Is Ignorance Bliss?

[nothuman]

My mind grabs a concept like a dog with a bone at times. Case in point I have been trunching through an experience for some time that my mind has decided to call an awakening process. It has been protracted and traumatic.
It could have quite easily latched onto it as being a mental breakdown or any number of other labels out there.
My point is that when it starts to think it has got a handle on something then it imposes its own significances and time frames on 'it' and therefore alters the experience to fit its framework.
This example could be related to juat about anything.
I stopped reading newspspers and watching news on TV years ago for similar reasons.
So when I say ignorance then that is mainly for effect. I am probably implying 'no mind' but mainly inquiring into the minds penchant for dominance and manipulation.

[Maguru]

Originally Posted by nothuman

My mind grabs a concept like a dog with a bone at times. Case in point I have been trunching through an experience for some time that my mind has decided to call an awakening process. It has been protracted and traumatic.
It could have quite easily latched onto it as being a mental breakdown or any number of other labels out there.
My point is that when it starts to think it has got a handle on something then it imposes its own significances and time frames on 'it' and therefore alters the experience to fit its framework.
This example could be related to juat about anything.
I stopped reading newspspers and watching news on TV years ago for similar reasons.
So when I say ignorance then that is mainly for effect. I am probably implying 'no mind' but mainly inquiring into the minds penchant for dominance and manipulation.

Your mind should be working for you. It really doesn't have a mind of its own. You called it an awakening process because of your experiences but in naming it so, an unchecked mind can tell you all sorts of porkies to make you right. Personally I think spirituality gives the mind a bad rap, when as the epicentre of our world, it needs a bit more respect. regards,

[Beingist]

I honestly don't know, and I'm perfectly happy with that.

[nothuman]

Originally Posted by Maguru

Your mind should be working for you. It really doesn't have a mind of its own. You called it an awakening process because of your experiences but in naming it so, an unchecked mind can tell you all sorts of porkies to make you right. Personally I think spirituality gives the mind a bad rap, when as the epicentre of our world, it needs a bit more respect. regards,

I guess some areas of "spirituality" go to war with the mind. I don't think its a war you can win. I do see it get in the way at times & certainly cause a bit of grief. I am not enthrolled by it or repulsed by it. These days I tend to abide with its antics. But I don't think its the cat's pyjamas and I don't get to chuffed by its victories or down by its defeats...I just always get the feeling that " I'm not using it right"

[nothuman]

Originally Posted by beingist

i honestly don't know, and i'm perfectly happy with that.

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[beltor]

To some people it is bliss while for others it is closing the doors of mind or knowledge enhancement sources. The answer lies in what is the target of your life. What do you want yourself tobe converted into? If you want to unrelate yourself from the worldy things only to concentrate over almighty etc. than it is Okay thing otherwise depending upon the case it might look other way... I hope you got my point.

[RonSouther]

I see two different types of ignorance. Ignorance of life and ignorance of worldly stuff.

About 2 years ago I found myself no longer able to watch the news or listen to the radio. I barely know what's going on in the world. But what is the news???? I call it the "human will chronicles". It's the latest report on how screwed up we are as a civilization and what we are trying to do to fix our screw ups.

But that you could ask such a question is not ignorance. It's too late for you to experience "ignorance is bliss!". Now you have to keep travelling your journey until you find the true bliss that comes with realization of self.

[nothuman]

Originally Posted by RonSouther

I see two different types of ignorance. Ignorance of life and ignorance of worldly stuff.

About 2 years ago I found myself no longer able to watch the news or listen to the radio. I barely know what's going on in the world. But what is the news???? I call it the "human will chronicles". It's the latest report on how screwed up we are as a civilization and what we are trying to do to fix our screw ups.

But that you could ask such a question is not ignorance. It's too late for you to experience "ignorance is bliss!". Now you have to keep travelling your journey until you find the true bliss that comes with realization of self.

Yes. Ignorance is bliss is a nice catch cry but in essence when we talk about not watching news etc we are sheltering ourselves from unnecessary reactivity & fear. Or at least thats my motive.

I like the parable of Adam & Eve insofar that they were in harmony with themselves & their environment until they fed on the tree of knowledge. After tasting knowledge everything went pear shaped. I don't see this as an example of a God wanting to keep us stupid I see knowledge here as the inception of mind over spirit.

Thing is our minds reject any ideas of NOT accruing knowledge as it is so ingrained into our phsyche....to not do that is to become an unrealized human being. Yet where has it got us.

[Andrew Brunelle]

Ignorance is not bliss. Intelligence is bliss. People who are ignorant are really experiencing denial in disguise. And being in denial about something hardly ever leads to bliss.

[nothuman]

Originally Posted by Andrew Brunelle

Ignorance is not bliss. Intelligence is bliss. People who are ignorant are really experiencing denial in disguise. And being in denial about something hardly ever leads to bliss.

OK then. How do you define intelligence. Are you referring to a purely mental exercise of data accumulation ?

[wstein]

Ignorance is bliss. Bliss is a (euphoric) state unaffected by reality. Bliss is not reality. Because of this, keeping reality (which continues) from intruding on your bliss is difficult.

‘No mind’ does not refer to a brainless thoughtless condition. It refers to a condition where the mind is not filled with incessant churning unrelated to your actual experience. ‘Quieting’ that ‘chatter’ allows the direct experience of reality to be better perceived.

[RonSouther]

Originally Posted by wstein

Ignorance is bliss. Bliss is a (euphoric) state unaffected by reality. Bliss is not reality. Because of this, keeping reality (which continues) from intruding on your bliss is difficult.

‘No mind’ does not refer to a brainless thoughtless condition. It refers to a condition where the mind is not filled with incessant churning unrelated to your actual experience. ‘Quieting’ that ‘chatter’ allows the direct experience of reality to be better perceived.

Another definition of "no mind" is that you don't identify with your thoughts. That relegates the mind to being a servant instead of the definer of self. By not identifying say with the past or living in a fantasy eliminates most of whatever the mind would end up chattering about.

An ego can't exist in no-mind so all the damage we do and problems we create out of ego pursuits don't happen anymore. No problems, no chatter.

[RonSouther]

Originally Posted by nothuman

Yes. Ignorance is bliss is a nice catch cry but in essence when we talk about not watching news etc we are sheltering ourselves from unnecessary reactivity & fear. Or at least thats my motive.

For me, I simply can't watch almost everything on tv. Nearly all the advertising is something ego related or escape related. The news or programming is aimed at shocking the mind..giving it fresh meat to chew on.

What I love are really well produced nature shows. And this is from someone that up to three years ago loved watching any movies including war movies based on a true story. The evolution happened as I was waking up and all these changes we not decisions, but a loss of appetite for the mind centered stuff and a huge gain in appetite for the heart centered stuff.

[RonSouther]

Originally Posted by Andrew Brunelle

Ignorance is not bliss. Intelligence is bliss. People who are ignorant are really experiencing denial in disguise. And being in denial about something hardly ever leads to bliss.

How about "ignorance is infatuation (fake bliss) and intelligence is bliss"?

[DonJuan]

I stopped watching TV and reading Newspaper more than 7 years ago. Don't think its ignorance, just a matter of choice. But for sure it made my life more blissful

[Lukas]

Ignorance is bliss, in the same way like doing skydiving. When you are in the air and you fly you have no issues, but when the floor hits you it's a disaster. The fall isn't hurtful at all, but the stopping is.

[Elphaba]

If ignorance is bliss, then why seek knowledge?

[wstein]

Originally Posted by RonSouther

Another definition of "no mind" is that you don't identify with your thoughts. That relegates the mind to being a servant instead of the definer of self. By not identifying say with the past or living in a fantasy eliminates most of whatever the mind would end up chattering about.

An ego can't exist in no-mind so all the damage we do and problems we create out of ego pursuits don't happen anymore. No problems, no chatter.

You are right about the not identifying part. I phrase this as “I am not my tools.”

I do not agree that the ego can’t exist in this state, rather it is one of the tools (like thinking) that can serve YOU or not be used as you see fit. What is impossible is for the ego to control you.

As to solving ‘all’ your problems, sorry not the case. I will say that if you are living in the world of the ego (drama and trauma), most of those problems would cease to be.

[nothuman]

Originally Posted by Elphaba

If ignorance is bliss, then why seek knowledge?

As I said I use the word ignorance more for a word play. It would be closer to my intent to say is a lack of knowledge bliss? Just doesn't have the same ring to it. Does the accumulation of data ever get us to a point of satisfaction? If we could unburden ourselves of all learning would we be at peace?

[Apprentice]

Originally Posted by nothuman

If we could unburden ourselves of all learning would we be at peace?

It would sure make us happier, but I think it's impossible to "unburden" yourself from learning. I think that's the key point of every growing being, and we're all growing throughout our lives.

[Moriarty]

nothuman

My thoughts are that 'peace' is a personal choice of what it means to oneself. I also think that knowledge in no way actions 'bliss'...only experience will trigger such. One's past is built upon experience. One's present is an experience in that moment. One's future is built upon the positive outcome's of past and present experiences.

Knowledge is a house-of-cards quickly collapsed by the experience of a firm exhale.

[theuprising]

:P Correct answer: ignorance is bliss if you derive your emotional state externally and there is a lot of perceived negative things out there, and you ignore them.