I’ve been wanting to write about logical reasoning for a long time and how this tool that Nature has given us can help us to get rid of many mistakes and unpleasant feelings! Certain emotions can blind us, and lately, we see hatred and/or fear dominating people. Such emotions only favor the forces that aim to control us and enslave us! First of all, hatred, especially in politics, has been destroying friendly relationships and pushing people away, even dividing families, thus weakening the population that united is always stronger. Fear also makes people stop reasoning and blindly accept what is imposed on them, without questioning orders.

When I think of logic, I remember that Vulcan alien character from the science fiction series Star Trek, Spock. While Dr. McCoy is more emotional, passionate, and impulsive, Dr. Spock is colder and more rational, always questioning and never acting impulsively. He does not become a being without feeling or heart, so much so that he is one of the most charismatic characters in the series, he just does not let himself be carried away by the irrational reflexes of blind emotions.

There is no doubt that both hate and fear bring us negative feelings that only harm us, physiologically speaking, because, in these states of mind, our body injects into the bloodstream certain hormones that are harmful to our health. They are also harmful in decision-making situations, where we usually act without thinking so we end up regretting later.

Another reference in the question of logical reasoning and the correct use of our mental faculties is the Master Buddha, much venerated in the East. In one of his classic phrases he says:

Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one getting burned.

Buddha

I don’t know a person who likes to feel fear or hate, but they often don’t realize that they are unconsciously feeding these emotions by constantly falling into the traps of their own ego, or what we might call the “egoic” mind. It is important to stress here that the ego is not necessarily negative if it is in the service of something greater! How so? We all have one mortal and one immortal side, and even if you do not agree with the existence of the Spirit or of the afterlife, allow me to develop this idea in a rational way!

From our ego are born all of our fears, for at the root of them all is the fear of death. The ego knows that its time here is limited and does not know what will come next, so it clings to passing, insignificant things, it is afraid of scarcity, it is afraid of the other who may pose some threat. The ego is quick to judge the other, to point the finger, to diminish the other in order to feel better, although, in practice, this ends up bringing us negative feelings.

On the other hand, we have something in us called Spirit or Soul, and even though I have no way to prove scientifically that it survives physical death, let us analyze in a rational way how the Soul manifests itself in this world, for it is the noblest part of ourselves. We can say that it would be our elevated consciousness! When we see a musician who plays with the Soul, something different in the way that person plays his instrument moves our positive emotions. When we see a human being who acts with Soul, he has the courage to face the challenges, he respects the other human beings, he has what we call the “Nobility of Spirit”! Usually, these human beings, when they die, leave a lot of nostalgia and their lives are always remembered with great affection by all who have lived with them, it ends up becoming an example for future generations, that is, their passage on the planet is immortalized!

We all have these two sides, a fearful, petty, judgmental, and negative side, but we also have a noble, courageous, compassionate, and positive side. A wise indigenous proverb says:

There is a battle of two wolves inside us all.

One is evil. It is anger, jealousy, greed, resentment, lies, inferiority and ego.

The other is good. It is joy, peace, love, hope, humility, kindness, empathy and truth.

The wolf that wins?

The one you feed.

Cherokee Proverb

So I end here to remind everyone that we are responsible for feeding the worst or the best of ourselves, and every time bad feelings appear to torment us, remember to detach from them and put into practice the tool of logical reasoning when asking: what am I feeling does me good? What is the intention behind this event? Does the person or situation that caused it within me deserve to feel this way? Should I express my hatred for this or for this person? If this person does not bring me good feelings, should I waste my time with it and lose my peace of mind? Should I invest my energy into this situation or this person?

Finally, I believe that logical reasoning must always be accompanied by intuition, the two must act in harmony, but this reflection remains here for all and for myself! When something displeases me, may I have the calmness to pause, breathe, and reason in a cold way if it is something worth wasting my time in this short passage through this Planet? A Hail to all the masters, to the meditation, to the wisdom of the Native Americans, the Buddha, and a special salute to Dr. Spock – Live long and prosper! 🖖

~ Kiko Peres