Then I learned that his search for 'ataxaria' or peace of mind, by elimination of desire by giving into them is not 'the most exalted state'. The state of the Seeker, who always hungers after truth, growth and empowerment is that which is exalted, for from this disatisfaction can come growth. Further, the Seeker after Mystery exalts the longing for immortality, for he knows it will spur him to seek out all the ways it might be achieved. He may settle upon those things sure, as in 'words and deeds that live on', but he will always have hope of more.

However, such longings do not lead to 'peace of mind'. Epicurus sought to eliminate the longing for immortality, as he revealed in his letter to Menoeceus.

Furthermore, he might have held out hope, if he had some idea that such might be possible. Alas, he did not for his is a most MATERIALISTIC philosophy. Now this doesn't mean 'materialistic' as we might mean today, the person who seeks to acquire great piles of material possessions, but something quite different, as m-w.com/ explains:

materialism Function: noun "a theory that physical matter is the only or fundamental reality and that all being and processes and phenomena can be explained as manifestations or results of matter"

In Epicurus' letter to Herodotus, he clearly states, "When the entire combination of the body is dissolved, then the soul too is dissolved, and ceases to retain those faculties which were previously inherent in it," and "Accordingly, they who pretended that the soul is incorporeal, utter words destitute of sense."

Yet all those who insist there is no life after death cannot offer proof of it. Without definitive proof, it remains the realm of the 'unknown'.

As further confirmation of his 'all is matter and matter is all' philosophy, Epicurus states, "Every conception, every sensible perception which bears upon the form or the other attributes of these images, is only the same form of the solid perceived directly, either in virtue of a sort of actual and continued condensation of the image, or in consequence of the traces which it has left in us."

Yet there is a mystery which disproves this. There is the wonder of astral travel. As I described it when it happened July 2003:

"And then there was the odd day of the visit at work. I was busy concentrating on my task at hand, when I felt the energies of a customer looking at me. It took me a while to realize he was there waiting, as I can get lost in my work. When I looked up, there was only a gray cloudy impression of a man with long dark hair. The haze cleared, as I grew startled. I fully expected to see a man waiting there for a fitting. They often observe quietly until I notice them.

But 'poof', no one was there."

Yet this visitor possessed the full energy signature he would have had were his physical body there! And he was able with his astral energy to give evidence of his appearance. According to Epicurus, this would not be possible. But I saw it with my own eyes.

Also there is the matter of psychic communication. How is it I can sense someone's emotions or thoughts coming to me from the magickal matrix, if there is no physical body to send them? How would Epicurus explain this? Would he say I was imagining this? Yet, time and time again, the proof that such a person was feeling this has been given to me. One such example was with Julia, back in November of 2003. Clearly, we are more than the physical.

Deep Self has told me this:

You are already Immortal. How many times must I tell you that? Stop this vacillating! So it is the shell you are concerned with? All these things pass away and are reborn - (a kind of circular eternity in it - ) you, (the REAL 'you') will go on. JAL, 4 - 30 - 2003

Still there are those who distrust the intuitive output, and insist on logic. This is not unwise, for everything that comes to us, by whatever method of attaining insight, must be carefully examined. However, experience tells me there are mysteries not fully explained by only the five senses. Therefore, logic tells me there are mysteries not fully explained by only the five senses.

Epicurus may have sought through materialism a sort of peace, but there are those who long for more, and I am among them.

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