Its extraordinary that the two capacities we value most as part of being ‘human’ – our consciousness* and our free-will – appear to be unnecessary for evolution, seem extremely difficult to understand and may not even exist (at least in the case of free-will).
* Some might say e.g. ‘love’ is most central to being human, but what would ‘love’ be if we didn’t have the capacity to experience it i.e. consciousness?
“Genius is knowing what is important in any situation” – more or less what Douglas Hofstadter told me at lunch in 1997.
Wherever you go there you are.* Unfortunately.
* Origin of quote unknown. Title of book by Jon Kabat-Zinn.
Toward a psychology of ‘non-self’
Is it possible that questioning the existence of a ‘self’ could become part of mainstream psychology and perhaps even mainstream society? Perhaps with the help of a spiritual philosopher-neuroscientist-atheist-polemicist?…
http://www.bigquestionsonline.com/blogs/heather-wax/sam-harris-already-has-his-next-book-planned
Three ways we attempt to deal with objects of desire/addiction (two more traditional, one more modern):
1) Banish or ‘cover up’ the object of desire e.g. ban alcohol, force woman (and men) to hide most of their bodies from public view,
2) Remove or distance oneself from the object e.g. become a monk in a monastery, keep no alcohol or junk food in the house,
3) Permit oneself to be in the presence of the object of desire, and rely on self-discipline or mindfulness to engage with this object in a ‘responsible’ healthy way.
This last way seems to involve the most ‘freedom’ and yet so many of us are hooked on at least *something* e.g. overeating, smoking, alcohol or other drugs …
Its not so important whether you are religious or atheist (or Democrat or Republican), so long as you don’t hold on to your beliefs with a clenched fist.
To say that you are ‘spiritual, but not religious’ could simply mean: “I am good and not bad. Please approve of me”. But it could also mean something deeper e.g. “I am willing to undermine/let go of the beliefs I already have, as an alternative to continually reinforcing old beliefs and adopting new ones” or “I am willing to try ‘wanting what I get’ (accepting) as an alternative to ‘getting what I want’ (striving)”.
’Integrity’ requires more than just good intentions. It requires a high degree of self-awareness, acceptance of imperfection and a capacity to work consistently toward a goal even in the face of negative emotions.
Its more courageous to see no ‘right’ decision and decide, than to decide that your decision is right.
Insight Junkie 