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glimpee
Awakening



Registered: 12/08/14
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Last seen: 5 years, 8 months
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Can we talk about "Negative Emotions"
#22129832 - 08/23/15 07:49 AM (8 years, 5 months ago) |
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Fear, Anger, Jealousy, etc etc.
In all religion (i know of) and general spirituality, it is often taught one must forget these emotions and follow peace and tranquility.
I disagree.
I think to achieve the highest levels of spirituality one must be holistic, natural, basic, but on top of that they have to have mastery of the self. That means mastery of things like anger and fear.
I will admit - the NEED for these emotions in modern society is VERY VERY rare. Like, many of us wont ever need these emotions
But that doesn't mean one shouldn't be prepared should the time come.
Like image if we suddenly got invaded by aliens. People who repress their fear would be completely overwhelmed by it in that situation, because they didnt master their emotion, simply tucked it away.
If you dont get my point, when you repress an emotion you dont learn to control it, utilize it, and make it WORK for you.
Emotions like anger, fear, and jealousy, have the potential to sustain the self and the things one cares about.
They may not be needed anymore, and definitely not in the ways of pre-civilization, but one shouldn't forget the "Bad"
They say an enlightened man is holistic, the middle ground. Hard to tell if they are a man or woman.
But what surprises me is spirituality and religion teach to repress.
Thats my biggest problem with these passed on ideas - they also take us away from who we REALLY are. From who we NATURALLY are and all we CAN be.
What do you guys think? Shouldnt we train ALL of our emotions and maintain complete mastery over the self?
-------------------- Just because I am arrogant does not mean I forget my place. It is how I choose to talk. I am not a monk. I am my own path, and I am without influence. Talk to me about my core being before you question my mental stability or life-choices. Chances are, they're only shocking to you because they don't fit your idea of what is.
Check out my Art Journal for some stuff I do http://www.shroomery.org/forums/showflat.php/Number/21647069
Edited by glimpee (08/23/15 12:32 PM)
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glimpee
Awakening



Registered: 12/08/14
Posts: 734
Last seen: 5 years, 8 months
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Re: I wanna talk about "Negative Emotions" [Re: glimpee]
#22130516 - 08/23/15 11:35 AM (8 years, 5 months ago) |
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I honestly thought I might get a single response by now
-------------------- Just because I am arrogant does not mean I forget my place. It is how I choose to talk. I am not a monk. I am my own path, and I am without influence. Talk to me about my core being before you question my mental stability or life-choices. Chances are, they're only shocking to you because they don't fit your idea of what is.
Check out my Art Journal for some stuff I do http://www.shroomery.org/forums/showflat.php/Number/21647069
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glimpee
Awakening



Registered: 12/08/14
Posts: 734
Last seen: 5 years, 8 months
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Re: I wanna talk about "Negative Emotions" [Re: glimpee]
#22132541 - 08/23/15 07:36 PM (8 years, 5 months ago) |
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Really is this like a bad thing to talk about?
Usually by now I'd ahve like 5 replies
Am I being shunned or some shit?
sad face
-------------------- Just because I am arrogant does not mean I forget my place. It is how I choose to talk. I am not a monk. I am my own path, and I am without influence. Talk to me about my core being before you question my mental stability or life-choices. Chances are, they're only shocking to you because they don't fit your idea of what is.
Check out my Art Journal for some stuff I do http://www.shroomery.org/forums/showflat.php/Number/21647069
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Deviate
newbie
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Re: I wanna talk about "Negative Emotions" [Re: glimpee]
#22132822 - 08/23/15 08:47 PM (8 years, 5 months ago) |
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In my spiritual training, I was taught to face emotions and not to suppress them. So I agree with the gist of what youre saying, but I am not sure who you have been following who taught you to suppress emotions.
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deff
just love everyone



Registered: 05/01/04
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Re: I wanna talk about "Negative Emotions" [Re: Deviate]
#22133148 - 08/23/15 10:21 PM (8 years, 5 months ago) |
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I know that in Buddhism there are different approaches to the emotions based on the different schools/vehicles of Buddhist practice. In the so-called 'lower schools', the approach is generally one of renunciation - that is, since the negative emotions cause problems and obscure the mind, a practitioner seeks to avoid anything that triggers these emotions. And so, in this system there are many rules of things to avoid - such as sex for instance (and this is a reason why monks practice celibacy).
In the Mahayana and particularly in the Vajrayana, emotions are often approached with the intent of transformation - from a negative state of mind into a positive state of mind. This is usually done by employing meditations on love and compassion, and on instilling the altruistic motivation known as bodhicitta (the wish to liberate all beings) into one's mindstream - as it's said that a positive state of mind and negative state of mind cannot coexist simultaneously. And so in this system, the rules from the previous approach are relaxed a little and instead the focus is always on intention. With the right benevolent intention, one can engage in previously restricted activities (such as sex) as this will not trigger the same detrimental emotional entanglement.
The third, and apparently highest approach, is that of self-liberation of emotions, such as found in the Dzogchen teachings of Tibetan Buddhism. With this approach, the theory is that if one maintains the state of realization of their own nature (rigpa) then emotions should be allowed to rise and exhaust themselves within the expanse of this realization. In this system, no emotion is avoid, or even transformed as in the previous systems, instead what is important is maintaining this state of rigpa. While in this state, emotions have no power to corrupt a person, and pass freely without staining the mindstream. This would be the approach of complete non-avoidance of emotions.
That said, in neither of these three approaches is it taught to suppress emotions - instead it is desired to be free of emotions either by avoiding situations, transforming our mind, or by resting in the state of rigpa. By denying or suppressing emotions, I think you can definitely cause emotional and psychological issues, and it generally isn't a healthy approach.
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glimpee
Awakening



Registered: 12/08/14
Posts: 734
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Re: I wanna talk about "Negative Emotions" [Re: deff]
#22133395 - 08/23/15 11:40 PM (8 years, 5 months ago) |
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Quote:
deff said: I know that in Buddhism there are different approaches to the emotions based on the different schools/vehicles of Buddhist practice. In the so-called 'lower schools', the approach is generally one of renunciation - that is, since the negative emotions cause problems and obscure the mind, a practitioner seeks to avoid anything that triggers these emotions. And so, in this system there are many rules of things to avoid - such as sex for instance (and this is a reason why monks practice celibacy).
In the Mahayana and particularly in the Vajrayana, emotions are often approached with the intent of transformation - from a negative state of mind into a positive state of mind. This is usually done by employing meditations on love and compassion, and on instilling the altruistic motivation known as bodhicitta (the wish to liberate all beings) into one's mindstream - as it's said that a positive state of mind and negative state of mind cannot coexist simultaneously. And so in this system, the rules from the previous approach are relaxed a little and instead the focus is always on intention. With the right benevolent intention, one can engage in previously restricted activities (such as sex) as this will not trigger the same detrimental emotional entanglement.
The third, and apparently highest approach, is that of self-liberation of emotions, such as found in the Dzogchen teachings of Tibetan Buddhism. With this approach, the theory is that if one maintains the state of realization of their own nature (rigpa) then emotions should be allowed to rise and exhaust themselves within the expanse of this realization. In this system, no emotion is avoid, or even transformed as in the previous systems, instead what is important is maintaining this state of rigpa. While in this state, emotions have no power to corrupt a person, and pass freely without staining the mindstream. This would be the approach of complete non-avoidance of emotions.
That said, in neither of these three approaches is it taught to suppress emotions - instead it is desired to be free of emotions either by avoiding situations, transforming our mind, or by resting in the state of rigpa. By denying or suppressing emotions, I think you can definitely cause emotional and psychological issues, and it generally isn't a healthy approach. 
Thanks for the great info
I dont actually think religion is trying to teach us to repress emotion, but that idea gets taken by many people today - and many spirutal people I've talked to recommended rising above/pushing down emotions rather then truely understanding them and allowing a pruned natural state to survive
I like the idea of transformation followed by self-liberation, thats my plan anyways
Master the emotions, know when they are needed and how they are needed. Just because you are angry doesnt mean you should lose control.
I mean I believe in transforming these emotions to fit a healthy/positive state of state of mind as opposed to a negative one
You laid a lot of really key stuff out really nicely, thanks
-------------------- Just because I am arrogant does not mean I forget my place. It is how I choose to talk. I am not a monk. I am my own path, and I am without influence. Talk to me about my core being before you question my mental stability or life-choices. Chances are, they're only shocking to you because they don't fit your idea of what is.
Check out my Art Journal for some stuff I do http://www.shroomery.org/forums/showflat.php/Number/21647069
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Cowb0yNeal00



Registered: 06/05/13
Posts: 11,059
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Re: I wanna talk about "Negative Emotions" [Re: glimpee]
#22133445 - 08/23/15 11:56 PM (8 years, 5 months ago) |
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Quote:
glimpee said: Really is this like a bad thing to talk about?
Usually by now I'd ahve like 5 replies
Am I being shunned or some shit?
sad face
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glimpee
Awakening



Registered: 12/08/14
Posts: 734
Last seen: 5 years, 8 months
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Re: I wanna talk about "Negative Emotions" [Re: Cowb0yNeal00]
#22133470 - 08/24/15 12:09 AM (8 years, 5 months ago) |
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Quote:
myles33 said:
Quote:
glimpee said: Really is this like a bad thing to talk about?
Usually by now I'd ahve like 5 replies
Am I being shunned or some shit?
sad face

Quote:
myles33 said:
Quote:
glimpee said: Really is this like a bad thing to talk about?
Usually by now I'd ahve like 5 replies
Am I being shunned or some shit?
sad face

Im on 4 dabs right now and am about to take a whole lot more before watching the new Rick and Morty and some other cartoons
-------------------- Just because I am arrogant does not mean I forget my place. It is how I choose to talk. I am not a monk. I am my own path, and I am without influence. Talk to me about my core being before you question my mental stability or life-choices. Chances are, they're only shocking to you because they don't fit your idea of what is.
Check out my Art Journal for some stuff I do http://www.shroomery.org/forums/showflat.php/Number/21647069
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Cowb0yNeal00



Registered: 06/05/13
Posts: 11,059
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Re: I wanna talk about "Negative Emotions" [Re: glimpee]
#22133481 - 08/24/15 12:15 AM (8 years, 5 months ago) |
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Quote:
glimpee said:
Quote:
myles33 said:
Quote:
glimpee said: Really is this like a bad thing to talk about?
Usually by now I'd ahve like 5 replies
Am I being shunned or some shit?
sad face

Quote:
myles33 said:
Quote:
glimpee said: Really is this like a bad thing to talk about?
Usually by now I'd ahve like 5 replies
Am I being shunned or some shit?
sad face

Im on 4 dabs right now and am about to take a whole lot more before watching the new Rick and Morty and some other cartoons
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Space Elf



Registered: 07/29/10
Posts: 3,371
Last seen: 7 years, 3 months
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Re: Can we talk about "Negative Emotions" [Re: glimpee]
#22136803 - 08/24/15 06:14 PM (8 years, 5 months ago) |
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I don't think it's possible to not feel 'negative emotions'; our physical bodies are pretty much in control of them. For example, I can't tell my body to not release adrenaline if something upsets me. However, I can choose how I wish to react to those emotions. I could go smashing windows out and punching things while in a rampage, or I can go for a walk or something until my neurotransmitters resume back to their normal levels again so that I can think more clearly. I know from experience that if I give into my initial emotions, I end up doing things that just make the situation a lot worse.
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glimpee
Awakening



Registered: 12/08/14
Posts: 734
Last seen: 5 years, 8 months
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Re: Can we talk about "Negative Emotions" [Re: Space Elf]
#22136966 - 08/24/15 06:53 PM (8 years, 5 months ago) |
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Quote:
Space Elf said: I don't think it's possible to not feel 'negative emotions'; our physical bodies are pretty much in control of them. For example, I can't tell my body to not release adrenaline if something upsets me. However, I can choose how I wish to react to those emotions. I could go smashing windows out and punching things while in a rampage, or I can go for a walk or something until my neurotransmitters resume back to their normal levels again so that I can think more clearly. I know from experience that if I give into my initial emotions, I end up doing things that just make the situation a lot worse.
Actually you CAN tell your body to release adrenaline, its just that that type of mastery takes decades of practice.
For now I think we have to allow our emotions to come where they are needed - but never let our emotions control us. We should continue to follow our moral rules and etc. and allow the emotion to help improve the situation.
For example if someone starts yelling at you your instinct is to be angry. Don't NOT get angry, but dont yell back. Be ready, understand the anger, and use it to fuel your drive for resolution
But if someone is hurting another being, use your anger to physically get in that persons way
if you know what i mean I feel like I kinda said that poorly
-------------------- Just because I am arrogant does not mean I forget my place. It is how I choose to talk. I am not a monk. I am my own path, and I am without influence. Talk to me about my core being before you question my mental stability or life-choices. Chances are, they're only shocking to you because they don't fit your idea of what is.
Check out my Art Journal for some stuff I do http://www.shroomery.org/forums/showflat.php/Number/21647069
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