Books Quote by Robert Wright
““This has been the point of much of this book. The human brain is a machine designed by natural selection to respond in pretty reflexive fashion to the sensory input impinging on it. It is designed, in a certain sense, to be controlled by that input. And a key cog in the machinery of control is the feelings that arise in response to the input. If you interact with those feelings via tanha—via the natural, reflexive thirst for the pleasant feelings and the natural, reflexive aversion to the unpleasant feelings—you will continue to be controlled by the world around you. But if you observe those feelings mindfully rather than just reacting to them, you can in some measure escape the control; the causes that ordinarily shape your behavior can be defied, and you can get closer to the unconditioned.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Moral Landscape, Robert Wright, 2010
The brain reacts reflexively to sensory input, driven by feelings; mindful awareness can reduce this control, allowing freer response.
In simple terms: Mindful awareness lessens reflexive feeling-driven control.
Key Takeaway
Practice mindfulness to gain freedom.
Themes
mindfulness
psychology
freewill
Mood
calm
introspective
Type
inspirational
philosophical
When to use this quote
- meditation
- therapy
- stressful situations
Key Concepts
reflexive conditioning
emotional regulation
neuroscience
Questions to Reflect On
- What feelings dominate your reactions?
- How can you observe without reacting?
A Different Perspective
Mindfulness alone may not overcome deep habitual patterns.
