We Do Not Move Unless We Are Bothered
CAUSE OF MOTION
ACTING FORCES AND PREVENTING FORCES
In the first chapter, we reached the conclusion that, when you lose your balance because of a factor affecting you, you make a motion to regain your balance (fact two). This is a simple action when there is only one factor involved in a motion. However, sometimes when you want to act, another factor prevents you. Consider the following examples.
Example one: The weekend is here, and your family is going on a picnic. You lose your balance, and you want to go with them, but you have an exam on Monday.
You will have a bad feeling if you get a low grade on your exam, resulting in suffering in the future (which we define as feeling fear—fear of losing balance and suffering in the future). What would your motion be in this scenario? There is the want to go and the fear of suffering in the future. If your fear is greater than your want, you’ll stay home and study; if your want is greater than your fear, you will go to the picnic.
Fact six: The outcome of our want and fear determines our motion.
In above example, there are two opposite forces that determine our motion: Acting force (want) and preventing force (fear) and the outcome of these forces determines our motion. In the other words, we perform motions where there is less suffering or more enjoyment.
In some cases, several wants and fears arise. Consider the following example.
Example two: There is a party tonight and you want to go. You also are curious to see if this party is better than your last party. You lose your balance because of your curiosity and you want to compare the party with yours. You also want to show off your new dress. These are your wants that make you go. On the other hand, if you go, you will have to leave your child alone at home. Now you have the fear of being worried in the future. You also have to buy a gift; losing balance from spending money is another fear of suffering. You remember that you have an early appointment the next day, so you have a fear of not being on time for your appointment. You realize that there is a long drive to the party. You have a fear of suffering from driving and spending money for gas.
This scenario includes several executing forces (wants) and several preventing forces (fears). Your mind evaluates the degree of each want and fear, and you follow through with the motion according to the perceived outcomes of these wants and fears. If the total of your wants is greater than the total of your fears, you will go; if the total of your wants is less than the total of your fears, you won’t go. We will discuss this subject in greater detail in the chapter on free will.
Fact 7s: The resultant of our wants’ and fears’ sums determines our motions.
In other words the outcome of acting forces and preventing forces determine our motions Read more
