Philosophy Now Forum

Although nothing lays bare the virulence of ideology more than the Political, ideology [particularly in its language form] has infected all matters of human intercourse. And this outcome has been fostered by man's insistence that it is the intellectual [rather than the spiritual] that must serve as his guide [ironically, through a journey he cannot possibly comprehend].

As the current social order continues its dis-integration, observe the widening chasm that separates fixed ideas [ideology] from what is actually taking place on the streets [always changing ideas]. Again, most obvious in the political sphere, it is just as pervasive in all Western institutions teetering on the precipice of social dis-order, be it the notion of retribution for past sins, the blaming, shaming, and intimidation of people in order to interfere with their constitutional right to free speech, or the imposition of authoritarian decrees by wannabe tyrants.

Ideology opposes what little we are able to understand...that all things are changing all the time, and, as well, Ideology always has a particular agenda that generally has as its beneficiary the few who attempt its ongoing resuscitation well after its momentary utility has passed into the next world. Again, the Political demonstrates these heroic efforts with great clarity.

The alternative to an ideology-based approach is allowing all ideas to come and go [as all things knowable do], and instead, hitching ones 'self' to a spiritual guide not wholly dependent on an intellect which [99% of the time] will lead you astray. Unless you are the only human being that has ever gotten anywhere close to figuring anything out [correctly], do yourself a favor and take the advice of the greatest sages throughout time who instructed that [non-intellectual] spiritual development is the only path which can maximize human potential through achieving a life balance.

"The ideas of the ruling class are in every epoch the ruling ideas, i.e. the class which is the ruling material force of society, is at the same time its ruling intellectual force. The class which has the means of material production at its disposal, has control at the same time over the means of mental production, so that thereby, generally speaking, the ideas of those who lack the means of mental production are subject to it. The ruling ideas are nothing more than the ideal expression of the dominant material relationships, the dominant material relationships grasped as ideas." - Marx, Karl

Yes, still mind clears the deck for clarity.

Balance:

“This distinctive Buddhist orientation towards meditation can be summed up concisely. Meditation consists of two aspects or components. The first, called shamatha in Sanskrit, is the step by step development of mental and physical calmness. The second, vipashyana, is the step by step heightening of awareness, sensitivity and observation. These two components complement each other and should be practiced simultaneously. Some techniques develop primarily calming, others primarily clarity, still others both equally. It is of utmost importance, however, that one component not be enhanced at the expense of the other. To do so is no longer meditation. Tranquility at the expense of awareness is dozing; awareness at the expense of calm is 'tripping.'” – Shinzen Young

that was very enlightening, walker. Thank u.

promethean75 wrote: ↑Fri Nov 03, 2023 1:27 pm "The ideas of the ruling class are in every epoch the ruling ideas, i.e. the class which is the ruling material force of society, is at the same time its ruling intellectual force. The class which has the means of material production at its disposal, has control at the same time over the means of mental production, so that thereby, generally speaking, the ideas of those who lack the means of mental production are subject to it. The ruling ideas are nothing more than the ideal expression of the dominant material relationships, the dominant material relationships grasped as ideas." - Marx, Karl

Well, Karl, I hate to be the one to tell you how things worked out for you and Fredrick's dialectical madness, but our planet is chock full of tens of millions of dusty remains baring the mark of your aberrant social philosophy.

And whatever ghostly library you happen to be haunting, how about finishing Volume 4 of, "Das Kapital," so we can know how the story ends?

Walker wrote: ↑Fri Nov 03, 2023 1:37 pm Yes, still mind clears the deck for clarity.

Balance:

“This distinctive Buddhist orientation towards meditation can be summed up concisely. Meditation consists of two aspects or components. The first, called shamatha in Sanskrit, is the step by step development of mental and physical calmness. The second, vipashyana, is the step by step heightening of awareness, sensitivity and observation. These two components complement each other and should be practiced simultaneously. Some techniques develop primarily calming, others primarily clarity, still others both equally. It is of utmost importance, however, that one component not be enhanced at the expense of the other. To do so is no longer meditation. Tranquility at the expense of awareness is dozing; awareness at the expense of calm is 'tripping.'” – Shinzen Young

As the great Tang dynasty Zen master, Huang Po, said, "Open your mouth and you have already lost it."