Interesting little experiment

Without negative or positive attitudes, I think it would make for a very Spock-like existence.

Wendell

Hi....
Well regarding positive and negative attitudes,this is really a confusing question to me and I really think that I will not understand what to do further.I will simply waste my time in thinking what to do.Well I think that from both this attitude only one will exist at a particular instance.Anyways stays connected.

Thanks Ken interesting post very thought-provoking and mind-twisting. I will certainly keep my eyes on this thread.

Lorna

Fantastic reply Ken. Very well thought out. You make some very good observations here.

Let's focus on your perspective argument.

Let me say right up front that I think you're right-on about the perspective thing. This is something that Einstein noticed in his space/time experiments. In the 'speeding train" one the result very much depended on where the observer was positioned: on the platform or on the train itself. Each one would experience time differently.

One faster and one slower. (Because as you move through space you move through time)

In this experiment the observer (you) would look at the 'attitudeless' guy (me) and make your determination of my state through the window of your own attitudes. I might try to explain myself to you but I'd surely fail.

Interesting reply by Hesaidblissfully "I imagine it would feel like being a baby all over again..." "You would just experience the world as-is, with no preconceived notions about anything." This illustrates an important point.

The idea about some religious master (Zen Buddhist, yogi, whatever) seems to pop up when the topic of no attitude living is discussed. But this imagery is misleading.

To have the calmness and serenity of Himalayan snow breeze may make a great picture but I think its more accurate to picture yourself at around one or two years of age. You exude love. Just hold a baby for a minute and you'll know what I mean. That's because there are no attitudes formed yet although that happens pretty quickly but at that age they don't supply much motivation as yet.

So let's look at attitudes. (this is the 'Reader's digest' version)

Attitudes are feelings and feelings motivate. Feelings come from a collection of deeply ingrained thought patterns. Each thought is charged with an emotional component that is either negative or positive. (- +)

The greater the number of positive or negative thoughts in a given pattern determines their polarity.

The width and breadth of a thought pattern determines its attitudinal strength. (Suicide bombers have a long indoctrination into a belief pattern that is then backed by hate and frustration directed at the perceived enemy.)

To have attitudes with low-strength does not mean there is no motivation. A baby is very motivated to learn and absorb as much about its world as it can. It is also well recognized that a very young child is far more creative than an older one. (Lac of fear of failure I suppose.)

A young child's intellect (provided he/she is in good health) is very active indeed. Yet attitudes are not yet playing a big part in their motivational makeup.

So, is it necessary to have a set of polarized attitudes in place in order to move about and function in the world? Not at all.

The coin may have two sides but it also has an edge.

...David

Why trapped? Just curious.

I imagine it would feel like being a baby all over again, whatever that feels like. Or maybe a Buddhist monk? You would just experience the world as-is, with no preconceived notions about anything.

Frankly speaking, I am too over burdened these days, no rests...

I will try to sleep more and more... If I don't have any thing positive or negative to do!!!

Let me just say that this discussion is hypothetical. I don't think it's possible to completely eliminate all attitudes just like that. I do believe though that, given the right tool, it is possible to weaken their strength within a really short time-frame. Say, ten days or so.

Yes, I said "weaken". I may be alone here but I promote this concept even though the current wisdom is to "strengthen" the attitudinal base. The "experts" in self-help think this will lead to higher motivation. While it may in the short term getting a "high" with attitudes mostly leads to motivational burnout in the long term which kills happiness.

That's why I say we need to be "immune" to the harmful perceptions we all have (yes me too sometimes) associated with failure itself.

That doesn't mean that failure doesn't happen. It just means that it doesn't matter.

By the way, motivation does not cease or even dissipate. If anything the passion that each of us has for that one thing in life that we should be doing (as opposed to the thing we think we should be doing) get's kicked into high gear and can power you through to completion no matter how long it takes.

Failure is a actually a good thing and here's why: Failure in any system leads to immunity. That's why we have things like tubeless tires and pressure release valves on hot water tanks.

Ken, in reference to your later post: I would have a helluva time explaining myself to you with information only. That's because, as I mentioned before, your senses receive the info and process it through the filters of your own attitudinally-driven biases.

But if I come along with a tool (such as H.E.R.O.) where you become as I am (with a newly-warped mind lol) the whole thing changes. That's what happened to those who heard Galileo when he said the earth was not the center of the universe. They (his fellow scientists at least) changed their attitude pretty quickly when they peered through his telescope and saw what he did.

The church leaders however (high on their own attitudes) took another 400 years to finally come around and pardon the poor guy.

How good did you say attitudes are again?

Cheers,
..David