I Know Nothing

[Ex-User (5841)]

I have heard that Gandhi slept with virgins. As in, just slept. Maybe a goddamned masochistic crazy person to boot. I, myself, can't go long without a proper meal, and I'm not about to give up meat. Tried that...not happening again.

Those are such minute aspects of the man's life...
(Also, Gandhi's teenage years were.... interesting )

 

[snafupants]

Those are such minute aspects of the man's life...
(Also, Gandhi's teenage years were.... interesting )

That's true! I picked up those factoids from a book I read many summers ago, Autobiography of a Yogi, and an offhand comment in an enneagram book; I'm pretty sure I wanted to read AOAY thanks to Saul Bellow's eccentric endorsement. Yeah, I didn't watch the three-hour movie on Gandhi. Ain't nobody got time for that.

 

[Ex-User (5841)]

That's true! I picked up those factoids from a book I read many summers ago, Autobiography of a Yogi, and an offhand comment in an enneagram book; I'm pretty sure I wanted to read AOAY thanks to Saul Bellow's eccentric endorsement. Yeah, I didn't watch the three-hour movie on Gandhi. Ain't nobody got time for that.

I've read "My Experiments with Truth." Decent autobiography.

What would a modern Gandhi look like? Might giving up a career as a lawyer to begin satyagraha as a means to pursue truth equate to giving up grad school for the same reason?

 

[snafupants]

I've read "My Experiments with Truth." Decent autobiography.

What would a modern Gandhi look like? Might giving up a career as a lawyer to begin satyagraha as a means to pursue truth equate to giving up grad school for the same reason?

Perhaps that's too self-glorifying. I write so that I can have the latitude and leisure to learn. That's my life. That's all. Well, before the credits are rolled, I tried to help people too.

 

[Ex-User (5841)]

Perhaps that's too self-glorifying. I write so that I can have the latitude and leisure to learn. That's my life. That's all. Well, before the credits are rolled, I tried to help people too.

So in other words, becoming an icon is circumstantial, even if one shares the same intrinsic cognitive processes?

 

[snafupants]

So in other words, becoming an icon is circumstantial, even if one shares the same intrinsic cognitive processes?

Maybe, but two things - I'm really not keen on becoming famous and, like I stated before, the reader can decide these things. An icon (sexual, cultural, etc.) definitely implies an appreciative audience, though, and perhaps some personal striving. Morrissey or Madonna definitely seek to cultivate a particular persona.

 

[Ex-User (5841)]

Maybe, but two things - I'm really not keen on becoming famous <-Neither was Gandhi. He HATED the title "Mahatma". and, like I stated before, the reader can decide these things. An icon (sexual, cultural, etc.) definitely implies an appreciative audience, though, and perhaps some personal striving. Morrissey or Madonna definitely seek to cultivate a particular persona.

Or maybe they simply need to occasionally accentuate what's already there under certain circumstances. Perhaps they've actually aquired a certain degree of "freedom" that allows them to "be" in more ways than the average Joe?

 

[snafupants]

Or maybe they simply need to occasionally accentuate what's already there under certain circumstances. Perhaps they've actually aquired a certain degree of "freedom" that allows them to "be" in more ways than the average Joe?

I can accept the last part. It should be stressed, however, that "being" is contingent on the universe and god. At least that's my anti-self-glorification story. It would be disingenuous, also, to pretend like other people can't or haven't achieve/d the same thing.

 

[Milo]

Is this love influencing my actions or are my actions left to the body and mind to do what they will?

 

[Duxwing]

Is this love influencing my actions or are my actions left to the body and mind to do what they will?

Milo, I think that you'd do well to live in reality for a while: you're disassociating, and the ego is the only thing that keeps the Id and Super Ego in line while dealing with reality.

-Duxwing

 

[Ex-User (5841)]

Is this love influencing my actions or are my actions left to the body and mind to do what they will?

Nope. Not there yet.

Spoiler

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xhrBDcQq2DM

Spoiler

This probably doesn't help you, but hey.

the ego is the only thing that keeps the Id and Super Ego in line while dealing with reality.

A bit of a sidebar question: If one can disassociate under their own control (akin to meditation?), does it become a healthy practice?

 

[Duxwing]

Nope. Not there yet.

Spoiler

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xhrBDcQq2DM

Spoiler

This probably doesn't help you, but hey.

A bit of a sidebar question: If one can dissociate under their own control (akin to meditation?), does it become a healthy practice?

Like an old wife, I figure that "if you keep doing that it'll stay that way!". Otherwise, I see no danger in temporary disassociation; Milo, though, does not appear to be undergoing this process voluntarily, and I therefore worry for his well-being.

-Duxwing

 

[snafupants]

A bit of a sidebar question: If one can dissociate under their own control (akin to meditation?), does it become a healthy practice?

It depends on what the "disassociation" leads to.

Any mystical visions are irrelevant to enlightenment. They fail to fundamentally change anything.

You're in exactly the same place pre and post-vision: enslavement via ego-mind.

 

[Milo]

Okay, I'm finding that I really already don't have much of an ego. It only comes up when I have expectations and they are not met. I sometimes fall back into the expectation thing and then when I catch myself I can get rid of my expectations and then my worrying goes away. I then just do what I want and "actively" don't over analyze and extrapolate possibilities from situations because they cause anxiety. This allows me to actually be more confident because I have the illusion of knowledge. But, all knowledge is only an illusion in the first place, so that might as well be what I do. I know that I don't and can't know anything except just that. So why bother looking past the face-value of things? Not judging things as good or bad, and only just doing what I want to do in the current moment without even thinking about what I want to do. This way I don't even have to justify my reasoning because my reasoning is that I am living life. This way the ego can exist, but remain dormant.

This is the closest I can get to being fulfilled. What I thought was enlightenment only existed when I was not socially involved because I become distant from my reasoning and it goes out of whack because there is no one to control it. Reasoning requires some sort of control unless you have memorized the motions and know how to function in every situation by heart.

 

[Duxwing]

Okay, I'm finding that I really already don't have much of an ego. It only comes up when I have expectations and they are not met. I sometimes fall back into the expectation thing and then when I catch myself I can get rid of my expectations and then my worrying goes away. I then just do what I want and "actively" don't over analyze and extrapolate possibilities from situations because they cause anxiety. This allows me to actually be more confident because I have the illusion of knowledge. But, all knowledge is only an illusion in the first place, so that might as well be what I do. I know that I don't and can't know anything except just that. So why bother looking past the face-value of things? Not judging things as good or bad, and only just doing what I want to do in the current moment without even thinking about what I want to do. This way I don't even have to justify my reasoning because my reasoning is that I am living life. This way the ego can exist, but remain dormant.

This is the closest I can get to being fulfilled. What I thought was enlightenment only existed when I was not socially involved because I become distant from my reasoning and it goes out of whack because there is no one to control it. Reasoning requires some sort of control unless you have memorized the motions and know how to function in every situation by heart.

*there-there* Like a sword, logic takes time and practice to use safely. The proverbial cuts and bruises that it leaves in training will heal, O novice, and you'll emerge a stronger man.

-Duxwing

P.S. I got the impression that you were sad, but perhaps I'm wrong and you're peachy. Please forgive my misapplication of sympathy and empathy if you are indeed feeling well.

 

[Ex-User (5841)]

It depends on what the "disassociation" leads to.
Evil.
Any mystical visions are irrelevant to enlightenment. They fail to fundamentally change anything. Vision =/= realization =/= self-actualization, but A can lead to B and subsequently C. Twas my path. Ne! Taste my veracity pie!
You're in exactly the same place pre and post-vision: enslavement via ego-mind.

My enslavement is by choice. (<-Yes, I realize the irony. I've got to return to Earth eventually).

 

[Milo]

*there-there* Like a sword, logic takes time and practice to use safely. The proverbial cuts and bruises that it leaves in training will heal, O novice, and you'll emerge a stronger man.

-Duxwing

P.S. I got the impression that you were sad, but perhaps I'm wrong and you're peachy. Please forgive my misapplication of sympathy and empathy if you are indeed feeling well.

Right now I am well, but I was originally not in the beginning of this thread because I put too many expectations on the world.

Now I'm pretty good and the outside world barely has an influence on my well-being.

 

[Duxwing]

Right now I am well, but I was originally not in the beginning of this thread because I put too many expectations on the world.

Now I'm pretty good and the outside world barely has an influence on my well-being.

Remember that having expectations and then realizing them through isn't a bad idea. And as for shutting the world out, be careful not to shut yourself in: otherwise, no-one will be able to console you or bring you joy.

-Duxwing

 

[snafupants]

My enslavement is by choice. (<-Yes, I realize the irony. I've got to return to Earth eventually).

So you can get in and out of your enslavement at will?

 

[Ex-User (5841)]

So you can get in and out of your enslavement at will?

Facetiously, no, but realistically no, in terms of "coagulated agency", the deterministic mechanism behind swarm dynamics, if that makes any sense. My meds haven't kicked in yet (hence short posts), so it probably doesn't *cues Kraftwerk in the background*. Realization is the gateway to freedom, so I'm simultaneously free and a slave.

 

[snafupants]

Facetiously, no, but realistically no, in terms of "coagulated agency", the deterministic mechanism behind swarm dynamics, if that makes any sense. My meds haven't kicked in yet (hence short posts), so it probably doesn't *cues Kraftwerk in the background*. Realization is the gateway to freedom, so I'm simultaneously free and a slave.

Trans Euro Express!

 

[snafupants]

Right now I am well, but I was originally not in the beginning of this thread because I put too many expectations on the world.

Now I'm pretty good and the outside world barely has an influence on my well-being.

That's nice to hear. The thing to realize is that you can never fully preclude future pain. You can change yourself, though, which will prevent some avoidable psychic anguish later.

 

[Ex-User (5841)]

Trans Euro Express!

Not to drag you into another thread, but I think I covered everything applicable in posts 55 and beyond: http://www.intpforum.com/showthread.php?t=15337&page=2

Suggested background music for said thread: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DuZGNqiotww

Otherwise, I believe I've found an avatar that rivals yours (plural).

 

[snafupants]

Not to drag you into another thread, but I think I covered everything applicable in posts 55 and beyond: http://www.intpforum.com/showthread.php?t=15337&page=2

Suggested background music for said thread: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DuZGNqiotww

Otherwise, I believe I've found an avatar that rivals yours (plural).

Haha, nice choice of song. I hear Madonna is 3w4 in the enneagram, fyi.

Yeah, that snake charmer may challenge or surpass my Lynchian teenage daydream avatar.