Are You In Control?

[Molly Brogan]

Are we in control of ourselves, our lives, our families, our worlds? Or are we just aware and knowing what one can do if something unpredictable happens?
There are many explanations for why we do what we do. For example, Thomas Metzinger's new Book, The Ego Tunnel: The Science of the Mind and the Myth of the Self, seriously questions whether there is even an "I", let alone a "we." And Douglas Hofstadter's book, I Am a Strange Loop, contends that the "self" is a recursively self-referencing memory loop.

Hundreds of experiments by Benjamin Libet and others tend to conclusively confirm that our brain prepares to execute our decisions before we are even aware that anything is being decided. It alerts us to our decisions only in time (a split second) for us to veto them.

See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benjamin_Libet, as well as Benjamin Libet's book, Mind Time, and Walter J. Freeman's book, How Brains Make Up Their Minds.

It is quite likely that we have no so-called "free will" other than veto power over our specific actions. Our free will may consist instead of 1) being mindful about any ill-serving subliminal intentions and tendencies that inform our actions so that we are accordingly prepared to veto any action that they correspondingly inform, and of 2) programming (or reprogramming) our subliminal intentions to be more productive of the experiencing that we most desire.

Do we have the power to create our realities? Are we in control? What do YOU think?

[francis]

Are we in control of ourselves, our lives, our families, our worlds? Or are we just aware and knowing what one can do if something unpredictable happens?
There are many explanations for why we do what we do. For example, Thomas Metzinger's new Book, The Ego Tunnel: The Science of the Mind and the Myth of the Self, seriously questions whether there is even an "I", let alone a "we." And Douglas Hofstadter's book, I Am a Strange Loop, contends that the "self" is a recursively self-referencing memory loop.

Hundreds of experiments by Benjamin Libet and others tend to conclusively confirm that our brain prepares to execute our decisions before we are even aware that anything is being decided. It alerts us to our decisions only in time (a split second) for us to veto them.

See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benjamin_Libet, as well as Benjamin Libet's book, Mind Time, and Walter J. Freeman's book, How Brains Make Up Their Minds.

It is quite likely that we have no so-called "free will" other than veto power over our specific actions. Our free will may consist instead of 1) being mindful about any ill-serving subliminal intentions and tendencies that inform our actions so that we are accordingly prepared to veto any action that they correspondingly inform, and of 2) programming (or reprogramming) our subliminal intentions to be more productive of the experiencing that we most desire.

Do we have the power to create our realities? Are we in control? What do YOU think?

What do "I" think Molly ?

I think, welcome to Buddhist philosophy and self-development.

Mindfulness and Meditation are the sure ways to gain back control from our inherent programming.

[Trevor]

Damn no!!!

[Life of Luxury]

As far as I'm concerned, yes. And that's really all that matters. Except when it comes to my grades, I feel like they are more under the influence of alcohol. :o

[brother alan]

Do we have the power to create our realities? Are we in control? What do YOU think?

What's asking?

[loveGOD]

I like to imagine the statement 'my end control'. It gives me a bit of peace when I'm depressed. Maybe one day I will have 'my end contol.'

[Michael]

The question would be easier to answer if I knew what the 'you´refered to and what this 'you' is supposed to be in control of.

Are we in control of our breathing? Try to stop breathing, short of killing yourself, and find out.

Are 'you' in control of your destiny? In the Western world it´s more likely that the medical profession will choose the time of your death than you will.

Are ýou´in control of your state of happines? Most of us are not.

Are 'you´in control of other people? Once again the answer is no.

You are in control of your car or bike, unless you have an accident and someone else does.

In fact, the more you try to exert control the tougher the battle becomes. The Way is the Way, the Goal of no Goal avoids the problem of control because it ignores it.

The problem with control is that it is dualistic, control/no control.

On a larger scale I suspect that the power of control of what we recognise as 'I' is very limited indeed. And that is a choice made by us before we incarnate.

[j000han]

The question would be easier to answer if I knew what the 'you´refered to and what this 'you' is supposed to be in control of.

Are we in control of our breathing? Try to stop breathing, short of killing yourself, and find out.

Are 'you' in control of your destiny? In the Western world it´s more likely that the medical profession will choose the time of your death than you will.

Are ýou´in control of your state of happines? Most of us are not.

Are 'you´in control of other people? Once again the answer is no.

You are in control of your car or bike, unless you have an accident and someone else does.

In fact, the more you try to exert control the tougher the battle becomes. The Way is the Way, the Goal of no Goal avoids the problem of control because it ignores it.

The problem with control is that it is dualistic, control/no control.

On a larger scale I suspect that the power of control of what we recognise as 'I' is very limited indeed. And that is a choice made by us before we incarnate.

One of the questions reads:
[Are we in control of ourselves, our lives, our families, our worlds?]
My question would be what is this we refering to?
Is the questioner indeed capable of conceiving a 'we' that is all inclusive?
I'd prefer to refrase it as:
Is anyone in control of him/herself his/her live, her/his familie, his/her world(s)?
:)

[kowtaaia]

What's asking?

Thought. :)

[VossistArts]

I think we can come to control our thinking. We can probably learn to control a lot of things about ourselves through learning and awarness. As for people things around us, sure we can affect them but very probably not control them.

[peterh]

all fine and good till you become clinical:blink: