Thanks Barry this article is perfect timing for me, again I find your articles a great combination of real life practical examples and more esoteric teachings. Hume’s famous passage reminded me of Verse 2 of the Tao Te Ching,
When people see some things as beautiful,
other things become ugly.
When people see some things as good,
other things become bad.
Or
“But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day thou eatest of it, thou shalt surely die” (Gen. 2:17).
Where the death described is an allegory for how consciousness becomes identified with the thought and the emotion itself instead of remaining aware of it as just a temporary experience.
The timing of this article ties in beautifully with another article I had just read
Thanks Prof Brownstein. I'm glad you mentioned Buddhism in the audio piece because that's what was coming to me when reading the article.
The idea of 'no self' in Buddhism and as Hume articulates resonates with me. But so too does the idea of 'soul'. Two concepts which seem directly opposed to each other.
No doubt some great minds have explored this! I am aware there are people who are both Jesuit priests and Zen Buddhists. I must get around to exploring their work at some stage as it greatly interests me.
Words are at least twice removed from reality. And since the finite cannot fully know the infinite until it sheds its finite nature, all of us are a bit in the dark here. Quantum physicists have spoken of reality as being an undivided oneness. Our challenge becomes seeing when we are denying that reality and making another choice. You might even say that that choice is good for our soul. Perhaps that bridges the gap a little between some Eastern and Western philosophies.
"'If we allow our thoughts to define us, the voice in our head will dominate us like an oppressive ruler from within,' Niebauer observes, 'We may become angry, offended, sexually aroused, happy, or fearful, and we do not question the authenticity of these thoughts and experiences.'
"Hume helps us realize that 'there is no impression constant and invariable;' we may not be interpreting our world correctly. With that understanding, we achieve inner freedom and can avoid being swept up in irrational impulses."
Am I being too harsh in judging that the currently trendy "be your authentic self" movement is in fact celebrating those very inauthentic reactions Niebauer warns us about?
Your question that answers itself is a brilliant coda: "If people understood that their every fanciful thought wasn’t a call to action, wouldn’t the country’s fever decrease?"
Thank you, Jim. I agree this is so powerful. It's been rattling around in my head since I wrote it.
And I think about your question almost every day. Our entire web of cooperation, think about an airport or a supermarket, is absolutely dependent on people being able to rise above a fantasy of some imagined authentic self. If people only understood that they are destroying civilization by their fantasies.
Thanks Barry this article is perfect timing for me, again I find your articles a great combination of real life practical examples and more esoteric teachings. Hume’s famous passage reminded me of Verse 2 of the Tao Te Ching,
When people see some things as beautiful,
other things become ugly.
When people see some things as good,
other things become bad.
Or
“But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day thou eatest of it, thou shalt surely die” (Gen. 2:17).
Where the death described is an allegory for how consciousness becomes identified with the thought and the emotion itself instead of remaining aware of it as just a temporary experience.
The timing of this article ties in beautifully with another article I had just read
https://www.spiritofthescripture.com/id4506-jesus-peter-and-the-fish-esoteric-biblical-psychology-101.html
Andrew, Thank you for the kind note and excellent additions.
I appreciate Tilghman's explanation of Christ and Peter.
This was really interesting - thank you.
Betsy, Thank you for considering these ideas.
Thankyou, Barry,
Mindshifts are Lifechanging essays.
Thanks for the kind note, Jacque!
Thanks Prof Brownstein. I'm glad you mentioned Buddhism in the audio piece because that's what was coming to me when reading the article.
The idea of 'no self' in Buddhism and as Hume articulates resonates with me. But so too does the idea of 'soul'. Two concepts which seem directly opposed to each other.
No doubt some great minds have explored this! I am aware there are people who are both Jesuit priests and Zen Buddhists. I must get around to exploring their work at some stage as it greatly interests me.
Thanks again.
Thank you, Kylee.
Words are at least twice removed from reality. And since the finite cannot fully know the infinite until it sheds its finite nature, all of us are a bit in the dark here. Quantum physicists have spoken of reality as being an undivided oneness. Our challenge becomes seeing when we are denying that reality and making another choice. You might even say that that choice is good for our soul. Perhaps that bridges the gap a little between some Eastern and Western philosophies.
Wow. Wow. Wow. Amazing stuff. I love it - especially the bit about "when we are denying that reality...". Thanks so much Prof Brownstein.
This is powerful stuff, Barry!
"'If we allow our thoughts to define us, the voice in our head will dominate us like an oppressive ruler from within,' Niebauer observes, 'We may become angry, offended, sexually aroused, happy, or fearful, and we do not question the authenticity of these thoughts and experiences.'
"Hume helps us realize that 'there is no impression constant and invariable;' we may not be interpreting our world correctly. With that understanding, we achieve inner freedom and can avoid being swept up in irrational impulses."
Am I being too harsh in judging that the currently trendy "be your authentic self" movement is in fact celebrating those very inauthentic reactions Niebauer warns us about?
Your question that answers itself is a brilliant coda: "If people understood that their every fanciful thought wasn’t a call to action, wouldn’t the country’s fever decrease?"
Thank you, Jim. I agree this is so powerful. It's been rattling around in my head since I wrote it.
And I think about your question almost every day. Our entire web of cooperation, think about an airport or a supermarket, is absolutely dependent on people being able to rise above a fantasy of some imagined authentic self. If people only understood that they are destroying civilization by their fantasies.