Dialogue Raises Consciousness
Are we in control of ourselves, our lives, our families, our worlds? Or are we just aware and knowing what one can do if something unpredictable happens?
There are many explanations for why we do what we do. For example, Thomas Metzinger's new Book, The Ego Tunnel: The Science of the Mind and the Myth of the Self, seriously questions whether there is even an "I", let alone a "we." And Douglas Hofstadter's book, I Am a Strange Loop, contends that the "self" is a recursively self-referencing memory loop.
Hundreds of experiments by Benjamin Libet and others tend to conclusively confirm that our brain prepares to execute our decisions before we are even aware that anything is being decided. It alerts us to our decisions only in time (a split second) for us to veto them.
See en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benjamin_Libet, as well as Benjamin Libet's book, Mind Time, and Walter J. Freeman's book, How Brains Make Up Their Minds.
It is quite likely that we have no so-called "free will" other than veto power over our specific actions. Our free will may consist instead of 1) being mindful about any ill-serving subliminal intentions and tendencies that inform our actions so that we are accordingly prepared to veto any action that they correspondingly inform, and of 2) programming (or reprogramming) our subliminal intentions to be more productive of the experiencing that we most desire.
Do we have the power to create our realities? Are we in control? What do YOU think?
User Comments
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The older I get the more I realise that control is an illusion. Life is much more about allowing than steering - though never exclusively one or the other -
I am somewhat in control of my thoughts and in the material world, my personal circle-- what I can reach with both hands outstretched until the ends of my fingertips -
A fascinating topic for discussion - but I cannot yet get past the original question - the title of the post.
Are You In Control?
In order to proceed from there - I would have to understand implicitly who that "you" (me) was.
When I explore this - I find that the concept of there being a "me" becomes more and more illusory.
I am a being - I am 100% the product, the substance of life - of a predetermined reality with its own immutable law, its own pre-ordained potential.
I conclude that any part of this being that considers itself to be independent of origin, of existence, with an autonomy outside of that law and potential - is stretching it somewhat!
I conclude that "I" am the point at which my potential for experience (the subtle yet profound attribute of awareness) becomes experience itself - a process happening, unfolding continuously.
This, I have concluded, is the very nature of my reality - I am no more than a point in time - now - shapeless, formless - ever fluid - born simply in the contrast between the finite and the infinite - the relative and the absolute.
A point that nevertheless holds the key to the store of its past, previous experiences, lessons, memories - all contained within the mind.
"I" am simply the crest of an ever rolling wave - and like water and air - matter and spirit are what form the contrast - the ability for awareness to have any significance.
So - in the context of this post - perhaps we may affect the steering a little - but we haven't designed or built the vehicle, nor the environment, nor the possibilities, nor the restraints - and ultimately - if "we" are not separate from that which is or isn't controlled - that control is probably an illusion. The separation only exists in our conceptualisation - not in the reality. -
A great question. Was supposed Judas in "control" or within the realm of the allusion of free will in the ancient Biblical story, or events set in place long ago had determined the circle of betrayal and doomed Judas along with Jesus? Was Crucifixion karmically "ordained" for Jesus, and if so why would Judas's act be so bad , after all? As a good paradox this proves the rule. We are in control, but sometimes the right decision to be made is overwhelmingly hard, near impossible. The ancient wisdom says, the decision often the hardest made is usually the right choice.-
Our judgement system, our value system seem to be all rooted in a presumption of mortality - so where does "karma" enter into mortality?
That seems to be an incongruous statement - for a belief that encompasses the survival of consciousness, personality or soul beyond death would be essential for "belief" in karmic law - in which case - our judgement system can expand to a broader more infinite perspective?
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Karma and "mortality" do not mesh, as karma presupposes reincarnation (which makes "death" nothing more than changing ones suit). In full understanding Karmic laws our judgement will enter into new horizons and gain a broader perspective, THEN and only then we shall know and UNDERSTAND than hurting others we only hurt ourselves.
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Perhaps, the only control we have in our lives is making choices between perceptions. Since they are only perceptions and defined by our own prejudices, indoctrinations, conditioning, etc., etc, our choices are then
only based on illusions. We may have control only in forming illusions which may or may not have any validity in reality. Ooohhh! I think I just had a brain hernia!-
@ countsneaky - I think that is 100% true - we redesign our selves with every choice we make - our perceptions influence those choices - but it is all taking place in an internal, conceptual landscape - the actions that flow from our choices are of more influence, but are "controlled" by the restraints of Universal laws - completely beyond our influence.
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I think the "control" we think we have of our destinies, our lives, our choice lists is one of the myths that reality uses to maintain itself. As the late Philip K. Dick observed,"Reality is what's still there after you stop believing in it."So,I think,what we are finally left with is choiceless awareness.That is, we can only live in the present; not the past; not the future. One can not do this without recognizing one's own myths.
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