A reflection on yesterday's Zoom meeting
What we talked about yesterday—an attempt, an impression: it began with a contribution to K’s statements on the self and thought/feeling, and how they are connected. And that these connections can be observed and verified, so that one doesn’t simply believe them, but sees the truth in them. Then we talked about the faith in which we were raised and whether we currently have a religious practice.
We touched on the topic of whether self-knowledge ( an insight in the constant stream of thought, thoughts of revenge, anger, self-pity) leads to the permanent cessation of these phenomena, or whether the awareness of these thoughts/feelings creates a certain freedom or a kind of space, but not a complete cessation.
We tried to explore whether there is a kind of instinctive, direct action or feeling as opposed to conditioned action.
The former could occur in the face of imminent danger (a car speeding toward you, from which you step back; a chasm opening up; a snake in front of you), or the direct sensation of something being wrong—a child or a dog being beaten. In such cases, there seems to be no right or wrong, but only this action or only the sensation of wrongness.
The latter is based on moral or traditional values; something is judged as wrong or right, depending on what one believes.
It could be that we do not recognize our hidden conditioning as such, but instead regard it as an unquestionable reality.
What were your impressions?