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Blind Obligation
Tell me friends, how do you come about your obligations? Onerous ones? No, all. Good question. Training from parents. Yes, parents for me too, and husband. Being born. A lot is programmed for me. Voluntarily. Then you are well set, but is all your voluntary behaviour self chosen? Are there many ways to define obligation?…
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Obligation As Giving
Not being a part of the system of judgements, which you didn’t yourself create anyway, goes a long way to helping you see the issue of obligation clearly. Ignoring your obligations all together is no more wise than subscribing to everyone anyone passes to you, because other people have held obligations to you as well.…
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Reaching Out
Do you have a desire to reach out to others? Then you can treat that desire to reach out to others the same as you treat those obligations you hold to yourself, and do it for the same reason. Personal fulfillment. Recognize that you have a use for others, and select those others for your…
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Confrontation
These people you dislike, they aren’t your enemies. They have given you the gift of seeing your own definitions. You can accept that special gift from them, and then not hurt yourself over anything else about them. There is attachment, aversions and indifference to everyone we meet. It’s the indifference with which I am focusing…
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Imposed Obligation
The subject is obligation. I will start with a bit about one of my own obligations. I was sought to do meetings here in Second Life, because they felt I had something to contribute, and I accepted their invitation. This did create an obligation for me. One I respect and honour as the founders of…
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Obliged to Suffer?
Does obligation have to be a suffering? No, it doesn’t. It doesn’t have to be a suffering, but it only ceases to be a suffering when we see that we chose that set of obligations, and recognize why we do. See ourselves in it. But, but, but aren’t we “obliged“ to suffer? Yes. They tell…
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Joyful Obligation
We shape the future by the choices we make now. Do we choose to meet life’s circumstances via joy or resentment? Very true, and where is the awareness of our own joy? Is it not where we are told petty or evil things lay in our being? Is it not from the animal side that…
Category: Obligation
When you are looking at your obligations, it would be a mistake to invalidate them all. Much of what you enjoy in life comes from an interplay, and therefore exchange, between you and another person, and you may enjoy more of your life than you think you do. In those cases, it isn’t right to declare the situation unfair. The secret of life is not to avoid obligations, but like in any act of creative self expression, recognize the medium for what it is and own your response ability in it. It isn’t the stone that makes your creativity possible. Like clay or paint, it’s you first, then what you will work with. Your life is your magnum opus, your great work.
“I believe that every right implies a responsibility; every opportunity an obligation; every possession a duty.” John D. Rockefeller (American Industrialist and Philanthropist, founder of the Standard Oil Company, 1839-1937)
“The sense of obligation to continue is present in all of us. A duty to strive is the duty of us all. I felt a call to that duty.” Abraham Lincoln (American 16th US President (1861-65), who brought about the emancipation of the slaves. 1809-1865)
“A man said to the universe: “Sir, I exist!” “However,” replied the universe, “The fact has not created in me a sense of obligation” Stephen Crane (American short-story Writer, Novelist and Poet. 1871-1900)