Posted by Kyo on February 26, 2007 at 23:48:38:
>>> The goal here is to *stop* incarnating. <<<
No, the goal is to experience physical incarnation (including especially the relationships within) and to allow meaningful benefit from this, evolve and assist others (ie. CosmoEthics) from one's willingness to work with and interact with, the experiences, the karma (karma is a pedagogical tool), the relationships (with others and therefore with oneself), and the personal growth or evolution.
Once the individual soul has evolved beyond the (pre-serenissimus) human level (or the 'level of man', regardless of Earth humans or extraterrestrials) to the Serenissimus (a non-dogmatic name, simply a useful descriptive nomenclature meaning "true serenity"; the 'next level' of evolution for human souls), then by virtue of the best way in which to function and to serve CosmoEthics and further evolution, would be largely (such a consciousness would be capable of operating simultaneously on many levels and dimensions) extraphysical, which might be loosely seen (but often crux of matter is still misunderstood) as "no longer physically incarnating". But it is *not* so much they are no longer physically incarnating, for they are very much a part of the physical world, universe and humanity, but are operating on multi-levels simultaneously within, across and beyond the physical.
To say the goal is to 'stop incarnating' is akin to saying the goal of any college education is the slip of paper (known as "certificate"), rather than the true learning, training and self-discovery that the syllabus (existential programs), modules (life-plans) and/or semesters (lifetimes) were designed to support.
A monk once asked his teacher, "Master, how many lifetimes more before I graduate from physical incarnation?". His teacher replied, "5 more lifetimes."
The monk was dissapointed, shook his head, and thought to himself, "This is not acceptable. I will study the religious books harder, I will do more good deeds, I will pray more, I will meditate more..."
After a few months of intensified efforts, he asked his teacher, "Master, how many lifetimes more before I graduate from physical incarnation?". His teacher replied, "15 more lifetimes."
The monk was shocked, and upset. "How can this be? I must have been slacking. I must work harder at the goal of no-longer-reincarnating! Study harder, do more good deeds, pray more, meditate more... uuggghhh..."
After several years of frantic efforts, he asked his teacher, "Master, how many lifetimes more before I graduate from physical incarnation?". His teacher replied, "50 more lifetimes."
You see, the poor monk was totally missing the point of physical incarnation - to experience, not to escape it. By seeking the end of incarnation, he was running away (in his mind, his heart, his experiences) from the very point, purpose and value of physical incarnation - to experience it (including especially all its valuable relationships it affords or catalyzes) as they are, as meaningful, as perfect.
You say perfection does not exist? We say everyone's perfect. You say God does not exist? We say everyone's God. You say that being in physical incarnation is somehow lousier than being 'no longer incarnated', We say we are *all* simultaneously physically incarnated *and* operating extraphysically. The beings that are intraphysically incarnated, are our intraphysical aspects. The beings that are extraphysical and/or no-longer-incarnating, are our extraphysical or no-longer-incarnating aspects. All are equally us. All *are* us.