What do you think “ghosts” are?

[annabananna]

Human spirits

Figment of imagination

Demons

Another demension

Time lapse

[mstbooblover]

Ghosts are probably a creation from our own imagination. Sometimes probably hallucinations. There's a nice illustration about this in the training undergone by Tibetan Buddhist monks.

The training consists in creating slowly with all details an imaginary friend and councelor. A way to access the subconscience by getting advice from that friend. Some monks seem able to have that "ghost" following them in full daylight, and very occasionally it seems that outsiders can see them also.

Alexandra David-Neel and the Dalaï Lama in person (Memoirs, Freedom in exile) described the process. If I did understand correctly, one of the reasons for this kind of training is to prove that everything happens in the mind, and are thus illusions.

[genericname85]

i'm pretty sure i know exactly what ghosts are. it's puffs of carbon-dioxide rich air. if you're interested, i can elaborate but that's it in a nutshell.

[annabananna]

I think I’ve heard of that before. Was there a science experiment on that?

[genericname85]

well not exactly. you would have to look at how the word etymologicaly developed and try to understand the world from bascially the point of view of a person like 5000 years ago. then you could from your modern persons understanding of the world extrapolate what a "ghost" actually is.

so a very in the nutshell explanation goes like this:
way back in the day people didn't understand the physiological/biological interaction between our bodies and air. today we know, that oxygen goes in with our breath, is metabolized to carbon dioxide, which then leaves our body again with the breath.

but 5000 years ago, people didn't know shit about that metabolical interaction right? but people could observe, that people really only seemed to "come alive" as they gasp for their first breath of air. they observed that when humans stop breathing, they die. and as they die, a last breath exits the body and it's over right? so people back then loved making up myths and stories about how that works.

so they made up that entire concept of what the "spiritual" realm. spiritual comes from spiritus meaning quite litterally "air". so they believed that the actual "personality that someone displayed when being alive" enters them as they breathed in a breath of air (spirit) for the first time.

actually a lot of creation mythologies have that. even the christian one: god blowing air into a lump of clay, which became adam.

[genericname85]

so then later there was an etymological distinction made. because the air someone breathed out after they died must have changed the air somehow, cause the person lived an entire life right? and that's when they started callig that thing that leaves someone with their last breath "ghost" and the thing that enters them when they first breathed in "spirit".

so they did figure out that air is important for us to live. they also figured out that this air somehow changes by going in and out of us. but they didn't figure out how that works exactly. and since we know now how that works exactly, i can confidently say that a "ghost" is litterally just a puff of someone breathing out, which is nothing more than carbon dioxide rich air :D

sorry i know that was long. I don't know how to say it shorter.

[annabananna]

Interesting

[genericname85]

yeah. what's also interesting is that air circulation and human cell replacement is so fast, that it is very likely that you have breathed in at least one tiny particle shed by every other human on earth. so in that sense the "spiritual realm" does connect all of us xD it sounds a bit mundane if you tell it like that. but that's what reality is. it's mundane.

[purplepoppy]

I don't think there's a single answer. Some are optical illusions, tricks of light or hallucinations. I've been fortunate on numerous occasions to see ghosts on the beach at night caused by 3D shadows cast into a sea mist. I wouldn't be surprised if the same thing is happening elsewhere, it doesn't take a huge amount of moisture in the air.

[annabananna]

Cool

[bean2k21]

According to the Tibetan Book of the Dead, "Thine own consciousness, shining, void, and inseparable from the Great Body of Radiance, hath no birth, nor death."

The phrase refers to the fundamental nature of consciousness as being luminous, empty, and indestructible. It suggests that our true nature is not limited by birth and death and is inseparable from the ultimate nature of reality, which is characterized as a "Great Body of Radiance."

This passage points to the idea that our true essence is not bound by physical limitations and exists beyond the cycle of birth and death.

A ghost, therefore, is no different from you or me.

[Daniela1982]

Well they are not anyone you knew when they were alive. Those people remain in their graves until Judgement Day. But demons have been around for thousands of years and know everything about your dearly departed, so can impersonate them with no problem. So just because they know things only your departed knew, guess again. They saw or heard it too.

[spartan55]

Isn't that where you disappear and never contact someone again?

[annabananna]

Think they disappear to another dimension?

[spartan55]

I'm almost sure of it.

[OneManOnly01]

I’ve honestly got no idea but what do you think?

[annabananna]

I’m not sure.

[abc3643]

A Swedish metal band.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d8RH8RO0eR0

[Sparkie460]

Ghosts are spirits of dead people who didn't cross over to the other side because they have unfinished business in their old life. They are not at rest so they still walk the earth.

[Anonymous]

perverts in slightly malfunctioning invisibility cloaks trying to spy on us at awkward times. Am I right? Just me? Ok then. 🤣

[annabananna]

That makes the most sense

[Opinion Owner]

thanks! I knew it. I mean, either that or they're the souls of people who have passed away, being allowed to remain at least temporarily on earth to help us with things, or because they simply refuse to "go into the light". I think there's differences between spirits, ghosts, angels and demons, but all are very much real in their own ways. At least that's my opinion. But I like my first answer the best. :D

[kellytheman]

I feel it's human spirits just visiting or hanging out in the living world. I do believe there is a afterlife and believe there are human spirits around us all just some sprits are stronger than others

[Guardian45]

I'm convinced that when we die our life energy is transformed likely into another dimension which is NOT easily accessed.

[OtterMan68]

I think when humans die, they move on from our world.

[HaveNoName]

Based on my religion, I do not believe in ghosts. Demons, yes.

[VikingWarLord]

Any proof of "ghosts" there pumpkin?

[annabananna]

Mmmmm nah no proof

[VikingWarLord]

It's high time to go get some proof, don't ya think?
Get that Azz over here and we'll go ghost huntin' in my local cemetery

[annabananna]

I used to live by one!

[Bklynbadboy12]

I think ghosts are definitely a figment of people's imagination

[Christoff92]

Casper and his stupid goofy uncles 🤣

[SnowedIn]

I like to think they're spirits! :)

[LavLavLuv]

Another dimension..🤔

[AngelLily]

Ghosts are demons

[Anonymous]

my last girlfriend. she's a ghost

[annabananna]

Really?

[Opinion Owner]

yup. haven't heard a peep from her since she left me

[annabananna]

Well at least she’s not a poltergeist

[FreyaRed]

hallucinations