lama surya das spoke about conditioning.
everything is about conditioning. re-condition skill-fully to de-condition.
osho speaks of society as being the force that constructs personality. we must de-condition this personality and re-condition our own individuality, individuality that is given to us by existence. Osho states that society “gives you a personality, a cozy personality, nice, very convenient, very obedient. Society wants slaves, not people who are absolutely dedicated to freedom. Society wants slaves because all the vested interests want obedience.”
the world is amuck (can i use that word that way?) with people dedicated to freedom. one exciting endeavor is an Open Space Giving Conference in Chicago in july. the word about it is buzzing around these wires of computers and contraptions. visit wealth bondage, global chicago, or parking lot to find some varying twists on the tale.
comments:
i agree with you that society tries to condition people’s personalities to conform, but i think too that it’s the parents’ responsibility to encourage a child’s individuality so they grow up to be a unique nonconforming but still contributing member of society. i think the fact that we’re writing about this in a venue like this means our parents succeeded in that endeavor, don’t you? granted we’re not JUST a product of our upbringing, but models in the home are generally the models we follow in the beginning. and if unconventionality is the model we see, then that’s what we’ll more than likely become. hopefully!
becky | Email | 04.07.04 – 10:22 am | #
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I diagree becky…I think I’m actually writing here IN SPITE of my ubringing, in a lot of ways.
For me, it’s most important to find that freedom within ourselves, taking our own responsibility for cultivating it and putting it out there. We can only empower ourselves, and although that sometimes means overcoming disempowering situations, it can’t ever happen if we don’t do it ourselves.
I’m thankful to my parents for some of the privlege I had growing up, but I dodged a number of bullets that came with those privleges too, bullets my friends and family didn’t necessarily dodge. And I think my mom would be the first to tell you that I didn’t at all work out according to the plan. She is “easily amazed” that I worked out at all!
The answers are right here, right now! And so are the questions…
Chris Corrigan | Email | Homepage | 04.07.04 – 5:47 pm | #
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i think that regardless of what the parent encourages or discourages, it is the task of a living being to unwrap the identity one is given and grow into the individuality that one is. by letting go of attachment to our personality, we set free the potential of our individuality. this seems to be the process of skill-fully re-condtioning ourselves. right here. right now.
i am immensely thank-full, however, for the individuality that my parents encouraged and nurtured in me. and equally as grateful for the positive light that they shined on being a non-conforming citizen!
thanks mom and dad!
ashley | Email | Homepage | 04.07.04 – 11:48 pm | #
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yes, everyone has to unwrap the identity one is given… and please dispose of all wrappings in the receptacles provided near each door. [grin] m
michael herman | Email | Homepage | 04.10.04 – 9:38 pm | #
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that’s kind of like: please leave your “shoulds” at the door before entering.
ashley