The Moral Compass

[Omega]

Again, on the topic of structure. I will try to frame my question differently in hope of more responses.

Lately, I came up with the concept of ‘the moral compass’ as a way to create more direction in my life. The moral compass I define as a set of principles (subject to change) that guides behavior and creates a context from which to make choices. Since this compass guides and directs us in our lives, the compass must itself encompass some notion of ‘where’ to direct us. Therefore, the moral compass is highly linked to life purpose. Feel free to elaborate.

Principles would certainly seem almost necessary in order to engage with life in any effective manner. The compass could be a stepping stone in the LP-creation process or an aid in goal-setting. However, Leo argues in 'A Rant Against Morality' that at the level of transcendent morality, principles fall away. The person of integrity will act naturally and spontaneously. Freedom is to not be bounded by rules.

I don't want to commit to a practice that is redundant. The counterargument to deliberately construct a set of consciously chosen principles would be that this restrains our range of expression. Should we create such a compass for ourselves? (And if yes, how do we create an evaluation criteria suitable to choose these principles?)

(This discussion could also take the more general side turn: Is it a one-path restriction to create goals?)

Edited June 11, 2016 by Blaze35

[Mal]

@Blaze35

Hello Blaze, 

Thank you for bringing this up.  Very juicy topic of late!  I enjoy being given the opportunity to attack these ideas from as many different angles as possible.  

I'm going to make my contribution here short and to the point, but hopefully not lacking in effectiveness.

If you are thinking about deliberately constructing values, then I would hasten a bet that this as a strategy for growth is going to backfire.

Everything you do must come from your own emotional life experience.  You must decide what is meaningful to you as a person, augment it and live that, because this is currently who you are.

Healthy developmental unfoldment requires that these values change naturally with subsequent life experiences rather than be artificially manufactured in order to reach certain goals.  A person cannot be who they are not!

If you take this organic approach you will find that your authentic values will create a principled life for you, along with excellent interpersonal skills (according to your own perspective).

It is only when you naturally discover these principles, values and ways of dealing with life are becoming increasingly ineffective and contradictory due to reality crumbling the walls of your self-constructed worldview, that you will be ready to "transcend" your current mode of living life.

Letting go has to happen naturally as the being in you decides to ditch it's previous values and learn to let more and more of your natural "Witnessing" self take the reigns.  At this point the "ego" becomes a tool and is subordinated to it's rightful place; solving mundane problems rather than constant rumination over values and principles.

Emotions and cognitions must get very complex, almost to the point of not being able to come to a satisfying conclusion about anything.  The bad news is, sometimes you will suffer greatly.  The good news is that enough suffering eventually leads to the transcendent. 

Mal

Edited June 11, 2016 by Mal

[Omega]

@Mal I agree with most of your points. I think that the idea of the ego as a tool for problem solving is interesting. It seems to imply that if I am not merely the ego then 'my values' are not to be found within the experience of the ego.

One thing confuses me: What I read is almost 'don't seek to define your values deliberately' as in 'the principled life arises naturally'. Should we not contemplate in order to find our values in the first place?

And I didn't understand what becomes ineffective in this part

15 hours ago, Mal said:

It is only when you naturally discover these principles, values and ways of dealing with life are becoming increasingly ineffective and contradictory due to reality crumbling the walls of your self-constructed worldview, that you will be ready to "transcend" your current mode of living life.

 

[Mal]

8 hours ago, Blaze35 said:

And I didn't understand what becomes ineffective in this part

This will be different for everybody.  Let me draw a very crude analogy.  No doubt you have met a person who left your workplace because something in that environment didn't agree with them?  They can either leave and try to get the world to adjust to them.  Or they can stay and transcend their environment.  People who master and transcend are happier and are motivated by growth needs rather than deficiency needs.

8 hours ago, Blaze35 said:

One thing confuses me: What I read is almost 'don't seek to define your values deliberately' as in 'the principled life arises naturally'. Should we not contemplate in order to find our values in the first place?

Yes, contemplation and digging down to find ones own values is what I am suggesting.  What I am cautioning against is trying to become something one is not because of some external influence.  

8 hours ago, Blaze35 said:

I think that the idea of the ego as a tool for problem solving is interesting. It seems to imply that if I am not merely the ego then 'my values' are not to be found within the experience of the ego.

As long as a person is their ego, they must dig deep to find their values within their emotional "self" and live them.  One has to fully live and taste each level of development in order for it to become tired and ripe for transcendance.

I hope this clarification is sufficient.

I am happy to elaborate further if needed.

-Mal

Edited June 12, 2016 by Mal