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PEACE AND PROSPERITY

17 Nov

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The definition of Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and getting the same result, but expecting a Different One. Albert Einstein

Watching the Armistice Day ceremonies this year I was reminded of the famous H.G. Wells comment about World War I being ‘the war to end all wars.’ One understanding of Wells’comment is that especially Europe but also the whole world was so devastated both in terms of the killing of sentient beings and destruction of habitats, humanity would never again allow themselves to engage in such suicidal and destructive behavior. Even after the war, the League of Nations was developed to resolve conflicts between nations in a rational and fair manner rather than through conflict. However, as we now know only 20 years later the whole world launched itself into an even greater and more destructive conflict of war and mass destruction and annihilation.

In a longer review of human history, this horror of war has been written about and discussed since time immemorial. For example, 16th-century Protestant theologian Martin Luther wrote, “War is the greatest plague that can afflict humanity; it destroys religion, it destroys states, it destroys families. Any scourge is preferable to it.” The grief and destruction of life and property of all national conflicts have raised innumerous voices to the heavens with prayers and pleading to the favored gods to stop the enemy from proceeding in the annihilation of the population and destruction of the Homeland. These pleads for divine intervention to halt the carnage have been put forth by all people of the different religious points of view but to the avail of none. Even the gods were pleaded to provide victory over the enemy in what was thought to be a just cause for the participation or even beginning of the war. Again victory was not given, nor suffering alleviated by divine powers.

All the realities of these wars have been created in the mind and emotions of Humans. They are conflicts of ideas, identities, and cultures. All the past and present world-wide pain and weariness, fear and anxieties, the bloodshed and destruction, the misery of millions of human beings, the waste of mankind, are but the consequences of false philosophies and foolish thinking. The needed radical reformation is not to destroy things or people, but the group of dysfunctional and wrong ideas that have continually created this suffering. The record suggests that no matter how atrocious war becomes, humanity will never say, “Enough is enough.” Even the atrociousness of World Wars I and II, with the use of the ultimate horror of nuclear bombs, did not convince humankind to put away war.

 Indeed, the lesson of history continues to be so poignantly clear in the Armistice memorials that a different approach must be incorporated in the human project of existence. A different approach not based on merely good intention and hoped for cooperation among different political, religious, and ethnic groups. Nor can the prayers for divine intervention be considered any more effective and just in the controlling of humankind’s immaturity, ignorance, greed, anger and foolishness. It is clear that a radically new perspective must be promoted and implemented in the education of not only ethics but the comprehension of the reality of this world and the human construction of their world. As Wells came to see, it will require a complete change of human nature and a defeat of all ideas that lead to violence and war.

In that case, what would be the foundation of such a grand perspective? I propose that this perspective has already been clearly enunciated as well as established in human thoughts and condition. It is a perspective based on human insight into the conditions and workings of the human mind and emotions. And while this is an ancient wisdom, it is also modern and is verified through contemporary science and the social sciences. One innovator and teacher of this perspective which I describe as Transcendental Idealism was the Buddha. However, since the Buddha taught observable truths and empirical observations, he is not the only human in the past or in the present who has gained the insights and understanding of this perspective. I would also add that basically since the Buddha refused to attribute any divine intervention in human affairs, this perspective can be best understood and appreciated as a holistic Transcendent Psychology. Therefore, the total responsibility, as well as the possibility of the course in human affairs on all levels, is based on human knowledge, intent, and morality. Indeed, the path of human existence is solely in the hands of humans. This is a path that requires a training, a discipline, a giving up of selfish immaturity and foolish living to achieve a human existence of well-being, happiness, and wisdom.

While this project of the human construction of peaceful coexistence and dignity and prosperity for all sentient beings might at first glance seem if not impossible, very difficult. However, that is a pessimism based on a misunderstanding. A misunderstanding of what the principles of a life based on Transcendental Idealism and a course based in Transcendent Psychology requires. Recognizing it is a very different even radical approach how to live our lives as successful and prosperous human beings, but, as history has shown us and human behavior even today continues to destroy and murder and annihilate and create massive suffering not only for all sentient beings but even the earth upon which we live- it is absolutely necessary. The course is clear and the guidelines are well situated and proven. What is needed as in any important human endeavor is not only the desire, in this case for peace, prosperity, happiness, and well-being of all sentient beings on this earth but also the correct effort and knowledge for success. The simile which expresses well what is needed to reach this new phase of harmonious human existence on earth is that of the butterfly. To actualize its beauty and freedom it must emerge from the darkness of a cocoon. However, through the natural process of giving a birth to itself, with the correct effort and intention, the butterfly slowly emerges from the cocoon into the mature and capable butterfly. To reach the ability of peace, prosperity, happiness, and well-being for all, humanity now needs to follow the path away from immature greed, anger, and ignorance into the light of the day and out of the darkness of the cocoon. What ultimately needs to be changed is the way we understand and think about existence — certain ideas and beliefs have to be renounced, which will change our human character and end further wars.

This opportunity of living in a world without the horrendous suffering and destruction of war and conflict created through ignorance has long been recognized by visionaries as a possibility because it is solely in the hands of human beings to do this. It is only through the taking of responsibility for our actions and thoughts and emotions and living in a way that we create not only our own peace, prosperity, happiness, and well-being but to see that by not including others in this vision we are still living in the cocoon, in ignorance, selfishness, and in anger which is based on our own mindset rooted in suffering and unhappiness. The lesson is that our deep happiness depends on our mental/emotional state as well as living conditions. And in both cases, we have the possibility of creating positive, realistic and pragmatic mental states as well as living conditions that promote, foster and sustain our well-being as well as that of others. This project only depends on our doing it, there is no other force in the universe to helps us. And this is the tragedy as well as sadness and frustration that many have written about in the past, that our suffering is created by ourselves and, therefore, the ending of our suffering is also possible by ourselves together.

We must look to each other to remove the ignorance and hindrances to our vision of a life on earth without the suffering created through wars, greed, hatred, ignorance, and injustice. As Wells’ wrote during WWI: ‘This monstrous conflict in Europe, the slaughtering, the famine, the confusion, the panic and hatred, and lying pride, it is all of it really only in the darkness of the mind. At the coming of understanding, it will vanish as dreams vanish at awakening. But never will it vanish until understanding has come.’ For the mind enmeshed in ignorance, greed, and anger feeds on itself and, therefore, has difficulty letting go and rising above the quagmire in which it remains. This difficulty needs an empathetic and compassionate approach to assist in showing how it is possible to live in a world without the pain and distrust and suffering created through the ignorance. And the path can be clear and successful without much difficulty. What is difficult is allowing oneself to give up the hatred, the anger, the greed, the points of view of egoism and selfishness – like those of a child. The process is away from that, and instead, the whole movement is a development of maturity of perspective and therefore action with wisdom.

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The-passion-that-creates

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#MeToo and human liberation | openDemocracy

5 Nov

via #MeToo and human liberation | openDemocracy

#MeToo and human liberation | openDemocracy

5 Nov

“My hope is that now men will once again put at the forefront of their personal agenda the unlearning of dysfunctional masculinity that will expunge the power and control mandate.”

Source: #MeToo and human liberation | openDemocracy

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Reciprocal-complementary

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#MeToo and Human Liberation

31 Oct

via #MeToo and Human Liberation

#MeToo and Human Liberation

31 Oct

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Accepting the definition that the #MeToo movement is a movement against sexual harassment and sexual assault, I am saddened that this movement even needs to exist. My sadness is the need for women to still, in the 21st century, demonstrate in mass against sexual harassment and sexual assault. I am incredulous that sexual harassment and sexual assault, with the suffering that is the result of it, still need a mass movement to speak out against these forms of violence and abuse. It was about 50 years ago that the Women’s Liberation Movement began to speak out and protest against not only gender inequality and patriarchal social norms, but also all forms of abuse against women. The classic name for men who sexually harassed women was ‘Chauvinist Pigs’. Back then, this term was widely and enthusiastically shouted in many different situations of sexual harassment.

Having been a psychotherapist with female clients who were experiencing or had experienced abusive behavior by males, I developed an understanding of the suffering that this type of abusive behavior creates and I joined other men in severely criticizing that behavior. So to see that still, after 50 years of serious discussion and demonstration against all forms of abuse, that it is still so prevalent in our society makes me sad and angry. And so on a one level of my response to the #MeToo Movement is disbelief and sadness that the victims of sexual abuse, still need to actively demonstrate in mass against abuse and the suffering that it creates.

On another level, my disbelief and sadness that the #MeToo movement is so obviously needed is the fact that accompanying the Women’s Liberation Movement of 50 years ago was the Men’s Liberation Movement. Men’s Liberation then was a thoughtful response to examine and define the issue of men and masculinity. 50 years ago it was based on the introspection of how the patriarchal society was not only harming and oppressing women, but also men. For when men began to analyze the social norms and rules that the patriarchal society placed on them, they began to realize that there were many harmful conditions. Some examples of the questions raised by men about growing up male; sex role pressures in the socialization of the male child, as well as that men are lower self- disclosurers than women; are less insightful and empathic; are less able to love and more subject to demoralization than women. All of these aspects of manliness have negative consequences in health, relationships, self-esteem and longevity. So 50 years ago, as a response to the insights of the Women’s Lib movement about social norms and their incapacitation of both male and female potentialities and capacities, men began standing up against that oppression for both themselves and their female counterparts to create happiness, reciprocity and in general less repressive and more open and expressive lives.

In the 1960s, with the beginning of Men’s Liberation, conscientious men sought to aid in destroying the destructive sex-role stereotypes for men and women established by restrictive unfair sexual identities. One such group of men at the Berkeley Men’s Center wrote a manifesto. This group was typical, at that time, of many men’s groups throughout the USA and consisted of a group of men struggling to free themselves from sex role stereotypes and to define themselves in ‘positive non-chauvinistic ways’. A section of their manifesto reads as follows: ‘We want to relate to both women and men in more honest human ways – with warmth, sensitivity, emotion and honesty. We want to share our feelings with one another to break down the walls and grow closer. We want to be equal with women and end destructive competitive relationships with men. We don’t want to engage in ego battles with anyone. …We believe that the half-humanization will only change when our competitive male-dominated individualistic society becomes cooperative based on the sharing of resources and skills. We are oppressed by working in alienating jobs as ‘breadwinners’. We want to use our creative energy to serve our common needs and not just to make profits for our employers. We believe that in Human Liberation there is no hierarchy of oppression, every group must speak its own language, assume its own form, take its own action and when each of these groups learn to express itself in harmony with the rest this will create the basis for an all-embracing social change.’

So my sadness of seeing the pain and suffering that still is routinely being foisted on women is based on both the oppression and suffering of women and also the corrupt social norms which still raise young boys into oppressive and abusive men. That the insights won 50 years ago by thoughtful, empathetic intelligent men have lost their momentum. What I see at the heart of the #MeToo Movement is the protest against harmful cultural and societal norms with which men are raised in the society- the Growing Up Male effect. My hope is that now men again put at the forefront of their personal agenda not only to analyze growing up as a male but also the unlearning of dysfunctional masculinity that will expunge the power and control mandate that is so harmful to not only women but to themselves. Male Liberation calls for men to free themselves of the patriarchal sex-role stereotypes that limit their ability to be fully the empathic persons possible. To give up those sex-role stereotypes often considered the characteristics of manly success; that men should be highly achieving, competitive and domineering. One example of dominance that is potentially open to any man is dominance over a woman. When society generally teaches men they should dominate, that they should have power and control to be successful, it also teaches women that they should be submissive – making it easier for men to dominate women. More and more, as the #MeToo Movement shows, women are rightfully reacting against the suffering of being dominated and controlled. But the battle of women to be equal and respected will not be a battle against men, as the oppressors, once men liberate themselves from oppressing themselves and others. Whether or not men are the enemy is a choice for men themselves. Until that time, women must continue to demand respect and non-abusive environments.

So my appreciation of the #MeToo Movement is not only their advocacy of the necessity and even obligation for women to demand social equality and non-abusive behaviors on the part of men, but it also highlights the vitally important progress that men need to continue what began 50 years ago. That is for men to analyze, discuss and change the social roles that handicap and bind them into creating lives promoting inequalities, suffering and unhappiness for not only others but also themselves. In the end, my and other’s hope still continues to be that a Human Liberation will be the end result where society’s norms and culture includes the promotion of health, cooperation, safety, equality, empathy, individuality and all groups living together well.

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31 Oct

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31 Oct

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31 Oct

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