Prison

[Jeremiah Ames]

Are we creating our own prison?


I watched something today regarding the topic.


Let me attempt to share some thoughts from it.


It’s not about a building.


It is not about a prison created by some ailment of the body.


It’s a mind state.


An example that was used, is prejudice. Our prejudices create a prison. The example used was racism. A racist cannot see a black person as a human being, and therefore can never listen to any black person, and can’t hear him or learn anything new, or obtain any benefit from that race.


I think a good example for today, is the left/right battle.


If someone on a particular side, places a label on ALL people from the other side (radical socialist or trumptard, for examples), then that person has closed the door to any dialogue. That person who will ONLY talk to others who support their ideas, and only tune into news that support their ideas, misses out on an opportunity to learn something new and become a better person.


That person has built a prison for their mind.


We must liberate our thinking to be freed.


As we approach someone from the other side, our prisoned mind will say “I know you”.


But the liberated mind will realize that no one “knows” another.

The liberated mind will say “how much can I really know another?”

The liberated mind will say “the person I’m talking to is much more than what I can see “


We desperately need to be liberated from the tyranny of having to be right all the time.

 

[Trailblazer]

If someone on a particular side, places a label on ALL people from the other side (radical socialist or trumptard, for examples), then that person has closed the door to any dialogue. That person who will ONLY talk to others who support their ideas, and only tune into news that support their ideas, misses out on an opportunity to learn something new and become a better person.

I think you will like this talk... This is what I strive to do.

“Consider the world of created beings, how varied and diverse they are in species, yet with one sole origin. All the differences that appear are those of outward form and colour. This diversity of type is apparent throughout the whole of nature.

Behold a beautiful garden full of flowers, shrubs, and trees. Each flower has a different charm, a peculiar beauty, its own delicious perfume and beautiful colour. The trees too, how varied are they in size, in growth, in foliage—and what different fruits they bear! Yet all these flowers, shrubs and trees spring from the self-same earth, the same sun shines upon them and the same clouds give them rain.....

Thus should it be among the children of men! The diversity in the human family should be the cause of love and harmony, as it is in music where many different notes blend together in the making of a perfect chord.....

Likewise, when you meet those whose opinions differ from your own, do not turn away your face from them. All are seeking truth, and there are many roads leading thereto. Truth has many aspects, but it remains always and forever one.

Do not allow difference of opinion, or diversity of thought to separate you from your fellow-men, or to be the cause of dispute, hatred and strife in your hearts.

Rather, search diligently for the truth and make all men your friends.” Abdu'l-Baha, Paris Talks, pp. 51-53

Those are excerpts.... For the whole chapter: BEAUTY AND HARMONY IN DIVERSITY

 

[Shadow Wolf]

 

[stvdv]

Are we creating our own prison? It’s a mind state.
I think a good example for today, is the left/right battle.
That person has built a prison for their mind. We must liberate our thinking to be freed.

As we approach someone from the other side, our prisoned mind will say “I know you”.
But the liberated mind will realize that no one “knows” another. The liberated mind will say “how much can I really know another?”
The liberated mind will say “the person I’m talking to is much more than what I can see “

We desperately need to be liberated from the tyranny of having to be right all the time.

You found the key to liberation

 

[RestlessSoul]

There are all sorts of self imposed “prisons of the mind”.

But they’re not the same as being locked up behind brick walls and metal doors, with hardly a sight of the world outside. Though the right mental attitude can make the latter bearable, I suppose. More bearable, anyway.

 

[SalixIncendium]

We must liberate our thinking to be freed.

Freedom arises through recognizing one's ego, learning to manage it, and removing identification with it.

As we approach someone from the other side, our prisoned mind will say “I know you”.


But the liberated mind will realize that no one “knows” another.

The liberated mind will say “how much can I really know another?”

The liberated mind will say “the person I’m talking to is much more than what I can see “

The liberated mind will recognize one's Self in another.

 

[SalixIncendium]

This song came to mind for me as well as I read the first sentence of the OP.

 

[Trailblazer]

New There are all sorts of self imposed “prisons of the mind”.

There are prisons of the mind, but there is also the prison of self and attachment to this world.

40: O MY SERVANT! Free thyself from the fetters of this world, and loose thy soul from the prison of self. Seize thy chance, for it will come to thee no more. The Hidden Words of Bahá’u’lláh, p. 36

 

[Jeremiah Ames]

I think you will like this talk... This is what I strive to do.

“Consider the world of created beings, how varied and diverse they are in species, yet with one sole origin. All the differences that appear are those of outward form and colour. This diversity of type is apparent throughout the whole of nature.

Behold a beautiful garden full of flowers, shrubs, and trees. Each flower has a different charm, a peculiar beauty, its own delicious perfume and beautiful colour. The trees too, how varied are they in size, in growth, in foliage—and what different fruits they bear! Yet all these flowers, shrubs and trees spring from the self-same earth, the same sun shines upon them and the same clouds give them rain.....

Thus should it be among the children of men! The diversity in the human family should be the cause of love and harmony, as it is in music where many different notes blend together in the making of a perfect chord.....

Likewise, when you meet those whose opinions differ from your own, do not turn away your face from them. All are seeking truth, and there are many roads leading thereto. Truth has many aspects, but it remains always and forever one.

Do not allow difference of opinion, or diversity of thought to separate you from your fellow-men, or to be the cause of dispute, hatred and strife in your hearts.

Rather, search diligently for the truth and make all men your friends.” Abdu'l-Baha, Paris Talks, pp. 51-53

Those are excerpts.... For the whole chapter: BEAUTY AND HARMONY IN DIVERSITY

i did like that tremendously Trailblazer

i think many people have a hardwired tendency to gravitate to those who are as much like themselves as possible, in all ways

but we can only be better when are filled with different experiences and thoughts and desires that come from diversity

 

[Trailblazer]

i did like that tremendously Trailblazer

i think many people have a hardwired tendency to gravitate to those who are as much like themselves as possible, in all ways

but we can only be better when are filled with different experiences and thoughts and desires that come from diversity

I have always gravitated towards people who are different from me because it is more interesting and I learn much more that way.
It is also good to challenge myself and learn to get along with people I disagree with because it helps me to develop tolerance, patience and courtesy.

Here is another quote I think you will like.

“As difference in degree of capacity exists among human souls, as difference in capability is found, therefore, individualities will differ one from another. But in reality this is a reason for unity and not for discord and enmity. If the flowers of a garden were all of one color, the effect would be monotonous to the eye; but if the colors are variegated, it is most pleasing and wonderful. The difference in adornment of color and capacity of reflection among the flowers gives the garden its beauty and charm. Therefore, although we are of different individualities, different in ideas and of various fragrances, let us strive like flowers of the same divine garden to live together in harmony. Even though each soul has its own individual perfume and color, all are reflecting the same light, all contributing fragrance to the same breeze which blows through the garden, all continuing to grow in complete harmony and accord. Become as waves of one sea, trees of one forest, growing in the utmost love, agreement and unity.”
– Abdu’l-Baha, The Promulgation of Universal Peace

 

[Jeremiah Ames]

I have always gravitated towards people who are different from me because it is more interesting and I learn much more that way.
It is also good to challenge myself and learn to get along with people I disagree with because it helps me to develop tolerance, patience and courtesy.

Here is another quote I think you will like.

“As difference in degree of capacity exists among human souls, as difference in capability is found, therefore, individualities will differ one from another. But in reality this is a reason for unity and not for discord and enmity. If the flowers of a garden were all of one color, the effect would be monotonous to the eye; but if the colors are variegated, it is most pleasing and wonderful. The difference in adornment of color and capacity of reflection among the flowers gives the garden its beauty and charm. Therefore, although we are of different individualities, different in ideas and of various fragrances, let us strive like flowers of the same divine garden to live together in harmony. Even though each soul has its own individual perfume and color, all are reflecting the same light, all contributing fragrance to the same breeze which blows through the garden, all continuing to grow in complete harmony and accord. Become as waves of one sea, trees of one forest, growing in the utmost love, agreement and unity.”
– Abdu’l-Baha, The Promulgation of Universal Peace

definitely I liked that a lot

that is my idea of heaven

especially the part “growing in the utmost love, agreement and unity”

thanks again

 

[amorphous_constellation]

I am of the mind that our social structures and even buildings, and technology, contribute a lot; humans imprint with their systems. You could argue mind over matter, and that's fine, but we all need one heckuva mind at this point. You could drink coffee before you go to bed, and you might will yourself into doing it through the jolt of the caffeine. Then again, you probably won't. But I think you guys are right, 'mind over matter' is the basis of the culture. I suppose it's noble, it's just arguably too hard on humans. It's also more of a religious/spiritual claim, and our culture wants that too. I argue for arranging matter to upstream of mind, and arranging it so that mind doesn't suffer so much. I work in a large concrete/stone/steel rectangle, watched by computer eyes. I may have liked instead, to select a life of hunting mammoth. My travels would never bore me, and it would be exciting to use my body, rather than dreary. But you see, mind never has to master matter in that situation, because matter is more of an ally. In this modern situation, matter is a building squeezing down on me, and phone screen light, and cars that don't heal like a horse would. In the other situation, matter is an adventure road

 

[amorphous_constellation]

Freedom arises through recognizing one's ego, learning to manage it, and removing identification with it.

What's left I guess, would just be the id and supergo , which are forces that seem more external, and so how would we avoid getting walled in by these, or merely carried on their waves?

 

[Wildswanderer]

"Well I know it wasn't you who held me down
Heaven knows it wasn't you who set me free
So often times it happens that we live our lives in chains
And we never even know we have the key

But me, I'm already gone
And I'm feelin' strong
I will sing this vict'ry song
'Cause I'm already gone
Yes, I'm already gone
And I'm feelin' strong
I will sing this vict'ry song
'Cause I'm already gone
Yes, I'm already gone
Already gone
All right, nighty-night!
( The Eagles)

 

[SalixIncendium]

What's left I guess, would just be the id and supergo , which are forces that seem more external, and so how would we avoid getting walled in by these, or merely carried on their waves?

Before I can respond, I'll need to know what you mean by "id" and "supergo."

 

[amorphous_constellation]

Before I can respond, I'll need to know what you mean by "id" and "supergo."

It seems to be a difference between the body and the zeitgeist , the natural versus the imposition. Framing it like that makes the ego seem like it might be more objective than the others , but is it?