Faith and the Unconscious

[Mark Dohle]

Faith and the Unconscious

The truth is that our unconscious minds are active, purposeful, and independent. Hidden they may be, but their effects are anything but, for they play a critical role in shaping the way our conscious minds experience and respond to the world.---Leonard Mlodinow

++++++++++​

In order to grow in self-knowledge, the unconscious has to be accessed. When this is done, the injunction of Jesus to take care of the log in one's eye before you point to the splinter in another makes perfect sense. Self-knowledge allows us to wake up, to stop being a victim of what is being mirrored back to us, and to grow in humility. We can’t love our neighbors until we see ourselves and love what is shown to us. In the process, we find the number of our enemies and those who irk us less; because we begin to understand the difficulty of the road we each travel and the depth and complexity of our inner lives.Br.MD

 

[Tone]

I reside in riptides of quiddity...

 

[Mark Dohle]

I reside in riptides of quiddity...

In riptides, relax, and then you can breathe ;-)

Peace
mark

 

[Tone]

In riptides, relax, and then you can breathe ;-)

Peace
mark

Or go utterly cold, gasping as overfamiliar thoughts take hold.

 

[Akita Suggagaki]

In order to grow in self-knowledge, the unconscious has to be accessed.

Got a method?

 

[mourningdove~]

In order to grow in self-knowledge, the unconscious has to be accessed.

Hi Brother Mark,
Reading your post, a question came to mind:

If someone came to you, asking 'how' to grow in self-knowledge, what would you suggest?

 

[Mark Dohle]

Got a method?

You pay attention to your reactions, as well as the judgments of others, and then see how they apply to you. Also, allow others to let you know your blind spots. It can be a slow process, I am still at the beginning. Also pray for humility, the ability to accept the truth about oneself.

peace
mark

 

[Mark Dohle]

Hi Brother Mark,
Reading your post, a question came to mind:

If someone came to you, asking 'how' to grow in self-knowledge, what would you suggest?

Our perceptions of others that are over the top, either in a negative or positive way is a good mirror to learn to see oneself. Be honest about responsibility for how one's life is going by not blaming the past, but seek to live in the present and work from there. Also ask trusted friends to help you, which can be tough. Ego's can be easily threatened.

Peace
Mark

 

[mourningdove~]

Our perceptions of others that are over the top, either in a negative or positive way is a good mirror to learn to see oneself. Be honest about responsibility for how one's life is going by not blaming the past, but seek to live in the present and work from there. Also ask trusted friends to help you, which can be tough. Ego's can be easily threatened.

Thank you for your response.

This year, my spiritual journey has come to the place of learning to live in the present moment ... not dwelling on the past or worrying about the future.

It is not so easy for me to do ... to keep my thoughts in the 'present' ... and certainly not, with all the challenges we, as a society, have been facing in 2020. But when it gets down to it, I'm learning that that is where 'peace' is found ... in the present moment, with God. And to experience true peace ... even if only for short periods of time ... is so worth the effort.

 

[mourningdove~]

Also pray for humility, the ability to accept the truth about oneself.

Brother Mark,
While on the subject of humility ...

I read the Rule of St. Benedict, and there is an aspect of humility which, for some reason, I just don't seem to be able to understand. It is in the seventh step:

"The seventh step of humility is that a man not only admits with his tongue but is also convinced in his heart that he is inferior to all and of less value, humbling himself and saying with the Prophet: I am truly a worm, not a man, scorned by men and despised by the people (Ps 21[22]:7)."

I understand "love your neighbor as yourself", etc., but ...

Why is it important that we see ourselves as 'inferior'?

And 'how' do we go thru life considering ourselves 'inferior' to others ... in the way God apparently desires for us to do ... without also going thru life continually being bullied, pushed around, potentially abused, etc.?

The answer(s) may be simple ... maybe even obvious to others ... but I really get stuck, in trying to figure this out, and would appreciate your thoughts on this step.

 

[Mark Dohle]

Brother Mark,
While on the subject of humility ...

I read the Rule of St. Benedict, and there is an aspect of humility which, for some reason, I just don't seem to be able to understand. It is in the seventh step:

"The seventh step of humility is that a man not only admits with his tongue but is also convinced in his heart that he is inferior to all and of less value, humbling himself and saying with the Prophet: I am truly a worm, not a man, scorned by men and despised by the people (Ps 21[22]:7)."

I understand "love your neighbor as yourself", etc., but ...

Why is it important that we see ourselves as 'inferior'?

And 'how' do we go thru life considering ourselves 'inferior' to others ... in the way God apparently desires for us to do ... without also going thru life continually being bullied, pushed around, potentially abused, etc.?

The answer(s) may be simple ... maybe even obvious to others ... but I really get stuck, in trying to figure this out, and would appreciate your thoughts on this step.

It is not based on the modern understanding of the word. It is about not believing others are less than you are for whatever reason. Once we understand what we are capable of, and actually experience our darker side, it is then that we learn of our need for grace, and that in fact people can be learned from, respected, and honored. It is when someone actually has to look down on others that hide the reality of self-hatred. We are to love our neighbor as ourselves, but first, we have to love ourselves even after we grow in self-understanding.

Peace
Mark

 

[Mark Dohle]

Thank you for your response.

This year, my spiritual journey has come to the place of learning to live in the present moment ... not dwelling on the past or worrying about the future.

It is not so easy for me to do ... to keep my thoughts in the 'present' ... and certainly not, with all the challenges we, as a society, have been facing in 2020. But when it gets down to it, I'm learning that that is where 'peace' is found ... in the present moment, with God. And to experience true peace ... even if only for short periods of time ... is so worth the effort.

Yes, it is. Patience is needed for sure.

pece
Mark

 

[mourningdove~]

It is not based on the modern understanding of the word. It is about not believing others are less than you are for whatever reason.

This explanation is very helpful. Thank you.
I can go back now and re-read some things, with greater understanding.

Once we understand what we are capable of, and actually experience our darker side, it is then that we learn of our need for grace, and that in fact people can be learned from, respected, and honored. It is when someone actually has to look down on others that hide the reality of self-hatred. We are to love our neighbor as ourselves, but first, we have to love ourselves even after we grow in self-understanding.

Only God could work such a process in our lives.
It is such a great gift, that we have the Holy Spirit to work in our hearts this way.
Man alone could never make it happen.
Praise the Lord.

 

[Mark Dohle]

This explanation is very helpful. Thank you.
I can go back now and re-read some things, with greater understanding.



Only God could work such a process in our lives.
It is such a great gift, that we have the Holy Spirit to work in our hearts this way.
Man alone could never make it happen.
Praise the Lord.

Yes, it is grace, and our growth in our need for grace, increases our ability to recieve.

Peace
Mark

 

[Unqualified]

Paul said don’t consider yourself more highly than you ought. You are not better and sometimes less. Love correction and grow. Don’t be proud. Sometimes I feel the subconscious pride in my eyes. The lord brings down haughty looks. As to the lord is the only one who can do..... put yourself in a receptive mode be aware of little angers and feelings about people that disagree about how we should treat them in scripture. Then prayer and try to conform to scripture. Change should be part and submitting to scripture and others. That NT says to submit to one another be it wife or competitor or or newbie in Christ, discipleship, or pastor or police.

 

[Mark Dohle]

Paul said don’t consider yourself more highly than you ought. You are not better and sometimes less. Love correction and grow. Don’t be proud. Sometimes I feel the subconscious pride in my eyes. The lord brings down haughty looks. As to the lord is the only one who can do..... put yourself in a receptive mode be aware of little angers and feelings about people that disagree about how we should treat them in scripture. Then prayer and try to conform to scripture. Change should be part and submitting to scripture and others. That NT says to submit to one another be it wife or competitor or or newbie in Christ, discipleship, or pastor or police.

Thank you for your words of wisdom.

peace
Mark