We have transformed ourselves into entities who live LABELS instead of life. That is, a certain kind of tag or label gets incorporated into our software, operating system, (that also without our knowledge) by the socio-cultural milieu around us and we get busy living it.
For example, on an occasion or two a person publically loses his temper. Once he is settled people around him will tell two things either they will justify what he did and tell him that what he did in that situation was correct or they will TAG or LABEL him as “an angry or volatile person”. They will come and repeatedly tell him that he is an angry person, they will remind him of various real and hypothetical events of recent and remote past to prove their point (of course there also is a third and an extremely rare breed of people who will present the truth as it is & help the person to reflect on it, but they have not been mentioned here for the shear lack of their numbers and rarity), and voila we have an angry young man between us. Now, there will arise situations where he does not actually feel precipitously angry or angry enough to exhibit the same. But soon enough his “angry young man” TAG (LABEL) would kick into action and even without his knowledge or control he will burst into anger tantrums and will regret having done so later. This, now, will become a vicious circle. He lives with a guilt of unnecessarily throwing temper tantrums along with the constant fear of being unable to control his temper when situation demands him to.
This truly is a difficult and yet a comic situation at the same time. It is difficult because this person would repeatedly make a fool out himself by losing his temper unnecessarily and then would keep regretting (feeling guilty) the same and it is comic because he does not realize that it is not he who kicks in the irritability storm rather the LABEL (TAG) (given to him by the society), which sadly he believes to be himself (it is his identification with the LABEL), that makes him behave the way he does.
Another example, a person who has been very straightforward and honest gets into trouble repeatedly because of his straightforward ways. People around him start RE-PROGRAMMING him. They tell him all possible imaginable and unimaginable nonsense about how corrupt this world and these times are, they tell him how all these noble values are only meant to be enshrined in religious and moral books never supposed to be practiced in real life etc etc.. This young man, (unknowingly though) due to continuous socio-cultural RE-PROGRAMMING, TAGS (LABELS) honesty and straightforwardness of his inner nature (operating software, mind) as “socially useless” to a certain extent “harmful to own self”.
Whenever a certain situation arises his mind tries to respond naturally with its innate honesty and straightforwardness but this process is immediately taken over and shut down by the newly implanted LABEL of “socially useless” and “harmful to own self” pasted over honesty and straightforwardness. These LABELS now force him to behave with deception and dishonesty which of course he regrets later. But, as if under the influence of some invisible force, again and again he is forced to behave in this fashion and then regret having done that, since this is against his innate nature until he becomes totally insensitive and corrupted to a point where he himself becomes an ardent believer of the lies such as “all these noble values are only meant to be enshrined in religious and moral books never supposed to be practiced in real life” etc.
This is what is meant by LIVING THE LABELS and NOT THE LIFE. This is the Cage of our own self imposed limitations. This is what was intended to be expressed by the lines “Now the child is crippled, instead of expressing himself freely and exploring life, as he was doing until now, he is forced to live life out of the limitations implanted into its mind”. And it is here that the subtle FORK IN THE ROAD (CHOICE) comes into light.
Friday, January 29, 2010
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
OBVIOUS APPLICATION continued
By the age seven the socio-cultural milieu of the child has installed a functional, base line reference for life, software (mind) into its hardware (brain).
Now the child is crippled, instead of expressing himself freely and exploring life, as he was doing until now, he is forced to live life out of the limitations implanted into its mind.
For example, someone who himself was poor at mathematics and was afraid of it tells the child that it’s a difficult subject. The child will initially try to get a confirmation of this from his parents (who even without their awareness are a child’s referencing system and he obtains their seal of approval before accepting, storing, archiving an acceptable thought or discarding an incorrect one) , the child also has a counter check mechanism of his socio-cultural milieu. If his parents do not support this idea or his friends do not concur or he learns by example from his teacher, that mathematics is an enjoyable subject he will then be saved. But if all of these referencing mechanisms agree with the belief that “yes mathematics is a difficult subject” then the child is doomed to develop a handicap into his possibilities. If this idea that “mathematics is a difficult subject” gets incorporated into his software then the next time around he touches his mathematics book his mind would already be flashing the red lights and siren of “DIFFICULT “so bright and so loud that nothing would make sense and even if it does he will sure enough make the silly mistakes, subconsciously though, and ensure poor grades and hence the sustenance of this wrong belief again and again.
This is what we end up doing all our lives. Some idea gets implanted into our mind and we start living it out. Some child gets implanted with the right ideas about success, he starts living that idea (until of course that idea gets shaken by some wrong or negative idea via some adverse incident) on the other hand another child gets implanted with wrong ideas of failure, low self-esteem, poor capabilities etc and he starts living them out with failure and disappointments galore.
If were to keenly observe our lives we would find that we are looping in a circle of “same situation different faces, same circumstances different places” that is we are continuously living our own past good or bad. We have become trapped in limitations laid out by our own mind and like a tiger in a zoo cage, we can only go this far (as far as the cage of our own self imposed limitations allows us to).
And this is where the concept of CHOICE comes into action.
Now the child is crippled, instead of expressing himself freely and exploring life, as he was doing until now, he is forced to live life out of the limitations implanted into its mind.
For example, someone who himself was poor at mathematics and was afraid of it tells the child that it’s a difficult subject. The child will initially try to get a confirmation of this from his parents (who even without their awareness are a child’s referencing system and he obtains their seal of approval before accepting, storing, archiving an acceptable thought or discarding an incorrect one) , the child also has a counter check mechanism of his socio-cultural milieu. If his parents do not support this idea or his friends do not concur or he learns by example from his teacher, that mathematics is an enjoyable subject he will then be saved. But if all of these referencing mechanisms agree with the belief that “yes mathematics is a difficult subject” then the child is doomed to develop a handicap into his possibilities. If this idea that “mathematics is a difficult subject” gets incorporated into his software then the next time around he touches his mathematics book his mind would already be flashing the red lights and siren of “DIFFICULT “so bright and so loud that nothing would make sense and even if it does he will sure enough make the silly mistakes, subconsciously though, and ensure poor grades and hence the sustenance of this wrong belief again and again.
This is what we end up doing all our lives. Some idea gets implanted into our mind and we start living it out. Some child gets implanted with the right ideas about success, he starts living that idea (until of course that idea gets shaken by some wrong or negative idea via some adverse incident) on the other hand another child gets implanted with wrong ideas of failure, low self-esteem, poor capabilities etc and he starts living them out with failure and disappointments galore.
If were to keenly observe our lives we would find that we are looping in a circle of “same situation different faces, same circumstances different places” that is we are continuously living our own past good or bad. We have become trapped in limitations laid out by our own mind and like a tiger in a zoo cage, we can only go this far (as far as the cage of our own self imposed limitations allows us to).
And this is where the concept of CHOICE comes into action.
Sunday, January 24, 2010
THE MORE OBVIOUS APPLICATION
So how does this knowledge of FREE WILL (an exception to the cosmic rule), two level working of these four {CREATION, MAINTENANCE, CONSTANT CHANGE (EVOLUTION) and REJUVENATION (DEATH)} forces in one being (another exception to order of the cosmos), change our perspective into life.
Well, putting it simply it brings to light completely new and revolutionary understanding that is
LIFE, AS IT IS, IS OUR OWN CHOICE.
It is the direct expression of our own FREE WILL. Secondly
THERE IS A POSSIBILITY TO GO EITHER WAY EVERY SINGLE MOMENT
Since the mind (the operating system) is in a constant state of flux we need to be aware of what choices (thoughts) we are making every single moment.
Let us proceed step by step dissecting every single concept mentioned above
I. LIFE, AS IT IS, IS OUR OWN CHOICE
Immediately the mind hurls the counter argument of choice of birth against this statement. That is if life were our choice then why someone would be so stupid to choose to take birth in poverty, famine and civil war ridden Somalia. If it were a choice then “I would myself have chosen this”,”I would myself have become that” etc etc..... is what the mind is presently chattering. The theory of KARMA, the concept of life as a continuum and previous births are the ample and available explanations of the above raised doubts but we will not delve into them since all that is not much of direct consequence to us right now and most importantly our aim is to experience a better, more joyful, more successful life NOW rather than engaging ourselves in futile theological and metaphysical discussions about previous births and life after death etc..
So let us see how we have chosen to shape up this life of ours as it is.
Till the age of seven our operating system (mind) is still in its formative state it is just receiving the information from its surroundings and storing it, it is continuously seeking clarification so as to correctly archive each and every bit of information (memory), that is why we see that the children are continuously asking questions much to the peril and sometimes embarrassment of parents. This is a very critical time period, parents must infuse only positive and correct software (information, memory) into their children. For those whose mind is now questioning the concept of choice, since the programming of childhood seems to be a totally choice less event, let us remember that, right from our timing of birth to place, parents and our entire socio-cultural milieu we are born to is our choice (we are unaware of it after birth though) the detailed mechanics of which we have not discussed here in order to save time and quickly jump over to the more pertinent and pressing issues of this (present) life. Therefore, in conclusion we have chosen our parents and our entire socio-cultural milieu in accordance to the life we wanted to live, and hence, they have only loaded the software (MENTAL SETUP) we ourselves wanted to, in order to live and experience this life.
After the age of seven once are operating system (MIND) becomes functional and kicks into action the real fun and the obviously apparent game of choices and their ensuing results follows.
Well, putting it simply it brings to light completely new and revolutionary understanding that is
LIFE, AS IT IS, IS OUR OWN CHOICE.
It is the direct expression of our own FREE WILL. Secondly
THERE IS A POSSIBILITY TO GO EITHER WAY EVERY SINGLE MOMENT
Since the mind (the operating system) is in a constant state of flux we need to be aware of what choices (thoughts) we are making every single moment.
Let us proceed step by step dissecting every single concept mentioned above
I. LIFE, AS IT IS, IS OUR OWN CHOICE
Immediately the mind hurls the counter argument of choice of birth against this statement. That is if life were our choice then why someone would be so stupid to choose to take birth in poverty, famine and civil war ridden Somalia. If it were a choice then “I would myself have chosen this”,”I would myself have become that” etc etc..... is what the mind is presently chattering. The theory of KARMA, the concept of life as a continuum and previous births are the ample and available explanations of the above raised doubts but we will not delve into them since all that is not much of direct consequence to us right now and most importantly our aim is to experience a better, more joyful, more successful life NOW rather than engaging ourselves in futile theological and metaphysical discussions about previous births and life after death etc..
So let us see how we have chosen to shape up this life of ours as it is.
Till the age of seven our operating system (mind) is still in its formative state it is just receiving the information from its surroundings and storing it, it is continuously seeking clarification so as to correctly archive each and every bit of information (memory), that is why we see that the children are continuously asking questions much to the peril and sometimes embarrassment of parents. This is a very critical time period, parents must infuse only positive and correct software (information, memory) into their children. For those whose mind is now questioning the concept of choice, since the programming of childhood seems to be a totally choice less event, let us remember that, right from our timing of birth to place, parents and our entire socio-cultural milieu we are born to is our choice (we are unaware of it after birth though) the detailed mechanics of which we have not discussed here in order to save time and quickly jump over to the more pertinent and pressing issues of this (present) life. Therefore, in conclusion we have chosen our parents and our entire socio-cultural milieu in accordance to the life we wanted to live, and hence, they have only loaded the software (MENTAL SETUP) we ourselves wanted to, in order to live and experience this life.
After the age of seven once are operating system (MIND) becomes functional and kicks into action the real fun and the obviously apparent game of choices and their ensuing results follows.
THE BLUE PRINT APPLIED
So we have come to a conclusion that there exists a universally applicable cosmic blue print applicable to this universe in entirety but herein lay the twist in the tale, just when we agreed to the absolute universality of the harmonious, simultaneous, continuous and uninterrupted action of these four cosmic forces (CREATION, MAINTENANCE, CONSTANT CHANGE (EVOLUTION) and REJUVENATION (DEATH)) the EXCEPTION sprung up.
If were took take a closer and deeper look at the entire cosmic lay out we will see these forces acting harmoniously, simultaneously, continuously and in an uninterrupted manner SINGULARLY in each and every entity of the cosmos.
SINGULARLY means that only one set of these four forces is acting at a time in an individual object (living or non-living). There are no levels and there is no interruption or induced in harmony in their actions, they just flow in a perfectly orchestrated symphony (no matter how chaotic it may seem at one passing glance, without delving deep into macro & micro details of it simultaneously) doing what needs to be done.
Nowhere in this visible universe within the sights of modern science is a place, object or organism exempt from the harmonious interplay of these forces and nowhere is the scope of interference, that is there is nothing a galaxy, star, mountain, river, tree, animal or bacteria can do or not do about their creation, maintenance, constant change (evolution) and rejuvenation (death). There simply is no choice for them there simply is no FREE WILL.
AND.................... herein lays our exception .....................US.
Yes we, the human beings, are a true and only exception to this cosmic rule because of our FREE WILL. It is not that these forces are not acting simultaneously in us, they are, but we have the FREE WILL to disturb them, their actions and create in harmony. This FREE WILL, for it to be used also required an independently intelligent operating system too; else what’s the use of having it in the first place. That is, only if a system is capable of identifying possibilities and options can it actually choose, if it cannot identify possibilities then there is no need or role of FREE WILL because then things would continue to happen in a singular track of happening as they are.
For example, there is person who has never seen or known about any modality of transport other than a bullock cart so whenever he has to travel he can only travel in a bullock cart (bullock cart is the only choice, hence a no choice, the only possibility for him) but on the other hand a person who is aware of all modalities of transport has a choice, a possibility, of looking into available options and then selecting what he deems the best for the situation (a flight for long distance, a car for local travel etc etc....).
Since nowhere in the universe the concept of FREE WILL existed nowhere in the entire universe is existent an operating system with ability to cognize (understand) itself, its surroundings and its options from a given situation.
Since free will, for it to be functional and expressive, required an independently intelligent operating system hence human beings were given the MIND, encased (more correctly though, represented) in the highly advanced, complicated and evolved physical brain.
But herein lays another twist in the tale since CREATION, MAINTENANCE, CONSTANT CHANGE (EVOLUTION) and REJUVENATION (DEATH) these four processes are universal forces continuously at work in the entire universe, from the macrocosmic galaxies and stellar systems to the microcosmic single individual, constantly at the same time and in harmony with each other the mind also must be, and has to be (since it is also a part of this universe) , subject to them.
And here is the SECOND EXCEPTION........... That is in human beings these forces are acting at two levels and NOT just SINGULARLY as in every other entity of cosmos.
So on one level (plane) these forces are acting on the PHYSICAL BODY and on the other level (plane) they are acting on the MIND. This interplay of these forces at two levels in one being is not simple and mutually independent rather it is complicated, mutually intertwined and interrelated at certain junctions and totally independent at others.
If were took take a closer and deeper look at the entire cosmic lay out we will see these forces acting harmoniously, simultaneously, continuously and in an uninterrupted manner SINGULARLY in each and every entity of the cosmos.
SINGULARLY means that only one set of these four forces is acting at a time in an individual object (living or non-living). There are no levels and there is no interruption or induced in harmony in their actions, they just flow in a perfectly orchestrated symphony (no matter how chaotic it may seem at one passing glance, without delving deep into macro & micro details of it simultaneously) doing what needs to be done.
Nowhere in this visible universe within the sights of modern science is a place, object or organism exempt from the harmonious interplay of these forces and nowhere is the scope of interference, that is there is nothing a galaxy, star, mountain, river, tree, animal or bacteria can do or not do about their creation, maintenance, constant change (evolution) and rejuvenation (death). There simply is no choice for them there simply is no FREE WILL.
AND.................... herein lays our exception .....................US.
Yes we, the human beings, are a true and only exception to this cosmic rule because of our FREE WILL. It is not that these forces are not acting simultaneously in us, they are, but we have the FREE WILL to disturb them, their actions and create in harmony. This FREE WILL, for it to be used also required an independently intelligent operating system too; else what’s the use of having it in the first place. That is, only if a system is capable of identifying possibilities and options can it actually choose, if it cannot identify possibilities then there is no need or role of FREE WILL because then things would continue to happen in a singular track of happening as they are.
For example, there is person who has never seen or known about any modality of transport other than a bullock cart so whenever he has to travel he can only travel in a bullock cart (bullock cart is the only choice, hence a no choice, the only possibility for him) but on the other hand a person who is aware of all modalities of transport has a choice, a possibility, of looking into available options and then selecting what he deems the best for the situation (a flight for long distance, a car for local travel etc etc....).
Since nowhere in the universe the concept of FREE WILL existed nowhere in the entire universe is existent an operating system with ability to cognize (understand) itself, its surroundings and its options from a given situation.
Since free will, for it to be functional and expressive, required an independently intelligent operating system hence human beings were given the MIND, encased (more correctly though, represented) in the highly advanced, complicated and evolved physical brain.
But herein lays another twist in the tale since CREATION, MAINTENANCE, CONSTANT CHANGE (EVOLUTION) and REJUVENATION (DEATH) these four processes are universal forces continuously at work in the entire universe, from the macrocosmic galaxies and stellar systems to the microcosmic single individual, constantly at the same time and in harmony with each other the mind also must be, and has to be (since it is also a part of this universe) , subject to them.
And here is the SECOND EXCEPTION........... That is in human beings these forces are acting at two levels and NOT just SINGULARLY as in every other entity of cosmos.
So on one level (plane) these forces are acting on the PHYSICAL BODY and on the other level (plane) they are acting on the MIND. This interplay of these forces at two levels in one being is not simple and mutually independent rather it is complicated, mutually intertwined and interrelated at certain junctions and totally independent at others.
Saturday, January 23, 2010
THE BLUE PRINT SCRUTINY continued...
THE BLUE PRINT SCRUTINY (2)
II. These four processes are continuously at work in the entire universe, from the macrocosmic galaxies and stellar systems to the microcosmic single individual, constantly at the same time and in harmony with each other.
We all would agree that these four (CREATION, MAINTENANCE, CONSTANT CHANGE (EVOLUTION) and REJUVENATION (DEATH)) process shape and mould the entire universe including us, but it is worth scrutinizing how they are simultaneously at work and that also in complete harmony(since each seems to be opposing the other).
Just as the star is being formed (creation) it is being maintained in its condition then (condition of that moment) which is giving way to a constantly changing (evolving) milieu which implies that a constant rejuvenation of present star is taking place during its formation and sustenance after its formation (as it constantly burns out its hydrogen and keeps changing).
Similarly even as the human embryo develops into a fully grown foetus simultaneous with the obvious process of creation, is going on maintenance (sustenance) of what has been created, constant differentiation of various cells into more specialized organs and organ systems (evolution) and constant death of cells that have finished their allotted life span.
Even in a full grown adult constantly new and renewed cells are being created, the entire body is continuously changing on micro and macro levels, on micro levels it is the change of temperature, pH, chemical and cellular composition and on macro level it manifests as obvious gain or loss of weight, health or disease etc... .Amidst all this change body is being sustained or maintained seemingly unchanged (outwardly though) in its present form. Constant death of cells that have finished their preset life span is an obvious and vital function for body to rejuvenate itself.
Hence we see all these forces acting harmoniously, simultaneously, continuously and in an uninterrupted manner in each and every entity of the cosmos. Though at one point the manifestation of one entity may overshadow the existence of others none the less all are active and present harmoniously, simultaneously, continuously in each and every entity, situation and person.
II. These four processes are continuously at work in the entire universe, from the macrocosmic galaxies and stellar systems to the microcosmic single individual, constantly at the same time and in harmony with each other.
We all would agree that these four (CREATION, MAINTENANCE, CONSTANT CHANGE (EVOLUTION) and REJUVENATION (DEATH)) process shape and mould the entire universe including us, but it is worth scrutinizing how they are simultaneously at work and that also in complete harmony(since each seems to be opposing the other).
Just as the star is being formed (creation) it is being maintained in its condition then (condition of that moment) which is giving way to a constantly changing (evolving) milieu which implies that a constant rejuvenation of present star is taking place during its formation and sustenance after its formation (as it constantly burns out its hydrogen and keeps changing).
Similarly even as the human embryo develops into a fully grown foetus simultaneous with the obvious process of creation, is going on maintenance (sustenance) of what has been created, constant differentiation of various cells into more specialized organs and organ systems (evolution) and constant death of cells that have finished their allotted life span.
Even in a full grown adult constantly new and renewed cells are being created, the entire body is continuously changing on micro and macro levels, on micro levels it is the change of temperature, pH, chemical and cellular composition and on macro level it manifests as obvious gain or loss of weight, health or disease etc... .Amidst all this change body is being sustained or maintained seemingly unchanged (outwardly though) in its present form. Constant death of cells that have finished their preset life span is an obvious and vital function for body to rejuvenate itself.
Hence we see all these forces acting harmoniously, simultaneously, continuously and in an uninterrupted manner in each and every entity of the cosmos. Though at one point the manifestation of one entity may overshadow the existence of others none the less all are active and present harmoniously, simultaneously, continuously in each and every entity, situation and person.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
THE BLUE PRINT scrutiny continued
II. These four processes are continuously at work in the entire universe, from the macro cosmic galaxies and stellar systems to the microcosmic single individual, constantly at the same time and in harmony with each other.
We all would agree that these four (CREATION, MAINTENANCE, CONSTANT CHANGE (EVOLUTION) and REJUVENATION (DEATH)) process shape and mold the entire universe including us, but it is worth scrutinizing how they are simultaneously at work and that also in complete harmony(since each seems to be opposing the other).
Just as the star is being formed (creation) it is being maintained in its condition then (condition of that moment) which is giving way to a constantly changing (evolving) milieu which implies that a constant rejuvenation of present star is taking place during its formation and sustenance after its formation (as it constantly burns out its hydrogen and keeps changing).
Similarly as our bodies are being created in mother’s womb, they are also being sustained by various processes of respiration, assimilation, excretion, circulation etc... And there also is occurring simultaneous death (rejuvenation) of numerous cells that have finished their function and requisite time period of existence. The growth of the human body till late adolescence and then senescence and aging are all too obvious but they compartmentalize and portray these four processes acting individually and independently in different phases of life. That is creation manifesting itself in isolation during growth and rejuvenation alone at death. Which is false, even right now death (rejuvenation) is very much a part of our system. Constantly innumerable millions of cells (having served their purpose and finished their life) are dying within us and even in our death a new us is being created.
Hence the conclusion that we draw is that all the four forces are working constantly at the same time and in harmony with each other though the obvious external expression of one may overshadow others presence. That is creation may overshadow death during embryo genesis and growth and death may overshadow creation during the final eventuality of physical death but all are co-existent none the less.
We all would agree that these four (CREATION, MAINTENANCE, CONSTANT CHANGE (EVOLUTION) and REJUVENATION (DEATH)) process shape and mold the entire universe including us, but it is worth scrutinizing how they are simultaneously at work and that also in complete harmony(since each seems to be opposing the other).
Just as the star is being formed (creation) it is being maintained in its condition then (condition of that moment) which is giving way to a constantly changing (evolving) milieu which implies that a constant rejuvenation of present star is taking place during its formation and sustenance after its formation (as it constantly burns out its hydrogen and keeps changing).
Similarly as our bodies are being created in mother’s womb, they are also being sustained by various processes of respiration, assimilation, excretion, circulation etc... And there also is occurring simultaneous death (rejuvenation) of numerous cells that have finished their function and requisite time period of existence. The growth of the human body till late adolescence and then senescence and aging are all too obvious but they compartmentalize and portray these four processes acting individually and independently in different phases of life. That is creation manifesting itself in isolation during growth and rejuvenation alone at death. Which is false, even right now death (rejuvenation) is very much a part of our system. Constantly innumerable millions of cells (having served their purpose and finished their life) are dying within us and even in our death a new us is being created.
Hence the conclusion that we draw is that all the four forces are working constantly at the same time and in harmony with each other though the obvious external expression of one may overshadow others presence. That is creation may overshadow death during embryo genesis and growth and death may overshadow creation during the final eventuality of physical death but all are co-existent none the less.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
THE BLUE PRINT ILLUSTRATED
CREATION, MAINTENANCE, CONSTANT CHANGE (EVOLUTION) and REJUVENATION (DEATH) these four processes are continuously at work in the entire universe, from the macrocosmic galaxies and stellar systems to the microcosmic single individual, constantly at the same time and in harmony with each other.
Now let us closely scrutinize all the statements made till now regarding the blue print.
I. Every single living and non-living thing is subject to the same law (the four processes). Only its external expression and time scale on which this process is laid out varies from one object to other (statement made in the preceding post)
A mountain is born (CREATION) out of collision between two tectonic plates, it is MAINTAINED as it is, by the support of stable solid plate underneath it, it is subject to CONSTANT CHANGE as there occurs constant sculpting of it by the winds, water, rain and weather. It is constantly EVOLVING as it gets invaded by life, first on microscopic level later on macroscopic scale, bacteria and algae give way to ferns and shrubs which usher in plants and trees who invite the fauna (animals) as this evolutionary drama is being played out. The hostile barren mountain (of yesterday) is now teeming with intelligent, self-sustaining life. The forces of nature (wind, rivers etc...) along with the roots of plants and other organic activity is constantly denuding the rocks to sand and also nourishing it (REJUVENATION) and as time passes by the mountain becomes a plateau (death or change of form or total rejuvenation).
A similar process of CREATION, MAINTENANCE, CONSTANT CHANGE (EVOLUTION) and REJUVENATION (DEATH) is very easy to comprehend when applied to all living beings including humans.
Only difference is the time scale and expression. The time scale on which this entire process is laid out is hundreds of thousands of years for a mountain and only a few decades for a human being.
The modality of its expression also varies greatly, from gaseous nebulae gathering under the influence of gravity forming a starry mass (CREATION), to a star with intelligent & controlled fusion reaction lighting and sustaining it and hence constantly burning itself out and changing itself (MAINTENANCE & CONSTANT CHANGE) to the eventual change of form (death) of the star into a black hole, white dwarf or a PULSAR.
The same four processes when expressed in human life weave the astounding miracle of a single celled zygote (size of approximately 10µm and weighing approximately 10-9 grams) becoming a (approximately) 3kg baby with 100 trillion (10^14 ) cells{with a 100 billion (10^11) neurons and 100 trillion (10^14) synapses and various other specialized & dedicated organs and organ systems such as skin , cardio vascular, hepatobiliary, gastrointestinal systems etc..}. From one round microscopic mass of insignificance to the most complex & intelligent creation of this entire visible universe, in just 9 months.
Now let us closely scrutinize all the statements made till now regarding the blue print.
I. Every single living and non-living thing is subject to the same law (the four processes). Only its external expression and time scale on which this process is laid out varies from one object to other (statement made in the preceding post)
A mountain is born (CREATION) out of collision between two tectonic plates, it is MAINTAINED as it is, by the support of stable solid plate underneath it, it is subject to CONSTANT CHANGE as there occurs constant sculpting of it by the winds, water, rain and weather. It is constantly EVOLVING as it gets invaded by life, first on microscopic level later on macroscopic scale, bacteria and algae give way to ferns and shrubs which usher in plants and trees who invite the fauna (animals) as this evolutionary drama is being played out. The hostile barren mountain (of yesterday) is now teeming with intelligent, self-sustaining life. The forces of nature (wind, rivers etc...) along with the roots of plants and other organic activity is constantly denuding the rocks to sand and also nourishing it (REJUVENATION) and as time passes by the mountain becomes a plateau (death or change of form or total rejuvenation).
A similar process of CREATION, MAINTENANCE, CONSTANT CHANGE (EVOLUTION) and REJUVENATION (DEATH) is very easy to comprehend when applied to all living beings including humans.
Only difference is the time scale and expression. The time scale on which this entire process is laid out is hundreds of thousands of years for a mountain and only a few decades for a human being.
The modality of its expression also varies greatly, from gaseous nebulae gathering under the influence of gravity forming a starry mass (CREATION), to a star with intelligent & controlled fusion reaction lighting and sustaining it and hence constantly burning itself out and changing itself (MAINTENANCE & CONSTANT CHANGE) to the eventual change of form (death) of the star into a black hole, white dwarf or a PULSAR.
The same four processes when expressed in human life weave the astounding miracle of a single celled zygote (size of approximately 10µm and weighing approximately 10-9 grams) becoming a (approximately) 3kg baby with 100 trillion (10^14 ) cells{with a 100 billion (10^11) neurons and 100 trillion (10^14) synapses and various other specialized & dedicated organs and organ systems such as skin , cardio vascular, hepatobiliary, gastrointestinal systems etc..}. From one round microscopic mass of insignificance to the most complex & intelligent creation of this entire visible universe, in just 9 months.
Monday, January 18, 2010
THE BLUE PRINT
Big bang ....... and............... Space and time are brought to life, infinite quantities of matter is hurled into this new born space at speeds nearing that of light itself. Gaseous nebulae form stars, stars group into galaxies. Planets gather around stars held by their gravitational pull and solar systems are created that continue to exist and continuously change. But stars too come of age and explode into white dwarfs or implode as black holes devouring matter around them with their immense gravity.
Amidst all this din & roar also is created our own planet (earth). Here too a seed (easy to miss & seemingly inconspicuous, just like the nebulae of unorganized gases in space), when given the right opportunity, grows into a plant and a plant into a (difficult to miss) tree. Just like the organized mass of gases become a conspicuous star and just like the star, after its requisite life span is over, the tree too succumbs to a process of rejuvenation (popularly called or known as death).
It’s not just the galaxies and the stars on the macro cosmic level that are subject to this process of CREATION, MAINTENANCE, CONSTANT CHANGE (EVOLUTION) and REJUVENATION (DEATH) every single living and non-living thing is subject to the same law. Only its external expression and time scale on which this process is laid out varies from one object to other (a billion or more years for a star, to a few hundred thousand years for a mountain, to a hundred year span for a human being, to a span of few days or hours for microorganisms) but the essential process is the same.
Amidst all this din & roar also is created our own planet (earth). Here too a seed (easy to miss & seemingly inconspicuous, just like the nebulae of unorganized gases in space), when given the right opportunity, grows into a plant and a plant into a (difficult to miss) tree. Just like the organized mass of gases become a conspicuous star and just like the star, after its requisite life span is over, the tree too succumbs to a process of rejuvenation (popularly called or known as death).
It’s not just the galaxies and the stars on the macro cosmic level that are subject to this process of CREATION, MAINTENANCE, CONSTANT CHANGE (EVOLUTION) and REJUVENATION (DEATH) every single living and non-living thing is subject to the same law. Only its external expression and time scale on which this process is laid out varies from one object to other (a billion or more years for a star, to a few hundred thousand years for a mountain, to a hundred year span for a human being, to a span of few days or hours for microorganisms) but the essential process is the same.
Sunday, January 17, 2010
INTERLUDE
We have discussed a lot of basic ideas about our functioning, that is “why we are, the way we are?”, “why we act & function the way we do?” and certain definitions on areas of immediate concern in life such as necessity, suffering, mental setup etc... . But before we proceed any further we need one more essential bit of understanding and that is about the BLUEPRINT. That is the basic plan of life as a whole and our relation to this celestial blue print. So we will take a detour in the next few posts to discover more clearly the concept of cosmic blueprint and restart from where we left, refreshed with this invigorating understanding.
Saturday, January 16, 2010
SO WHAT DO I GET OUT OF IT?
The socio-cultural milieu (our homes, relatives, friends, and media) and most importantly our educational system has deeply impregnated within us a MENTAL SETUP of UTILITY & PURPOSE. We have been so thoroughly programmed with the concept of UTILITY & PURPOSE that now it has become our operating system. It is impossible for us to imagine even second of our life being lived without a tag of utility or purpose attached to it. We eat to keep fit (rather fat), we sleep to wake up fresh in the morning to be able to function better throughout the day, we read to get the returns of passing (or good grades), we work to get paid (or promoted or recognized); we socialize to be returned or reciprocated emotionally. Every second of our life is constantly gauged on the scale of purpose and our response calibrated according to its utility value.
An example, a new comer passes by us in the office we register him as a new comer in our MENTAL SETUP our SETUP CATEGORIZES him as low or no utility value to (us) our purpose (purpose of getting promotion or pay hike or recognition etc etc.....) we give him a response linked to low or no utility category that is either ignore him or pass a cold smile. Moments later the chairman of the company arrives and introduces this new comer as the new vice-president of the company and this time around when the same new comer has an eye contact with us we give him back our “smile max” ( electrically exposing all 32 teeth and even the throat), we alter our body attitude and posture into that of shear humility and welcome and all this is done just due to RE-CATEGORIZATION of this new comer now into EXTREMELY IMPORTANT and hence we start responding to him in the EXTREMELY IMPORTANT category linked response.
So this MENTAL SETUP of UTILITY & PURPOSE has made us businessmen. Or more correctly beggars, begging for something in return for everything we do or do not do.
Even before a child can understand he is constantly fed with a purpose (becoming an engineer, doctor, lawyer, billionaire etc...). As he grows the purpose lives through him but he continues to miss life. That is his entire life will now get moulded to achieve this purpose (or goal) given to him. He will stop playing even though he loves to because he has to read more in order to ensure the attainment of his goal. He will never learn to play a flute or a guitar (even though his heart so badly wants to) because that in no way contributes in attainment of his goal & hence is seen as wastage of time by the MENTAL SETUP. During his passage through this dark (time tunnel, time from imparting of goal to its eventual attainment) tunnel of PATH to attainment of his goal he is repeatedly assured of light of HAPPINESS & SETTLEMENT at the other end. He is continuously (&falsely) promised that after attaining his goal his purpose, life will be a beautiful bed of roses and so it is worthwhile to go through any and everything that comes on his way to attain his goal. But after attaining the goal only one thing happens DISILLUSIONMENT which manifests itself as depression of success because the person is so used to living with a goal & a purpose that fulfillment of the same is like drying up (finishing) of fuel of life, now until he is granted another purpose or goal he will lose interest in everything around him since he is not used to living even a second without UTILITY & PURPOSE.
An example, a new comer passes by us in the office we register him as a new comer in our MENTAL SETUP our SETUP CATEGORIZES him as low or no utility value to (us) our purpose (purpose of getting promotion or pay hike or recognition etc etc.....) we give him a response linked to low or no utility category that is either ignore him or pass a cold smile. Moments later the chairman of the company arrives and introduces this new comer as the new vice-president of the company and this time around when the same new comer has an eye contact with us we give him back our “smile max” ( electrically exposing all 32 teeth and even the throat), we alter our body attitude and posture into that of shear humility and welcome and all this is done just due to RE-CATEGORIZATION of this new comer now into EXTREMELY IMPORTANT and hence we start responding to him in the EXTREMELY IMPORTANT category linked response.
So this MENTAL SETUP of UTILITY & PURPOSE has made us businessmen. Or more correctly beggars, begging for something in return for everything we do or do not do.
Even before a child can understand he is constantly fed with a purpose (becoming an engineer, doctor, lawyer, billionaire etc...). As he grows the purpose lives through him but he continues to miss life. That is his entire life will now get moulded to achieve this purpose (or goal) given to him. He will stop playing even though he loves to because he has to read more in order to ensure the attainment of his goal. He will never learn to play a flute or a guitar (even though his heart so badly wants to) because that in no way contributes in attainment of his goal & hence is seen as wastage of time by the MENTAL SETUP. During his passage through this dark (time tunnel, time from imparting of goal to its eventual attainment) tunnel of PATH to attainment of his goal he is repeatedly assured of light of HAPPINESS & SETTLEMENT at the other end. He is continuously (&falsely) promised that after attaining his goal his purpose, life will be a beautiful bed of roses and so it is worthwhile to go through any and everything that comes on his way to attain his goal. But after attaining the goal only one thing happens DISILLUSIONMENT which manifests itself as depression of success because the person is so used to living with a goal & a purpose that fulfillment of the same is like drying up (finishing) of fuel of life, now until he is granted another purpose or goal he will lose interest in everything around him since he is not used to living even a second without UTILITY & PURPOSE.
Friday, January 15, 2010
MENTAL SETUP simplified
So what do I get out of this?
This is THE FAQ (frequently asked question) with which we move every second, make every decision & live our life. The world around us and the socio-cultural environment of our times (with a robust backing of our educational system) has given us all a MENTAL SETUP of a businessman. We invest in every single walk of life with expectation of returns. We invest in reading to get the returns of passing (or good grades), we invest in working to get paid (or promoted or recognized), we invest in socializing to be returned or reciprocated emotionally, we even go to the extent of exploiting the natural necessities of hunger & sleep, to derive pleasure of taste (and overeat) &, lie around lazily even when the body has had complete rest and is crying for some exercise and activity.
The same holds good for the process of SELF INTEGRATION too. Even before getting started the mind needs an assurance that all the outcomes projected and promised in “the utility value” article (one of the first on the blog) will hold true, the investment of reading all this would fetch all the previously promised returns.
Let us further simplify our understanding of MENTAL SETUP before we proceed any further. Simply put MENTAL SETUP may be understood as an archive (record) of all previous experiences, events, ideologies and perceptions of our life. Anything and everything that we perceive is constantly cross checked and cross referenced with this data bank of ours and then categorized into one of the pre-existing categories and then our MENTAL SETUP hands over to us a response appropriate to that category and we react accordingly.
An example, if we are habituated to drinking tea first thing in the morning then NOT getting tea is categorized as an UPSETTING situation and we will keep getting upset about this silly thing all our life no matter how many times or how different a situation in which it repeats itself. We will be upset about it even while trekking on mountains in the early morning or even when served with the finest coffee instead of tea while on vacation at a coffee plantation of coorg. All because we have a generic response system in our MENTAL SETUP records we have categories (or genres) once something is perceived it needs to be classified and once classified a response linked to that category (genre) will only be generated nothing new is possible. That is why people around us are so predictable all of us know “do this to him & he will be happy”, “don’t do that it will upset him” about every single person around us. We have jailed ourselves in our own MENTAL SETUP and shut the door of possibilities tight.
This is THE FAQ (frequently asked question) with which we move every second, make every decision & live our life. The world around us and the socio-cultural environment of our times (with a robust backing of our educational system) has given us all a MENTAL SETUP of a businessman. We invest in every single walk of life with expectation of returns. We invest in reading to get the returns of passing (or good grades), we invest in working to get paid (or promoted or recognized), we invest in socializing to be returned or reciprocated emotionally, we even go to the extent of exploiting the natural necessities of hunger & sleep, to derive pleasure of taste (and overeat) &, lie around lazily even when the body has had complete rest and is crying for some exercise and activity.
The same holds good for the process of SELF INTEGRATION too. Even before getting started the mind needs an assurance that all the outcomes projected and promised in “the utility value” article (one of the first on the blog) will hold true, the investment of reading all this would fetch all the previously promised returns.
Let us further simplify our understanding of MENTAL SETUP before we proceed any further. Simply put MENTAL SETUP may be understood as an archive (record) of all previous experiences, events, ideologies and perceptions of our life. Anything and everything that we perceive is constantly cross checked and cross referenced with this data bank of ours and then categorized into one of the pre-existing categories and then our MENTAL SETUP hands over to us a response appropriate to that category and we react accordingly.
An example, if we are habituated to drinking tea first thing in the morning then NOT getting tea is categorized as an UPSETTING situation and we will keep getting upset about this silly thing all our life no matter how many times or how different a situation in which it repeats itself. We will be upset about it even while trekking on mountains in the early morning or even when served with the finest coffee instead of tea while on vacation at a coffee plantation of coorg. All because we have a generic response system in our MENTAL SETUP records we have categories (or genres) once something is perceived it needs to be classified and once classified a response linked to that category (genre) will only be generated nothing new is possible. That is why people around us are so predictable all of us know “do this to him & he will be happy”, “don’t do that it will upset him” about every single person around us. We have jailed ourselves in our own MENTAL SETUP and shut the door of possibilities tight.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
BEFORE BEGINING (mental setup defined)
The societal (also educational) software instilled into our system which can be termed as “MENTAL SETUP”, can be defined as “the particular way we think, perceive the reality or the happenings around us, interpret those happenings, categorize them and finally respond to them in a generic manner. That is we generate a particular response for a particular category of event no matter how different they may be from each other”.
An example to illustrate what is MENTAL SETUP & how it works, one person sees a man jump over a closed gate at odd hours of night, (this an event being perceived by him), his MENTAL SETUP interprets this event as a robbery, he categorizes this situation as that of alarm and reacts by starting to shout, calling for help or dialing the police.
But another man who has had the experience of having left the keys behind, locking an automatic lock door & then having to jump over the locked back gate to gain entry through the backyard has a MENTAL SETUP that makes him perceive this same event as the one similar to his, he interprets this as “owner misplacing the keys”, categorizes it as innocuous and reacts by either just passing by or if he is of a more generous nature then offering to help.
Situation is the same but its PERCEPTION differs between two individuals because of the difference in their MENTAL SETUP hence the categorization and reaction also differ so greatly.
Another example, a person has been sarcastically nicknamed tiger by his friends to make fun of his cowardice. Whenever he is called by that nickname (tiger) it is only to make fun of him and humiliate him. This name generates so much defensiveness and suppressed anger in him that every time he is called by it he reacts by angrily justifying himself. On an occasion (by mistake or by chance though) he really does commit an act of bravery and someone in the crowd applauds his act of bravery by referring to him as tiger his MENTAL SETUP categorizes this as HUMILIATION and he reacts with angry justification. Though the two situations are a world apart (one of humiliation & the other of applause) his MENTAL SETUP CATEGORIZES them as the same and hence invokes a similar (generic) response for that category that is angry justification.
MENTAL SETUP is the looking glass or the goggle (sun glass) through which we see & perceive the world and not as it is.
An example to illustrate what is MENTAL SETUP & how it works, one person sees a man jump over a closed gate at odd hours of night, (this an event being perceived by him), his MENTAL SETUP interprets this event as a robbery, he categorizes this situation as that of alarm and reacts by starting to shout, calling for help or dialing the police.
But another man who has had the experience of having left the keys behind, locking an automatic lock door & then having to jump over the locked back gate to gain entry through the backyard has a MENTAL SETUP that makes him perceive this same event as the one similar to his, he interprets this as “owner misplacing the keys”, categorizes it as innocuous and reacts by either just passing by or if he is of a more generous nature then offering to help.
Situation is the same but its PERCEPTION differs between two individuals because of the difference in their MENTAL SETUP hence the categorization and reaction also differ so greatly.
Another example, a person has been sarcastically nicknamed tiger by his friends to make fun of his cowardice. Whenever he is called by that nickname (tiger) it is only to make fun of him and humiliate him. This name generates so much defensiveness and suppressed anger in him that every time he is called by it he reacts by angrily justifying himself. On an occasion (by mistake or by chance though) he really does commit an act of bravery and someone in the crowd applauds his act of bravery by referring to him as tiger his MENTAL SETUP categorizes this as HUMILIATION and he reacts with angry justification. Though the two situations are a world apart (one of humiliation & the other of applause) his MENTAL SETUP CATEGORIZES them as the same and hence invokes a similar (generic) response for that category that is angry justification.
MENTAL SETUP is the looking glass or the goggle (sun glass) through which we see & perceive the world and not as it is.
Sunday, January 10, 2010
READINESS emphasized
Before we go any further let us understand completely the importance of readiness in our lives (not just in attaining SELF INTEGRITY) & how it shapes each and every moment and aspect of our life.
If necessity (as seen in previous articles) were to be the INTENTION then readiness is the ACTION arising out of that intention.
If necessity is KNOWLEDGE IN THE BOOKS then readiness is THE EXPERIMENT IN THE LAB.
An example, we may have the intention of getting out of the bed early in the morning (INTENTION,NECESSITY), but until we actually do the act of getting out of the bed (ACTION,READINESS) we can keep lying in the bed & fantasise about getting up early but that in any way is not getting up early.
Another example, a sports commentator may know the finest detail of the game (KNOWLEDGE, NECESSITY) and may go nonstop for hours together at length to discuss the nitty-gritty of the game but when faced with a real ball and a bat on an actual pitch he would not even be able to see the ball coming at him leave alone playing it. A player on the other hand is willing to get hit & hurt, is willing to face the humiliation of getting out without scoring a run, and understands the importance of keeping his foot firmly planted on ground when he raises his bat after scoring a century (EXPERIMENT, READINESS).
READINESS is one of the axis around which our life is spinning. If we do not have the readiness (the state of mind explained in the previous article) to appear in the exam then we are ready to fail.
If we do not have the readiness to enter into a relationship (the state of commitment explained in the previous article) then we are only preparing make it ugly and a failure.
If we do not have the readiness to pursue a certain desire or idea then we will only keep dreaming about it ( if it is a desire) or just intellectualizing about it ,that is just reading ,reading, reading & talking about it without ever living or following it, (if it is an ideology).
If necessity (as seen in previous articles) were to be the INTENTION then readiness is the ACTION arising out of that intention.
If necessity is KNOWLEDGE IN THE BOOKS then readiness is THE EXPERIMENT IN THE LAB.
An example, we may have the intention of getting out of the bed early in the morning (INTENTION,NECESSITY), but until we actually do the act of getting out of the bed (ACTION,READINESS) we can keep lying in the bed & fantasise about getting up early but that in any way is not getting up early.
Another example, a sports commentator may know the finest detail of the game (KNOWLEDGE, NECESSITY) and may go nonstop for hours together at length to discuss the nitty-gritty of the game but when faced with a real ball and a bat on an actual pitch he would not even be able to see the ball coming at him leave alone playing it. A player on the other hand is willing to get hit & hurt, is willing to face the humiliation of getting out without scoring a run, and understands the importance of keeping his foot firmly planted on ground when he raises his bat after scoring a century (EXPERIMENT, READINESS).
READINESS is one of the axis around which our life is spinning. If we do not have the readiness (the state of mind explained in the previous article) to appear in the exam then we are ready to fail.
If we do not have the readiness to enter into a relationship (the state of commitment explained in the previous article) then we are only preparing make it ugly and a failure.
If we do not have the readiness to pursue a certain desire or idea then we will only keep dreaming about it ( if it is a desire) or just intellectualizing about it ,that is just reading ,reading, reading & talking about it without ever living or following it, (if it is an ideology).
Saturday, January 9, 2010
READINESS
So what is readiness? We have seen that the sense of necessity for SELF INTEGRITY arises either out of pure intelligence or intelligence admixed with suffering. Where in does readiness fit in all this then?
If necessity were to be seen as a vehicle then readiness is the fuel. Simply put readiness is a committed state of mind a “come what may” a “no looking back” state. No matter how good or fast a vehicle is it can only go as far as the fuel in it. Similarly no matter how strong ones necessity is to integrate his being he can only do as much as his state of readiness is.
An example, you want to sit and read a certain topic today, your friend invites you to go out for a movie, and the topic is left all alone in solitude, in the wilderness of books jungle. On the other hand you decide to read the same topic just days before the final exams & the same friend now again invites you to an even more thrilling movie proposition the eventual outcome of this scenario is that you give company to the topic this time & the friend is issued solitude.
The topic is same, you are same, friend is same and the movie this time is much more interesting but the decisions are so different. Only thing different between the two situations is your state of mind. Your commitment to the cause is much higher (out of fear of exams though) in the second scenario. A “come what may” state of mind to pursue has been achieved .
If necessity were to be seen as a vehicle then readiness is the fuel. Simply put readiness is a committed state of mind a “come what may” a “no looking back” state. No matter how good or fast a vehicle is it can only go as far as the fuel in it. Similarly no matter how strong ones necessity is to integrate his being he can only do as much as his state of readiness is.
An example, you want to sit and read a certain topic today, your friend invites you to go out for a movie, and the topic is left all alone in solitude, in the wilderness of books jungle. On the other hand you decide to read the same topic just days before the final exams & the same friend now again invites you to an even more thrilling movie proposition the eventual outcome of this scenario is that you give company to the topic this time & the friend is issued solitude.
The topic is same, you are same, friend is same and the movie this time is much more interesting but the decisions are so different. Only thing different between the two situations is your state of mind. Your commitment to the cause is much higher (out of fear of exams though) in the second scenario. A “come what may” state of mind to pursue has been achieved .
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
SUFFERING continued
we need to understand that all of what we call as "me & mine" and work so ardently for is neither "us nor ours". ALL of it will be taken away including this body. suffering arises from the FALSE SOCIETY INDOCTRINATED CONCEPTION that this is mine (the physical possessions).That i as i am, am unfulfilled & i constantly need to acquire & maintain. i constantly need to accomplish,add & maintain failing which i will have to live with my sense of discontent & lack. when we fail to accomplish (health,wealth, relationships) or maintain {health,wealth,relationships(including death) } suffering arises.
in this critical moment if one is bestowed with intelligence he throws away (out of deep frustration though) everything that he had been falsely clinging on to as "himself & his". example ,failure of a relationship with one person takes away the fantasy from that relationship. people take a vow never to fall in love again after a bitter break up. during this moment of grief a window to our true self and real possibilities is opened up as we unhook from the outer world (out of shear pain & frustration though) and sink into the inner world of our real inner self.
At this juncture intelligence would again be needed to clearly be able to perceive this phenomenon ( to be able to see the scenery through the newly opened window of possibility) of two separate worlds, two separate identities . one superficial society given SOCIETAL identity the other actual self or the EXISTENTIAL identity.
in this critical moment if one is bestowed with intelligence he throws away (out of deep frustration though) everything that he had been falsely clinging on to as "himself & his". example ,failure of a relationship with one person takes away the fantasy from that relationship. people take a vow never to fall in love again after a bitter break up. during this moment of grief a window to our true self and real possibilities is opened up as we unhook from the outer world (out of shear pain & frustration though) and sink into the inner world of our real inner self.
At this juncture intelligence would again be needed to clearly be able to perceive this phenomenon ( to be able to see the scenery through the newly opened window of possibility) of two separate worlds, two separate identities . one superficial society given SOCIETAL identity the other actual self or the EXISTENTIAL identity.
SUFFERING
suffering is a wonderful opportunity a window that can give us a glimpse of possibilities but if and only if it is accompanied with awareness & intelligence. so in essence intelligence is a basic necessity.
Buddha signifies extreme intelligence in suffering. he can suffer for others & extrapolate their suffering upon himself without actually physically ever going through any of it.
Valmiki on the other hand embodies substantially high intelligence in suffering. one jolt of reality, that none of what he is doing has any significance & for those whom he is doing all this (his family)are not at all willing to share the burden of bad karma he is generating (by robbery & looting ) takes his suffering (brought about by dawning of this aforementioned reality) to a level of higher seeking
A person drowning him self in alcohol,seeking solace,or deeming himself as depressed and withdrawing from society exhibits lack of intelligence.
Hence suffering is like a check that can only be en cashed in the bank of intelligence.
Buddha signifies extreme intelligence in suffering. he can suffer for others & extrapolate their suffering upon himself without actually physically ever going through any of it.
Valmiki on the other hand embodies substantially high intelligence in suffering. one jolt of reality, that none of what he is doing has any significance & for those whom he is doing all this (his family)are not at all willing to share the burden of bad karma he is generating (by robbery & looting ) takes his suffering (brought about by dawning of this aforementioned reality) to a level of higher seeking
A person drowning him self in alcohol,seeking solace,or deeming himself as depressed and withdrawing from society exhibits lack of intelligence.
Hence suffering is like a check that can only be en cashed in the bank of intelligence.
Friday, January 1, 2010
NECESSITY&READINESS continued
IF and only if somehow at some point we realize or get feel a glimpse of " life has to have much more than this" , "there must be more to it than meets the eyes", "i am living a life of borrowed dreams", "there must be something much bigger much better to pursue and live for some higher purpose some better aim" we may feel the need for that something called INTEGRITY.
THIS glimpse of looking out for personal satisfaction along with social accomplishment (or just a deep urge for personal satisfaction) can occur to us in two ways.
THIS happens when we look around us with open eyes we look into the lives of people around us.people who are constantly telling us what to do and what not to we look into their lives keenly ,closely and at length(not just superficially, hastily&at just a moment or two ) and try to find out "is this person happy?" , "is he contented ?", "is he joyful and at ease with himself?", if not why then should i follow him .His ideology his belief could not give him any joy , any fulfillment what good it would be to me then?
we closely,keenly and at length (with both rewind and fast forward ) analyse the lives of people we idolize and question "no doubt he/she has achieved (socially) all that i wish to in future but how has his / her life been all this while during this journey?" , "what kind of life he lived to get to this point?" and "what kind of life is he living now?","am i willing to follow the similar path?" and most importantly "is it all worth all this?".
These questions lead us deeper and deeper within our own selves and bring us face to face with US the real ME NOT the borrowed ME. and it is then that the necessity for INTEGRITY arises.
THIS glimpse of looking out for personal satisfaction along with social accomplishment (or just a deep urge for personal satisfaction) can occur to us in two ways.
- intelligence
- suffering
THIS happens when we look around us with open eyes we look into the lives of people around us.people who are constantly telling us what to do and what not to we look into their lives keenly ,closely and at length(not just superficially, hastily&at just a moment or two ) and try to find out "is this person happy?" , "is he contented ?", "is he joyful and at ease with himself?", if not why then should i follow him .His ideology his belief could not give him any joy , any fulfillment what good it would be to me then?
we closely,keenly and at length (with both rewind and fast forward ) analyse the lives of people we idolize and question "no doubt he/she has achieved (socially) all that i wish to in future but how has his / her life been all this while during this journey?" , "what kind of life he lived to get to this point?" and "what kind of life is he living now?","am i willing to follow the similar path?" and most importantly "is it all worth all this?".
These questions lead us deeper and deeper within our own selves and bring us face to face with US the real ME NOT the borrowed ME. and it is then that the necessity for INTEGRITY arises.
GETTING STARTED
well if integrity was such a panacea then why does every one not have it and live and enjoy life to its fullest ?
answer to this logical question is necessity and readiness
NECESSITY
Necessity is the mother of invention and not just invention it has become the sole fuel driving us to do whatever we do. necessity to get a degree makes us go to schools & colleges, this necessity of having a degree arises in turn out of the necessity to get a job which in turn arises from the necessity to make a living or make a name or niche in society. an extremely condensed example to illustrate how right down from kinder garden to work place via college our entire life has been necessity dependent. so where does INTEGRITY fit in in this endless list of necessity?
Here is the dilemma integrity has never been a part of any necessity list!!!! one can live his/her entire life without it. ever wondered why?
well if we closely examine our necessity drive we would find that necessity list we carry does not for ever once bother about us it is a list arising out of society to maintain & contribute to the society, that is the schools never ask you what you are interested in they teach you what they have to. colleges never bother about your dreams they give you theirs. as long as you are a doctor,engineer,accountant,lawyer.... etc etc you are useful to the society. so as soon as we develop cognizance we are handed over a "TO DO (ACHIEVE)LIST". and in fulfillment of this INTEGRITY is not a necessity.
BUT FOR OUR OWN SELVES FULFILLMENT IT IS NOT JUST A NECESSITY IT IS ALSO THE FIRST STEPPING STONE
answer to this logical question is necessity and readiness
NECESSITY
Necessity is the mother of invention and not just invention it has become the sole fuel driving us to do whatever we do. necessity to get a degree makes us go to schools & colleges, this necessity of having a degree arises in turn out of the necessity to get a job which in turn arises from the necessity to make a living or make a name or niche in society. an extremely condensed example to illustrate how right down from kinder garden to work place via college our entire life has been necessity dependent. so where does INTEGRITY fit in in this endless list of necessity?
Here is the dilemma integrity has never been a part of any necessity list!!!! one can live his/her entire life without it. ever wondered why?
well if we closely examine our necessity drive we would find that necessity list we carry does not for ever once bother about us it is a list arising out of society to maintain & contribute to the society, that is the schools never ask you what you are interested in they teach you what they have to. colleges never bother about your dreams they give you theirs. as long as you are a doctor,engineer,accountant,lawyer.... etc etc you are useful to the society. so as soon as we develop cognizance we are handed over a "TO DO (ACHIEVE)LIST". and in fulfillment of this INTEGRITY is not a necessity.
BUT FOR OUR OWN SELVES FULFILLMENT IT IS NOT JUST A NECESSITY IT IS ALSO THE FIRST STEPPING STONE
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