Showing posts with label self. Show all posts
Showing posts with label self. Show all posts
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
An Acceptable Trade-Off
The price of thinking freely is the absence of a refuge apart from self. There is no support group. Meaning and peace originate strictly from within.
Sunday, February 7, 2010
OK.....I admit it.....I'm SELFISH!
I'm reading the newspaper and come across an editorial questioning how we should deal with the backlog of social security recipients in this fine state of Georgia. “I could not care less about this issue owing to the fact that it does not affect me one iota (at least not yet),” the thought occurs to me.
One might be quick to judge me as being selfish. And you know what? You're right! But ask yourself: is this any different a manner in which "I" justify my viewpoints on society's problems?
If you make incredible amounts of money, what are you going to care about? More than likely voting for a candidate that will keep taxes low to preserve your hard-earned money, something or other.
Conversely, if you make little or no money because of laziness or lack of skills or whatever other reason, what are you going to care about? More than likely the candidate which will maintain and/or create entitlements for you by taxing the “evil” rich.
If this is scoffed at because you rise above this selfish standard, yours is most certainly in the minority. But alas, it is not the minority view that “rules the roost” so to speak. It is what the majority does or thinks.
Please do not misunderstand me. I am not judging those that think selfishly. This would include yours truly and why would I ever want to judge MOI? I am simply pointing out what is with no implication to what should be.
This not wanting to judge oneself is the principle reason judgment is so arbitrary and hence hypocritical.
It is imperative to point out that this strict avoidance of self-judgment is almost always unconscious which is why most vehemently deny being hypocritical.
Alas, simply judge and condemn others engaging in selfish behaviors you do not involve yourself in and hide behind or attempt to assuage the evilness of the selfish behaviors you do involve yourself in.
One might be quick to judge me as being selfish. And you know what? You're right! But ask yourself: is this any different a manner in which "I" justify my viewpoints on society's problems?
If you make incredible amounts of money, what are you going to care about? More than likely voting for a candidate that will keep taxes low to preserve your hard-earned money, something or other.
Conversely, if you make little or no money because of laziness or lack of skills or whatever other reason, what are you going to care about? More than likely the candidate which will maintain and/or create entitlements for you by taxing the “evil” rich.
If this is scoffed at because you rise above this selfish standard, yours is most certainly in the minority. But alas, it is not the minority view that “rules the roost” so to speak. It is what the majority does or thinks.
Please do not misunderstand me. I am not judging those that think selfishly. This would include yours truly and why would I ever want to judge MOI? I am simply pointing out what is with no implication to what should be.
This not wanting to judge oneself is the principle reason judgment is so arbitrary and hence hypocritical.
It is imperative to point out that this strict avoidance of self-judgment is almost always unconscious which is why most vehemently deny being hypocritical.
Alas, simply judge and condemn others engaging in selfish behaviors you do not involve yourself in and hide behind or attempt to assuage the evilness of the selfish behaviors you do involve yourself in.
Thursday, July 30, 2009
From God Or From Self?
It seems backing one's agenda with God is essentially masking ego, or at least attempting to do so. For what is the difference in saying my opinions and convictions dictate my behavior and beliefs versus God's opinions and convictions doing so?
Many will of course say the difference is obviously that one set of opinions and convictions stems from self whereas the other set of opinions and convictions stems from God. But then why are all opinions and convictions from God not in agreement?* Presumably because they are not from God. They are from self!
In this way, it could be said that God's opinions and convictions only ever stem from any given person's ideas of what God's opinions and convictions should be. Which of course will be whatever the ego sees fit!
*Perhaps God DOES allow us to be mistaken? However, does it not seem those that acknowledge this seldom concede they themselves could be mistaken? How then are we to know who of us is mistaken and who is not?
Many will of course say the difference is obviously that one set of opinions and convictions stems from self whereas the other set of opinions and convictions stems from God. But then why are all opinions and convictions from God not in agreement?* Presumably because they are not from God. They are from self!
In this way, it could be said that God's opinions and convictions only ever stem from any given person's ideas of what God's opinions and convictions should be. Which of course will be whatever the ego sees fit!
*Perhaps God DOES allow us to be mistaken? However, does it not seem those that acknowledge this seldom concede they themselves could be mistaken? How then are we to know who of us is mistaken and who is not?
Monday, July 20, 2009
A Reflection On Personal Identity
You can not “try” to be yourself. You can only “be” yourself. Similarly, you can not express individuality by “trying” to distinguish yourself. This is simply following the convention of being different only for the sake of being different.
In other words, you can not find yourself by being different. You can only find yourself by being.
Many people follow a convention only to satisfy the ego's lust for identity in things outside of self. This is simply the ego seeking a false sense of self through “trying” to be different.
In other words, you can not find yourself by being different. You can only find yourself by being.
Many people follow a convention only to satisfy the ego's lust for identity in things outside of self. This is simply the ego seeking a false sense of self through “trying” to be different.
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