A positive attitude towards all others ... is that really reasonable? Nothing can be as dangerous and horrid as people...
The time for sharpening the ethical debate is coming. We can not only rely on old norm systems, based on production problems and local communities.
The religious norm systems are always debated because of their inherent conflict between dogma and practical demands of new circumstances.
We need a norm system that is so simple so it can be understood by all and implemented by all always, in all actual and hypothetical situations.
The norm system should also be so challenging that it is necessary for the individual to use all resources in order to find and do the right - the norms should be based on the total knowledge and experience of man kind since the beginning of time. All cultures should be included and feel at home: this is what we always wanted and valued!
To balance a global ethical norm system on the principle of rational non violence is daring. Normally we want some solid basis.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Monday, June 29, 2009
Secret 2
The only reality is in the awareness...
Two people meet. On feel it was horrid, the other feels it was nice. Who is right? Both are right, as the reality is in the awareness.
If they would meet again and talk about their first meeting, they might change view. The awareness changes with communication and information about the reactions of others.
The active agent is information.
What about the patient, anesthetized and being operated on? How can he be better while being unaware? The doctors are aware of what they do.
The chaos in Iraq, is it caused by weapons or by unawareness? It was unawareness of awareness - those who wanted power did not know how much the others wanted power, what means they would use and what arguments they would use. As the awareness increases, the peace increases.
If information is so important, it might be tempting to use secrecy. But secrecy is nothing. It is wasted opportunity.
Two people meet. On feel it was horrid, the other feels it was nice. Who is right? Both are right, as the reality is in the awareness.
If they would meet again and talk about their first meeting, they might change view. The awareness changes with communication and information about the reactions of others.
The active agent is information.
What about the patient, anesthetized and being operated on? How can he be better while being unaware? The doctors are aware of what they do.
The chaos in Iraq, is it caused by weapons or by unawareness? It was unawareness of awareness - those who wanted power did not know how much the others wanted power, what means they would use and what arguments they would use. As the awareness increases, the peace increases.
If information is so important, it might be tempting to use secrecy. But secrecy is nothing. It is wasted opportunity.
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Control 2
There are many natural limits to our freedom, and we should respect them. We should respect the rights of others, the limitations of nature and climate for example.
But historically many of these limitations have been reinforced by human actions or rulings. Breaking some rules have led to punishment in one form or another.
This has created the idea that we are free to break rules up to the point where we are punished. But this is wrong. We are free do act only if we do not limit the freedom of others. We are not free to abuse a child, even if the child can not defend itself. We are not free to force others to defend themselves against us.
Alexander Solzhenitsyn described the Soviet society as very heavy-handed, giving the most severe punishments for small offenses or threats to the state. This was not very nice or effective.
But historically many of these limitations have been reinforced by human actions or rulings. Breaking some rules have led to punishment in one form or another.
This has created the idea that we are free to break rules up to the point where we are punished. But this is wrong. We are free do act only if we do not limit the freedom of others. We are not free to abuse a child, even if the child can not defend itself. We are not free to force others to defend themselves against us.
Alexander Solzhenitsyn described the Soviet society as very heavy-handed, giving the most severe punishments for small offenses or threats to the state. This was not very nice or effective.
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Relative energy 2
The knowledge about how the brain works is increasing fast these years. Research is intense. New drugs are developed.
Old drugs as tobacco, coffee and tea shows that many individuals would like to increase the energy and capacity of the brain. It is no wonder, as the world we live in is extremely complex, even compared to the extreme complexity of the brain.
We can increase the efficiency of our brain by study and thinking, as we know. Living in a stimulating environment, be it a university or a creative work place, will boost the capacity of the mind.
But we can also train the brain, as we can train the body. There are many methods, including physical exercises, food, sound and meditation. One very essential and basic matter is breathing.
If we can not breath at all, the alarm systems in our organism are activated. This is very good, as it helps us to survive as physical entities.
But if our breathing is good enough to give the physical body energy, but not good enough to support the brain, there is no alarm. On the contrary, the brain is slowed down and if feels as the situation is all right, but a bit passive.
In order to support the brain with energy, it is recommended (by Tarthang Tulku in Kum Nye Relaxation) that we breath with slightly open mouth. Then we will get energy not only to the physical processes in the body, but also for the brain.
Old drugs as tobacco, coffee and tea shows that many individuals would like to increase the energy and capacity of the brain. It is no wonder, as the world we live in is extremely complex, even compared to the extreme complexity of the brain.
We can increase the efficiency of our brain by study and thinking, as we know. Living in a stimulating environment, be it a university or a creative work place, will boost the capacity of the mind.
But we can also train the brain, as we can train the body. There are many methods, including physical exercises, food, sound and meditation. One very essential and basic matter is breathing.
If we can not breath at all, the alarm systems in our organism are activated. This is very good, as it helps us to survive as physical entities.
But if our breathing is good enough to give the physical body energy, but not good enough to support the brain, there is no alarm. On the contrary, the brain is slowed down and if feels as the situation is all right, but a bit passive.
In order to support the brain with energy, it is recommended (by Tarthang Tulku in Kum Nye Relaxation) that we breath with slightly open mouth. Then we will get energy not only to the physical processes in the body, but also for the brain.
Friday, June 26, 2009
Mind, self 2
A selfless identity is a bit more complicated to handle than an identity with a self, if such a thing existed.
An animal is for practical reasons having a self. A cat is always a cat. It is no tiger or bird.
If we human beings had a self like that we could excuse all our actions with this argument: we are like this and we can not change it.
But as we are selfless, we can choose identity, more or less. Our identity is not given existentially, but often there are social and individual limitations.
Our mind has three roles. It is the giver of identity to a large extent, it is the experiencer of identity, and it expresses the identity.
This is potentially a very good construct. It means we can live in happiness for ever.
But it is also a very vulnerable construct. It can easily go wrong, and then we end up in eternal suffering.
One common fault is to strengthen the self rather than to see its freedom. We want to be richer and more powerful. We do not see this as the fault it is.
Another common fault is to misunderstand how to influence others. People with social problems are often treated in way that aggravates the problems. People without social problems are often given social problems, by political or religious dogmas.
The formula for happiness is too simple to be taken seriously. It is that we should treat others nice, because than our mind will give us the experience of niceness, and then we can treat others nice without any strain.
Most people feel that happiness must be earned by hard work, violence, incomprehensible challenges, superhuman feats, martyrdom, pain, sweat, suffering and the like, but that is another thing. It has nothing to do with happiness. It is caused by believing in self rather than selflessness.
An animal is for practical reasons having a self. A cat is always a cat. It is no tiger or bird.
If we human beings had a self like that we could excuse all our actions with this argument: we are like this and we can not change it.
But as we are selfless, we can choose identity, more or less. Our identity is not given existentially, but often there are social and individual limitations.
Our mind has three roles. It is the giver of identity to a large extent, it is the experiencer of identity, and it expresses the identity.
This is potentially a very good construct. It means we can live in happiness for ever.
But it is also a very vulnerable construct. It can easily go wrong, and then we end up in eternal suffering.
One common fault is to strengthen the self rather than to see its freedom. We want to be richer and more powerful. We do not see this as the fault it is.
Another common fault is to misunderstand how to influence others. People with social problems are often treated in way that aggravates the problems. People without social problems are often given social problems, by political or religious dogmas.
The formula for happiness is too simple to be taken seriously. It is that we should treat others nice, because than our mind will give us the experience of niceness, and then we can treat others nice without any strain.
Most people feel that happiness must be earned by hard work, violence, incomprehensible challenges, superhuman feats, martyrdom, pain, sweat, suffering and the like, but that is another thing. It has nothing to do with happiness. It is caused by believing in self rather than selflessness.
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