to introduce matter into this equation. We are spiritual beings whom have chosen to emerge our being into vehicles of matter. Matter is energy of a lower vibration then spirit. In this marriage we took a lighter form of energy and emerged it into a darker heaver form of energy. Or if you wish we lowered our vibration to the level of matter from the level of spirit. that would seem to be going from a higher light into a lesser light if energy is a different color or contains differing amount of light at different vibrations. Having done such we are now raising the energy vibration of these vehicles of matter toward that vibration of spirit. It would seem that we on some level are redeeming matter from a low to a higher vibration. That then would say our fall down into matter would be the fall or original sin though it is a mission for the universe and its expansion. That is my story and i am stacking to it. Though that may be but one aspect of a very complicated experiment in the crucible of life to these eyes makes sense.

Dougie ( giggle )

[AmentiHall]

They are the same thing.

Human mind is not at a point of oneness yet, therefore we compartmentalize and fragment everything so we can consciously make sense of it. At least, to our current way of living. I use the term loosely, it could be to signify the unknown, what is hidden, what is not "good." There is no such thing as evil.

But in this realm, we experience the illusion of good and bad. At least right now...we have not yet learned to consciously see the value on either side. Or evolve from our own mistakes. We categorize "darkness" away and ignore it, even though it's clearly part of our lives. Not the darkness (as it does not exist), but the light that takes the form of dark.

I am one who wishes to understand all, the good and the ugly. I do not ignore the world I live in in order to feel light and floaty all the time. It is knowing more, and learning to confront it head on, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually that allows me to live with a greater "light quotient" than I would have had I just ignored it. Sometimes, we must go down the rabbit hole into the unknown, into the darkness, to see the truth of it's illusion.

IMO it's the "fear" of this darkness, or hidden unknown side- that causes the worlds problems to be consumed by it. People ignore it, don't want to do anything with it, rationalize it, pretend it away. Just like if you heard a politician was responsible for murdering thousands of people, you would rationalize it away into a conspiracy theory and not think about it again. "You" referring to the common citizen. Since it's left unchecked, it runs wild. We have created Darkness by ignoring our own shadows- it truly is an illusion.



Take care.

[rabana]

i presented the word "dark" an adjective, a description, a relative thing, a polarity. how about "the dark" a noun, a "place" or "thing" unto itself?

i am steadfastly on the side of kindness and compassion in all relations and always have been, yet the first long period of my life was very dark. i traveled thru some dark tunnels, not just my own but with and for others. i don't care to return to any of that but i don't give "the dark" a moral value.

[tmt]

That's a tough question. Darkness has its own light, not as descernable, but present subtle emulation. Just as darkness can be brought into view by use of night goggles or infared viewing. Darkness in spiritual matters could be construed as a form of innocence. If a being has no knowledge and is able to form an idea or create a new invention, that could be considered "dark knowing" like a prodigy. It can be negative as well, as it is most commonly viewed to contrast with illumination. But I don't agree with the negative association.
Practicioners of "dark arts" have an extensive knowledge of scripture and are very enlightened spiritually but choose to use their knowledge for gain in an agressive or selfish way, regardless of consequence to others and ultimately to self.

---------- Post added at 08:19 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:17 AM ----------

As a noun or place: primordial creation, chaos.