"Erik_
Because I can remember the times when I am not. I prefer to consider myself an ongoing process.
I am much more the student than the master.
The color green allows me to feel more in harmony and balanced. Different brains I guess. But perhaps it only depends on our mood in the moment. The indigo blue of a night sky makes me feel the same way.
Why not view yourself, as master of your own on-going process? Not trying to force it on you, or anything. But you do have a Nietzsche quote in your sig. and I’m sure you know he talked a lot about self-overcoming and self-mastery.
Erik,
Again - Because I can remember the times when I am not. I am much more the student than the master.
I do have some kind of an “inner guide” - perhaps an ongoing consciousness or sentinel, a part of myself which speaks to me (not in an auditory way).
Anyway, I don’t so much like the word “Master” - it also has a negative connotation to it. But as a “verb” I’m down with that.
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Don’t worry. You couldn’t force anything upon me.
Self, I’ve done a lot of that and will continue to. I like the word “transcendence” or “transcending” self, the lesser self.
I was actually going more for the Martin Buber quote. I have been contemplating that and trying to learn from it.
But this actually does make a lot of sense when one thinks about it. When we feel joy, experience that sense of qualia, that level of quiet contentment, or more so than even that, for me it is because of the inner power ---- not the destructive kind which kills the spirit ---- the balance, the spiritual health that comes to us from knowing that we are capable of affirming and asserting ourselves, finding that voice within - all on a positive note.
Arc wrote:
This reminds me of the Socratic daimonion. Are you familiar with the concept of the daemonic ( Not demonic ) ?
I don’t think Nietzsche was, necessarily, referring to a sort of tyrannical power ( as some believe ) in that quote, but rather self-covercoming, e.g., overcoming a phobia - finishing first place in a race, growing, becoming stronger, etc. Happiness is a byproduct of overcoming, not a telos in itself, as many contemporary psychologists seem to believe.
The word * power * has a lot of dirty baggage attached to it. People tend to think of it as something that corrupts - that sullies. Some of this has to do with Judeo-Christianisms, which make autonomy and self-empowerment a no-no, a sin.
Erik,
I’m not familiar with the Socratic daimonion. But the daemon is an archtype. It’s usually the part of us that we are NOT in touch with - unfortunately…the part that we wouldn’t want to deal with but the part which could speak to us, tell us about ourselves. The “demon” within us for the most part lol is actually the daemon - not a devil. The daemon within drives us to do unconscious, unaware, hurtful things or drives us to think in ways which control us emotionally. If we’re not in touch with our daemons, it’s like being in a rowboat in the middle of the ocean - and without the oars. lol
The unconscious mind is such an interesting subject.
The word * power * has a lot of dirty baggage attached to it. People tend to think of it as something that corrupts - that sullies. quote]
I don’ figure that he was saying that either.
I’m not so sure either that he was necessarily speaking in turns of overcoming phobia, et cetera, but that might be a part of it.
Power does and can corrupt Erik. You yourself know this. In the wrong “unconscious hands”, for the wrong reasons/intentions, it will corrupt. We’re human beings and if we’re not aware of that daemon that lies within, it can and will take us over. Just as we need the darkness along with the light, separately, I mean, we also need the daemon along with our conscious awareness. It’s what separates us from the animals albeit they are beautiful - animals.
Happiness can be both. But I do agree that the greatest happiness, if we want to call it that, is achieved through self-overcoming, through striving toward becoming…ad continuum. After all, we came to be through evolution, it’s in our blood lo so it would make sense that what would give us the greatest sense of qualia would be that striving and becoming.
Well, I’m not so sure about that. I rather think that it might depend on who is doing the preaching there. Christ himself was kind of a rebel and a radical. He wasn’t the wimp (if he existed at all) that people portray him to be. He exercised his autonomy and self-empowerment.
Chakra Superstar]
lol How would you feel about it if you discovered that it was also philosophy? Anything that might lead us closer to truth and wisdom can be philosophy, no? Zen does this, buddhism does this.
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I don’t intuit that that is true. Most of us in or many of us (especially myself) cannot really be considered to be philosopher but there are a chosen few who really are and they are brilliant at it. Won’t mention any names though.
Perhaps that’s just your point of view based on your zen or buddhist whatever mind set.
OR the zen master might enter that kid’s room. I don’t think that HE would turn off the tv. Not that manipulative or authoritative. He might perhaps though justsuggest that if you would like to watch tv, turn off the music. If you would like to listen to music, then turn off the tv.
I think that it’s more about mindfulness. Not scattering yourself and your brain with multi-tasking. Leave that for the job.
It’s about ONLY focusing on one thing in the present moment.
He might though suggest that the little grasshopper hop outside to get some sun or to play with the other grasshoppers. It’s about BEING IN THE MOMENT.
Yes, it’s about simplicity.
Chopping wood and/or carrying water is about simplicity - clearing the mind. Remaining focused on the moment.