A Record of Meetings held by P.D. Ouspensky - HolyBooks.com

only make us more blind, but which, if we did not identify with themand connect imagination with them, would show us quite differentthings which we cannot see now Since our likes and dislikes are all infalse personality we cannot use them We have many 'I's, but cannotuse even these twoMR M Would you explain why it is that an impression, howeverintense, cannot be a shock?MR O I do not quite understand what you mean by 'shock' In ourlanguage this word is used only in connection with something else, notjust like that by itselfMR M You said you would explain to night what shocks wereMR O They cannot be explained by themselves You must take adefinite octave, find intervals and then perhaps in some cases it can beexplained what may serve as a shock By itself shock means nothing It isthe same as when people ask what is meant by neutralizing force I answerthat first they must show me first and second force I cannot explain aword The word 'shock' is used in this sense, that when we find an octavecannot go on but at a certain place stops or changes direction, a shock isnecessary to send it on or make it go straight What the shock may bedepends on the octave In one octave one kind of shock is necessary, inanother another It means an additional force at a given place which helpsthe octave to go on in the same direction at the same strengthMR F Can I get a clue to false personality by thinking of events in thepast, outside the orbit of present influences, ie events which are deadand buried?MR O Sometimes you may Either in the past or, as I said, in yourfriends Only you must understand that you also have false personality,not only your friends 1MR F In the past the events themselves seem of little significance, butthe original emotions reappear and I feel I can see my self in caricatureMR O May beMISS R I do not quite understand what you mean by passive 'I'sMR O Which are controlled by another 'I' Good intentions, forinstance, are controlled by laziness Laziness is active, good intentionspassive The 'I' or combination of 'I's in control is active The 'I'swhich are controlled or dm en are passive Understand it quite simplyMR M Can a man provide his own shocks, or must these always beexternal?