Infinite vs. Finite Playing of Spiritual Games

I want to review the concept of the finite vs infinite game, since some folks get really pissed off when I question their accepted rules.

So let's consider one of the numerous spiritual rules available in the conventional world, such as "you must transcend the ego to directly experience the bliss of pure being" or "The world is an illusion" (cut and pasted from a "spiritual" website).

Okay. great stuff, huh? I know...you've read this stuff a million times, right?

But here's the rub. The infinite player will accept that rule, but only to continue play. The best way to continue play is to play with the rules. Yet, the finite player will insist that you play by the rules.

The problem, as I see it, is that finite players attach to the rules (sometimes unconsciously) as an end to play and, therefore, they will get downright ornery when someone wants the game to continue through questioning the rules. This is because they (or some "master" before them) have ordained the rules as sacrosanct and beyond question and crucial to an outcome, such as "experiencing the bliss of pure being" or "awakening" to an illusory world. However, often the outcome is that the finite player simply be seen and accepted as "spiritually pure" (but this is always rigorously denied) and by restating the ancient axioms and proverbs they believe their purity is evident.

If you play the game by the rules, your "purity" must be true. So it is written, so must it be.

The finite player will covertly insist that there is something you must 'get' that you now lack. Fortunately for you, they 'have' what you lack and thus, the teacher-student hierarchy is constructed for which you must play by their rules to 'get' what they have convinced you that you must have, but lack.

The generally accepted assertion that you must be egoless to experience pure being, is fine by me. In fact, it might even be true! (although I sincerely doubt it, but that's just me playing with rules). And certainly the world is an "illusion" (but define "real"?)

Yet, the infinite player will engage with others to build on the rules and add to them, construct and deconstruct, twist and bend, turn them inside-out and outside-in, etc, etc, etc.

Whatever! It doesn't matter (except to the finite player) because the only goal for the infinite player is to enlist and engage with more players who want to play with the rules and even create more rules to play with, requiring more players, etc, etc, on and on, ad infinitum.

Of course, I too, create rules and expect that everyone will play with any rules that I impose as well. I look forward to it! This game has gone on for centuries and most likely will go one for centuries more (unless we finally put out the lights thereby starting a new game).

And the more players in the game, the more exciting and engaging the game becomes. However, you can play by yourself. But what fun is there in that.

The spiritual games, like any other games, require players. Unfortunately, for most of the games of the world, there can only be so many "world champions" or MVP's. Or, for that matter, yogis or gurus or "master teachers."

However, if you look closely at the world, you will see millions who aspire to be awarded those coveted trophies and this aspiration drives them to participate in the competition.

So, in conclusion, I just wanna say that I truly enjoy playing with you guys and I apologize in advance to those of you who I most likely will piss off when I question your rules. Because I will question all of your rules (and no doubt you will subtly retaliate by questioning mine).

Let the games begin!