Not fighting others is not enough.
Not fighting yourself is the key to not fighting others. That is a good place to begin. And what are we fighting others for anyway? A few ideas we get ourselves attached to?
"what are we fighting others for anyway"
I guess generally people want others to agree with them / the world to change for them.
So, you know, a person will decide everyone else is wrong, or that the world is crazy (not themselves), or simplify issues to involve only the right side and the wrong side.
So yeah, it makes sense to focus on yourself, if only for practical reasons. Although sometimes the world is legitimately screwed up. Probably part of being realistic means to accept some level of suffering.
Is there a separation between ‘the rest of the world’ and oneself? On the surface we are different: different likes, dislikes, passions, opinions.
But if one gets deeper into oneself there are no differences at all. Which means what?
Now that's interesting. Hmm.
I guess you mean to change the world you start with yourself... but still, the fact I am, or may be, thinking of myself as separate from the world. That would certainly be part of the problem and something I would fix by fixing myself. That's very interesting.
Wanting to change the world is the wrong place to start. Why do I want to change the world? So I can feel good about myself: I’m an important person, I saved the world, me, me, me. Which is the very pattern that needs change.
I don’t want to change the world. I don’t even wantt to change myself. I just want to understand. That would be the right place to start.
I think it's even more instinctual / selfish. I want to change the world so the world exists the way I want it to. So that I have no conflicts with it.
Even if it's someone wants to, let's say, feed the starving children. Where does that come from? The person doesn't like living in a world with starving children. Sure it helps others, but it starts with the self. That's partly why I wasn't so interested in that conclusion, so I'm glad you were going that direction with it.
‘ I don’t want to have conflicts with the world.’
That is already introducing a separation which creates conflicts no matter what. And again, it’s this obsession with myself and my desires: me, me, me. I want this, I don’t want that. It’s a universal pattern.
empathy is natural to most. Even dogs usually have this. Not so sure about cats...
Ah, no. I don’t want empathy, that is still a small affair, traceable to still being selfish. Someone else suffers and I put myself in their shoes. Then I feel the suffering but only because it’s about me. I suffer, in their shoes: it’s still me, me, me. Self-pity, disguised as something other than pity for oneself.
This is total BS.
Of course, a vulgar, insensitive old brain cannot see the deception involved in the so-called empathy. The ego cannot see that it touches every action one undertakes, including ‘ watching others suffer’.
As long you’re not free of the ego, old man, you must remain blind.
this is also total BS
Apart from the consistent vulgarity( which indicates frustration), the fact remains: you are not free of the ego.
Chess is a sport!
Haha! Good change of subject.
I was trying to deescalate the situation.