Perhaps it would be worthwhile to distinguish immediate psycho-physical reactions (of fear, shock, loss, grief, etc) from what K called psychological fear, suffering, etc?
Obviously there are simple psycho-physical reactions, as when we see (or get bitten by) a dangerous animal, or when someone close to us dies, or when we witness a horrific incident (as in war), and so on. These are more or less immediate physical shocks. Such shocks do not need to be maintained over time as psychological fear, sorrow, etc.
Psychological suffering on the other hand is precisely what is built up over time. It requires a stockpiling of memory (as in attachment), image-making (of oneself and others), which produces - as on a conveyor belt - at the end psychological suffering, self-pity, hate, etc. Similarly with psychological fear: such fear is built up out of identification (which, to begin with, creates a feeling of security, pleasure), continuity, and projection into the future (as future insecurity, pain). This is maintained solely through thought/time.
As psycho-physical organisms, psycho-physical shocks and reactions are inevitable. But K teaches, as you know, that such reactions do not need - as if by a law of nature - to turn into psychological “conditioning” (to use that word); i.e., as (psychological) fear, suffering, hurt, etc.
If one were able - by some piece of magic - to remove thought/time completely from one’s psychological conditioning, would there be psychological conditioning (with its fear and suffering) at all? Or would there only be the psycho-physical conditioning of the organism? That seems to be the question K is asking as I understand it.
That’s definitely how it feels at times! You can find lots of meaning and comfort (suffering too) in unrealized conventional life. Fully realized you live in intelligence and equanimity. You can feel ‘at home’ in either extreme.
But halfway between, in the limbo of partial realization, you have neither the default conditioned refuge of the conventional, nor the unconditioned freedom of realization. Yuck!
I don’t see things as stupid vs. intelligent. I see degrees and context-driven types of intelligence. I find ‘trying’ to be a perfectly valid method for learning and evolving. You?
Like most people here, watch the news re: Ukraine and am horrified.
One sees an explosion on a residential building, and one feels the explosion inside. The shelter, anyone’s shelter has been destroyed - it is also Charley’s shelter. The empty space within resonates with the explosion seen on the screen. One sees many men completely devastated by having to say goodbye to their children, wives. Their grief/sorrow is palpable. Charley’s eyes water up. For a moment, Charley is the father. Please understand, it is: “I am you”. You see, one doesn’t consider the sorrow one felt, the tears, etc. as a reaction, one has never really put into words - a label - such as “psycho-physical reaction” to the tears arising when one witnesses someone else’s sorrow. There are no more words.
One doesn’t understand when you say:
It’s when you include self-pity, hate… One has witnessed someone years ago wallowing in self-pity at a gathering, a party - felt nothing - self-pity is an escape from psychological sorrow. One has witnessed someone feeling hatred towards Charley, felt nothing - hatred is not part of sorrow, nope, don’t see that. There was this seeing of malice… incredible.
Don’t know what to say re: above para., never wondered about that. If anything, one could paraphrase this statement as: Can one remove all psychological conditioning so as to end thought? Do you understand? Don’t feel fear at all, even last year when physical well-being threatened by guy. Somehow, considering and reviewing what you state in this paragraph, I doubt that this is possible, because one has discovered how complex everything is inside. Even K experienced the “process” **(see last italics paragraph below) which cleans out everything - more than once. You wouldn’t believe what is involved in all of this, so I won’t go into it. He also woke up in a meditative state, which Charley also lives. So, why did (with K) and do (with Charley) all these other things also occur even after the “I” took a hike, and all major conditioning had been seen? Your para seems to suggest that there is the possibility of eliminating all psychological conditioning just by removing thought/time - this is not something one ever wondered or even asked of oneself. You see, one could always sense that there was still stuff inside years ago, one called it “stuff”… and the only thing that concerned Charley was to see this “stuff”. There are many channels inside (one discovered these), and one could send one’s breath through all of them, and occasionally - in the past - one sensed little “bumps” of things, etc. here and there - one called these little bumps “stuff”. For Charley, one had to see the conditioning - the actual event[s], to end even thoughts, like a whole chunk of thoughts disappearing all at once after having seeing each one of the conditioned events. To Charley, it’s almost as if the conditioning controlled and moderated what thoughts arise/arose.
You see, once the source of psychological insecurity is seen, there are no more thoughts which arise which are concerned at all with what one should or could do… those disappeared, never to return. It’s almost amusing - one is faced in situations, which others might consider quite stressful and who wait for Charley to have some reaction, and there are just no thoughts about anything at all, no reaction. One has made statements to others (i.e. “you got this idea from social media !!.. that’s rubbish”… “ah, conspiracy theory, ridiculous” and watched without any reaction at all, as they stood there screaming and yelling (arms flailing) at Charley.
Originally, there was the seeing of Charley verbalizing inside (the mirror that intelligence had created and that has completely disappeared) expressing all the pros and cons of what to do… and eventually those thoughts backtracked to … lol… don’t recall… but once the conditioning was gone, so were all those thoughts. Perhaps, this is magical thinking to suggest what you did suggest.
You do realize that K had a tendency - - to verbalize what others thought and wondered about, eh??..
(Sorry, about the delay in posting this, but someone came to see one…).
**The stockpiling of all the conversations which one has had over time - which you referred to as “Psychological suffering” - the memory - is entirely “erased” (cleaned out) in the “process”….
What do you feel? I feel afraid. What about you? Are you going to give it some other word?
I am not seeking security. There is no security in this world. I feel afraid. Don’t you? This is not about indulging our emotions or sharing our beliefs about what will put an end to things. Can we just look together very simply at what we are and how we feel without explaining it all away?
I’m very curious, why only Putin is shown as “the cause” of Violence in Ukraine?
Why not NATO or US or Zelensky? If Zelensky had not try to make business ties with NATO or US from 2020 - this war wouldn’t have happened. If NATO had not tried to join Ukraine as it’s member, this wouldn’t have happened. If Zelensky had seen the violence that might come in Feb 2022, he should have surrendered to Russia/Putin - so that violence might not happen and no inhumane actions, but he didn’t and contributed for War, though he knew US won’t support directly and gonna lose with Russia. US know Russia can beat Ukraine, but wanted to hit Russia largely (Both Economically and Materially) by using this as a Chance, and create a hatred towards “Russia” in the name of “Human Rights” - etc.,
Yes, Putin acts as a “dictator”. But I don’t see he is the “Only Dictator”. Every Politicians in every states. More than Putin, it’s US that is being the “Business Dictator”. By rendering a helping hand to Ukraine, it wanted to safeguard it’s Number 1 position in World Trade and Economy from the threat of China and Russia. It actually helps hand to make business slaves for them. No independent decisions actually happens wherever US poked nose in, examples of Iran and Afghanistan shows it well.
By taking the power of Ukraine, US thought to expand it’s market and also in future beat the Russia so that one day Russia might plea to them. Russia made many talks with Ukraine and US regarding this. US didn’t backed up. US was very hungry to make slaves for them, which Zelensky too wants. Putin don’t know how to safeguard Russia from US/NATO threats, and now war broke out.
Even K, stood not only against Hitler (as he the cause like Putin), but also against Winston Churchill and many and every politics.
Why do people close one eye, and always blame only Physical Violence starters. Why not the Psychological Violence creators?
Now in Norway, a Big Military exercise is being conducted by NATO forces.
Also, it’s only Putin who attacks Ukraine but not the whole Russians. Why European Union or America or Canada, attack the innocent Russian people? By curbing individual wishes of Russian people (to participate in Russian events, to make Forex trades, etc.,) - why to curb the innocent individual people of Russia in the name of “Putin”? Doesn’t that look Inhumane?
Only Direct Violence creator is “Dictator” but not the Indirect Slave creators (Psychological violence creators) are “Dictators”?
Even now, by seeing many deaths of their countrymen, both Zelensky and Putin can stop war. But they didn’t. Both want to possess/control. Isn’t both of them Inhumane (Including the spark creator like a joker in the cards who dominates the whole card Game - US)?
US tries many ways to safeguard it’s dominating position on Developing countries, and maintain it’s No.1 position and make many nations it’s puppet. Russia had shown it’s opposition in an Inhumane way. Yes. But, it’s only NATO pushed Russia to take this decisions. Why NATO steps in in Ukraine? What business they want there other than to make Russia dependent on them? Why Russia should become a slave to NATO?
One cannot see only Russia’s actions in Ukraine, but also NATO, also US, cannot neglect anything which cause trouble/violence, whatever form it might be.
I have many views to share here, but if it’s one pointed game against Russia and neglect every other countries actions, I’m sorry - I’m out of that Game and I choose (Not choose but choicelessly observe) the Truth behind every actions.
No Nation wants to be a slave to another. This is Fact. Every Nation wants to be treated Equal/more powerful (Economically-and also in many cases), and it creates Violence.
What’s the intelligent way to understand is to see the “Domination/Power/Control” of ALL Nations striving (Both Developed and Developing) - and many wars happens silently or violently to acquire and safeguard the “Power”.
Every Nation thinks “Power gives Freedom” “Power makes one nation Independent”. This is Fact, and do any action what it feels right for this “Power”.
Hi James. A BIG NO.
Individually to one, can be choicelessly aware and step aside. But as a whole humanity, it WON’T.
Time/Thought is the striving force of LIFE. Not just for Human beings but also in all Living Beings. Science/Biology accepts this, that war is in every kind of species, to make one the powerful “Survival of the Fittest”.
Collectively, it won’t stop in Human beings, and there will be no end for Conflicts and War as a whole. Power to Control is the food for Conflict and War. The need of Power blocks one to see or listen or observe.
Say in case any one member in the Russian Chair, sees all these Inhumanity and questions others, he will be murdered soon by the High Officials - like we don’t know the whereabouts of Doctors from Wuhan Institute of Virology.
No one can stand against “Power”, Unless “Power” does. “Love” cannot stand against “Power”. “Love” can only watch everything power does by standing aside. To change the one with “Power”, only a big “Power” can. But, that is not true change only a temporary peace. No True end/change can be bought against this “Power or Domination or Control”.
This is Life.
K, thought that it’s the “Idealism” or “Religion” or “Love to Nation” - creates Violence in World. But, not so. It’s “Control”. Whomever “Controls” thinks he/she is in “Heaven” - “The Lord of ALL”. Nothing to do with Soldiers/Patriotism. Even now the Russian soldiers are fighting not just as a Patriot, but in fear of Putin - “Power” or in Anger against US/NATO - “Power”. This what happened in case of German soldiers in 1940s, fight in fear of Death in hands of their High Officials, or for a good life assured for their family by the Officials/Politicians. Right?
“Power” controls the World and “Love” heals one who seeks it Individually. “Love” cannot heal the whole world but only few who are serious.
“Love” can heal only the “wounded” (one who suffers of this power game and serious to look into).
No Humanity, as a whole, can live peaceful Humane (no war) life, ever. But, Individually one can.
Thank you.
I…don’t Know Paul. I can see people afraid, but I don’t know whether I am afraid or not.
Is it simple enough?
If I’m breaking into pieces (which should not be done in your view), please say me what I should do.
But, we can’t know!!? I don’t think so. Joe Biden can. If Joe Biden and Chief Senators and Putin and many such leaders can, anyone who has the same power he/they possess, can truly know all the facts of human actions. That’s why Humanity seek such power/domination/control - to know many things/facts easily and react. That seeking power creates tremendous violence. Power let’s one know all the physical actions. Yes, that’s the Power of Power.
But, if one is aware that, Power cannot last long in knowing all facts, only for a while - Power is Powerful, and if one is choicelessly aware that Power cannot stop one from Sufferings, Seeking Power ends…Power leads to Knowledge but Knowledge cannot end Sufferings. So, power is useless against sufferings. Power cannot bring back the dead one. Power cannot make things last long, whatever facts Power knows. Power cannot show the Truth. Oh God, what a great Manga “Naruto” and “Naruto Shippuden” are.
There is no need of ‘taking sides’. Just aware of every actions and not get attached with it, whatever the action maybe, even if it “the process”, even if it is Beauty, even if it is peace, all actions/experiences are past/Conditions - Isn’t it @charleycannuck ? . That’s Freedom.
I feel a bundle of things: anxiety, sorrow, anger, disgust, elation, curiosity, hope, resignation. If I lived in Ukraine or a neighboring country to the west I might fear something closer to ‘pure’ fear. Or maybe not, I can’t know for sure since it’s hypothetical.
That is our state when stripped of all ornamentation: theories, ideas, intuitions, magical thinking, conditioning, beliefs, hopes, fears, prayers. It’s the operating system without any apps. Or the electricity that powers the operating system.
I don’t think of the unornamented state and the ornamented state as actual/real and illusory/unreal, I think of both as actual/real in different ways. Ideally one is aware of both states in day to day life.
No. It’s not an action. It’s like Rope and Snake. When one is aware that “It is just Snake and not Rope” - Snake is negated, disappears.
When one is aware of thoughts and it’s incapability, thought ends. No one negates it as an action. Even thought not negates itself as an action. No performance.
I agree with many of your points about why Putin is being singled out as the sole bad guy. The causes of the Russia-Ukraine conflict are much more complicated than that. Which doesn’t pardon Putin, he is behaving abominably, the worst of what the human spirit has to offer.
10 days into the Ukraine-Russia conflict most of the world is in shock. When in shock, knee-jerk emotional reactions trump reason. So I’m not surprised Putin is being regarded as a demon. In time I think the fuller story will be revealed, the NATO encroachment, Russia’s fears of being subsumed by the West and its anger at not being respected, broken promises, hidden agendas. But for the next months or years, the Putin = Demon story will dominate.
The ‘self’ (we), murder for food, we murder for passion, we murder for sport, we murder for the State, we murder for God, we murder for money, we murder for ideals, we murder for beliefs, we murder for a flag, we murder for the Leader…
Yes. Only for few Months. And like how Taliban’s are not concentrated now, Putin will also be overpowered by someone else like Xijinping or Modi or etc.,
Humans protest only for time-being and hatred changes from one to another, time to time, based on sensations. Isn’t it?
All these hatred are reactions of Senses? So, remains for time-being and goes off when one experiences pleasure? Maybe…
Yes. Murder for a “Reward”, reward of Pleasure, Reward of escaping fear, Reward of Fame, etc.,