None_Provided
Ever since I began this class, one idea out of the many presented has stuck with me; fascinated me to a certain degree to where I often use it in explanations of other ideas and philosophies presented. This is the idea of "falling asleep" as shown in Pema Chodron's book The Wisdom of No Escape and the Path of Loving-Kindness. What Chodron is talking about here is not literally falling asleep, but rather losing control of one's awareness and ability to have control over one's actions. Ideally, we should always be aware of our surroundings, and be able to rationally make decisions. So basically, "falling asleep" as presented by Chodron is like an altered state of consciousness. Drugs are a very common method of falling asleep, as is anger, and often love or infatuation. People can fall asleep for many different reasons. Sometimes, during a stressful period in their life, a person may turn to drugs as an escape from the harsh reality that they are living, i.e., security (albeit a false sense of security). Ask almost anyone and they will tell you that at one point or another in their life they have become so angry that they struck someone or did something that they were not conscious of at the time, and later regretted.
They mocked him with a robe and a crown of thorns, spitting on him and striking him on the head with a reed, ridiculing him with the ironic ovation, "Hail, King of the Jews!" - not knowing how their acclimation would echo down the centuries. In the heat of an argument, it is so much quicker and easier to hit a person instead of settling down and talking your differences out. " Fortunately I learned to control my temper before breaking toys became getting in fights, and so on. When one is fully awake, and aware of their situation, they can fully utilize all their resources in order to emerge victorious without resorting to violence. When someone strikes you, it is genuinely difficult to not hit back. (I point to the recent bombings in Iraq as an example. (Wink 84) The odd thing is, that for the most part, societies condone violence, although in different ways. ) So why is violence still so prevalent even though so many frown on it? This brings up another major problem with violence. Often I would become so enraged that I was barely aware of what I was doing, and in the process I did a lot of things like slammed doors and threw things that I later regretted when I "woke up. Many times a person is violent and hateful because they grew up that way, and know no other way. When I was young, I had a terrible temper, and would throw tantrums when I could not have my way. Even in the Old Testament, violence is present throughout.
Common topics in this essay:
Loving-Kindness Chodron,
Bible Wink,
Wink Powers,
King Jr,
Buddhism Christianity,
King Jews,
Klux Klan,
Domination System,
Jesus' Powers,
Theology Millenium,
falling asleep,
spiral violence,
idea falling,
practical nonviolence,
resorting violence,
idea falling asleep,
habit forming,
escape path loving-kindness,
easy drugs,
easy deal,
losing control,
control one's,
wisdom escape path,
powers theology millenium,
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Acceptance Essays
