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"Most people spend their time providing for their day-to-day life,
starting a family, enjoying their leisure time, and so on. From
time to time, of course, they do something for society, but in
general they take care of their own affairs and work for
themselves. And yet, whether they like it or not, they live in a
community, and if troubles erupt in this community, their
personal possessions, even their life, may no longer be safe.
To focus on one's own interests, on one's own family and
possessions, is not therefore the best way to safeguard them,
since there is always the risk that events will take place in
society to sweep away everything in their path. History provides
us with numerous examples. Let's be clear about this:
individualism is not a worthwhile solution for anyone. The only
worthwhile solution is for each person to endeavour to do
something to improve collective life. Provided that happens,
then, yes, each individual will be safe."
"Most people spend their time providing for their day-to-day life,
starting a family, enjoying their leisure time, and so on. From
time to time, of course, they do something for society, but in
general they take care of their own affairs and work for
themselves. And yet, whether they like it or not, they live in a
community, and if troubles erupt in this community, their
personal possessions, even their life, may no longer be safe.
To focus on one's own interests, on one's own family and
possessions, is not therefore the best way to safeguard them,
since there is always the risk that events will take place in
society to sweep away everything in their path. History provides
us with numerous examples. Let's be clear about this:
individualism is not a worthwhile solution for anyone. The only
worthwhile solution is for each person to endeavour to do
something to improve collective life. Provided that happens,
then, yes, each individual will be safe."
Omraam Mikhaël Aïvanhov
Agree? Disagree? Discuss!
We must become individual and learn to cope for ourselves before we can in turn help others. By this I mean that if you do not love yourself, you cannot love others. If you cannot overcome your own problems, you cannot help someone overcome theirs. If you cannot provide for yourself, you cannot provide for others. We must learn of the self first before we can project that onto others and a community. Community is very important but if the self is not taken care of, the community cannot be taken care of.
People tend to live longer and happier lives when they have the bonds created from an active social life that involves friends, family, and the larger community. That being said, as Rev. points out above, if we don't spend time looking after ourselves, we are less able to provide anything of worth to others. Like most things in life, it's all about finding a balance.
Humankind evolved to live as a small collective (hunter-gatherer) society, so ultimately that's where we do best.
Truth be known, few people even in America live a truly individualistic life. We form "tribes" of family, coworkers, friends within the greater society.
Individualism should be defined here. Everyone is born one, and the collective he is talking about is composed of individuals: or rather, their communications. Individuals are the actors, no collective is capable of acting as it is an abstraction. He is being circular, as when I act for a collective I act as an individual-both for me and the other.
All individuals are "for self" and "for the other" (as is all determinate "things") at the same time-that is individualism. An absolute individual, would only attempt "being for self" and that is a low stage of consciousness-the person who acts in the immediate. Eliminating the individual, would be an absolute "being for the other", attempting to eliminate the "being for self", this is also a low stage of consciousness and immediate: ie, neither can enter the ethical.
What is really going on here? A push for the commie?
We must become individual and learn to cope for ourselves before we can in turn help others. By this I mean that if you do not love yourself, you cannot love others. If you cannot overcome your own problems, you cannot help someone overcome theirs. If you cannot provide for yourself, you cannot provide for others. We must learn of the self first before we can project that onto others and a community. Community is very important but if the self is not taken care of, the community cannot be taken care of.
Do you think this is true only in small communities or globally as well?
People tend to live longer and happier lives when they have the bonds created from an active social life that involves friends, family, and the larger community. That being said, as Rev. points out above, if we don't spend time looking after ourselves, we are less able to provide anything of worth to others. Like most things in life, it's all about finding a balance.
Humankind evolved to live as a small collective (hunter-gatherer) society, so ultimately that's where we do best.
Truth be known, few people even in America live a truly individualistic life. We form "tribes" of family, coworkers, friends within the greater society.
in the strictest sense I think you're right. I think though that in the U.S. we have been so secure and prosperous since WW2 that while championing individual accomplishments we can lose sight of the larger system which makes freedom to pursue those accomplishments possible.
Individualism should be defined here. Everyone is born one, and the collective he is talking about is composed of individuals: or rather, their communications. Individuals are the actors, no collective is capable of acting as it is an abstraction. He is being circular, as when I act for a collective I act as an individual-both for me and the other.
All individuals are "for self" and "for the other" (as is all determinate "things") at the same time-that is individualism. An absolute individual, would only attempt "being for self" and that is a low stage of consciousness-the person who acts in the immediate. Eliminating the individual, would be an absolute "being for the other", attempting to eliminate the "being for self", this is also a low stage of consciousness and immediate: ie, neither can enter the ethical.
As usual you've made me think new thoughts
Quote:
Originally Posted by allen antrim
What is really going on here? A push for the commie?
Omraam was a spiritual teacher, drawing heavily from principles of Christianity but obviously way outside the bounds of orthodoxy.
The quote caught my eye and in a world where facebook can topple world leaders I've been thinking a lot about how all this will play out. Honestly - I remember a class called "social studies" in elementary school but had no idea what the term meant and since I stopped doing schoolwork in the fourth grade I am just now (at age 54) trying to understand how humanity's social structures work (both on a small and global scale).
Do you think this is true only in small communities or globally as well?
Both. If one "brick" is out of place, the whole thing can crumble if it's not taken care of. In the smaller communities though, people are more apt to take care of each other than with the larger communities. An example, I grew up in a "don't blink or you'll miss it" town and everyone knew everyone. When I went on my own, I moved to a much larger city and people tend to mind their own business more and could care less about the other guy. Sure, you'll have your close circle of friends but that isn't the whole community.
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