Comments on: Can a Fragmented Mind Know Compassion? http://www.takuin.com/question-of-the-week-1231-106/ The Writing of Takuin Minamoto Sat, 13 Mar 2010 09:22:35 +0000 hourly 1 By: takuin http://www.takuin.com/question-of-the-week-1231-106/comment-page-1/#comment-17219 takuin Tue, 09 Mar 2010 03:56:52 +0000 http://www.takuin.com/2008/01/01/question-of-the-week-1231-106/#comment-17219 Thank you very much, Ziggy. Although what you've described as <em>fragmentation</em> is not what I had intended with the article, I think it is marvelous that you have the insight to see the various movements of that particular <b>disorder</b>, if I can use that word. By <em>fragmentation</em> I meant the apparent separation of the <b>I</b>, or the <b>self</b>, from everything and everyone else. Not necessarily a mind that is split with multiple individuals. I never really thought of it in the way you've described, and you've added a wonderful element to the whole thing. Thank you very much, Ziggy.

Although what you’ve described as fragmentation is not what I had intended with the article, I think it is marvelous that you have the insight to see the various movements of that particular disorder, if I can use that word.

By fragmentation I meant the apparent separation of the I, or the self, from everything and everyone else. Not necessarily a mind that is split with multiple individuals.

I never really thought of it in the way you’ve described, and you’ve added a wonderful element to the whole thing.

]]> By: ziggy http://www.takuin.com/question-of-the-week-1231-106/comment-page-1/#comment-17196 ziggy Mon, 08 Mar 2010 02:27:53 +0000 http://www.takuin.com/2008/01/01/question-of-the-week-1231-106/#comment-17196 In the first paragraph where it reads "thus learning to shut off feelings in order to prevent experiencing less pain" should read ......prevent experiencing more pain. In the first paragraph where it reads “thus learning to shut off feelings in order to prevent experiencing less pain” should read ……prevent experiencing more pain.

]]> By: ziggy http://www.takuin.com/question-of-the-week-1231-106/comment-page-1/#comment-17195 ziggy Mon, 08 Mar 2010 02:25:31 +0000 http://www.takuin.com/2008/01/01/question-of-the-week-1231-106/#comment-17195 Well, speaking as a person with a fragmented mind (due to abuse and trauma) I would say - yes people who have a fragmented mind are quite compassionate. We understand pain of others because we've have been through it. One fragment or personality may be more compassionate than another personality because that personality was perhaps still more resilient than the other. A personality developed during early years has also not experienced as much trauma during their shorter life span than a personality who has was fragmented at a later age. A secondary personality may be less compassionate because they were created (fragmented) under duress, in an uncaring environment, as a way to protect themselves from being further traumatized - thus learning to shut off feelings in order to prevent experiencing less pain. This process of shutting down feelings also turns off feelings of compassion - not likely intended for the purpose of lacking compassion towards others/causes/events, simply to protect oneself from further psychological/physical pain. I suppose if a personality that experienced little or no compassion took over the body's life completely, that person likely could not show compassion from that point on. Someone once described their fragmentation/personalities as doing what other people (without fragmentation) do, but doing it as many people in one body. e.g. During my younger years I enjoyed crafts, writing poetry, walking, riding bike, singing, etc. Some of these activities became hidden to me as my mind became fragmented with new stresses and traumas. As I went through therapy the different personalities came with the interests that they were fragmented with. I am no longer able to plan interests as a whole personality - but we decide among us who will do what part while the person born whole has to be in charge. This person is no longer able to take on all the activities as an individual. If I try to do it alone as a single, I become very overwhelmed and break down further. Hence, it is better to work as a group and work together to make life as normal as possible. (Normal is a setting on a dryer) My father, who was also severely abused from an early age, most often could not find it in himself to show compassion. It didn't mean he didn't feel it. He didn't know how to show it. He had shut himself off to others so much he was not able to show it. Many times his compassion seemed superficial or "head knowledge." There were times when he showed compassion but usually towards people who weren't close to him - possibly for reputation sake. I Thinking it was because he couldn't allow himself to be close to the people closest to him. Anyways that my 2 cents worth.... ziggy Well, speaking as a person with a fragmented mind (due to abuse and trauma) I would say – yes people who have a fragmented mind are quite compassionate. We understand pain of others because we’ve have been through it. One fragment or personality may be more compassionate than another personality because that personality was perhaps still more resilient than the other. A personality developed during early years has also not experienced as much trauma during their shorter life span than a personality who has was fragmented at a later age. A secondary personality may be less compassionate because they were created (fragmented) under duress, in an uncaring environment, as a way to protect themselves from being further traumatized – thus learning to shut off feelings in order to prevent experiencing less pain. This process of shutting down feelings also turns off feelings of compassion – not likely intended for the purpose of lacking compassion towards others/causes/events, simply to protect oneself from further psychological/physical pain.
I suppose if a personality that experienced little or no compassion took over the body’s life completely, that person likely could not show compassion from that point on.
Someone once described their fragmentation/personalities as doing what other people (without fragmentation) do, but doing it as many people in one body. e.g. During my younger years I enjoyed crafts, writing poetry, walking, riding bike, singing, etc. Some of these activities became hidden to me as my mind became fragmented with new stresses and traumas. As I went through therapy the different personalities came with the interests that they were fragmented with. I am no longer able to plan interests as a whole personality – but we decide among us who will do what part while the person born whole has to be in charge. This person is no longer able to take on all the activities as an individual. If I try to do it alone as a single, I become very overwhelmed and break down further. Hence, it is better to work as a group and work together to make life as normal as possible. (Normal is a setting on a dryer)
My father, who was also severely abused from an early age, most often could not find it in himself to show compassion. It didn’t mean he didn’t feel it. He didn’t know how to show it. He had shut himself off to others so much he was not able to show it. Many times his compassion seemed superficial or “head knowledge.” There were times when he showed compassion but usually towards people who weren’t close to him – possibly for reputation sake. I Thinking it was because he couldn’t allow himself to be close to the people closest to him.

Anyways that my 2 cents worth…. ziggy

]]> By: takuin http://www.takuin.com/question-of-the-week-1231-106/comment-page-1/#comment-2725 takuin Wed, 23 Apr 2008 12:33:36 +0000 http://www.takuin.com/2008/01/01/question-of-the-week-1231-106/#comment-2725 Welcome to the site, Tracy. Thank you for stopping by. I don't think I have written anything on fragmentation since this post. I may make it the subject for my next podcast. Whether or not we were meant to transcend remains to be seen. The organism is certainly capable of making the leap, although the numbers seem minuscule. There is hope that it can be done. The problem seems to be the approach. People want to be free of fragmentation (<em>although they may not express it in quite that way</em>). But their favored means of attainment is also fragmented. All of the systems, rules, and apparent regulations of <em>How to be Liberated</em> keep people dull and kind of stupid. (<em>Stupid in the sense that there is no energy for pure inquiry, as it is all being wasted on the system of thought being pursued</em>.) It seems like an endless struggle, but don't believe it. And don't believe me either. The greatest freedom comes from what the human being can explore on its own, outside of the external powers that be. <em>Listen to everyone, but follow no one.</em> Great to have you here, Tracy. I look forward to seeing you again. Welcome to the site, Tracy. Thank you for stopping by.

I don’t think I have written anything on fragmentation since this post. I may make it the subject for my next podcast.

Whether or not we were meant to transcend remains to be seen. The organism is certainly capable of making the leap, although the numbers seem minuscule. There is hope that it can be done.

The problem seems to be the approach. People want to be free of fragmentation (although they may not express it in quite that way). But their favored means of attainment is also fragmented. All of the systems, rules, and apparent regulations of How to be Liberated keep people dull and kind of stupid. (Stupid in the sense that there is no energy for pure inquiry, as it is all being wasted on the system of thought being pursued.)

It seems like an endless struggle, but don’t believe it. And don’t believe me either. The greatest freedom comes from what the human being can explore on its own, outside of the external powers that be.

Listen to everyone, but follow no one.

Great to have you here, Tracy. I look forward to seeing you again.

]]> By: Tracy http://www.takuin.com/question-of-the-week-1231-106/comment-page-1/#comment-2724 Tracy Wed, 23 Apr 2008 11:57:49 +0000 http://www.takuin.com/2008/01/01/question-of-the-week-1231-106/#comment-2724 This is my first time ever visiting your site and so far I feel that you are on to something concerning the human race. We were created to go beyond our "bodily" experiences yet our fragmented minds keep us from that experience. We are discovering that there really never were any limitations--just in the mind. It is a jouney though and it will take a lifetime--as we know time to be now--to totally realize who we really are! This is my first time ever visiting your site and so far I feel that you are on to something concerning the human race. We were created to go beyond our “bodily” experiences yet our fragmented minds keep us from that experience. We are discovering that there really never were any limitations–just in the mind. It is a jouney though and it will take a lifetime–as we know time to be now–to totally realize who we really are!

]]> By: takuin http://www.takuin.com/question-of-the-week-1231-106/comment-page-1/#comment-2043 takuin Tue, 15 Jan 2008 10:43:09 +0000 http://www.takuin.com/2008/01/01/question-of-the-week-1231-106/#comment-2043 Thanks, Wade. I was happy to do it, and I look forward to the next one. Thanks, Wade. I was happy to do it, and I look forward to the next one.

]]> By: Spread the Love NOW! Group Writing Project Results! » Personal Development - The Urban Monk http://www.takuin.com/question-of-the-week-1231-106/comment-page-1/#comment-1956 Spread the Love NOW! Group Writing Project Results! » Personal Development - The Urban Monk Fri, 11 Jan 2008 07:43:45 +0000 http://www.takuin.com/2008/01/01/question-of-the-week-1231-106/#comment-1956 [...] Takuin Minamoto at Daily Action and Natural Expression. [...] [...] Takuin Minamoto at Daily Action and Natural Expression. [...]

]]> By: Update "Spread the Love NOW! Group Writing Project" | Beyond Zen... http://www.takuin.com/question-of-the-week-1231-106/comment-page-1/#comment-1904 Update "Spread the Love NOW! Group Writing Project" | Beyond Zen... Tue, 08 Jan 2008 19:20:11 +0000 http://www.takuin.com/2008/01/01/question-of-the-week-1231-106/#comment-1904 [...] Takuin Minamoto at Daily Action and Natural Expression. [...] [...] Takuin Minamoto at Daily Action and Natural Expression. [...]

]]> By: Wade M | TheMiddleWay http://www.takuin.com/question-of-the-week-1231-106/comment-page-1/#comment-1896 Wade M | TheMiddleWay Tue, 08 Jan 2008 00:54:54 +0000 http://www.takuin.com/2008/01/01/question-of-the-week-1231-106/#comment-1896 Hi Takuin, Thanks for your entry into this project. A fantastic post on the topic. Peace, Wade http://themiddleway.net Hi Takuin,

Thanks for your entry into this project. A fantastic post on the topic.

Peace,

Wade
http://themiddleway.net

]]> By: Spread the Love NOW! Group Writing Project http://www.takuin.com/question-of-the-week-1231-106/comment-page-1/#comment-1894 Spread the Love NOW! Group Writing Project Mon, 07 Jan 2008 23:31:12 +0000 http://www.takuin.com/2008/01/01/question-of-the-week-1231-106/#comment-1894 [...] Giri and ReddyK at the Atma Jyoti Blog. Mary Jaksch at Goodlife Zen. Takuin Minamoto at Daily Action and Natural Expression. Robin at Reflections on Compassion, posted at Yogini Myspace Blog. Karen Zara at Abaminds. Jenny [...] [...] Giri and ReddyK at the Atma Jyoti Blog. Mary Jaksch at Goodlife Zen. Takuin Minamoto at Daily Action and Natural Expression. Robin at Reflections on Compassion, posted at Yogini Myspace Blog. Karen Zara at Abaminds. Jenny [...]

]]>