Sunday Musings - September 26, 2021
This week I have been particularly aware of a simple, but well-known fact. That fact is that we are all human. We may achieve the ability to create an artificial intelligence closely resembling a human and which may, in fact, feel, smell and even taste remarkably like a human. There is speculation or exploration of the possibility that an actual human might marry and be quite content to share a home and a life with an AI who may seem to have feelings and original thoughts. One might than ask if said AI will question it’s artificial beingness.
I ponder this issue because the one characteristic that most share is the surprise that we often behave in illogical, emotional, unpredictable ways. Further, most of us seem surprised that:
o Perception determines reality.
o Unlike all other animals/creatures/beings we are unhappy with who we are and compare our insides with the outside of others.
o Physical attraction wanes and even dies off.
o Emotional attraction wanes.
o We are capable of being emotionally and sexually attracted to more than one person at a time.
o We often make decisions based on the promise of immediate gratification.
o The physical operation of what we call the mind or brain which determines perception or reality and resulting actions is determined by many factors including nutritional intake, climate, emotional states, diseases such as tumors, belief systems and chemical balance. It should not be surprising that we often do not share reality. It should be surprising that we ever have a shared reality.
o We live for a limited time no matter how well we take care of ourselves.
o Traumas seem to remain in our DNA for centuries. In other words, any mistreatment of even one person or other part of Mother Nature affects the entire universe for centuries
o There is no I. There is only us. Despite the attachment to individualism and the teaching, especially in the United Sates, that it is the individual needs, wants, and rights which count we are social beings who are interdependent. Either we succeed together, or we fail together regardless of our pretense that we can live independently of each other.
o None of us have very interesting or unique secrets.
o It is only in solitude - in a state of letting go of the chatter - we can truly experience connection with all which exists in the universe(s)
At this point the reader might be asking, “What is your point?” Of course, all of the above is true. (Or not!). Yet, how many of the social ills are a result of our refusal to accept these basic facts which are authenticated by scientific studies over and over again? Even when we fall into the trap which individuals such as Peter Tiel seem to do by advocating the creation of a country which is free of government we will continue to look for and take our cue from others. We look for connections with others who may believe in individualism!
As far as we can determine no other part of nature questions who and what they are. Nor do they seem to be concerned with the length of their life span. We humans, on the other hand, either go to great lengths to find justification for our dissatisfaction with who we are, or we spend hours, days or even years attempting to use such techniques as meditation to let go of the chatter - to reach a state of Nirvana. Buddhist writer and teacher Stephen Batchelor defines Nirvana as that state of being one attains when one let’s go of greed, dislike and egotism. Pema Chodron suggests that the state of spiritual enlightenment requires the letting go of attachments and especially the attachment to dualities (labeling people, things, and actions as good/bad or right/wrong - the absence of judgement which is the basis for greed, dislike and egotism. This is the goal of quieting our mind and just being. Although other animals and parts of nature may protect a territory, a food source, their perspective mate or their young, there is no evidence that they do so with judgment.
I have long appreciated the work of Robert Enright on forgiveness which he articulates so well in his book Forgiveness is a Choice, A Step-by-Step Process for Resolving Anger and Restoring Hope. Stephen Batchelor seems to go one step further and suggest that to approach Nirvana is to let go of all thought which then necessarily allows one to experience what Pema Chodron and others have suggested is the cradle of loving kindness. In the opening lines of The Education of the Warrior Chogyam Trungpa posits:
“That mind of fearfulness
Should be put in the cradle of loving-kindness
And suckled with the profound and brilliant milk
Of eternal doubtlessness.”
One might define healing as approaching that state of Nirvana - of experiencing being held in the cradle of loving kindness. We experience or at least approach experiencing this as we approach acceptance of our humanness - of letting go of greed, dislike and egotism - the state of solitude - the state of connection with all that is - the end of loneliness.
Written September 26, 2021
Jimmy Pickett
coachpickett.org
This week I have been particularly aware of a simple, but well-known fact. That fact is that we are all human. We may achieve the ability to create an artificial intelligence closely resembling a human and which may, in fact, feel, smell and even taste remarkably like a human. There is speculation or exploration of the possibility that an actual human might marry and be quite content to share a home and a life with an AI who may seem to have feelings and original thoughts. One might than ask if said AI will question it’s artificial beingness.
I ponder this issue because the one characteristic that most share is the surprise that we often behave in illogical, emotional, unpredictable ways. Further, most of us seem surprised that:
o Perception determines reality.
o Unlike all other animals/creatures/beings we are unhappy with who we are and compare our insides with the outside of others.
o Physical attraction wanes and even dies off.
o Emotional attraction wanes.
o We are capable of being emotionally and sexually attracted to more than one person at a time.
o We often make decisions based on the promise of immediate gratification.
o The physical operation of what we call the mind or brain which determines perception or reality and resulting actions is determined by many factors including nutritional intake, climate, emotional states, diseases such as tumors, belief systems and chemical balance. It should not be surprising that we often do not share reality. It should be surprising that we ever have a shared reality.
o We live for a limited time no matter how well we take care of ourselves.
o Traumas seem to remain in our DNA for centuries. In other words, any mistreatment of even one person or other part of Mother Nature affects the entire universe for centuries
o There is no I. There is only us. Despite the attachment to individualism and the teaching, especially in the United Sates, that it is the individual needs, wants, and rights which count we are social beings who are interdependent. Either we succeed together, or we fail together regardless of our pretense that we can live independently of each other.
o None of us have very interesting or unique secrets.
o It is only in solitude - in a state of letting go of the chatter - we can truly experience connection with all which exists in the universe(s)
At this point the reader might be asking, “What is your point?” Of course, all of the above is true. (Or not!). Yet, how many of the social ills are a result of our refusal to accept these basic facts which are authenticated by scientific studies over and over again? Even when we fall into the trap which individuals such as Peter Tiel seem to do by advocating the creation of a country which is free of government we will continue to look for and take our cue from others. We look for connections with others who may believe in individualism!
As far as we can determine no other part of nature questions who and what they are. Nor do they seem to be concerned with the length of their life span. We humans, on the other hand, either go to great lengths to find justification for our dissatisfaction with who we are, or we spend hours, days or even years attempting to use such techniques as meditation to let go of the chatter - to reach a state of Nirvana. Buddhist writer and teacher Stephen Batchelor defines Nirvana as that state of being one attains when one let’s go of greed, dislike and egotism. Pema Chodron suggests that the state of spiritual enlightenment requires the letting go of attachments and especially the attachment to dualities (labeling people, things, and actions as good/bad or right/wrong - the absence of judgement which is the basis for greed, dislike and egotism. This is the goal of quieting our mind and just being. Although other animals and parts of nature may protect a territory, a food source, their perspective mate or their young, there is no evidence that they do so with judgment.
I have long appreciated the work of Robert Enright on forgiveness which he articulates so well in his book Forgiveness is a Choice, A Step-by-Step Process for Resolving Anger and Restoring Hope. Stephen Batchelor seems to go one step further and suggest that to approach Nirvana is to let go of all thought which then necessarily allows one to experience what Pema Chodron and others have suggested is the cradle of loving kindness. In the opening lines of The Education of the Warrior Chogyam Trungpa posits:
“That mind of fearfulness
Should be put in the cradle of loving-kindness
And suckled with the profound and brilliant milk
Of eternal doubtlessness.”
One might define healing as approaching that state of Nirvana - of experiencing being held in the cradle of loving kindness. We experience or at least approach experiencing this as we approach acceptance of our humanness - of letting go of greed, dislike and egotism - the state of solitude - the state of connection with all that is - the end of loneliness.
Written September 26, 2021
Jimmy Pickett
coachpickett.org
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