The Mind Is Just A Reflex Organ
Posted February 4, 2008 at 6:44 PM
A couple of weeks ago, I re-rented the movie, the Peaceful Warrior with Nick Nolte. It's one of those movies that just makes you want to be better, appreciate more, and be happier and I had a craving for that kind of a feeling. Anyway, this time, one of the lines really struck a chord in me; the lead actor had just finished describing that he felt bad that his first thought after having witnessed a friend being hurt was how could this help out his own career. To this, Socrates (Nick Nolte) stated:
The mind is just a reflex organ. It reacts to everything. Fills your head with millions of random thoughts a day. None of those thoughts reveal any more about you than a freckle does at the end of your nose.
The first time I watched this movie, I didn't really give this any thought; but, the fact is, if you accept it, this philosophy is an extremely freeing outlook on life. Think about how much guilt people can carry around about the things they think. But why? What do your thoughts have to do with anything? It is our actions and our practices that define who we are. Like Soc. says, so many of our thoughts are just reflex reactions to things we see and hear every day - they are not who we are. How freeing!
Anyway, just thought I would share this sweet piece of philosophy.
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Reader Comments
The Way of the Peaceful Warrior was my favorite book as a kid. Everything Socrates says made so much sense to me then and I continue to think about these things 15 years later. It's tough to quiet the mind. It takes a ton of practice, but it's well worth it.
@koen,
After having seen the movie, I happened to come across the book at a used book sale. It's on my list of books to read, but I haven't gotten to it. Now, I am really looking forward to it.
Nice one. Thanks for sharing
thanks,I think this film and its sentences are
really awesome
