The Human Animal (Animals)

by xeno6696 , Sonoran Desert, Wednesday, June 09, 2010, 03:19 (5280 days ago) @ dhw

dhw,-This post coincides directly with the book I've been reading, "The Lucifer Principle." It's a modern explanation on why evil exists; because man is social--and it is in our nature to make distinctions--a great reason Buddhism fell out of favor with me is the fact that our inner "animal" programming makes us make these distinctions. The part of the brain that makes us human is an extremely thin veneer over an ancient brain. We will never be able to destroy or control all primitive impulses: when 9/11 happened, I was angry and sad enough to go to war. Why? I didn't know anyone who died, nor did I KNOW someone who knew someone who died. We have social instincts that are finely honed and crafted; and it is THIS instinct that leads man to do evil. -It's the same instinct that allows us to do good: During the stock market crash of '29 and '87--many who lost their shirts killed themselves primarily because they no longer felt they could support their families. Life insurance collections is another area where people turn self-destructive to help--nearly always due to resources. -So, I'm at an odds here: My philosophy converted from Buddhism to one where I recognize the primitive animal inside and try to go against its wishes on occasion. But I don't try to override it, because I know that's not possible. -In the same way we draw distinctions between other people, we do it en masse for animals. I've come to accept this as simply something natural--in the sense that, it's just what we do. It's human nature; we're not going to stop it.

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\"Why is it, Master, that ascetics fight with ascetics?\"

\"It is, brahmin, because of attachment to views, adherence to views, fixation on views, addiction to views, obsession with views, holding firmly to views that ascetics fight with ascetics.\"