I was reading chapter 19 from the book "The force of character" by James Hillman and i started to feel uncomfortable with the writer's point of view. I though have enjoyed rest of the chapters which put light on last years of one's life and all the possible thoughts ,feelings and behaviors about it .At the end of each chapter writer speaks his mind very nicely which i found very impressive. But what writer says in the chapter nineteen is confusing and disturbing to some extent.
I consider myself a student who wants to learn things in life in order to improve it. So what i am going to say here is completely my own opinion based on my own raw observations and assumptions. I hope it won't upset you at any level .If so please mention good or bad all is welcomed because as a student they will surly make me learn something of value,
In chapter nineteen James Hillman discuss human character with title,
" character of virtue or character moralized" The first line of second paragraph is
"character was not to bent to the moral strictures" According to him character was divided into two forms by science and philosophy and pushed to settled among moralists. Then he refers some classical philosophers and writers who had drawn all kind of black and white characters powerfully who inspired till this day due to what they did whether good or bad. Writer is against of any attempt people try to mould or influence human character. He suggests that let each
character be unique in it's way and age will reveals it's truth. I understand the James Hillman experienced world when people loved to stay what they were and hardly liked any change in their habits or perspectives because they believed that they will loose their identity and genuinity and i think they were right in their opinion in those early times when human consciousness was on earlier stage of it's evolution as well.
Now in twenty first century when science and psychology has advanced and revealed that everything existing in this universe is "energy" and we see that all forms of energy that serve human life are present here in "Raw form " and to utilize them as "facilities" we have to work on them to refine and shape so they can adjust in our day to day life without causing any issue to the environment they are put in.
Similarly as we now know that human thoughts are form of "energy" too. We receive this energy as child when come to this world. How to use this energy we learn this throughout our life consciously or unconsciously.Our way to use our "mental energy" shapes our "habits" that goes along with genuine "instincts" and "nature" we born with. This is easy to see in the pattern of Nature that provides perfect circumstances to "train" this mental energy for it's inhabitants. I believe that "training of our mental energy" was the only thing that made "family" system possible in the pattern of Nature. Parents try hard to make their children "learn" what to do and what not to. Our brain is bundle of raw energy that jumps to learn. It does know that it has to work but has no idea how and what are must and must not. Parents are earlier guardians and guides to protect and show path. But when we grow and take reins of the horse in our own hands we still are ignorant most of things that help us to lead safe healthy life and place us somewhere we feel important and and cared.
We all know that each of us is unique and comes with different perception . Sometimes differences are too big and make it difficult to adjust in society or even family. Human instincts can be good and bad in terms of their harmfulness or harmlessness . It is great to follow our instincts but what if doing so troubles others? For example i am in mood of listening music and it is my right to listen it of course but i want to raise the volume to enjoy more but which hurts my neighbors ,they complain but my hold of my wish is too strong and makes me do some unreasonable things that probably i regret later.
That strong hold of our wishes or what we call "will power" is most beautiful thing but when only we know how to train our "mental energy" and command it by "willpower" ,this makes us different as human from other species right?
Many people don't agree that they have some harmful habits and skipping them can make their life easy and beautiful. But thankfully that light is reaching to so many hearts and there are so many people who acknowledge that training our brain energy is essential to live healthy and peaceful life that can influence people around them positively.
Everything we see in life is brought to this present shape after long effort and time whether it is gold or diamond jewelry ,metals ,and numerous things got from underground or things on the ground such as wood and plastic . If i am sitting on this chair so comfortable it is because it has been passing through many processes and procedures to get this shape. Energy is everywhere in raw random form but to make it useful and to benefit from it we have to mould it.
People fear that if they will rearrange their thought system it can destroy their genuine natural gifts such as painting ,poetry ,writing or any other form of art. I don't think so . I speak from my own experience that since i have started to calm and shape my mental energy i can think better . My imagination and my inner strength for writing is stronger ,i can say this because when i compare my newer posts to older one i think newer are more clear ,less emotional and more reasonable or i at least think this way .
I think when we calm our mental energy it gets better and clearer shape which make us do better in life on every level
What do you say friends ,please share if you have any thought on this topic it i will really appreciate !
blessings to all of you!
