survival instincts create an endless tautology.

[Jay Ray]

I had a realization. I am not sure If I heard this from somewhere else or If I discovered it myself. but anyway here it goes.

when you question survival instincts, the ego creates an endless automatic tautology. 

for example:

why don't you want to drop a bowling ball on your foot right now?

well,I don't want to because that would hurt

why don't you want to hurt?

I don't want to feel pain.

why don't you want to feel pain? why not seek lots of pain?

well, I don't want to feel pain because I don't want to feel pain.

why is that so?

I don't want to feel pain because I don't want to feel pain, therefore I don't want to feel pain so that I don't feel pain.............................

 

This doesn't go anywhere at all. It just loops endlessly or cops out by saying

• I don't know why, but I know that I don't want to feel pain.
• I just don't want to feel pain (this just means without having a known reason for it)
• I don't have a reason, I just don't want to feel pain. 
• This question is stupid. Of course it is normal to not want to feel pain. 

 

this same tautology happens with pleasure and happiness too

I want to feel good because I want to feel good. 

 

Maybe these thoughts are just put there for our survival. The inherent stubbornness and repetitive nature may suggest that it isn't a part of "me". It is automatic and is just assumed to be "my opinion". Maybe we don't make these thoughts, they are just automatically created on behalf of our survival needs. 

each tautology seems to not be logical at all, but completely functional. It seems to serve a function or a purpose rather then being just a creative opinion.

 

for the sake of a mental exercise,  maybe doubting these tautologies may be useful? (only in the mind not acted out!) 

I don't want to feel pain because I don't want to feel pain.

who said that? is this true? maybe this isn't true at all and this inst "me" creating this thought. maybe pain is ok? maybe I am fine with it.  If "I" cant come up with anything better that a tautology, then maybe it isnt logical at all to assume that "I" created this thought.  

 

I would love to hear what you guys think about this? Thanks