Comments on: Insanity: Expanding the Working Definition http://raphael.doxos.com/2008/08/17/insanity-expanding-the-working-definition/ We are Flesh-and-Spirit on a journey to Integral Unity with God. Wed, 07 Jan 2009 23:37:53 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: Huw http://raphael.doxos.com/2008/08/17/insanity-expanding-the-working-definition/comment-page-1/#comment-6354 Huw Tue, 19 Aug 2008 00:07:52 +0000 http://raphael.doxos.com/?p=3108#comment-6354 "Anger and fear are considered the number-one offenders in relapse, so the sane recovered person uses diciplined techniques to avoid those emotions." Ah, Kevin. You know - I'm sure - how many times those are the driving emotions both inside of and outside of active substance abuse. Fear of "other", anger at "difference", fear of change, anger at frustrated desires, fear of death, anger at god(s). Perfect love drives out all fear - if we give him a chance, that is. Not "removes the thing we're afraid of" but transforms our response to it - and that is, in the end, the same thing (for nothing exists save in relationship). “Anger and fear are considered the number-one offenders in relapse, so the sane recovered person uses diciplined techniques to avoid those emotions.”

Ah, Kevin. You know - I’m sure - how many times those are the driving emotions both inside of and outside of active substance abuse. Fear of “other”, anger at “difference”, fear of change, anger at frustrated desires, fear of death, anger at god(s).

Perfect love drives out all fear - if we give him a chance, that is. Not “removes the thing we’re afraid of” but transforms our response to it - and that is, in the end, the same thing (for nothing exists save in relationship).

]]> By: Kevin http://raphael.doxos.com/2008/08/17/insanity-expanding-the-working-definition/comment-page-1/#comment-6342 Kevin Sun, 17 Aug 2008 19:52:07 +0000 http://raphael.doxos.com/?p=3108#comment-6342 Exactly, Huw! Though, The serious Christian in 12-step recovery has the added benefit, I believe, of a purpose-driven life that may elude some Taoist practioners. Many in the church cloak the A-type personality with a sage-looking wisdom but are still unbending to the mental trappings associated with thier particular intelectual cult. (evangelical, liberal, blah, blah, blah.) If sane and, in 12-step recovery, the Christian grounds herself in the cross and keeps an open-mind. Anger and fear are considered the number-one offenders in relapse, so the sane recovered person uses diciplined techniques to avoid those emotions. Exactly, Huw! Though, The serious Christian in 12-step recovery has the added benefit, I believe, of a purpose-driven life that may elude some Taoist practioners. Many in the church cloak the A-type personality with a sage-looking wisdom but are still unbending to the mental trappings associated with thier particular intelectual cult. (evangelical, liberal, blah, blah, blah.) If sane and, in 12-step recovery, the Christian grounds herself in the cross and keeps an open-mind. Anger and fear are considered the number-one offenders in relapse, so the sane recovered person uses diciplined techniques to avoid those emotions.

]]> By: Huw http://raphael.doxos.com/2008/08/17/insanity-expanding-the-working-definition/comment-page-1/#comment-6335 Huw Sun, 17 Aug 2008 14:05:58 +0000 http://raphael.doxos.com/?p=3108#comment-6335 The Taoist idea of "wei wu wei". Of doing by not- doing or "do not-do". As Lao Tzu says, "By the sage doing not-do, all things are done." I'd much rather do! The Taoist idea of “wei wu wei”. Of doing by not- doing or “do not-do”. As Lao Tzu says, “By the sage doing not-do, all things are done.”

I’d much rather do!

]]> By: Kevin http://raphael.doxos.com/2008/08/17/insanity-expanding-the-working-definition/comment-page-1/#comment-6334 Kevin Sun, 17 Aug 2008 13:46:41 +0000 http://raphael.doxos.com/?p=3108#comment-6334 The tonic to insanity, as tought in 12-step groups is to first rise up and do nothing. That action, not take the drug, not make the statement, not think the thought, applies to areas of life "outside the addiction." Doing nothing allows the human mind to consider the action most appropriate; the next right thing if you will. Sanity (and serenity) comes at this moment when this is repeated, as a matter of dicipline, unconciously. Most sane recovering people cease to fight anything, yet manage to make an impact on the world around them by living in the moment and when challenged, they read the Sermon on the Mount or something else that teaches 12-step principals. The tonic to insanity, as tought in 12-step groups is to first rise up and do nothing. That action, not take the drug, not make the statement, not think the thought, applies to areas of life “outside the addiction.” Doing nothing allows the human mind to consider the action most appropriate; the next right thing if you will. Sanity (and serenity) comes at this moment when this is repeated, as a matter of dicipline, unconciously. Most sane recovering people cease to fight anything, yet manage to make an impact on the world around them by living in the moment and when challenged, they read the Sermon on the Mount or something else that teaches 12-step principals.

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