The Social Matrix
The social bind
photo: Studio Tomás Saraceno
When alone, it tends to be easier to let go of the self, into the now, the infinite. Even the mere presence of others can reify a self to a body-mind, and thus all the snags and suffering that come from that. People tend to relate to each other completely convinced of the reality of self and other. And thus we are all in complicity with each other to keep the illusions of our separate selves going.
Worse, people often relate to each other through position, rank, gain, loss. Lesser and greater. The human in relationship suggests a self to be protected and/or added to. It suggests a self that can get embarrassed with a loss of status, that might want to be more than the next person, who might be paranoid that he is less.
In the 10 fetter model, this bind is the conceit of self, the 8th fetter. The 8th fetter includes 3 types of conceit: “I am superior”, “I am inferior”, and even “I am equal” (which is also a thought, an edifice that arises).
Status is protective. Sometimes, extreme losses in popularity can lead to loss of family, employment, incarceration or worse. There are reasons why losses of status feel so existential, why the body reacts so violently, why the body might be so attuned to changes in the social weather, and how the self might shake out in it.
All of this serves to keep the fetter of the conceit of self right where it is, corrupting perception, keeping the body-mind stuck in the matrix.
This is an excerpt from the upcoming mini-book “Release Emotional Reactivity, Wake Up To Reality”. If you want a free advanced reader copy, click here:
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Insightful as always, thank you for the book! 🌞