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The will to do

Blogs > Oxygen
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Oxygen
Profile Blog Joined November 2003
Canada3581 Posts
Last Edited: 2009-05-19 05:29:46
May 19 2009 05:21 GMT
#1
I’ve been thinking a lot about will and determination, and how one can modify reality with the appropriate perspective whilst the mind is at peace. The key to this is awareness: we must understand why we persist and what we intend to accomplish. This gives us the proper motivation to train the mind for peace.

First, we must become conscious of ourselves: of our words, our actions, our thoughts and our senses. Buddha taught this, but it is reflected everywhere (think as simply as Dark Side of the Moon, or The Little Prince). I try for awareness because I think it will help me understand what I want and how I can get it – a kind of life-map, if you will. There’s no sense trying to become an international Opera soprano if you’re not willing to have your balls cut off. After some self-reflection, I think peace of mind is my first priority, as I can’t be solely happy if I’ve worries in the back of my mind. Likewise, I can’t really think about something until I think about it.
(By this I mean you can’t worry and think at once, just as you can’t write a letter and carry on a conversation at once. This shouldn’t be confused with the feeling of worry, which does not actually occupy the mind. If you can think of two things at the same time … fuck.)

With this awareness also comes knowledge of what is fleetingly satisfying and what provides redeeming feelings. The simplest example is likely the fact that it’s more satisfying to learn something or play sports than it is to sit around and masturbate all day. You’ll call me somewhat of a Freudian, but I think the comparison is clear: sleeping and smoking weed nonstop gets so boring after a while; you’ll need to go do something. That’s not to say this is never permissible – on the contrary, I think it’s necessary in some ways. But if you dedicate yourself with mind and spirit to accomplish something and you realize that success, it is often much more deeply gratifying than something easy. The trick is to be aware that this feeling will come if you work for it – to positively reinforce your mind with good feeling every time you do something right, which isn’t necessarily easy (in either case).

Once you become aware, though, you realize the effect you have on your environment and the people within it. You begin to see the extent of your influence, and so you cathect it (i.e., to ‘love’ it – it is ‘important’ to you, like your job or girlfriend). However, seeing the world around you and how you can affect it, you develop a feeling that the world matters, and that there is some sense to life. Thus, your actions matter, and if you hurt or help someone, it matters. In fact, I think it only matters if you decide it does. If you don’t, then you are free to enjoy the easy pleasures of the world, but in my short-lived experience it’s rarely worth it. The entire gray-area in between goes without saying.*

If you think there is some meaning – anything you want – in life, you are faced with a subsequent level of responsibility. If you are aware of your self and desire peace of mind, you must mind the self to act the way you believe it should act. Think about what matters for your life. Some believe money matters – I disagree, obviously, and think that kind of attitude stems from lack of self-awareness. To think is to temporarily silence the impulsive feelings in order to reap the rewards of conscious thought. That is what makes us human.
For complete peace of mind – a blessing? – you need to believe everything you do is right. This means you need to question yourself, to challenge your actions and be open to confrontation. This is dedication to the truth, to being wrong, to humility. I think everyone has little things they wouldn’t want anyone to know about, much less take away. I’m not interested in complete “perfection”, if you can call it that; I just think whatever we enjoy doesn’t need to be hidden. If you are trying to improve, you should be open about mistakes. People often lie to cover up the simplest inadequacies – but why? I think we each have a web of lies, big or small, that we have to work to upkeep. It’s tiring and will never allow for total peace of mind. This is what I mean by shifting your perception: why be afraid of challenge or judgment? They give opportunities to grow, and if you truly try nobody can accuse you. If you constantly give effort, you dispel the inadequacies you feel about yourself. Quite simply: you cannot solve a problem without solving it.

The interesting thing about this whole process is: no matter how much effort you put in, the reward is always greater; it is simply that we require great awareness to always see it. The reward is in the journey, the chase, the process. Good effort often leads to some result, but just as in poker, results can be misleading. However, through continuous growth, you always become more aware and more able, and results improve rapidly. It becomes easier to will yourself to do things for your own good, and then reward yourself for it. It’s like a vicious cycle of self-love.

I wrote this after trying to climb some trees. I was edgy tonight and wanted to expel some anger – the best way to do this is physically. For half an hour, didn't focus on anything except climbing trees. I tried about eight times to climb this last one, but I didn’t make it. It was a great effort though.

I rambled for a bit – sorry for the lack of structure. Please leave comments and disagree with me.

Cheers,

Michael



*This may sound stupid, but I thought of this theorem that if you’re debating any moral scenario and you can think of two extreme cases, then there is gray area anywhere in between. Kind of like extreme value thm but for life.



*****
Dont drink and derive. TSL: Made with Balls.
Art.FeeL
Profile Blog Joined September 2007
1163 Posts
May 19 2009 05:33 GMT
#2
I didnt read the Op coz i dont have time (gotta go to school) but if you wanna find that will to do, motivate yourself with various videos or quotes or just be fan of Jaedong (that guy inspires me)
I am a great believer in luck. The harder I work the luckier I am.
JWD
Profile Blog Joined October 2007
United States12607 Posts
Last Edited: 2009-05-19 05:42:10
May 19 2009 05:36 GMT
#3
On May 19 2009 14:33 Art.FeeL wrote:
I didnt read the Op coz i dont have time (gotta go to school) but if you wanna find that will to do, motivate yourself with various videos or quotes or just be fan of Jaedong (that guy inspires me)

yeah dude Jaedong is the solution to everything!!!

OP: I think the issues you're grappling with are really common. Ever read any skeptics (in the philosophical sense of the word)? You might find some kindred thinkers.

I agree that for the practical purpose of leading a productive, happy life we need to simply do the best we can at decision-making (be careful and systematic, but be willing to accept the fact that we'll make some mistakes).
✌
jodogohoo
Profile Blog Joined March 2008
Canada2533 Posts
May 19 2009 05:38 GMT
#4
i want to, but i need to change.
want to doesn't equal did
jodogohoo
Profile Blog Joined March 2008
Canada2533 Posts
May 19 2009 05:38 GMT
#5
On May 19 2009 14:36 JWD wrote:
Show nested quote +
On May 19 2009 14:33 Art.FeeL wrote:
I didnt read the Op coz i dont have time (gotta go to school) but if you wanna find that will to do, motivate yourself with various videos or quotes or just be fan of Jaedong (that guy inspires me)

yeah dude Jaedong is the solution to everything!!!

that too
Oxygen
Profile Blog Joined November 2003
Canada3581 Posts
May 19 2009 05:49 GMT
#6
I'm not sure who you mean by the skeptics, but I might know some ideas. Got any names?

Also, I'm not sure how I came across, but this has little to do with practicality in the societal sense of the term. Perhaps a most rational decision would be to abandon Western culture and join the monks. I don't know, of course, but doing what is rational seems to be against the tide of society.
Dont drink and derive. TSL: Made with Balls.
Oxygen
Profile Blog Joined November 2003
Canada3581 Posts
May 19 2009 16:12 GMT
#7
Just a thought -

They are very simple ideas. The problem is I rarely find people that truly know them, and many less that are willing to follow them. Example: I challenge you to stretch every morning for ten minutes, or read fifteen minutes every night before going to bed. This is further reflected in a capitalist's greed for money. You want enough to have a place to sleep, food to eat, and to satisfy basic necessities (think Maslow's pyramid) - anything more is gravy. Yet who follows these simple ideas? Who delights in life, and who strives to acquire like we've been taught to (get a job, get a car, get a house, get a wife, ...)?

Dont drink and derive. TSL: Made with Balls.
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