The Sacrifice of Control – Life of Passivity
This is certainly an unusual chapter when looked at through ordinary eyes with ordinary thoughts. We are on the path. We know certain elements about that path. We are taking steps to align ourselves with what we know about the path and our life on that path.
Loss of control is a fundamental fear to the machine, the historical personality. And, well it should be a fear. The machine was trained to persevere. The goal is to function in the world and to be part of that world. Survival of the machine, and of the race of machines is the ultimate goal. Loss of control is antithetical to the survival of the machine.
However, we instinctively know that the life of the machine is not the life of the essential self. When we enter the transit states, the bardos, or as indicated in the text of this chapter, when we emerge from the Corridor of Madness; the habits of the machine will be ineffective.
What then are we to do? We have two concurrent opportunities. First we must learn to develop the taste for “lack of control.” The by-line of the chapter is “Life of Passivity.” By this is not meant to be unattentive, but rather to move fully from the essential attention. So, we develop a taste for ‘not control.’
Secondly, we develop new habits. Habits of the essential self. What might those be? Here we must discover those habits. For instance, what is the habit you have when you are treated unjustly? Do you simply react with anger or withdrawal? Is there another way for you to act? Yes, find it in actions during your day and life.
There is the psychological aspect to this activity, however, I am indicating that there is a new way of action. A form of action that emerges from the essential self. Something like “right action.”
Surprise yourself.
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