What's your goal?

[noise]

I want to be teachable, but sometimes I just don't seem to get it, or I get it but it seems to fall away cause I lost focus on what I got. It keeps itself very false, superficially this or that, temporarily. I'd like to stop pretending at my task's and get to Work.

I'd like to wake up, instead of stumble around in a half groggy state pretending I know my head from my butt, cause I don't, but I can pretend fairly well, or trick myself often. I'd like to know I am safe, for myself and others. I'd like to trust. I'd like to be accepted, but trick myself into believing that I'm not.

I'd very much like to wake up and have true awareness, that almost sounds to me like superpowers. I see (hear/read) people who seem to posses it, or is that just me and my endless identifying? It would also be cool to not feel so alone. If I were awake I would try to warn people about about waking up. How much work it is, and not to trust every source of info, but work toward discernment, which seems to be very important. I don't mean warn in a bad way - but let them know that their whole dream world, falsity, illusion, (false) security.. and other various lies I/we make for ourselves will come to the fore kicking and screaming. Warn them that it is not easy, NOT that they are better off to stay asleep, but that they will/may put themselves through a wringer (at least that is my perspective at this point).

This Shtuff ain't easy.

My one goal that I do work at is trying to express what I learn and share it through visual concepts. Sometimes it is tough cause how I see things is not completely factual or reality based.

Salutes!

 

[Aithin Tusa Fein]

I think it is possible. You do not need to "want it" or "to want to fulfill it/reach it. You simply go for it without "wanting". Like when you breath. You don't have to want to breath (well, sometimes you want). You just breath, because it is "natural" for you. It is in your "nature". That does not mean that you should not be "aware" of doing it. Awareness helps. But awareness is not the same as "wanting".

It is very reasonable. So, I think that you are saying that a goal is a certain state of being within space/time (perhaps without also), placed in a future context, and has the quality of attainability (that YOU, the individual, can affect through choices made).

Even breathing, or continuing to breath seems to fit this definition. Being aware of the natural inclination, or desire to breath, is in fact different than other "wants" because it is a more of a "need." In a natural situation, without external elements affecting the natural process, you will breathe whether you are aware of it or not. There is no expectation or anticipation. It just is. Naturally, if you are aware of the breathing process, you will want to continue to breathe. If you were externally forced to stop breathing, you would greatly desire to breathe. But even here you would "need" to breathe, more than "want" it.

When you "want" - then re-defining your goal becomes much harder. You get "attached" to your goal. You identify with it. The goal "tends to own" you.

So to summarize in my own words: I would have to agree, it is reasonable. You can have a goal without "wanting." Like a child growing up (and we've all been there) You set goals for growth stages. These are natural stages that will be met as the body continues is growth process. Some children "want" the goal and others are merely aware of the process and enjoy the ride so to speak. Good topic.

 

[ark]

I would like to thank all of you who have contributed to this thread so far.

I would also like to contribute to this thread by giving an example of my own idea of the "goal of my life" and how it evolved over the years. But first of all let me make a few comments about whether is good or not to "want" something. In my previous post I was speaking against "wanting". But after that I checked the entries in my personal journal, that I have kept for many years, and I noticed quite a lot of "I want". Then I started to think: what was wrong with "I want"? I could not see anything wrong. The result of this contemplation was the realization that there are different kinds of "I want". When someone writes or thinks "I want to be a better human being" or "I want to make less mistakes", is there anything wrong with such a declaration? I don't think so. This is much like saying: "My plan at this moment of time is to work on this or that issue." This is not "wanting to possess something just for the sake of possessing it."

Now, after these comments, let me try to tell you about the evolution of the "goals of my life". As this is a long story, there would be many extracts from my journal. I am not sure if that will be of interest for you. So I just start. I realize that what is of interest for the author does not have to be interesting for the reader.

The first entry on this subject is from June 1965:

June 1965: I see only one goal - Knowledge ("cognizance"). This is the main issue. Even when we speak about subordinating the Nature, that is just one way of getting knowledge. When we speak about intellectual development, that is just one of the results of acquiring the knowledge. The Human Kind is Cognizing Nature. One could, with care, extend it to all cosmic civilizations.

September 1965: Franz Kafka wrote: "Move out from here. That is my goal". I say "To find the goal. This is my goal."

To be a scientist is not enough. To be a physicist, is not enough. But am I sure that it is not enough? One thing I am sure about: I liked the profession, not the subject.

May 1966: It's time. Finally it's time. To see one's goal. Clearly and sharply. In order to live a conscious life. Not to be exposed to surprises. And, in the last accounting, to owe all to oneself - I did what I did, that's all that counts.

Right now I have all I wanted. I arrived at that stage. Now it is time to set the next goal, because it is not the end. I am still at the beginning of my path. I am looking at the path behind me: it was not bad. And it it is worthwhile to continue. But where does this path lead to?

Right now it leads straight to the PhD. I can't hide this fact. But this probably is not what I have in mind. Do I want to become an expert in just one domain? Well, it would be already something, but wouldn't I suffocate in just one domain? I guess I want something more.

What is it?

One can be a better and better expert in more and more narrow domain, but where does it lead to? Will I be able, at the end, to say to myself that I do not regret my life? I am afraid not. But am I sure? I can imagine fighting till the end. As Einstein did it. Fighting to extort from Nature its secrets. But is this the point? What is the point?

June 1966: It does not matter how many people I already surpassed. What counts are those who are still before me.

February 1967: Somewhere there is the goal. A little light is shining. Sometimes it fades away. Then suddenly it shows up again.

One goes to it - this way. A segment of the path is seen. It is not a safe path. This one segment, that can be seen from here, may cost a life. What after that? Perhaps the path gets smooth again. Perhaps it misses the goal by a great distance. Perhaps it ceases to exist.

And now a someone appears on this path. Someone who has the faith that he will succeed. It does not matter that so many have failed. He will get there.

He is not doing any better than others. Certainly. But he has faith. He already made a part of it. He does not know whether it is a little or a lot. That's for sure. He does not count the distance that is already behind. He does not remember. In any case from the current point he can't see the point he started his travel from.

By the way not everyone is attracted by the light. Some do not see it at all. They don't even know that there is such a thing as light. Therefore they wander in the darkness. They are not able to understand others. Other people see the light, once in a while, and they are fascinated by it. But at the same time it breaks their hearts. Because they do not believe that they can get there themselves.

There are also those who see and who have faith. They could get there - but why should they? Well, that's their problem. Finally there are those who see, who have faith and who want, but they are unable to make a step. Every new attempt ends with a paralysis in their legs - they end with emaciation, they drop with fatigue.

I also know those who see and want and even go, yet they are absentminded. The goal disappears from their view. They get deluded by false lights.

Synthesis:

Do not spend your life in a sleep.
Do not lose your way in the labyrinth.
And die as it befits a man.
One must not look at others. At those that do nothing.
Laziness is contagious. One can get infected with it, without knowing, and the therapy is difficult.

One must not look at others. At those who do nothing. Because afterwards there is only a pity. And one becomes angry at yourself.

To continue or not to continue?

 

[noise]

Hi Ark,

I'd certainly appreciate it if you'd continue. Your February '67 Journal Entry is very interesting.

Speaking for me, at best as I am able, it seems now, in my 20-25 years of searching, that alot of my frustrations and failure are rather short and slight. I've mastered only beating myself over the head for them instead of taking the time and learning from them.

 

[Tenten]

So what is you goal in this life?

To wake up.

Now, if you can use your imagination, just try, imagine that you woke up. What would you do then?

- Digging deeper on those subjects: Conscience / Knowledge / Creativity :o)
- Focusing on the awakening process (it woked!) , gathering and dissiminating this information (sowing seeds).

 

[Nević Nenad]

To continue or not to continue?

To continue, of course, to continue. :)

One must not look at others. At those who do nothing. Because afterwards there is only a pity. And one becomes angry at yourself.

This still get me mad when I hear it. From parent to child on the street, for example: “Look your friends, they are so good children and you . . . “. Always and every where that idiotic comparings.

I'd very much like to wake up and have true awareness, that almost sounds to me like superpowers. I see (hear/read) people who seem to posses it, or is that just me and my endless identifying? It would also be cool to not feel so alone.

This is interesting to me.
Why you see them with superpowers noise? And why you feel so alone?
Thing that bothers me (maybe not good word, tell if it is the case) with people is not my loneliness, but their closeness and fear, which is from my view (at this moment) sometimes reason for my loneliness.

 

[Nienna]

To continue or not to continue?

Continue, please.

 

[Vulcan59]

To continue or not to continue?

Continue Ark, please. Entries from your journal are food for thought.

 

[Art]

Yes Ark. When I read you, it helps me. I do not have a goal in my life. How was it you found it finally?
Or it found you?

 

[CarpeDiem]

i don't have a pre-fixed goal, but i'm not sure for how long that aimlessness 'thesis' will hold.
What the hell can i tell about my life-long goal if so often i make a mess with concrete and extremely practical everyday 'small' goals
like read these books by that deadline; write that by that date; go there; do this? I even don't go near there; near my lifetime goal.
What i do is i set up small practical and concrete goals on day-to day basis and try to abide by them; it doesn't work all the times.
Goal is having an attainable purpose (finite?), my thinking about life is more along the lines not goal or purpose, but a process, which is continuous and ongoing; more precisely the process of exploration. It's about exploring everything 3D around as new ways & possibilities open and moving to where it 'resonates' the most or staying motioneless for a while. Depends on situation.
Like that one: Chi va piano va sano e va lontano (don't chase anything like a hunting dog, explore instead). Would be nice to put in mouth of medieval Italians quantum logic of non-zero probabilities...

I was thinking about my lifelong goal while walking and what if while totally absorbed by thought processes about goal of life fail to notice approaching car and be hit with those wise brains smashed all over the street? In that case maybe the goal of life is not to think too deeply about goal of life...

 

[radish]

I suspect we could all have many goals and aims, some way far out and others, more sensible and closer in. Yesterday when admiring a "star-forming region in a nearby galaxy," (the April photo in my "Views from the Hubble telescope" calendar). I was thinking, "I would like to be able to roam the universe and observe stuff like with my own eyes."

But obviously I'm not going to get there if I don't learn, clean and balance my machine, for a long, long time and continuously.

And Ark, in your journal, pointed out an area where I need particular focus - and that is laziness. I could probably write paragraphs about my struggle with laziness. Even though I know I'm lazy, it can still sneak up on me and I have to think of yet another twist to prod myself out of it.

So I too would like for Ark to continue posting your journal. Thank you.

 

[FreeSoul]

To get the heck out of here! I want to reach the state of Oneness of all that 'IS'...and 'IS NOT'. Not to say that I am not enjoying the process, I'm just tired.

 

[Kesdjan]

My goal is to live in the real world. The real world is the world of freedom- the world in which the forces of freedom and knowledge "fight" the forces of control and subjectivity. Once I am "awake" my goal is to support the former reality in any way possible. I am also inspired by Ark's writings and wish for him to continue.

 

[mifune]

My goal in this life is to understand how everything works. A theory of everything is what I seek. And to help others with that knowledge.

Also, to know and understand myself.

 

[Bo]

My goal is to understand this illusion we live in and becoming the real I and trying to help anyone if they ask for help.