Peace as a state, or permanent trait/structure

by Markfromcali 5 Replies latest jw friends

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  Markfromcali

  Okay, here's one for those of you interested in consciousness and such, or maybe those who happen to find it interesting at the moment. If not of course you are free to click away and return to your regularly scheduled programming.

  I was reading some Ken Wilber and was thinking of the point about different stages of development, that different consciousness can be a temporary state, an experience or basically a stable structure of consciousness. It occurred to me that perhaps what is more significant is not the specific stages that outlines how one functions like the formal operational stage of Piaget, but actually peace itself.

  Of course peace in itself cannot be considered a structure per se, but rather it would exist in spite of all forms of structure. Certainly in everyday life most of us know some who are more knee-jerk reactionary as opposed to others who are not so disturbed by every little thing. But the important thing I want to point out here is if we have this peace that is in spite of structure, then that implies it is a peace that is not dependent on conditions, in other words not dependent on a certain state of affairs, things being a certain way. I think this is significant to point out because most of the time people do look for a certain condition, be it something immediate such as having a good job to feed yourself or good relationship(s) or whatever, which may be relevant to a certain homeostasis, but that is not what I am pointing to as peace itself. This also opens up that kind of chicken or the egg thing: Does peace come from the outside in (state dependent and conditional) or from the inside out? If it is an 'inner peace' as the cliche actually indicates, then what is that? What is it like?

  No, this isn't anything new really - and actually that's exactly the point.
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  darkuncle29

  I don't think its an absolute. If a person has the tendancy to try and choose to be peaceful, how far they are willing to take that is what matters.

  This happened to me last night in traffic:

  I was driving on 522 in Washington state here, going from 405 to Seattle. I though I'd take a shortcut during the worst of the traffic (oops!). So I was lost. I was mostly calm, as it was not the end of the world, and I could just pull over and check my map book. for some reason traffic is really backed up on the arterial. When I finially get to the stoplight, I am behind a white SUV. When the light turned green, the driver just sat there. I was a bit surprised at that. People were passing and honking and just being rude. The light cycles. Same thing happens, but now, the hazard lights are on. I decided to wait till the light turned red and get out of my vehicle and see what the problem was.

  I knocked on this lady's window and she is like almost in tears. She has been sitting in traffic in this dead vehicle for 25 minutes. She called 911 and a tow truck. NOBODY OFFERED TO HELP HER. Just to move traffic along. Instead people were just going about their way, and getting mad and upset. I told her I'd push her through the inersection with my vehicle during the next light cycle. She asked about the other drivers and I told her that at this point they are mad, and nothing will change that.

  So I push her through this light and into a parking lot, which was hard for her because she had no power steering control. She waits for her husband, and I go on my way.

  Although by the time this was all done I felt adrenaline flowing, during this scene I was calm and collected. I was not all bent out of shape because I was behind a stalled vehicle. I was slightly irritated with the individuals who were shouting obscenities without being aware of what was really going on.

  I think it comes down to being a choice.
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  Markfromcali

  Yes, but who or what makes that choice?

  edited to add:

  As I said, there is the state of being in relative equilibrium, if there is a choice as you say, there is something else at work. I'm not talking about the state or circumstances and how that unfolds.
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  darkuncle29

  I have been learning (un-learning) for some time now to just let things flow. When I am in the right mindset, at the right place and right time, things are ok. I am not sure what you mean by "Who made that choice?" I believe that it was me; my mind/soul whatever. I don't see the point to adding various belief system jargon just for the sake of ...complicating matters. I like the K.I.S.S. principle. and now I'm just babbling.
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  Markfromcali

  I pretty much mean what the words of the question indicate, the who IS you, and the what is to point to the part of you that makes a conscious choice. But being under the right circumstances is not a choice is it, it is being influenced by other outside conditions. By asking the question I am not asking for an answer, I am trying to emphasize that part that is capable of choosing, or is free from the external conditions. It's simply to say use the mind to look at itself in a way. Rather than say "hey, you're free to choose" as a statement of fact which might sound like some half-assed positive affirmation, (which would just be outside influence) I'm saying see for yourself.
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  Narkissos

  Or the old Hellenistic ideal of ataraxia.

  I find an echo of Mark's "self-awareness" in many Gnostic teachings: know your divine origin and identity and you'll attain peace and happiness regardless of circumstances.

  But I also find some wisdom in the Gospel teachings (which I suspect are largely related to hinayana Buddhism) where peace / happiness has a paradoxical yet real connection with circumstances.

  The blessedness of those who mourn is not for those who laugh.

  The blessedness of the poor is not for the rich.

  The strength of the weak is not for the strong.

  When you think of it, "where your treasure is, there your heart will be also" is a highly materialistic aphorism: your state of mind (or "spirituality") does depend (although paradoxically) on your circumstances in life.