Re: Compassion and the Near Enemy of Pity


"Awaken21" <lukeb@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:1128725850.637820.25100@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> George Cherry wrote:
>>
>> Yes, that's nature, the way evolution made us. The purpose
>> of desire or aversion is not to make us happy, it's to make
>> us seek and get and seek and get or encounter and avoid
>> and encounter and avoid. Our progenitors were not our
>> progenitors because they were happy, but because they
>> survived and procreated.
>
>
> Why is it that happy people tend to live longer

Happy states are healthy indeed. Why? Less cortisol.
Lower blood pressure. Stronger immune system. Etc.

> and calm minds have
> faster reflexes, and people having fun learn faster and more
> effectively, and people who maintain low stress rates have fewer
> diseases?
>
> My theory is there is a biological survival mechnanism related to the
> whole happiness, peace of mind, no stress thing.

Okay. But here's a interesting established fact about
all forms of organismic life, from fruit flies to us. Calorie
restriction extends life. There are many biological
reasons why this may be true. For example, digesting
food creates Reactive Oxygen Species which attack
and kill cells. There are many other explanations. The
evolutionary one is that calorie restriction extends life
because when calories are restricted species do not
breed: they appear to postpone breeding until food is
in ample supply. The postponement of breeding appears
to slow aging until breeding can start again. Species
who could not do this became extinct in periods of food
shortage. Calorie restricted creatures are NOT very
happy, but they are very alert and active--the alertness
and activity are essential to finding food. A big meal
makes you sleepy, have you noticed?

So, if you want a long life, curb your appetite, but be
sure you get adequate nutrition. There's even a name
for it, CRONies: Calorie Restriction with Optimum
Nutrition. Are these people happy? I've met them; they
seem ecstatic, living on about 1500 calories/day. But
I attribute their happiness to their thinking they're
breaking new wood. They don't seem to be afraid of
dying: they're just in love with living, with life. I've
found them receptive to Buddhism. They seem to have
tremendous energy (provided I think by the evolutionary
need to have what it takes to find food, but because
food is always there will they want it, their energy is
at the service of their getting a kick out of life).

So, there a heck of a lot of ways of being in the world.

Your theory

> My theory is there is a biological survival mechnanism related to the
> whole happiness, peace of mind, no stress thing.

doesn't make evolutionary sense to me. But if it serves
you, groove with it.

George


.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Compassion and the Near Enemy of Pity
    ... of desire or aversion is not to make us happy, it's to make us seek and get and seek and get or encounter and avoid and encounter and avoid. ... all forms of organismic life, ... they appear to postpone breeding until food is ... CRONies: Calorie Restriction with Optimum ...
    (talk.religion.buddhism)
  • Re: Compassion and the Near Enemy of Pity
    ... of desire or aversion is not to make us happy, it's to make us seek and get and seek and get or encounter and avoid and encounter and avoid. ... all forms of organismic life, ... they appear to postpone breeding until food is ... CRONies: Calorie Restriction with Optimum ...
    (talk.religion.buddhism)
  • Re: Compassion and the Near Enemy of Pity
    ... >> all forms of organismic life, ... they appear to postpone breeding until food is ... The postponement of breeding appears ... CRONies: Calorie Restriction with Optimum ...
    (talk.religion.buddhism)
  • Re: Compassion and the Near Enemy of Pity
    ... of desire or aversion is not to make us happy, it's to make us seek and get and seek and get or encounter and avoid and encounter and avoid. ... all forms of organismic life, ... they appear to postpone breeding until food is ... CRONies: Calorie Restriction with Optimum ...
    (talk.religion.buddhism)
  • Re: Compassion and the Near Enemy of Pity
    ... >> all forms of organismic life, ... they appear to postpone breeding until food is ... CRONies: Calorie Restriction with Optimum ... You may not live longer, but your life will seem longer. ...
    (talk.religion.buddhism)
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