reply to post by l_e_cox
The mind is a fantastic invention, but some would argue that it is not man's "greatest weapon."
One can theorize a level of knowledge above rational thought. When someone alludes to "instinct" or "heart" that may be what they are trying to
do. In the materials I have studied it is called "knowingness." It is senior to, and more powerful than, rational thought.
We are at the most dangerous crux of this particular topic.
That of distinguishing "Knowingness" or "Spirituality" or "Wisdom"
From
Emotions or Heart or Instinct.
To confuse the two would be most dreadful... and in fact, is the problem that I have been alluding to.
Emotions are not superior to the mind, they are beneath it, and subordinate to it.
Instincts are also beneath the mind, and in humans (Especially) they are subordinate TO the mind.
At least, that is how a human being (and society) advances.
Instincts are genetically learned behaviors.
They are formed through pure Darwinian selection.
Emotions are reactions to our perception of value.
Instinct can not look forward.
Emotions can not look forward.
Wisdom, and "Spirituality" (Which is another way of saying wisdom), is a Mental ability.
It is the same with intuition.... it is neither a Instinct, nor an emotion... it is founded on the mind.
It may be that rational thought is looked on as man's greatest weapon. But it is also his Achilles heal! For the mind can be booby-trapped so
that it will perceive things that are not real or are not true.
The Instinct does not have the ability to learn and adapt.
The emotion does not have the ability to plan, plot, or postulate.
The mind may be able to be fooled, or tricked...
But that does not mean that the Emotion or Instinct can do what the mind is capable of.
I would not belittle the attempts of people to tap into higher states of knowing.
Nor would I.... my distinction (Point) is that the Emotions, and the Instinct are being lauded *AS* Enlightenment, Spirituality, and Wisdom
(Knowingness)
This is the problem.
IT is a trick designed to stunt your growth, by telling you that the highest state of man is that of emotion.... or instinct.
-Edrick