that would be true. if the world was a happy place all the time, it would probably be boring. As sad as some of the stories on the news are, it makes life more interesting and without the bad things happening, people wouldn't ever learn from their experiences.
Another great thought provoking video. Keep up the great work! :)
HaleyMary, please explain to me how happy can be boring? I just don't understand that. And I really would prefer not to learn from bad experiences like September11 for example. I would rather stay ignorant.
Richard Dawkins has said, "We humans are the first and only species to escape the brutal force that created us, natural selection."
Our "escape" from this brutal force is our awareness of it, our "spiritual" dimension, if you will. We are here as mere vessels for our genes to get themselves into the next generation - they (our genes) care not a whit about our happiness. But something really amazing happened over the course of the evolution of our species - capacity for self-awareness.
So with self-awareness, we find ourselves in the fascinating predicament of wondering why the heck the sense of "spiritual well-being" seems such a struggle. Bit by bit we start to disentangle it.
We find we spend most our lives in aversion and desire - avoiding and grasping, fearing and clinging.
Yet we *need* what we do not want. Awakening, being in the now, would never happen, otherwise.
We can thus embrace things 'not going our way' as welcome *alarm clocks*, reeling us back into the present.
Thus two choices: 1) wallowing in fear and dread of what we do not want, or 2) realizing, Oh, time to wake up. This is good Id still be asleep if it werent for this.
Notice: when you are in a state of things suddenly not going your way, are you in the now when you feel that emotion of aversion coming on? Then when you anchor yourself into the now in response, is that aversion still as powerful?
@vagabondsteve Hey Steve, have you read The Moral Animal by Robert Wright by any chance? What a mind blower that was my first real introduction to evolutionary psychology.
Thanks Steve. I think the point is finding the balance between "being and action". One without the other is meaningless. Unfortunately there are many so-called spiritual teachers who don't work and just "are". I believe it's important that we are centered while doing the things we love to serve others.
Also I don't think all is good at least in the eyes of an unelightened person like me. I believe the ego state which craves power and causes hurt and destruction dominates the world for the most part. It's unfortunate that bad news is in demand because of this. Otherwise challenges with good intentions resonate more with the human spirit.
Anyways I'm a big fan of your videos. Keep up the good work.
Speaking of balance, here's a beautiful equation I've been following for a healthy balanced relationship. Call it a mantra if you will.
I've been studying karate most of my life, and my sensei told me this one thing regarding relationships which will I'll never forget. And something I've followed consistently.
Trust
Communication Compromise.
Get these three things right, and you shouldnt go wrong. I've been together with my girlfriend for 14years now. Very happy indeed..
The 3 equations are able to weed out the bad apples from the good ones. I always think that any of these things, if un met, tend to lead to the inevitable. Which is, discarding the uncompatible with the compatible. As basic as it sounds, it kind of comes down to this. At least, that's what I've encountered and observed so far. ILook, I could be wrong, but I'm here to learn on youtube, and realign my incorrections.
"A person who is seized by worrying becomes kind of a spiritual automat. His or her mentality is so adapted to worrying that when one problem is gone, a person
feels a painful emptiness and begin to look for a new worry. Therefore we shouldn't keep worries and if we have them already we should be getting rid of them."
This was a powerful message Steve. As you said, the peace one can achieve is a real freedom. Isn't it great? I think if people could stop "pursuing" and just wait for what comes to them, and then being able to make calm choices they would feel that peace. Or maybe they must be in peace in a first place, in order to stop pursuing ;)
"All is well". That was one of the most important lessons that Louise L. Hay taught in her book "You Can Heal Your Life". I don't know if you've read it, but if you ever get a chance, read some of it. Good vlog, BTW.
1zenAwhile, I wouldn't agree. Happiness and enlightenment are there already. I don't need to bypass my mind. I only need to discover it in me, and my mind actually helps me doing it. But this is just what I think.
Well it's a good thing you have the answers to life. You have no idea if the human mind is here to evolve into more happiness or "enlightenment." You really have no clue.
We perceive and make problems in our mind. No problems really exist
Maybe happiness and enlightenment occur at a balancing point between mind and no mind? For some people, too much mental activity is a significant obstacle to enlightenment; for others, not enough "mindfulness" keeps them from being aware of that sweet spot.
"No problems really exist," you say. I had a flat tire recently at 6 am in a snow storm after working a 12 hour night shift...in a town 250 miles from my own. It sure felt like a problem! And I'm glad I had a human mind to solve it.
I'll answer your question by paraphrasing your own comment. Enlightenment was already there, and I didn't get so attached to the problem that the enlightenment darkened or disappeared.
The concept of mind is quite nebulous.
If you're talking about "mind" as that verbal chatter box that mechanically repeats the demands of the ego...well, it might be wise to bypass that to find enlightenment.
But if you're talking about "mind" as the device that orchestrates awareness with reality...
@1zenAwhile Agree to a point. I think a tamed mind can be of great value. When the mind becomes subordinate to the spirit, they can make a great team.
...materials, you'd need a fancy job to acheive in getting these things (if those are the things that make you smile).
Unfortunately for our friend, yes, he lives a great happy life...for now. BUt what happens if he wants a family someday. OR needs tooth repair. A new kidney. Security when he's old.
I think in the end, if you have an ok paying job, where you don't need to break your back everyday, when you have balance, then you'll be ok.
Failure is not an option if you want to get ahead of where you eventually want to get to. Let's say a managerial position of a prestigious work type, like a banker. So, I think it depends on the job kind. Failure isnt an option if you're up against equally skilled individuals who want the same thing you do. There's that pressure.
Also, if one want a big stereo, and fancy car, TV, etc, one cannot get this by surfing, drinking beer, and lazying around, though it sounds heavenly. To get these..
@Domzdream those kinds of objects (the stereo, the car, etc...) won't bring you long-lasting happiness. Only a short-term happiness. True positive contentment comes from just accepting yourself as you are and giving out love to both yourself and to others, in my opinion.
Yes. I agree. But I've acheived all those qualities from my early 20s and still have them. So this leaves these objects here and there which make me very happy. I don't rely on them to acheive happiness, but they make me happy.
Thank you Steve, beautifully put across.
Namaste'
John
psychodynamics1 9 months ago
theres nothing to gain OR lose in the material world. Nothing can be added or removed from the totality of existence.
Material existence is a Cosmic Joke. Either get the joke or suffer.
TadRapidly 1 year ago
beautiful message man.. this really makes me love. You vids are incredible Steve. I truely and deeply appreciate it
TheJuliusJT 1 year ago
Steve, you´re great. Thnx for the vid!
TheSarahDil 1 year ago
free- i like that word!
designlover88 1 year ago
that would be true. if the world was a happy place all the time, it would probably be boring. As sad as some of the stories on the news are, it makes life more interesting and without the bad things happening, people wouldn't ever learn from their experiences.
Another great thought provoking video. Keep up the great work! :)
HaleyMary 1 year ago
HaleyMary, please explain to me how happy can be boring? I just don't understand that. And I really would prefer not to learn from bad experiences like September11 for example. I would rather stay ignorant.
Barbie20152009 1 year ago
@HaleyMary Tanks
vagabondsteve 1 year ago
Part I
Richard Dawkins has said, "We humans are the first and only species to escape the brutal force that created us, natural selection."
Our "escape" from this brutal force is our awareness of it, our "spiritual" dimension, if you will. We are here as mere vessels for our genes to get themselves into the next generation - they (our genes) care not a whit about our happiness. But something really amazing happened over the course of the evolution of our species - capacity for self-awareness.
JakeLeg 1 year ago
Part II
So with self-awareness, we find ourselves in the fascinating predicament of wondering why the heck the sense of "spiritual well-being" seems such a struggle. Bit by bit we start to disentangle it.
We find we spend most our lives in aversion and desire - avoiding and grasping, fearing and clinging.
Yet we *need* what we do not want. Awakening, being in the now, would never happen, otherwise.
JakeLeg 1 year ago
Part III
We can thus embrace things 'not going our way' as welcome *alarm clocks*, reeling us back into the present.
Thus two choices: 1) wallowing in fear and dread of what we do not want, or 2) realizing, Oh, time to wake up. This is good Id still be asleep if it werent for this.
JakeLeg 1 year ago
Part IV
Notice: when you are in a state of things suddenly not going your way, are you in the now when you feel that emotion of aversion coming on? Then when you anchor yourself into the now in response, is that aversion still as powerful?
Awesome video!
JakeLeg 1 year ago
@JakeLeg Awesome comment! Thank you. It helps us to understand ourselves so much better when put in the perspective of evolutionary psychology.
vagabondsteve 1 year ago
@vagabondsteve Hey Steve, have you read The Moral Animal by Robert Wright by any chance? What a mind blower that was my first real introduction to evolutionary psychology.
JakeLeg 1 year ago
@JakeLeg No but I'll check it out. Thanks for the recommendation.
vagabondsteve 1 year ago
1zenAwhile, I agree with you now ;)
Barbie20152009 1 year ago
Thanks Steve. I think the point is finding the balance between "being and action". One without the other is meaningless. Unfortunately there are many so-called spiritual teachers who don't work and just "are". I believe it's important that we are centered while doing the things we love to serve others.
nikan4now 1 year ago
Also I don't think all is good at least in the eyes of an unelightened person like me. I believe the ego state which craves power and causes hurt and destruction dominates the world for the most part. It's unfortunate that bad news is in demand because of this. Otherwise challenges with good intentions resonate more with the human spirit.
Anyways I'm a big fan of your videos. Keep up the good work.
nikan4now 1 year ago
@nikan4now Thank you!
vagabondsteve 1 year ago
Hi Steve, It's great to have you back posting again! Great video, as usual, many thanks! :)
byronand5 2 years ago
@byronand5 Thank you, it's good to be back.
vagabondsteve 1 year ago
Steve, I always love watching your videos. They put me in a better mood. Please continue sharing your wisdom.
xShane1122x 2 years ago
@xShane1122x I appreciate your encouragement support.
vagabondsteve 1 year ago
Speaking of balance, here's a beautiful equation I've been following for a healthy balanced relationship. Call it a mantra if you will.
I've been studying karate most of my life, and my sensei told me this one thing regarding relationships which will I'll never forget. And something I've followed consistently.
Trust
Communication Compromise.
Get these three things right, and you shouldnt go wrong. I've been together with my girlfriend for 14years now. Very happy indeed..
Domzdream 2 years ago
@Domzdream Smart sensei! It would also add make sure you choose the right partner.
vagabondsteve 1 year ago
@vagabondsteve
The 3 equations are able to weed out the bad apples from the good ones. I always think that any of these things, if un met, tend to lead to the inevitable. Which is, discarding the uncompatible with the compatible. As basic as it sounds, it kind of comes down to this. At least, that's what I've encountered and observed so far. ILook, I could be wrong, but I'm here to learn on youtube, and realign my incorrections.
Keep well, Steve.
Domzdream 1 year ago
"A person who is seized by worrying becomes kind of a spiritual automat. His or her mentality is so adapted to worrying that when one problem is gone, a person
feels a painful emptiness and begin to look for a new worry. Therefore we shouldn't keep worries and if we have them already we should be getting rid of them."
Barbie20152009 2 years ago
This was a powerful message Steve. As you said, the peace one can achieve is a real freedom. Isn't it great? I think if people could stop "pursuing" and just wait for what comes to them, and then being able to make calm choices they would feel that peace. Or maybe they must be in peace in a first place, in order to stop pursuing ;)
Barbie20152009 2 years ago
Ummm How would you define Denial?
batfly 2 years ago
That is the name of the hidden 51 State that most people live in.
batfly 2 years ago
@batfly Ignoring reality, our faults, and letting our ego run our life.
vagabondsteve 1 year ago
@vagabondsteve Denial is ignoring our PERFECTION.
TadRapidly 1 year ago
THANK YOU :D
SunnyAndSummer 2 years ago
"All is well". That was one of the most important lessons that Louise L. Hay taught in her book "You Can Heal Your Life". I don't know if you've read it, but if you ever get a chance, read some of it. Good vlog, BTW.
CountDOODOO 2 years ago
The human mind did not evolve for the purpose of happiness or enlightenment.
It evolved to solve problems related to survival and reproduction.
That's why, if you WANT happiness and enlightenment, you have to bypass the mind...and it's why the more you WANT it, the further away it gets.
1zenAwhile 2 years ago
1zenAwhile, I wouldn't agree. Happiness and enlightenment are there already. I don't need to bypass my mind. I only need to discover it in me, and my mind actually helps me doing it. But this is just what I think.
Barbie20152009 2 years ago
Oh really?
Well it's a good thing you have the answers to life. You have no idea if the human mind is here to evolve into more happiness or "enlightenment." You really have no clue.
We perceive and make problems in our mind. No problems really exist
TheStrossus 2 years ago
Maybe happiness and enlightenment occur at a balancing point between mind and no mind? For some people, too much mental activity is a significant obstacle to enlightenment; for others, not enough "mindfulness" keeps them from being aware of that sweet spot.
"No problems really exist," you say. I had a flat tire recently at 6 am in a snow storm after working a 12 hour night shift...in a town 250 miles from my own. It sure felt like a problem! And I'm glad I had a human mind to solve it.
1zenAwhile 1 year ago
Weren't you happy when you was able to fix the tire that day? :)
Barbie20152009 1 year ago
I'll answer your question by paraphrasing your own comment. Enlightenment was already there, and I didn't get so attached to the problem that the enlightenment darkened or disappeared.
The concept of mind is quite nebulous.
If you're talking about "mind" as that verbal chatter box that mechanically repeats the demands of the ego...well, it might be wise to bypass that to find enlightenment.
But if you're talking about "mind" as the device that orchestrates awareness with reality...
1zenAwhile 1 year ago
@1zenAwhile Agree to a point. I think a tamed mind can be of great value. When the mind becomes subordinate to the spirit, they can make a great team.
vagabondsteve 1 year ago
...materials, you'd need a fancy job to acheive in getting these things (if those are the things that make you smile).
Unfortunately for our friend, yes, he lives a great happy life...for now. BUt what happens if he wants a family someday. OR needs tooth repair. A new kidney. Security when he's old.
I think in the end, if you have an ok paying job, where you don't need to break your back everyday, when you have balance, then you'll be ok.
Domzdream 2 years ago
Failure is not an option if you want to get ahead of where you eventually want to get to. Let's say a managerial position of a prestigious work type, like a banker. So, I think it depends on the job kind. Failure isnt an option if you're up against equally skilled individuals who want the same thing you do. There's that pressure.
Also, if one want a big stereo, and fancy car, TV, etc, one cannot get this by surfing, drinking beer, and lazying around, though it sounds heavenly. To get these..
Domzdream 2 years ago
yeah mna, well said. its about a healthy balance
shickywhicky 2 years ago
@Domzdream those kinds of objects (the stereo, the car, etc...) won't bring you long-lasting happiness. Only a short-term happiness. True positive contentment comes from just accepting yourself as you are and giving out love to both yourself and to others, in my opinion.
CountDOODOO 2 years ago
Yes. I agree. But I've acheived all those qualities from my early 20s and still have them. So this leaves these objects here and there which make me very happy. I don't rely on them to acheive happiness, but they make me happy.
Domzdream 2 years ago
"All is well as is".... Going to hold on to this today. Thank you, Steve.
Tim
chessdude67 2 years ago