the reason I can speak

Speaking represents shaped out of perceived sound (resonance); reason implies conflict about suggested meaning (dissonance). In-between operates choice in response to balance (need/want) or in submission to other choices (want vs not want).

having survived the 1980s

As I was getting high on Teddy Ruxbin...

it is really only yourself that is "doing"; while the object, he's more of a bystander to the whole affair.

Yep; utilizing form as inspiration (within spirit); instead of falling for the temptation of suggested information (from within form). As in "don't tell me what you are; let me figure out what you express"...minus telling other what to do; hence suggesting information yourself; which is where words as spell-craft come into play. Using words for oneself is dangerous enough; because they tempt us to uphold them as idolized meaning within our conscious memory; which needs to be used like ram (temporary storage for ongoing adaptation) instead of like a hard-drive (filling up until capacity).

The whole affair aka the ONEness of ALL (energy) implies being "all(in)one" aka alone. The perceivable differences among the individual ONEs are needed as inspiration for choice; otherwise the struggle of temporary form within ongoing flow couldn't work; based on lack of inspiration to struggle for growth.

Now look around and notice how the temptation of ongoing movement still gets most to ignore perceived inspiration. One hasn't learned responsibility of choice yet.

People easily accept that humans have souls, some might agree animals do to

• HU'MAN, adjective [Latin humanus; Heb. form] + AN'IMAL, noun [Latin animal from anima, air, breath, soul.]

Just a rhetorical deception to trick us to ignore being animal (animated) humans (form) by flow. Suggesting the many to look down upon animals; while corrupting understanding of being animated...it's that simple to fuck choice over with suggested information (idolized meaning).

extend that courtesy to plants, but won't somebody think of the rocks, too?

When you hear soul; spirit think adaption of form to input by flow and you can understand that each ONE within ALL adapts to input; hence being differentiated out of it. If it represents growth (form) within loss (flow); it represents soul; spirit; conscious communication aka adaptation of form to flow.

ROCK, noun (Gr., Latin rupes, from the root of rumpo, to break)...so break it until you understand the smaller parts and their connectivity. Eventually you understand input/response formed into a different expression.

Selling literal rocks to people!

The temptation represents the suggested price (a substitute value); the inspiration represents evaluation by choice of perceived value. The haggling part of the transaction represents balance within momentum; which makes the price agreed upon irrelevant afterwards. The choice within momentum matters; not wanted outcomes.

As for rocks...there were always water surfaces around waiting to be skipped or girls giving you a smile if you gift them a shiny rock. And then came the discovery of a slingshot...

The kinds of rocks you can go out and meet at any time! Mental!

Field of apples...you're hungry and grab one (need); you proclaim that this apple is mine (want); which causes want of more apples (greed); and others wanting your claimed apple (envy). The grass is always greener on the other side...

Mental implies the lack of understanding balance (need/want); which is caused by ignoring perceived need for suggested want. This ignorance among the many is at such a severe level; that the parasitic few exploiting it even managed to suggest us the apple as the symbolism of sin; while the many keep ignoring the responsibility of choice.

three men; pit filled with pungi sticks, a barrel of vinegar.

Choices; deceptive exploitation of choices; suggested temptation.

There's another set of men in that anecdote, but none of them are in these categories.

Potential of different choices.

The wiseguy's a bystander to the whole affair; he just wants to be up on his mountain but that's fine - he'll get hungry eventually.

Understanding of perceived preventing falling for suggested temptation (want) - still bound to hunger (need).

We both laughed about it in the end.

Adaptation to momentum is where the growth is (aka resistance of form to velocity of flow). The temptation of form vs form and the consequences thereof is what inspired both of you.

I'm pretty sure "enlightenment" is a truck-stop diner.

a) as inspiration if one chooses to utilize it as such.

b) as an allegory it represents the deception of cessation of motion aka stopping to rest while driving through. One didn't stop; one slowed down resistance to ongoing motion for recuperation of power.

c) enlightenment aka enlighten the ment; from mens (mind) implies resisting to ignore the source of light; while adapting to perceived light; which in return grows comprehension of perceived light; hence enlightenment. It's between ONE (choice) and ALL (balance); while other ONEs (suggested choices) represents the temptation to ignore it.