By Michael Murphy, Ed.D.
1) What does it mean to be a human being? To have the capacity for DETACHMENT – to not (necessarily) be governed by base urges or impulses, but rather to have the capacity to view behavioral and epistemological alternatives from a distance and subsequently choose a path.
2) With regard to what? With regard to what one chooses to believe constitutes the fundamental nature of reality. All is hypothetical, stipulative; systems of understanding may have varying degrees of internal coherence but are equally unfounded. Thus one’s initial choice has to do with what one chooses to believe deserves the status of “knowledge.”
3) One therefore has the capacity to choose to believe that the circumstances and events of one’s life are the result of random, chaotic chance forces – or one can choose to believe that circumstances and events emerge in a manner that is congruent with a universal intelligence; that what occurs is what needs to occur, for one’s learning and growth, for the support of others, and for the evolution of the universe.
4) Should one choose the latter, then one is faced with “shooting the arrow at the eye of the eagle.” Meditation facilitates the maintenance of the psychological and emotional balance necessary to see clearly, to encompass one current situation and circumstances with unobstructed awareness.
5) Then one can act with full commitment and dedication; one has the necessary information, one has the clarity of vision, and one has the purity of intent to be guided by the universal intelligence – to have one’s hand on the chord, to feel its vibrations and dance to its tune.
6) Then one is faced with maintaining faith, even when the circumstances appear at least superficially destructive or uncomfortable – that the suffering is a necessary side effect of growth and evolution – this is hard-won wisdom.
7) Return to step one.
THE FUNDAMENTAL STRUCURE OF EXISTENCE - IN STEPS
1) What does it mean to be a human being? To have the capacity for DETACHMENT – to not (necessarily) be governed by base urges or impulses, but rather to have the capacity to view behavioral and epistemological alternatives from a distance and subsequently choose a path.
2) With regard to what? With regard to what one chooses to believe constitutes the fundamental nature of reality. All is hypothetical, stipulative; systems of understanding may have varying degrees of internal coherence but are equally unfounded. Thus one’s initial choice has to do with what one chooses to believe deserves the status of “knowledge.”
3) One therefore has the capacity to choose to believe that the circumstances and events of one’s life are the result of random, chaotic chance forces – or one can choose to believe that circumstances and events emerge in a manner that is congruent with a universal intelligence; that what occurs is what needs to occur, for one’s learning and growth, for the support of others, and for the evolution of the universe.
4) Should one choose the latter, then one is faced with “shooting the arrow at the eye of the eagle.” Meditation facilitates the maintenance of the psychological and emotional balance necessary to see clearly, to encompass one current situation and circumstances with unobstructed awareness.
5) Then one can act with full commitment and dedication; one has the necessary information, one has the clarity of vision, and one has the purity of intent to be guided by the universal intelligence – to have one’s hand on the chord, to feel its vibrations and dance to its tune.
6) Then one is faced with maintaining faith, even when the circumstances appear at least superficially destructive or uncomfortable – that the suffering is a necessary side effect of growth and evolution – this is hard-won wisdom.
7) Return to step one.