Psychology

December 4, 2013

Michael Pero – Quote 1

englishcountryroad

“It is more difficult for an adult to learn a foreign language than it is for a child because the adult mind is already “structured” in may ways. Adults already seem know the limits of their capabilities and potential, and most NEVER strive to be anything more that what the parameters of the society in which they belong to and have grow up in bind to them. Take for example inner city blacks, most truly believe that they will never escape the grasp of the getto, so most accept this as a fact and don’t even try to escape through some other avenue. Such as trying to do well in high school and trying somehow to get into college, or by learning a trade or high paying skill, or by some other “legal” avenue. They simply enter into a gang where the odds of then being shot and killed is vastly higher that anywhere else. They do this because they TRULY BELIEVE this is their fate. If you ask the average 40 or 50 year old adult if they have achieved their goals in life and what they dreamed of becoming as a child, 95 percent would say “no”. And then you ask them “why not?? What’s stopping you?” Most would give some economic reason or they would say “I’m too old”.. or “I missed my chance!” “WHY CAN’T YOU GO AFTER YOUR DREAM!.. WHO SAYS.. THAT YOU CANNOT DO IT! YOU ARE NEVER TOO OLD AND IT IS NEVER TOO LATE!” I say and I believe. Life all boil’s down to fear, and whether or not you really have the courage to find out what you are really made of! That’s why most adults find themselves in a job they really aren’t happy with and yet they don’t diverse into anything else, or they stay in an unhappy marriage for years and years. Why? Because of fear!”

~Michael A. Pero

December 2, 2013

The 5 Types of People

HowtoAnylizePeopleonSight_titlepage

“How much do external characteristics tell about a man? They tell, with amazing accuracy, all the basic, fundamental principal traits of his nature. The size, shape and structure of a man’s body tell more important facts about his real self—what he thinks and what he does—than the average mother ever knows about her own child. […] If this sounds impossible, if the seeming incongruity, multiplicity and heterogeneity of human qualities have baffled you, remember that this is exactly how the print in all books and newspapers baffled you before you learned to read.”

This very cool book outlines the 5 basic types of people based on their dominant biological systems. These are:

1) nutritive system (fat people) – “the enjoyer” – the chief distinguishing marks of the Alimentive in the order of their importance are ROUNDED OUTLINES, IMMATURE FEATURES and DIMPLED HANDS.

alimentivetype

2) circulatory system (florid people) – “the thriller” – the chief distinguishing marks of the Thoracic in the order of their importance, are FLUSHED COMPLEXION, HIGH CHEST and LONG WAIST.

thoracictype

3) muscular system (muscular people) – “the worker” – “the chief distinguishing marks of the Muscular, in the order of their importance, are LARGE, FIRM MUSCLES,  A SQUARE JAW and SQUARE HANDS.

musculartype

4) skeletal system (boney people) – “the stayer” – the distinguishing marks of the Osseous, in the order of their importance, are PROPORTIONATELY LARGE BONES FOR THE BODY, PROMINENT JOINTS and A LONG FACE

osseoustype

5) nervous system (cerebral people) – “the thinker” – the chief distinguishing
marks of the Cerebral, in the order of their importance, are the HIGH FOREHEAD and a PROPORTIONATELY LARGE HEAD FOR THE BODY.

cerebraltype

Every person has each of these systems and so displays qualities associated with each, but this book professes that each person also has a dominant system that most greatly influences their personality and body type. It makes sense that genetic predispositions would effect our underlying personality. By recognizing these archetypes, one will be able to “read” any stranger at a glance and determine the basic characteristics of their personality.

HERE is a link for the full text.

I was considering the cerebral type and how it’s connected closely with the nervous system. Being interested in the martial arts I have always considered the wisdom of great warriors such as Miyamoto Musashi and Sun Tzu, but wondered why advanced levels of martial skill were usually accompanied by great mental insights. I believe it has a lot to do with the discipline required to master any art, but in light of the theory proposed by this book it seems that it might also have something to do with the nervous systems connection with the cerebral personality type. The nervous system is important for reflexes, which (albeit trained) are what basically govern hand to hand combat. It makes sense then that a great warrior, who would necessarily have great reflexes, would also then be of the “cerebral” type and thus be predisposed to be, well, pretty smart.

November 15, 2013

20 Difficulties to Overcome

bible-buddha-hotel

“At the very beginning of the path to Enlightenment there are twenty difficulties for us to overcome in the world, and they are:

1) It is hard for a poor man to be generous.

2) It is hard for a proud man to learn the Way of Enlightenment.

3) It is hard to seek Enlightenment at the cost of self sacrifice.

4) It is hard to be born while Buddha is in the world.

5) It is hard to hear the teaching of Buddha.

6) It is hard to keep the mind pure against the instincts of the body.

7) It is hard not to desire things that are beautiful and attractive.

8) It is hard for a strong man not to use his strength to satisfy his desires.

9) It is hard not to get angry when one is insulted.

10) It is hard to remain innocent when tempted by sudden circumstances.

11) It is hard to apply oneself to study widely and thoroughly.

12) It is hard not to despise a beginner.

13) It is hard to keep oneself humble.

14) It is hard to find good friends.

15) It is hard to endure the discipline that leads to Enlightenment.

16) It is hard not to be disturbed by external conditions and circumstances.

17) It is hard to teach others by knowing their abilities.

18) It is hard to maintain a peaceful mind.

19) It is hard not to argue about right and wrong.

20) It is hard to find and learn a good method.”

~The Teaching of Buddha (pg. 263) – by Bukkyo Dendo Kyokai (Society for the Promotion of Buddhism)

It is said that Buddha’s teachings were related clearly and there is no hidden message. In fact, much of what goes for Buddhism today is truly far removed from the Way. Venerating Buddha as a god is widely practiced and highly misinformed. In this book it states clearly that “Buddha is Enlightenment.” He’s not a man who achieved Enlightenment, but is in fact Enlightenment itself. And when one achieves Enlightenment, they cease to continue to exist as their own personal ego, which is instead replaced by their Buddha nature, and so they become Buddha.

In Alan Watts book Psychotherapy: East and West he very shrewdly points out that Buddhism is not a religion at all, but actually perhaps the most ancient psychotheraputic method. Like psychotherapy, the very purpose of Buddhism is to end suffering (specifically mental suffering, for even physical pain is felt in the mind and not in the body).

Far from being highly esoteric and confusing, Buddha’s teachings are very strait forward. Even his parables and allegories are clearly explained directly after he has shared them, leaving no doubt of their interpretations or meanings.

If you wish to be free from mental suffering it would be wise to consider this book and the Buddhist method. For that which is not from truth is unable to persist for thousands of years