I feel it is true that each time we make a choice, we are not necessarily controlling. It was suggested to me in a different group that "if you seek the control of something of any nature , that this would be your ego wanting control and your ego would manifest whatever it is you are putting the energy into. I think that the ego has a measure of free will , but this in reality is controlled by your concepts of reality. I think that the only true free will would be obtained by someone who has an enlightened consciousness and not bound by the frame work of the egoic mind."
I sense some wisdom here, in that our need to possess and control may indeed be an egoic impulse, feeding an egotistical self image. "The more I have, the more what I say goes, the more that I dominate, the bigger and stronger a person I am," would be the thoughts of an ego in need of control, or out of control... I think that, beyond directing our thoughts, feelings and bodily functions (hopefully for our betterment) - our economic systems give us a sense of control. If I spend a year on a painting or a novel, it is mine until I want to sell it and make my living on it. I have a friend who rebuilds and restyles Detroit muscle cars, and makes a big investment in time and money expressing his talent in this way. These cars are indeed beautiful. I know he believes that these things are his until he sells them and makes a profit. Are these aspects of control, or economy? I think the control becomes egoic when we begin to think in terms of limitation - if he has some then I have less. My friend (although he doesn't) may feel the need corner the market on remodeled muscle cars because no one else can do them justice. Or he would only sell to white guys, because anyone else wouldn't appreciate them (which makes no sense, and often, the ego in need of control makes no sense.) Indeed, there are those of us that try to control our bodily functions through ego - and the anorexic or bulimic eating disorder arises. There are lots of interesting albeit destructive things that humans do to their bodies to feel a sense of control, because there self image dictates it. On Jul 30, 8:50 am, Slip Disc <[email protected]> wrote: > Lee, we can choose to eat more or less, choose to fast or starve, we > can choose to sweat in the heat or hang out at the market freezer > section. But these are not pertinent to the control issue in the > context of this thread or my intended course of elicitation. > Primarily we are looking at personal space, our self, our being, modus > operandi, the whole concept of what we think and do and "Not" about > our bowel movements, sweat glands or the control of such. > Further to clarify, I did not say, as you put it, "some of us eat too > much", I did say "........we eat more than is necessary to > survive.......". This is not a definitive of what is "too much" > eating. Personally I wouldn't want to live on the survival diet but > just because I'm eating more than necessary for survival doesn't mean > I'm eating too much. > > On Jul 30, 4:02 am, "[email protected]" <[email protected]> > wrote: > > > Well Slip, > > > You have said yourself that perhaps ome of us eat too much. So there > > must be an element of control there? If we can choose to eat less > > then that is a choice we make and thus we can control that. > > > You are correct though with the sweat thing, and altough it may appear > > I'm being pedantic, what you say really just backs up what I say. The > > issue is one of ultimate control of ourselves, if you cannot control > > when and how much you sweat then surly the control of yourself that > > you have is not ultimate huh? > > > Ohh I was in fact a veggie for a few years, only because when I meet > > the woman who would become my wife, she was one. > > > On 27 July, 11:56, Slip Disc <[email protected]> wrote: > > > > Would you actually go that far as to say the necessity of eating is a > > > control issue. You know you love your sausage grilled, butcher Lee, > > > and the other cuts as well. I don't recall you being a vegan. > > > But point is we love to eat, we choose to eat and fact is we eat more > > > than is necessary to survive which makes it a definite "choice" and > > > not a control. We might as well add in bodily functions as being a > > > control thing if we look at it your way. Is it a control issue > > > because I sweat when it is hot humid? > > > > On Jul 27, 5:43 am, "[email protected]" <[email protected]> > > > wrote: > > > > > Yeah I sorta agree with you. We are largly free where it really > > > > matters, in the head. But do we really have ultimate control over > > > > ourselves? > > > > > I can't help but think that if I don't eat then I die, so there is no > > > > control there at all, I must eat or die, this is not my choice and so > > > > I have no control over it. > > > > > On 27 July, 07:05, BB47 <[email protected]> wrote: > > > > > > I am new here. I like having control. My last post did not show up > > > > > so I looked at the guidelines (I really didn't think I would have to, > > > > > after all I am a wonderful human being.... sometimes) and I found > > > > > out that I am on "moderation" at the start (this is where I get to the > > > > > control issue) > > > > > > It is not a good feeling not being in control, but we do have > > > > > ultimate control over ourselves, barring an illness or mental chemical > > > > > fiasco, and that might be the only control we may get that we can rely > > > > > on. People are controlling. They often have good reasons. > > > > > Sometimes they are just jerks, but humans as a whole have > > > > > demonstrated over and over that they prefer to control other human > > > > > beings rather than let them do whatever they choose. It is a fine > > > > > line. Obviously, control can be good for some causes and not for > > > > > others. It might depend on whether you have an Egalitarian or a > > > > > "collective" type philosophy, with the "good for most" beliefs. > > > > > I really don't like that myself. I am an individualist. But I also > > > > > admit that some control is necessary. > > > > > > We can hope that the "people in control" have wisdom, fairness, > > > > > and sound judgement. When the hell has that ever happened in history? > > > > > No, seriously, sometimes it happens. Not often enough for me. (I am > > > > > not saying I have those qualities nor would know them if they ran me > > > > > over) > > > > > > On Jul 26, 5:19 pm, Slip Disc <[email protected]> wrote: > > > > > > > We had Molly's wonderful post gone chaotic concerning control and > > > > > > since then I thought of other aspects of control and being in > > > > > > control > > > > > > and whether or not we are supposed to be in control. > > > > > > I hear evangelists speak of turning your life over to God, letting > > > > > > the > > > > > > Holy Spirit guide you. I hear of following rules and regulations, > > > > > > laws and dictum of governing bodies. I ask myself, where is there > > > > > > any > > > > > > room left for us to have any control? > > > > > > This goes beyond the Molly post as being self and the awareness of > > > > > > decision that was made prior. Are we not mostly controlled beings? > > > > > > Isn't control limited to our personal space and even then limited to > > > > > > no one knowing about that space? Isn't it true, what has been said, > > > > > > that the only privacy we have is that which exists in our minds? > > > > > > But > > > > > > then again, when we talk about control, spiritual control, external > > > > > > control isn't that also a matter that is questionable?- Hide quoted > > > > > > text - > > > > > > - Show quoted text -- Hide quoted text - > > > > - Show quoted text - --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups ""Minds Eye"" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/Minds-Eye?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
