Irritation

Month, Day: 167, Will, Light (Independence)

What is an example of irascibility? Cantankerous old guy? Cross old gal? Testy teen? Choleric'd child?

---

Earlier, we started to look at the developmental sequence that starts with concupiscence. One can imagine but not attain, in this life (in the next?), a completely problem-free situation. Well, there are moments in life that are extremely nice.

In fact, from the viewpoint of weather and climate, both spring and fall can have delightful days even in the far northern realms. But, that is an aside.

What are some of these situations that are without irritation. Well, for the infant in the womb, one may claim this albeit the mother labors. Too, some seem to be born into a life of ease where any work, of substance, is done by others.

---

Ought this be the time to bring up the pearl which is, essentially, the result of reaction to an irritation?

---

Another aside: the allure of the computational experience is one where a servant, or a whole collection of them, responds to the will of the computer, or network, user. That is, if things are going well (let us count the ways that they can go wrong). We need to find a way to characterize this better, but a whole lot of affect can come from little effort.

Actually, the urge to text, and such, while driving points specifically to the ease with which one can barrel down the road at high speed without exerting much effort at all. Too, very little of the mental capacity is used.

---

But, all things change, as we know. The baby has a limited womb time. The hours pass; seasons change; the urges need to be filled periodically. There is no sate'd state that is eternal.

Ah, so any desire, or desired state, ultimately comes to an end. One result would be irritation which then can lead to irascibility. In a sense, this level is thwarted desire. For one thing, that bumping against a boundary is part of the plan. It's how we learn.

But, what exactly is it that we're to learn? Academics? Who takes lessons from a classroom out to the world? How to follow a mentor's lead? Are we not told to not imitate?

Besides, there is the prime notion of independent investigation of the truth (autodidactic-ness).

Suffice it, for now, to know that we're to know. Then, we're to obey. Twin duties.

---

Why the use of the baby's early experience? We're told that the next life is as different from here as is here from the womb. In the womb, we develop the facilities for this life. In this life, we are garnering what is needed next.

Can we know what these things are and for what use? Well, right now, we are only on the 2nd step, of 7, so that discussion is for later. Hence, delay in looking at that topic can add to the irascibility, or not.

---

On moving beyond irascibility, consider the Gleanings (pg 175): The fears and agitation which the revelation of this law provokes in men’s hearts should indeed be likened to the cries of the suckling babe weaned from his mother’s milk, if ye be of them that perceive. Were men to discover the motivating purpose of God’s Revelation, they would assuredly cast away their fears, and, with hearts filled with gratitude, rejoice with exceeding gladness.

---

There is an operational system: the baby comes with a whole set of urges, nature abounds in urge fillers and thwarters, means exist for what we need, including learning, and so forth. We saw above some suggestion about motivation.

---

How do these two map? Concupiscence/Search, Irascibility/Love. We'll be looking at that as we go along starting with Inspiration/Knowledge.

Remarks:

10/04/2010 -- Friction can beget progress.

Modified: 10/04/2010