Computers As Doorstops, And Reflections On The Purpose Of Human Life

Excerpts from the introduction to a Life Mastery Program group coaching session

, with David Wolf on October 13th, 2011.

Id like to create some perspective as a framework for our personal growth work. In many of our programs we use the metaphor of putting the 1 in front of the 0s. The 1 is that self-realization component that gives meaning to all other aspects of life; without that, our experience can be empty, even if were advancing in our projects, or health, or communication

There is a quote by the philosopher Soren Kierkegaard- The greatest danger, that of losing one's own self, may pass off quietly as if it were nothing; every other loss, that of an arm, a leg, five dollars, a wife, etc., is sure to be noticed. For me this points to that process of self-realization- that we can lose self-awareness; we can be lost to ourselves, and not even realize itwhereas if we misplace our flashlight; Oh, wheres my wallet.wheres the flashlight; where are the car keys We can get lost to ourselves, and not know it; and not just for a day, Hey, a whole day went byand I didnt realize Weeks and months and years and entire eras of life can go by, and were not even aware that were not aware

Our endeavors in the Satvatove programs, and especially the Life Mastery Program, are to ensure that this doesnt happen. Its an experience in awareness. We talk about experience our experience. That means, to be aware- to be aware of ourself. To notice whats happening. We can speak of What do I want. We can speak of asserting ourselves. All of these things mean, being aware of who I am, and what I want. Self-awareness.

Weve been doing a lot of coach training in recent months. A basic principle that we emphasize is that in every good coaching session there is awareness-raising. Consciousness-raising. Every human interaction, if its quality, this is my perspective, it involves awareness-raising. It involves consciousness-raising. Otherwise were, in a sense, doing violence to each other in the most crucial sense, in the most essential sense- because were helping each other waste the human form of life.

When I say in every human action theres consciousness-raising, theres awareness-raising, that doesnt mean that were serious all the time. We could be playing with each other, and were creating value. Were enhancing the sharpness of our consciousness, and our self-awareness. There is a quote attributed to Plato, You can learn more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation. So, when I say awareness-raising, personal growth, self-realization, that can be deeply painful, sobering, and all of that, but it encompasses the range of human emotion. Its not a narrow approach to life.

A metaphor I use sometimes- lets say I purchase a computer for thousands of dollars, and you visit me in my home and you see that Im using the computer as a doorstop. You say, David, what are you doing, and I say Well, I got this computer, state of the art, $5,000, and look, it works great. It works wonderfully. Look it stops the door You might be a bit baffled by my foolishness, but at some point you gather yourself, and explain, Yeah, it does stop the door, but you know, that computer, you can use that to, for example, design websites and correspond with people all over the world, and lay out publications, and manage your bookkeeping, and for so many functions much more sophisticated than stopping the door.

Similarly, this human bodyWere especially built, we have a special intelligence, for self-realization. And if we waste it, and we dont use it for that, and we use it only for eating, sleeping, mating and defending in glorified forms, its like David using his computer as a doorstop. Were really wasting a lot of potential there. Really wasting a lot of potential.

Weve used the vehicle analogy. We take care of our vehicle. But if get absorbed, and think Ill spend 300 years to make sure that the car is shiny, then weve lost track, that this is supposed to be a vehicle to serve me on my journey. Similarly with this human form.

So, were supporting each other in personal growth in various ways. Whatever the nature of our interaction, lets emphasize, to keep this in mind, close to heart. Were spiritual beings having a human experience. To what degree are we using our time with each other to come out of this state of being lost to ourselves, and to what extent are we discovering ourselves, coming out of being lost, reconnecting with that part of ourselves that has been lost

As Kirkegaard said, The greatest danger of losing oneself may pass off quietly as if it were nothing If we notice that thats happening, then lets not be quiet. Its like Hey, this human form of life is passing. Whether weve been in this body for 20 years or 30 or 60 or 62- the human form of life is passing. Compared with the eternal life of the self, its just an eye blink. Whether were here for 20 years or 120, its an opportunity to get urgent. To not let being lost to the self pass off quietly. That we notice, Heres a friend getting lost to herself, to himself. Let me ring some alarms, let me wave some red flags. Let me fulfill the purpose of human life, and real friendship. For me thats very much what your life mastery program is meant to be about , in the most sublime sense.

by: Marie Glasheen

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