10-29-2011, 11:22 PM
I think what's being differentiated here is that hope goes through a process of transformation. Let's use the example of a parent.
"I hope my daughter gets a college education." This is a fairly large hope, involving a lot of unconscious content.
Many baby boomers have this ideal for their child because it wasn't an opportunity they had. A fine ideal in and of itself, but what if she rejects the notion? The parent may view college as that which affords a more comfortable life, and they may equate it with a measure of success, intelligence, and societal contribution and value as a human being. Those are all projections based on cultural standards however. In the eye of the parent, rejection of college is a rejection of all those things.
The parent will then be presented with all kinds of emotional catalyst. If they are willing, their definitions of comfort, success, and intelligence will all change, and it will probably take years of confrontation with their own values. Eventually they'll realize that what they really hoped for in the beginning, was that they simply wanted their daughter to be happy.
The hope is continually modified into different ideals until there is acceptance that since she is happy, I am happy. A hope may or may not have as much unconscious content attached to it. Eventually a hope goes through many redefinitions until it's realized what must be done on the minimalist of levels, and then the spirit is compelled to act.
The protestors realized that sitting around complaining wasn't doing anything, so now they are taking to the streets hoping it will change something. It should influence the political environment, and there will be varying degrees of change. They'll realize however that the change won't produce the results that they truly wish to see, because there is still a lot of unconscious content to process. The value of action is that it produces continual feedback, and the realization of what is or isn't realistically viable. Eventually it will all be reduced down to values of the individual, and what must be changed within.
It all comes back to acceptance within, which produces new action. If you can continually be mindful of your ideals, realization of what is necessary is easier.
"I hope my daughter gets a college education." This is a fairly large hope, involving a lot of unconscious content.
Many baby boomers have this ideal for their child because it wasn't an opportunity they had. A fine ideal in and of itself, but what if she rejects the notion? The parent may view college as that which affords a more comfortable life, and they may equate it with a measure of success, intelligence, and societal contribution and value as a human being. Those are all projections based on cultural standards however. In the eye of the parent, rejection of college is a rejection of all those things.
The parent will then be presented with all kinds of emotional catalyst. If they are willing, their definitions of comfort, success, and intelligence will all change, and it will probably take years of confrontation with their own values. Eventually they'll realize that what they really hoped for in the beginning, was that they simply wanted their daughter to be happy.
The hope is continually modified into different ideals until there is acceptance that since she is happy, I am happy. A hope may or may not have as much unconscious content attached to it. Eventually a hope goes through many redefinitions until it's realized what must be done on the minimalist of levels, and then the spirit is compelled to act.
The protestors realized that sitting around complaining wasn't doing anything, so now they are taking to the streets hoping it will change something. It should influence the political environment, and there will be varying degrees of change. They'll realize however that the change won't produce the results that they truly wish to see, because there is still a lot of unconscious content to process. The value of action is that it produces continual feedback, and the realization of what is or isn't realistically viable. Eventually it will all be reduced down to values of the individual, and what must be changed within.
It all comes back to acceptance within, which produces new action. If you can continually be mindful of your ideals, realization of what is necessary is easier.