I think I see where you are going with that, but 'acting to do something' still involves intent. I think what you are trying to say is that manipulation requires a specific type of intent in order to exist.
No, you've entirely missed it.
Manipulation has three modes. Intent to change: an abstract concept or thought Act of change: a physical action Influence of the change: how the action is interpreted by the environment.
None of these are dependent upon another. The formula should have a simple linear progression: Intent > Action > Influence
Seems like it'd be easy. But it's really an acquired skill.
We've already discussed that the brain sometimes fibs and makes up a rationalization for an action after the fact. So you can have an action with no intent (or no discernible intent at the time of action). But your action will still influence the environment. At which point you may very well make up a plausible reason for your action.
Taoism accepts that all actions influence the environment. It aims to create that linear progression. That you first formulate an intent, create an action and it then has the desired influence on the environment.
I could expound on this more but the muscle relaxers are kicking in and it's getting a bit hard to type, let alone think in any coherent fashion.
Okay, now that makes much more sense, especially what we've discussed about rationalization occurring after the action. Yes, holding an action until the mind settles on that being a good decision is a learned skill - this is what I need to practice on.
You've actually hit on my reason for posting this question in the first place.
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trickykitty
Re: As much as I hate English, I love discussing semantics.
Date: 2011-08-31 01:37 am (UTC)No, you've entirely missed it.
Manipulation has three modes.
Intent to change: an abstract concept or thought
Act of change: a physical action
Influence of the change: how the action is interpreted by the environment.
None of these are dependent upon another.
The formula should have a simple linear progression: Intent > Action > Influence
Seems like it'd be easy. But it's really an acquired skill.
We've already discussed that the brain sometimes fibs and makes up a rationalization for an action after the fact.
So you can have an action with no intent (or no discernible intent at the time of action). But your action will still influence the environment. At which point you may very well make up a plausible reason for your action.
Taoism accepts that all actions influence the environment. It aims to create that linear progression. That you first formulate an intent, create an action and it then has the desired influence on the environment.
I could expound on this more but the muscle relaxers are kicking in and it's getting a bit hard to type, let alone think in any coherent fashion.
(no subject)
Date: 2011-08-31 02:31 am (UTC)You've actually hit on my reason for posting this question in the first place.