'Self' Articles (con't)
People believe that human consciousness is a special case. They consider that human sentience is a fluke, or that it has no connections other than those that are self determined. Am I mistaken? People seem to equate self awareness with subjectivity, questions of I and the world according to me. Humans have attained much. Was it just because they decided they would? But humans are not the only sentient ones, right? If sentience is equated to sensitivity, then no. They are not. I always wonder why us? Oh, there is a reason. Can you eat without other life being able… Seek More
January 8th, 2011 | Leave Your Insight
I am not you, because my event border is distinctive from your own. I can happen at the same time you do. But is my presence a single event? You being conceived is your brain being “switched on”? My father being conceived was my being conceived, and in that case, my brain was switched on before fertilization. If you accept the scientific view of consciousness as an electrochemical process, all cells generate the same physical signals as brain cells. We just declare that the complex mesh of signals in our brain is consciousness, somehow. Is there one moment when the… Seek More
January 9th, 2011 | Leave Your Insight
Perhaps a concept to centralize our thoughts. The Chinese have a word, Tsu or Tzu. It has two meanings. Child and master. In eastern metaphysics, mastery is defined as complete harmony with the Tao, and children are considered to come as close to that as possible. I’ve usually heard that word in someone’s name. Lao Tzu. Chuang Tzu. It means Master Lao. It also means Child Lao. In Chinese culture, they also use the same word for mind and heart. If you tried to discuss thought without feeling, it would not be understood. They even say something that we consider… Seek More
January 10th, 2011 | Leave Your Insight
Now perhaps the greatest mystery of self mastery. Why is it possible for me to like jogging, and you to hate it? Your point of view? Why is it possible for me to have a point of view? Reality is consistent, and we all have senses of one form or another. We all live in a world defined by the same basic laws. Is it possible to just retire from anger, or give up sleep as a fad? We have biological facts. It doesn’t matter how bored of eating I am, I will still have to do it. But why is… Seek More
January 11th, 2011 | Leave Your Insight
It feels like mastery of self is navigation, though not in the conventional way. Somehow navigating these patterns of being and applying action accordingly? Your 4th dimensional path is not a line. It’s an orbit. You cannot navigate space and fail to navigate self. You are not the same at McDonalds as you are at home. Mastery of self is realizing that self and space are one, and realizing where all events actually occur. Your self taking a bath tonight is not taking the same bath as last night. You can not be yourself easily. You are not yourself when… Seek More
January 12th, 2011 | Leave Your Insight
Today’s topic is self interest. I will start with this question. What is self interest? What would that look like in practice? Doing something for yourself. Taking care of your self? In practice, it would be doing that which keeps all your systems in optimum condition. At times it is seen as something also detrimental to others, hence the term selfish. Self interest … physical, emotional, intellectual, spiritual. What is it to be interested in self? Are you interested in your self? Yeah, guilt trips laid if you are doing something for your self can be set out. I think… Seek More
May 18th, 2011 | Leave Your Insight
There are two primary philosophies of self interest, though most people don’t consciously adopt one or the other. Altruism and egotism. Shall we examine each? Also called selflessness and selfishness? Yes. Altruism and ego sound like opposites? Taken as objects of focus, they are opposites. Taken as artefacts of reality, they are not opposites. Shall we start with the prettier one? Altruism. What has been done in this world in the name of altruism? Selflessness. The Kamikaze pilots. Charities. Suicide bombing? Hitler’s agenda was in service to his people. Vlad the Impaler is still considered a war hero in his former… Seek More
May 19th, 2011 | Leave Your Insight
Many Christians died in the name of their faith, and many more would go on to kill those they felt threatened it. All of this is the name of a greater ideal. What great ideal has there been in the world that has not fostered corruption? I do hope there is one. What great cause has there been that begat no evil? A world with no evil would still be unbalanced? A world without the preoccupation with evil would be balanced. When there is nothing to fight for, what is there to loose? Ghandi, peaceful resistance … Where does evil… Seek More
May 20th, 2011 | Leave Your Insight
Is there any room for self in self promotion? Yes, if you promote truth. Promoting truth leads to altruism. In your pursuit of the truth and dedication to it, you will eventually come to save other people the hardship of figuring things out for themselves. If you are compulsively advocating for your own interests, what do you get? It might be in my best self interest not to answer that. It may be or it might not. Some things are seen only in moments. A good cover letter might land you that job you dream of having, but only if… Seek More
May 21st, 2011 | Leave Your Insight
With respect to altruism or egotism, we’d be better off just to forget both ideas altogether? They don’t serve anything? Well, people can’t really forget anything, and a lot of new agers become very discouraged from trying. What would be better to do is take a genuine interest in self. You exist in a world where things have meaning for you. That meaning isn’t an object you can claim, a territory you can stake. That meaning is you. It’s your soul reflected in the world. You live in a world of pleasures, wonderous diversions and seemingly endless variety of desirable… Seek More
May 22nd, 2011 | Leave Your Insight
