An Advaita Vedanta realization, enlightenment, nisarga yoga site discussing non-duality (nonduality), your original nature, and dwelling in the natural state as taught by Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj.
FROM A SITE VISITOR: [This series is a response to the comments and questions in an e-mail posted in its entirety on 9 March 2008…
**about those not conscious of the suffering in the world
**about the Realized being aware of such suffering
**about the relative not being real “so what does it matter”
**about current and past wars and murder
**about death merely involving the end of those manifestations
**about Realization not preventing killings and not “changing the world for the better”]
F.: [Continued from yesterday] What does psychic deterioration and entrapment in the Sociopath Personality Disorder (SPD) have to do with so many on the planet being unable to feel or to empathize? Everything.
Many pathological persons assume the identity of “Boss” or “Challenger” or “Leader” or “Powerful Aggressor” or “The Ruthless One” and then play out their roles on a daily basis across the globe, relatively speaking, in the workplace, in politics, in homes, in stores, in traffic, in religion, in groups, in “relationships,” in war.
Why are so many assuming that role and evidencing the “relative liabilities” of the Type Eight personality and, in many cases, being driven by the Sociopath Personality Disorder? Because of the master addiction and the secondary addiction of persons:
The master addiction is a desire for control; the secondary addiction is a desire for power in order to be able to control.
Just as “The Bully” only appears to be strong and brave but is consumed with fear and arrogance, so too are most persons who play out their Type Eight roles. As usual, a basic Advaitin pointer regarding the relative applies: fear and desire precede all misery and suffering.
To understand the connection between (A) the disintegrated “Boss” or “Challenger” or “Leader” or “Powerful Aggressor” or “The Ruthless One” and (B) the pain and suffering of the planet, consider the “relative liabilities” of the sociopath.
As you consider these traits, the invitation is also to consider the director in the case study, to consider the persons you might be dealing with on a daily basis, and to consider the behavior of the disintegrated Type Eights whose influence on the non-Realized masses led to the instances of war and genocide referenced in Danny’s e-mail:
A sociopath displays glibness and superficial charm while being covertly hostile and domineering, seeing people as mere instruments to be used. They may dominate and humiliate their victims and will be manipulative cons.
They never recognize the rights of others and are driven by a grandiose sense of self (that is, of what the Advaitin would term “the false self”). Extreme narcissism typically accompanies the disorder.
The sociopath will engage in pathological lying; in fact, it is almost impossible for a sociopath to be truthful. Most have developed a belief in their own powers and abilities and will lack any sense of remorse.
Underneath is a deep-seated but often repressed rage which surfaces on occasion.
They will see none as friends but most as threats that need to be made into victims. The end always justifies the means with sociopaths, and they will let nothing stand in their way.
If they display what seems to be warmth, joy, love or compassion, it is actually feigned and serves an ulterior motive. Outraged by insignificant matters, they remain unmoved and cold about matters that would upset non-sociopaths.
They have no capacity for love. Verbal outbursts and punishments are their tools; thus, they will develop a callousness that deprives them of any ability to feel empathy.
Unable to empathize with the pain of their victims and having only contempt for others’ feelings of distress, they will readily take advantage of them. They believe that they are all-powerful, all-knowing, and are entitled to have every wish granted unquestioningly.
They obviously have no sense of personal boundaries, no concern for their impact on others, and typically display aberrant, cruel behaviors. They are oblivious or indifferent to the relative devastation they cause to persons while accepting no responsibility for the relative misery they generate.
As was the case with the director in the case study, they are contemptuous of those who seek to understand them, driven as they are to be secretive (and thus paranoid).
Interestingly, they will seek out situations where their tyrannical behavior will be tolerated, condoned, or admired, and they thrive in workplaces where owners see the workers as “the enemy.”
Their ultimate goal is the control (or even enslavement) of any persons they deal with.
So, Danny, are you understanding the link between personality/persona assumption and the pain and misery about which you wrote? Do you see why a world population that is driven by fear and that develops a desire to control (and a desire to acquire power in order to control) will disintegrate into “The Boss” or “The Controller” persona and generate untold misery and suffering, relatively speaking?
Do you see the role played by the "mind" and the personality and the disorders of the dictators, presidents, prime ministers and other leaders who have started useless wars? Do you see the role of personality in "The Loyalists" and "The Patriots" and "The Followers" who acquiesce and support "The Leader"? Do you see the part played by duality in this dance of love vs. hate involving persons and cities and tribes and nations?
Do you see that all of the relative disorder and chaos on the planet is rooted in personality and personality disorders, if not outright insanity? Do you see that any of the relative problems that you face personally are rooted in personality? Please enter the silence of contemplation. (To be continued)
