BillOGood left a fantastic comment in relation to developing intelligence. His comment, and my reply are below. Thanks for your thoughtful comment Bill.
“I understand what it is to ‘be in the present moment’ and ‘accept things as they are,’ but how does this square with planning and anticipating your future and future events? Aren’t those activities important aspects of intelligence, also?”
I’m going to tackle this question in two areas; how the direction is more important then the destination and how planning/anticipation benefit from present moment awareness/acceptance.
When you develop present moment awareness and acceptance of things, you are also developing planning and anticipation skills. Present moment/acceptance is like an apple tree, with planning/anticipation the fruit from the tree. You can’t grow apples without the tree, in the same way that you don’t grow planning/anticipation without something outside of itself. Another example of this is thought’s don’t come from thought, they arise from outside it. To develop your best fruits and thoughts, you must have the best tree and mind.
What Bill’s asking is a question on the deconstruction of mind, into what I call realms or containers. The mind like everything else, is a composite quality made up of things that are not mind. There’s a realm of memory, a realm of intelligence, a realm of sense-input, a realm of ego, a realm of consciousness and many more.
Each of your realms of mind can be exercised and grown, just like your physical body and muscles.
Consciousness is worked out by present moment awareness and acceptance. Western Psychologist Maslow, refers to consciousness as Self-Actualization as part of his Hierarchy of Human Needs(right). He’s documented some attributes of a conscious mind:”
- Embrace the facts and realities of the world (including themselves) rather than denying or avoiding them.
- Are spontaneous in their ideas and actions.
- Have discernment and are able to view all things in an objective manner. Prejudices are absent.
Working out your conscious realm is a way of developing all aspects of intelligence, such as planning/anticipation and concentration. When conscious, “decisions…are better thought out to their conclusions, empowering you to make better decisions from the offset”. Consciousness/Self-Actualization through observation and acceptance is empowerment and liberation for the development of pure intelligence or wisdom.
I agree with Bill that it is important to have a direction, and to set goals. You should not, however, be attached to reaching these exact goals. A better mental attitude, is having direction, and come what may. If you get attached to only your specific goal, something that is 99.999% what you’re after, will not satisfy and will create more suffering. If, however, you have a general direction, and goal, there is nothing to be attached to, there’s no way to create suffering.
To keep my analogy going (on creating your own reality) with the ship/captain, Epictetus “choose the best ship and the best pilot, and I wait for the fairest weather that my circumstances and duty will allow. Prudence and propriety, the principles which the Gods have given me for the direction of my conduct, require this of me; but they require no more: and if, notwithstanding, a storm arises, which neither the strength of the vessel nor the skill of the pilot are likely to withstand, I give myself no trouble about the consequence. All that I had to do is done already. The directors of my conduct never command me to be miserable, to be anxious, desponding, or afraid. Whether we are to be drowned, or to come to a harbor, is the business of Jupiter, not mine. I leave it entirely to his determination, nor ever break my rest with considering which way he is likely to decide it, but receive whatever comes with equal indifference and security.â€
In summary Bill, planning and anticipation are important, but equally important is the skill to plan/anticipate properly without attachment to the outcome. If I’ve missed read your question, or anyone else has other questions, please feel free to comment.
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Hi Wade,
Thank you for your post. I needed it right about now. I have been in the process of getting a job (in an apple orchard, believe it or not). I have been sweating it because it is a part of my getting residency status in New Zealand. I have what it takes to be successful, but there are a number of holes to fall into. Several months before all of this I was very much at peace and mindful. When this process started I was able to hold it together, but then I gradually began to slip into attachment and found myself absolutely miserable. Last night I was able to let go and your post, which I read today, is a very big confirmation.
Thank you to you and Bill.
My comment to your post would be:
You cannot know where you are going,if you do not know where you Are.
Of course once you realize “where you are” you will see that “going anywhere” is meaningless.
Take Care
Brian
Hi Brain,
Thanks for your comment, glad you found this post at the time you needed it. There is a saying that everything happens at exactly the right time.
Good luck with your residency on this side of the world, NZ’s a great country to live in, but I don’t need to tell you that
Fantastic comment on the post. Thank you very much for this addition.
All the best.
May all beings be peaceful.
Gassho,
Wade