tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3719024566754743654.post8982320158166741548..comments2010-02-23T08:15:29.990-05:00mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10978313265796058909noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3719024566754743654.post-30975308078667429712010-02-23T08:15:29.990-05:002010-02-23T08:15:29.990-05:00Nahnni<br /><br />Sorry for the delay but got caught up in that Gaia stuff. Besides, I like to give your comments some &#39;thought-time.&#39;<br /><br />&quot;Hasn&#39;t the individual ego always been entrapped by the cultural ego, though?&quot;<br /><br />Hmmm...I think the individual ego is collective or &quot;cultural.&quot; The individual part is delusional.<br /><br />&quot;Because the collective does not see through the individual perspective, where then does the twain then meet?&quot;<br /><br />Maybe it does see collectively, just attaches individual parameters to that which we all see the same.<br /><br />&quot;Even given that the individual mind is of itself a result of the entrapments (sufferings), it is also the vehicle of some escape from those very pitfalls, isn&#39;t it?&quot;<br /><br />It seems to me the individual mind is contingent on collective mind and can never escape that contingency. I&#39;ve commented on this &#39;absolute contingency&#39; in Gaia and will be posting an extended version of that here for discussion.<br /><br />&quot;Sole focus on either collective or individual is problematic, as I see it, when so many contrasts exist.&quot;<br /><br />Could be that the contrasts are delusional? Maybe &quot;action&quot; is delusional too?<br /><br />Lots of questions leading to more questions leading to more questions.<br /><br />Maybe there aren&#39;t supposed to be any answers. <br /><br />Maybe that&#39;s the rules of the infinite game...<br />mikeSMikeShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10978313265796058909noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3719024566754743654.post-78524078107792405762010-02-17T11:41:51.512-05:002010-02-17T11:41:51.512-05:00Hasn&#39;t the individual ego always been entrapped by the cultural ego, though? From medieval fundamentalism to the modern pursuit of the easy life, the individual ego follows the river. To stand outside of this may offer freedom for any given individual, but not necessarily the collective, and if the collective goes down, the individual will either survive by its own wit or go down with the rest.<br /><br />Because the collective does not see through the individual perspective, where then does the twain then meet? Even proposing a meeting of the minds, still, there is perspective and entrapment or freedom rests ultimately within that perspective, doesn&#39;t it? Even given that the individual mind is of itself a result of the entrapments (sufferings), it is also the vehicle of some escape from those very pitfalls, isn&#39;t it? We are born alone, we die alone even surrounded by others who are born alone and die alone. During the life in between, there appears to be many avenues.<br /><br />Sole focus on either collective or individual is problematic, as I see it, when so many contrasts exist. Is there not a time to reflect and a time for action? I see both as needing to exist, because both, if too separate from each other, leads to some entrapment...either by isolation or by mob mentality. Then, the middle way has its merits in infinite possibility while walking the endless road to the endless horizon. But what is the middle way? And does it necessarily have to be defined?<br /><br />Interesting post, Mike. Brings many thoughts to mind.<br /><br />Blessings~Mynahnnihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10423858210960669811noreply@blogger.com