Comments on Thondom Raughts: Why should you control your desires and emotions

@Haris - Yes you are correct. When I said control,...

2008-07-04T19:11:00.000+05:30

@Haris - Yes you are correct. When I said control, I did not mean that you should turn off your emotional side. It is more like you should be in control over your emotions.

hi, its good post, but mostly discussed by many pe...

2008-07-04T16:02:00.000+05:30

hi, its good post, but mostly discussed by many people.Most of them says to control emotions.Some people mould to the crowd.Even in a discussion people grasp the feeling and express themselves.I thinks its better manage than controlling emotions.Karma -that maketh life.Whats the karma of a business man - to make profit.May be the profit is his goal.I think karma has its definition in different realms.Than happiness.. how hard we try , we cant make the world happy.Human beings are being discussing topics like this since ancient ages.. Is it possible to have emotion for a society ? Then money is a form of an accountable emotion. I donno ... :)

I mentioned your blog in mine!! :D

2008-06-26T14:56:00.000+05:30

I mentioned your blog in mine!! :D

Anand? Who's Anand here? Oh....

2008-06-26T14:30:00.000+05:30

Anand? Who's Anand here? Oh....

@Kidu,I beg to disagree here. One major differenti...

2008-06-21T22:21:00.000+05:30

@Kidu,
I beg to disagree here. One major differentiation between animals and humans is our ability to make rational decisions and that would sometime(I cannot say for sure as to how often) mean overcoming our desires.

Now, regarding our personal happiness, why do you say that society has to define the meaning of it? Happiness is an internalized phenomenon, why should the society play a part in it?

onnu podey...The basic reason behind human surviva...

2008-06-21T19:40:00.000+05:30

onnu podey...

The basic reason behind human survival and reason for humans not to be animals is their desire to do things...

Happiness is a relative term...
Even if you happy society wont term you as a happy person. and you cant survive here with out satisfying society ....
- Kidu...

Hi Anand :-)

2008-06-20T11:12:00.000+05:30

Hi Anand :-)

Hi Anand,Thanks for dropping by my blog. This was ...

2008-06-18T09:26:00.000+05:30

Hi Anand,
Thanks for dropping by my blog. This was a motivational post which inclined me to think and introspect myself!
Thanks a lot for your kind words too :p
I'll be visiting more often :D

Nithin, Quick, Hide - Ms Cris saw a pack of big th...

2008-06-16T02:13:00.000+05:30

Nithin, Quick, Hide - Ms Cris saw a pack of big thinkers and philosophers around here :-)

Gulp suddenly I feel immature in the midst of a pa...

2008-06-15T23:56:00.000+05:30

Gulp suddenly I feel immature in the midst of a pack of big thinkers and philosphers!

@Ms CrisTo what extent? To the extent of controlli...

2008-06-15T22:28:00.000+05:30

@Ms Cris

To what extent? To the extent of controlling negative emotions and emotions that you think are not going to help you in your cause or in helping you achieve your goal. You don't have to rein in the positive emotions at all - i.e. unless if you feel like doing so.

@Nithin

I did not say that we should not be passionate about what we do. Passion is a very positive emotion and we should use it to our benefit. We should also be able to back our passion with reason. Yes your conclusion aligns perfectly with mine :-)

Hmm, I happened to hear the same during a talk rec...

2008-06-15T17:47:00.000+05:30

Hmm, I happened to hear the same during a talk recently. That you should be passionate about what you do. And it made a lot of sense.
Apparently these are two conflicting schools of thoughts here, one that says, you have to have emotions, because that's what make us human. And the other, that says, if you get too emotional, then you will be subject to it's extreme fluctuations.
But, I feel there actually is just one school of thought here (again drawing inspiration from the Gita), which is, you should be emotional and passionate about the one thing which is rightfully under your control - your actions, your duty.
But, at the same time, you should not be passionate or emotionally attached to the fruits of your actions, because they are not entirely yours.

:-)Looks like a storm of questions and as usual I ...

2008-06-15T15:25:00.000+05:30

:-)
Looks like a storm of questions and as usual I have no answers.
I am assuming you'd guess I didnt mean people should go back to being neanderthal.

But emotions are sometimes more of a need than an impact of mental fluctuations. Having control over your emotions is of course what can be called progress. But to what extend? Does it mean never laughing when you feel happy or never frowning when you feel bad? Or does it go to controlling the extend of happiness or sadness or any feelings you allow yourself?

A complete control somehow seems like a scary idea. Losing your human "weak" self and turning into powerful thinking machines. Well maybe its not a bad thing.

Its just a little hard to throw away the ways you are used to living, and have come to terms with in what you call life. So pro'lly you are right and I am just prejudiced :-)

@Ms Cris, But what is your real self? Why do you s...

2008-06-15T14:23:00.000+05:30

@Ms Cris, But what is your real self? Why do you say that the unpredictable and uncontrollable aspects introduced by your emotions are part of the self? Should they be? Aren't they not akin to the noise in communication signals. Do you say that noise introduces beauty to the communication?

What did you mean by the natural way of letting things out? Why is it that you say that control over your emotions is not natural? Humans learn a lot of physical activity after birth. For example - writing in meaningful symbols, talking using meaningful sounds. These are activities that are results from controlling otherwise natural actions like moving tongue, hands etc. Does that mean that these activities are not natural?

Yes the question is whether that is what everybody wants? The answer would obviously be no since not too many people would not even be thinking about these aspects. But would it be something that people should look forward to achieving? I would say yes.

I was going to say about the risk of going totally...

2008-06-15T11:36:00.000+05:30

I was going to say about the risk of going totally mechanical in life with a complete control over emotions. But then you have written about that.

Still, I cant get myself to agree with dictating each and every action,it is somehow like keeping a remote control to your mind, in your mind. Agreed you have total power over your emotions, and it'd show results in whatever you want to achieve.

Only question is, is that what everyone really wants? Giving up a big part of your natural way of letting things out makes a huge difference. And losing that somehow seems like a huge loss of your self.

Not exactly, the correct interpretation of the tex...

2008-06-14T08:16:00.000+05:30

Not exactly, the correct interpretation of the text (i checked with my in-house expert:)) is - you do your duty without attachment to the goal;
Actions should definitely be directed towards a goal - otherwise they are meaningless, but then, the actor shouldn't be unduly attached to the goals.
So, essentially the same idea you have explained here.

Nishkama Karma as mentioned talks about actions wi...

2008-06-12T23:36:00.000+05:30

Nishkama Karma as mentioned talks about actions without emotions - yes, but it also talks about actions without "expectations, motives, or thinking about its outcomes". But what I am talking about here is actions with motives and with proper thought on outcomes. Just that you would not be affected by the outcomes of your actions (or inaction) if you are in control over your desires and emotions.

hmm, this really got me thinking, and it's a bit c...

2008-06-12T23:12:00.000+05:30

hmm, this really got me thinking, and it's a bit clearer to me now than a few days back. You have a point. When I thought about this, this is somewhat similar to what the Gita preaches -- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nishkam_Karma