GENIUS FORUMS

Phillip K. Dick, [i]VALIS[/i] wrote:In his study of the form that masochism takes in modern man, Theodor Reik puts forth an interesting view. Masochism is more widespread than we realize because it takes an attenuated form. The basic dynamism is as follows: a human being sees something bad which is coming as inevitable. There is no way he can halt the process; he is helpless. This sense of helplessness generates a need to gain some control over the impending pain--any kind of control will do. This makes sense; the subjective feeling of helplessness is more painful than the impending misery. So the person seizes control over the situation in the only way open to him: he connives to bring on the impending misery; he hastens it. This activity on his part promotes the false impression that he enjoys pain. Not so. It is simply that he cannot any longer endure the helplessness or the supposed helplessness. But in the process of gaining control over the inevitable misery he becomes, automatically, anhedonic (which means being unable or unwilling to enjoy pleasure.) Anhedonia sets in stealthily. Over the years it takes control of him. For example, he learns to defer gratification; this is a step in the dismal process of anhedonia. In learning to defer gratification he experiences a sense of self-mastery; he has become stoic, disciplined; he does not give way to impulse. He has control. Control over himself in terms of his impulses and control over the external situation. He is a controlled and controlling person. Pretty soon he has branched out and is controlling other people, as part of the situation. He becomes a manipulator. Of course, he is not consciously aware of this; all he intends to do is lessen his own sense of impotence. But in his task of lessening this sense, he insidiously overpowers the freedom of others. Yet, he derives no pleasure from this, no positive psychological gain; all his gains are essentially negative.

SeekerOfWisdom wrote:Cory

"Enlightenment is like childhood minus the ignorance."

Enlightenment is like childhood before the pretense of knowledge.

Complete thoughtlessness, complete detachment, (Like a young toddler seeing everything for the first time) is enlightenment.

This leads to complete realization that all experience flows as one,(thoughts,dreams,this world, death,rebirth is just changing sensual experience) and is made of the same "stuff", flowing from a common source.

I'd say enlightenment is like adulthood but with more ignorance (thoughtlessness counts as ignorance although it was wisdom that brought it about)...... and acceptance of the things you already know but can't admit that you are ignorant to.


brad

I like the post and can relate to it, you can too otherwise you wouldn't have posted, as I have unconsciously been manipulating the people around me since childhood, even in the sense of telling my mum I love her a bunch of times when I want something :p

This leads to laziness and trying to make everyone do everything for you while you benefit and sit back, it is negative if one has that feeling of dominance they need to uphold, but being disinterested and generally unaffected by circumstance also leads to not caring about appearance/judgement, being "below" others and not caring what you appear to be while still using them to do everything for you hahah.

SeekerOfWisdom wrote:"Enlightenment is like childhood minus the ignorance" is bullshit, there is always ignorance, enlightenment is much closer to simply recognizing how ignorant you are, there is no absence of ignorance.

SeekerOfWisdom wrote:There is no delusion in enlightenment, but being ignorant to something means not knowing about it.