Searching for clarity

[Kazeko]

Hi, everyone!

More than 50 days ago I quit drinking alcohol, and it really increased my personal effectiveness. And I decided to find out what my next step towards enlightment can be.

In the article "Do it now!" I've found a line, which sounds very significant to me. Here it is:
"If you aren't yet at the point of clarity, then make that your first goal."

So, now I search for clarity. I try to understand what I want, or, as MS might say "where do I want to go today". I try different things, different thoughts and experiences. I try to understand points of view of different people. It's very educating. And my questions are:

1) Any useful tips "how to get to the point of clarity"? Any stories?
2) What is clarity? Is it simply "what I want" or something bigger, like discovering your purpose? How do you define clarity personally?
3) I often experience states like this: I think, "ok, now I know what I want - here's clarity!" and later - new data, new thoughts - no clarity again... Any advice?

Thanks in advance.

[silicon toad2000]

good question
I was trying to think of an analogy to describe how I view clarity.
I think of clarity as a clear path to an end goal.
When I first think of a goal, it's sort of a bit distant and a bit fuzzy or unclear, as I structure the path or steps to take to reach that goal it's like putting a lens between now and the future goal. With each lens or step I plan, the vision becomes clearer.
I think with new information, a new lens is placed in the path, but that lens is not polished so the goal becomes a little fuzzy or unclear again. The search for clarity would be the polishing of the new lens, or the structuring of the new information, so the goal becomes clear once again.
With each new lens or new bit of information, the end goal is magnified so you get a clearer view.
Sometimes when you get a look at something up close, it doesn't look the same as did from a distance and you may want to adjust your goals. There is nothing wrong with that, there is not much point putting resources into a project that no longer exactly aligns with your goals.
Hope this kinda helps, it might seem a bit lame but I think its the best analogy I could come up with to describe how I understand clarity.

[Shamou]

Originally Posted by Kazeko

2) What is clarity?

I see "clarity" as being synonymous to "ultimate truth."

Seeking clarity or the ultimate truth is a path that has no final destination... but one that is a prerequisite to personal expansion and growth...

The more quality that we can achieve... the more questions pops up in our head... a child is certain that he knows it all... a wise old person is certain that he knows very little...

So, my advice to you is to keep on searching for clarity in the questions that you may have... see where that leads you and keep on going from there...

You will never find complete clarity but you will grow while searching for it...

This is what Robert M. Pirsig (Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance) has to say on the subject,

"The purpose of scientific method is to select a single truth from among many hypothetical truths. That, more than anything else, is what science is all about.

But historically science has done exactly the opposite. Through multiplication upon multiplication of facts, information, theories and hypotheses, it is science itself that is leading mankind from single absolute truths to multiple, indeterminate, relative ones."

BTW- congratulation on your sobriety... a great step in the right direction...

.

[chris614]

Hey Kazeko,

Congratulations on quitting alcohol. Tremendous accomplishment. Well done. You should be proud of yourself.


Question: Why do you want to be enlightened?


Chris614
The Philosophy of Change.com

[Ak47]

I agree greatly with Shamou.

Though for me, clarity isn't so much the ultimate truth, but the ultimate understanding.

I spend much less time reading articles and information, trying to learn new facts, and old history than i do comtemplating how i can further understand the things that i do not. I figure, if i don't already understand everything i know (which i do realize i never will), then it's much more important that i try to before i throw more junk into my brain. I'm a very philosophical person myself. Why? Why? Why? Something i often ask myself subconciously- though through habit i naturally try to answer the question before i even ask myself it anymore.

I observe everything i can. I do exactly as you suggest, try to understand everyones point of view- often before i create my own decision or opinion if i don't already have one. Widening your understanding of people, the world, and life in general to me is the greatest thing you could ever do with yourself in my opinion. Through the years (though i'm very young, it's just my personality and i've been a questioner) i've analyzed and concluded (though broadly on many subjects that are perhaps impossible to conclude on) enough that i can often do the same for new issues more quickly because of experience. Thus making me a great problem solver in what situations i'm experienced with- mainly social based, and even some i'm not. I'd suggest you find as much clarity or "understanding" in whatever you find the most beneficial to yourself. Try to answer a question that you may already know is unanswerable. Try to answer questions even if you don't want to know the answer, but just so that you have the answer.

It's proven someone who questions life and the world lives longer than one who doesn't, i'd like to add. Just don't get too negative even if you uncover some dirty secrets, or realize some depressing facts.

Even with the "clarity" i've developed from all my observations and such, i'm quite a hippocrite. I have a lot of trouble putting my own education into play. However, as a result of my questioning and analyzation of various things i can be a great advisor on many a subject. Which i do very much enjoy. If i can't help myself with what i've learned, by golly, surely i can help someone else- and isn't that what we really need to be doing anyway? Helping eachother and making life better as a whole, not as a soul? <--yeah i just came up with that. haha

Congrats on being alcohol-free...i broke free from addction(s) a year and a half ago. It does indeed open your life up a great deal, and it is by no means an easy feat. *pat on the back

[Kazeko]

Thank all of you for your advice! And thanks a lot for congratulations on my sobriety and the words of support - I really needed to hear them. Although now I consider myself non-drinker, the process of mantaining this state is still going. I mean that I'm so concerned about not getting back to addiction, that I still reinforce my decision daily - by marking "another sober day in a row" in a calendar. Maybe it will require a year or more - but "the time is going to pass anyway"

Now, back to our topic
I liked the most the definition of clarity as "the ultimate understanding". Now I know what I'm looking for- thanks again!

And I'd like to answer the question: "Why do you want to be enlightened?"
And to get some clarity But I'll do it in separate post - so it can be easily moved to another thread if moderators consider it offtopic. (I think of the answer as of the long personal story I've always been wanting to tell, but no one asked so far...until now.)

[Keith]

Have you tried journalling on the topic?

[Kazeko]

I've just done it. And here's my journaling session. Interesting, that I supposed it to be a long personal story, but what I've eventually written sounds like a direct answer, which is not offtopic.

----------------------------------
Why do you want to be enlightened?

For me, to be enlightened means "to know everything, to know the ultimate truth". Seems, like everyone seeks this knowledge. So, why do I? What is the end result?

It reminds me the old days when I played RPGs, and that was the time I first thought about my own growth. (If you do not understand what I mean, read Steve's "Life - The Ultimate Game".) It's very nice to grow your character from poor and weak one to real champion of the reality. It's funny, that when I finished "Daggerfall", where you can choose an ending by giving artifact to the powerful NPC person, I gave it to the necromancer, King of Worms, because he wanted to use it to become one of the Gods. In exchange, he says "I can offer you what no mortal can - fame. Your reputation will soar".

Seems that we understood each other well. I was so powerful that I could kill any humanoid easily (and ancient dark entities with some effort). I was so rich, that I could buy anything I want. Or to get it by force. What I needed was fame. So, the necromancer became one of the Gods, leaving "the Matrix" for me, with everyone respecting and loving me. That was the end result in my version of that reality.

Am I a darkworker? I've tried that path. But I have a lot of compassion, and pure power and fame in themselves are not satisfying. I want to be sure that everyone is happy. I like the Tolkien's image of Tom Bombadil character. Independent, mostly alone, ancient, powerful - and very kind and compassionate.

Seems like I'm mixing polarities. So, I think, when I'll get clarity, I'll be clear about what path to choose. J
(Do I have to choose? Maybe I should dismiss the whole concept of polarity as non-existent? Tom serves self and others both.)

So, for now, I think, that more is better than less, and to have is better than not to have. That's why I grow, I guess - to have a choice. Besides, I feel very powerful within, and I need to put that power into good use. And to talk to God, to validate my choise, to co-create the reality.

Interesting thoughts. But for now I just need knowledge. And that's why I want to be enlightened, as I call it.

----------------------------------

If this kind of essay seems too long, here's my resume:
I want to be enlightened because:
- I need the knowledge of reality to be able to consciously choose the path of my life.
- I want to know, what to do with my great power.

[Old Soul]

Clarity... Oh I miss that place:-)

I have several deffenitons of what I call and experience as clairity...But* I have no clue as how to get it back..... that is the sad part, I wish I knew

Clarity, - "everything" makes 100 percent sense, because your understanding is enlightened , developed to be able to comprehend it
Clarity- complete opposite of confussion , single minded , strongly enligned in truth... no conflict what so ever in thinking
Clarity- all your senses are heightened...
Clarity- this is where the best poetry comes from because you* (the ego) does not decide what to write about or how to write it.... the poem , lyric, sonnet, prose is impressed upon you from first to last stanza.. you can not forget it if you tried..... it is like it is imprinted on a part of your brain that you did not even know you had...

Clarity- it is a place where you can view the world, without ego period... you are one with creation, you are apart of creation all answers come to mentally without even asking

I miss it

[Max Power]

Originally Posted by Kazeko

Hi, everyone!

More than 50 days ago I quit drinking alcohol, and it really increased my personal effectiveness. And I decided to find out what my next step towards enlightment can be.

In the article "Do it now!" I've found a line, which sounds very significant to me. Here it is:
"If you aren't yet at the point of clarity, then make that your first goal."

So, now I search for clarity. I try to understand what I want, or, as MS might say "where do I want to go today". I try different things, different thoughts and experiences. I try to understand points of view of different people. It's very educating. And my questions are:

1) Any useful tips "how to get to the point of clarity"? Any stories?
2) What is clarity? Is it simply "what I want" or something bigger, like discovering your purpose? How do you define clarity personally?
3) I often experience states like this: I think, "ok, now I know what I want - here's clarity!" and later - new data, new thoughts - no clarity again... Any advice?

Thanks in advance.

Clarity or enlightenment (for me) is knowing what I am and what I am capable of creating, where are the (self imposed) limits, what rules can I accept to break and what rules can I simply bend at will.

Clarity is about accepting what you are and why you are.

Then once you have chosen your path, you proceed down it. I don't accept that we must find a purpose in life, that seems so self limiting, I consider that life itself is the purpose and living it is the path back to perfection.

Works for me

Max

[Old Soul]

With each new lens or new bit of information, the end goal is magnified so you get a clearer view

Also.... from a song from Manfred Man

"Momma always told me not to look into the eyes of sun,
But momma thats where the fun is.....

Blinded by the light :-)

[TomLeDree]

Clarity for me means having a clear state of mind. You know what you want. You are focused on it and you know how to achieve it.

[sranganayaki]

Kazeko, clarity can be attained at many different levels, so a general answer is bound to be vague. Those levels include

 what do I want to accomplish in life? (e.g. career, financial goals, social relationships)
 what do I want to accomplish this year or this month?
 What type of person do I want to be in terms of the values, ideas, ideals I live by
 Psychologically what is it that will give me fulfillment?
 When I look back on my life in old age, what is it I would like to be able to say about myself or have others say?
 For some people, there is also an inner goal, call it psychological self-discovery or spiritual fulfillment. How important is that to me?

The answer to your question depends on which of these levels you are focusing on. When in doubt or regardless of which level you focus on, a good place to start with is now. What do I want to achieve today, this week, this month that will help me attain my longer term goals. Everything starts here and now, regardless of where you want to end up and how soon. Begin by defining a concept of how you can accomplish more and be better today than yesterday. Then you can extend it further into the future.
www.humanscience.info

[geekchic9]

Hi, Kazeko!

This is just my impression, but your post makes it sound like that you can find clarity on a map. You plan a way to get there, get on a car or plane, and then, boom, there you are: Clarity!

Clarity doesn't work like that. Clarity is something you will be working on for the rest of your life, just like your alcohol addiction. Sometimes, everything will be crystal clear. Other times, it will be fuzzy and muddy. That's just the way it is. Sure, things will become clearer over time, but I really think we can't attain clarity until after we die. Just like we can't really judge a movie well until we've seen it from start to finish, we can't really judge life as we're living it, either.

However, I do think there is some method to the madness of clarity. sranganayaki asked some good questions that are worth pondering. Just keep working on yourself and set some goals you are serious about attaining. I think you'll find clarity better that way.