When action becomes habit, it is still conscious action?
By MJ_Dakota
@MJ_Dakota (126)
United States
December 10, 2009 8:05am CST
Many are proclaiming that conscious action will lead to enlightenment, but at the same time express "ritual" behaviors such as meditation, prayer and gratitude. When these behaviors become a habit, are they still perform consciously or just performed?
4 responses
@Amigone (43)
• United States
10 Dec 09
I think that it depends on whether the person makes an conscience effort or not. If one is simply going through the motions of the "ritual" without any meaning then there is no meaning in it. Like saying grace at the table when you were a child before large family meals. Without the backing of religion the words were just something you did because you had been taught to do so.
The meaning that we put behind things is what makes them meaningful for lack of a better phrase. No matter how enlightened the activitiy, it still means nothing if the person doing it does not sit firmly in the meaning of it.
@MJ_Dakota (126)
• United States
10 Dec 09
Thank you for your reply. Such a simple definition of habit and conscience action, yet I wonder how many of us actually understand this.
@Amigone (43)
• United States
10 Dec 09
I don't think that many people in this day and age DO understand the differnece as there is no longer any importance placed upon ritual. People expect to be rewareded for just doing, for just showing up as it were without actually putting the force behind what they do.
@JenInTN (27514)
• United States
12 Dec 09
I think they are still "choice" behaviors but by becoming a habit, they are sure to be performed. We are creatures of habit and when we want to implement things into our life there is no better way to do that then to become used to doing things in a certain way and at a certain time.
@MJ_Dakota (126)
• United States
12 Dec 09
I understand the creation of the habit to ensure the doing, but I was looking deeper, as I generally do, because like "thank you", the words become a polite habit and the actual gratitude is not contained in the words. So, is the polite habit of "thank you" a conscious act of gratitude, meaning you feel thankful or is it just a habit of saying the words?
When people (generalized here) pray or meditate at certain times of the day because it is a formed habit, do they just do it because it will throw off the "schedule" if they don't or do they do it with awareness and intent, everytime? Does a "ritual" lose it's meaning when done regularly, on a specific day or time because it is a habit?
@MimiRemo (418)
• Philippines
11 Dec 09
Ritualistic behaviors all have meanings at some point. As for meditation, prayer and the likes, it all had been a conscious action and later on became customary because of the meaning and sense of enlightenment it brings to an individual. A person chooses to practice it. However, other behavior patterns we acquired, and follow regularly also tend to become almost involuntary, involving our senses and reflexes. Even as a psychiatric disorder, ritualistic behaviors all had some significance to a patient.
@MJ_Dakota (126)
• United States
11 Dec 09
Yes, I agree that at the start, the choosing is a concience choice, but it seems that many lose the conscience part of the action when the action is performed regularly. The intention behind the action is forgotten and no longer thought about. Actions become habit because this is the practice for what they wish to achieve or because this is what they are told to do.
Interesting thought of the psychiatric patient with ritualistic behaviors, but, even so, does it become ritualistic with intention, consciously or out of habit? That may not be anwerable as when it comes to some disorders there are many misunderstandings and unknown factors involved.
Thank you for your reply
