Evolution, Science & Religion (Evolution)

by David Turell , Saturday, June 30, 2012, 03:00 (4528 days ago) @ romansh


> > Have you ever entered a room and then wondered why? Have you ever tried to break a habit? Buddhism's "rejection" of free will is really the psychological observation that our animal will exerts more influence on our daily lives than we want to admit. 
> It comes with old age, not that it did not happen when I was young. I suspect we are far more unconscious than we give ourselves credit. It is not even clear our conscious thought comes first with respect to us making choices etc.-I've never worried much about my animal will. As a first-born I tried too much for perfection (thanks to my Jewish mother), but when I retired because of that habitual attitude, I pretty much broke the habit. My psychiatrst friend helped me recognize my controlling approach. I stopped trying to control my adult children, suprisingly much to their dismay. I know that part of the way we look at ourselves is from the reaction of others.
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> > Why did I pick computer science? Because I get really excited when I think about it. Why do I get excited? It isn't through conscious, or conditioned effort. Unless you want to say, my drive to solve puzzles. But why do I have a drive to solve puzzles and not to be an Attacking midfielder? 
> I think we can only pick a handful of influences that shape our life's choices. We also cannot be sure we are rationalizing after the fact. But essentially I agree with your point. -I had to be a doctor from age 3 and never changed. It is probably why I retired so young. Too many other things to experience before leaving this place. I've never done the wondering about consciousness or free will like you two have. Itis probcably why I have the religious feelings I have, even though I came to them in my late 40's
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> > Our egos tend to wrap all this up into discrete, concrete things, and it is Buddhism's perspective that these things are precisely--not concrete.
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> There is nothing wrong with my ego Matt. It is big and active. -So is mine.
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> > What are you passionate about? Why? The answer to Buddhism's half-rejection to free will lies within the honest answers to those questions. 
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> It is the half acceptance where I find the dissonance Matt.
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> > When you realize exactly how much unconscious will drives you, it is scary. At least it was for me. -I didn't think about it much earlier or now. It is not scary.
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> I agree that some find this scary - but when we understand it can be no otherway, then that becomes interesting for me. -
Wanted to drop in to present a different point of view about life. I've had a great ride and don't want it to stop, although I know it has to.