Vanity and Fashion: Spirituality’s First Step

**Leo Volont** · 07-15-2006 12:20 AM

Vanity and Fashion: Spirituality’s First Step

Yes, the Monks and Ascetics of every major Spiritual Tradition lament Vanity, almost seeing it as the worst Sin. Well, that is because it is the last Sin they have to contend with, having transcended all of the rest of them. Now we should wonder why Vanity should be the last of Sins, unless it was the very last Stepping Stone to get them to where they are, and that is to wishing they were beyond even the thing that had lifted them up as far as they have gotten. Vanity is the Top of the Mountain from which they want to flay away. And so they take to hating their Mountain, forgetting that it is the height of this mountain that lifts them up from the basest depravities. They forget how much of their original Quest involved simply climbing this mountain. And what was the primary impulse that drove them up the steep slopes of this Mountain? Vanity. Yes, they could not have gone from Animal to Spiritual without some Aesthetic Sense of Ethereal Preference, and that is exactly what Vanity is.

What brings me to this subject. Well, I recently seen the movie “The Devil Wears Prada” and then had run out to buy the book (not the screenplay, thank God, but the original and fuller novel by Lauren Weisberger, and so much, then, for the people who think I am anti-Semitic… well, yes I am, but not to the extent of missing out on a book). Almost simultaneously I was shocked with a news report declaring that a new Study has found that now the majority of Americans, the average American now, the ‘mean’ American, what has now become the ‘normal’ American is fat, overweight, obese or well on the way to obese. My! It used to be that ‘normal’ was good thing. But now one has to begin to take an Aristocratic look at ‘normal’ and define it in the old way as ‘common’… and they never meant ‘common’ in a very good way, did they?

Well, what could account for the slippage of America into the category of the physically grotesque? And there we have it – animal complacency to simple appetites. The American Herd now eats by instinct. Just as they have sex by instinct and go to war by instinct. We should have seen this coming when they elected a President who never had better than a C average during his schooling, and probably had much worse at times. Being too stupid for any transcendent or even clever thought, what else has he but animal instinct to rely upon. And his Electorate holds him up as a shining beacon, a Paragon – the Perfect Animal. But I must concede that at least he isn’t fat. Why? Well, nobody is still so far gone that they would vote for a Fat President. Only Israel would do such a thing. Even Fat People themselves know that being Fat is certainly no positive recommendation. For if a person cares nothing for their appearance, we can hardly expect them to care for anything else. And at some level we all know this… even Fat People.

We have much surviving Art Work from the Minoan Civilization, the one that the Barbaric Greeks destroyed. A very High Civilization. They are all portrayed as becomingly slender.

And the French would never dream of being Fat. For them that would be a nightmare.

Now let us look at Fashion, and Models and then the Stars of Pop Music, Theater, Television and the Movies, and for this young generation, the created animations on their Video Games. All thin… or I should say svelte, because it sounds more appealing just as it is more appealing.

But it is not easy to be thin. Perhaps that is the whole point, after all – the effort… the voluntary suffering. It is a rare fashion model, indeed such a model does not exist, that can eat like a pig and say things like “I have a very fast metabolism”. No. They all virtually starve. They reach the point where hunger pangs are a kind of background noise that follows them around throughout life.

Now, Monks and Ascetics hold it as one of their primary accomplishments that they can fast and thus deprive themselves of indulging a primary physical appetite. Oh, and it also helps them to control their sexual libidos. One hardly has the impulse to chase about the village virgins when one hasn’t eaten for several days, or if one lives only on several spoonfuls of gruel a day. Anyway, Fasting, but lets call it what it is, chronic dieting, is one of the points for which the Religious and Ascetic Orders are most proud. Well, then, why should they not admire and admit into their throngs and fraternities all of these others who do the approximately the same thing as themselves. Indeed, the only difference between a Monk and a Model is that the Model dresses better (well, then again, some of the Orders of Nuns have outfits that are quite ‘cute’… who hasn’t had a fantasy there?). Each, both Monk and Model, have the same fear and contempt for the Unimproved Animalistic Human Being.

So, therefore, if you are fat, you should be ashamed of yourself… or perhaps it is futile to say such things, as we can largely expect that if a person has grown fat, then they hardly have much of a capacity for shame. Well, no, that’s unfair… as years ago I remember that I had met this lovely girl of 14 who latched onto my smile, as not something to be taken for granted, and launched into an explanation. Oh, by the way, I was a delivery boy at the time, and Mom and Dad were standing by, and so there was nothing abominable going on. Well, this young lady began showing me Before and After photos. She had been up over 200 pounds when she was just 11. But she had had something of a Satori Experience and had resolved to slim down, and so by 14 she was at her Target Weight and simply lovely. What an admirable little girl. So, yes, I have decided that you Fat People out there have no longer any excuse, not even that you might actually be shameless.

**dream-scape** · 07-15-2006 07:47 AM

Originally posted by Leo Volont
The American Herd now eats by instinct.

No, actually if we ate by instinct -- that is only when we needed to eat -- there would not be so many people excessively overweight. Depending on your definition of "overweight", then there may be some overweight people, but there wouldn't be very many people dying from being too fat. But most people don't eat by instinct; we don't eat to satisfy hunger; we eat for pleasure, for habit, for a fix, for comfort, and a variety of reasons other than because we need to; and if we do eat to satisfy hunger, then once our hunger has been appeased we still continue to eat beyond necessity. This is not instinct. This is partly habit, partly addiction, and partly conditioning.

We're not born wired to eat ourselves to death. That's ridiculous. We are born wired instinctually to eat, this is true, but not to the point of harming ourselves. It takes conditioning to go that far. And we're not born with an instinctual preference to the foods that are the worst for us to eat. That takes conditioning as well. Once we are conditioned, then it does sort of become like instinct -- a 2nd nature -- but that doesn't make it instinct.

**Leo Volont** · 07-15-2006 08:10 AM

Originally posted by dream-scape

No, actually if we ate by instinct -- that is only when we needed to eat -- there would not be so many people excessively overweight. Depending on your definition of "overweight", then there may be some overweight people, but there wouldn't be very many people dying from being too fat. But most people don't eat by instinct; we don't eat to satisfy hunger; we eat for pleasure, for habit, for a fix, for comfort, and a variety of reasons other than because we need to; and if we do eat to satisfy hunger, then once our hunger has been appeased we still continue to eat beyond necessity. This is not instinct. This is partly habit, partly addiction, and partly conditioning.

We're not born wired to eat ourselves to death. That's ridiculous. We are born wired instinctually to eat, this is true, but not to the point of harming ourselves. It takes conditioning to go that far. And we're not born with an instinctual preference to the foods that are the worst for us to eat. That takes conditioning as well. Once we are conditioned, then it does sort of become like instinct -- a 2nd nature -- but that doesn't make it instinct.

this is quibbling over words. You must have know what I meant.

Whatever word you have for unthinking impulsive behavior would do just fine. You don't like instinct and would choose to complicate the simple notion with all sorts of qualifiers... but what for? People already resent the five minutes it takes to read one of my Posts. They already think it complicated enough.

So I should throw out 'instinct' and talk about... what? Conditioning?

And about instinct making for only absolutely perfectly shaped animals. oh, bullcrap! Have you seen no fat dogs, or fat cats or, yes, fat pigs. Often Instinct will tell an animal that it is silly not to eat while food is available. "Pick yee rosebuds while yee may". Food is here now. It may not be here tomorrow. Some dogs and cats LEARN that they can rely on a steady daily supply of food, but those bound by their Instincts will continue to eat and must be limited in their access to food or they will become too corpulent.

If you must disagree with me, then you should think about it first and be sure you are correct. If your quibbling can so easily be found full of holes, then what was the use of quibbling in the first place?

**seenoevil** · 07-16-2006 05:52 PM

Originally posted by Leo Volont

People already resent the five minutes it takes to read one of my Posts. They already think it complicated enough.
If you must disagree with me, then you should think about it first and be sure you are correct. If your quibbling can so easily be found full of holes, then what was the use of quibbling in the first place?

Don't compliment yourself. I could also ask you what gives you the right to preach to someone who (rightly) calls you on your use of words when you yourself have a whole backlog of arguments filled with holes so transparent you can see into the other dimension.

**Leo Volont** · 07-19-2006 11:45 AM

Originally posted by seenoevil

Don't compliment yourself. I could also ask you what gives you the right to preach to someone who (rightly) calls you on your use of words when you yourself have a whole backlog of arguments filled with holes so transparent you can see into the other dimension.

Yeah, this is from somebody who has never written an essay in his life.

Arguments full of holes. Yes, they are all way too short. On Line Forums encourage brevity and brevity is nearly always incomplete. Its the nature of the medium. However, if anybody should enquire of a particular direction not taken, or to any noticeable holes, then I am always happy to expand my essay. Look in many of my threads and you will not fail but to see that with only the slightest questions or comments I had indeed expanded the original essay. You see, I kept the original Essay short and waited for some interest to manifest before continuing.

But an idiot... a morbid and ill-natured idiot... would certainly misconstrue this, and see a mere introduction, or an abbreviation, as a symptom that the author at that point is totally drained.

You only show your total lack of discernment. And absense of any potential or promise.

You complain of my essays, but you will go your whole life with nothing of your own to say. You complain about others so you won't complain about yourself.

**seenoevil** · 07-19-2006 05:58 PM

Originally posted by Leo Volont

Yeah, this is from somebody who has never written an essay in his life.

Arguments full of holes. Yes, they are all way too short. On Line Forums encourage brevity and brevity is nearly always incomplete. Its the nature of the medium. However, if anybody should enquire of a particular direction not taken, or to any noticeable holes, then I am always happy to expand my essay. Look in many of my threads and you will not fail but to see that with only the slightest questions or comments I had indeed expanded the original essay. You see, I kept the original Essay short and waited for some interest to manifest before continuing.

But an idiot... a morbid and ill-natured idiot... would certainly misconstrue this, and see a mere introduction, or an abbreviation, as a symptom that the author at that point is totally drained.

You only show your total lack of discernment. And absense of any potential or promise.

You complain of my essays, but you will go your whole life with nothing of your own to say. You complain about others so you won't complain about yourself.

It must get tiresome to uphold these delusions of grandeur you have of yourself, but kudos for trying to be fresh with your rebuttals despite the fact they're completely incorrect (or were you aware of the University papers I did or didn't write). The holes in your arguments I'm referring to - which I've referred to two other times on this board but you've seemed to have disregarded them completely -are the holes that come about when you tell lies or faulty information. I'm not referring to your essays here Mr. Volont. I'd have more respect for you if you acknowledged these since it makes you seem like kind of an ass. So yeah, here, let me put my question formally like a good scholar and give you the chance to expand upon it: Why have you ignored people who have questioned the legitimacy of things you have printed on this board? Is it because it's embarassing for you? Do I need to provide a link to these examples or do you already know what I'm talking about?

You can view me as an idiot, but I'm certain there are a few people on this board who are aware of the hypocrosy involved in the things you write. Despite your assertation that dream-scape must have known what you meant, your use of the word instinct confuses your essay, but I guess you're incapable of taking criticism. You avoid direct questions by way of flowery insults. You say I have a lack of discernment, but I'd say it's you who have been showing those qualities by confusing questions of character as attacks somehow unworthy of your time. So, while I realize that these online essays are your pet projects/ego-boosters (which is fine since everyone needs a hobby) it wasn't you or your essays I was condoning in the first place.

**Leo Volont** · 07-30-2006 08:53 AM

Originally Posted by Leo

Yeah, this is from somebody who has never written an essay in his life.
Arguments full of holes. Yes, they are all way too short. On Line Forums encourage brevity and brevity is nearly always incomplete. Its the nature of the medium. However, if anybody should enquire of a particular direction not taken, or to any noticeable holes, then I am always happy to expand my essay. Look in many of my threads and you will not fail but to see that with only the slightest questions or comments I had indeed expanded the original essay. You see, I kept the original Essay short and waited for some interest to manifest before continuing.
But an idiot... a morbid and ill-natured idiot... would certainly misconstrue this, and see a mere introduction, or an abbreviation, as a symptom that the author at that point is totally drained.
You only show your total lack of discernment. And absense of any potential or promise.
You complain of my essays, but you will go your whole life with nothing of your own to say. You complain about others so you won't complain about yourself.
[/b]

Well, you simply have anger issues that verge on insanity, and I suspect you are projecting on me because I must be reminding you are your strict mother or your cold and aloof father.

But, as it were, you certainly can't be treated seriously.

Take your meds or when age catches up to you, you will certainly stroke out.

Not that anybody would miss you...

**seenoevil** · 08-01-2006 12:58 AM

Originally Posted by Leo

Well, you simply have anger issues that verge on insanity, and I suspect you are projecting on me because I must be reminding you are your strict mother or your cold and aloof father.

But, as it were, you certainly can't be treated seriously.

Take your meds or when age catches up to you, you will certainly stroke out.

Not that anybody would miss you...
[/b]

Hmm, you still haven't answered my question. Thanks for the death wish though.

**Nanten** · 08-01-2006 08:22 PM

Leo, without you this forum would not be nearly as interesting.

**Leo Volont** · 08-02-2006 09:59 AM

Originally Posted by Leo

Well, you simply have anger issues that verge on insanity, and I suspect you are projecting on me because I must be reminding you are your strict mother or your cold and aloof father.

But, as it were, you certainly can't be treated seriously.

Take your meds or when age catches up to you, you will certainly stroke out.

Not that anybody would miss you...
[/b]

Asking questions.

What gives these young men any right to interrogat me?

Now if they would take the time and trouble, as I always do, to write an essay upon what THEY thing, then I might answer it.

But I will not jump through a hoop, like a dog, simply because some no good dog should ask me to.

Originally Posted by Leo

Hmm, you still haven't answered my question. Thanks for the death wish though.
[/b]

Thank you.

Indeed, I have been flattered of late to hear more than one or two people say so.

I've even had some favorable comments from a real Doctor...

**seenoevil** · 08-02-2006 04:11 PM

Originally Posted by Leo

Asking questions.

What gives these young men any right to interrogat me?

Now if they would take the time and trouble, as I always do, to write an essay upon what THEY thing, then I might answer it.

But I will not jump through a hoop, like a dog, simply because some no good dog should ask me to.
Thank you.

Indeed, I have been flattered of late to hear more than one or two people say so.

I've even had some favorable comments from a real Doctor...
[/b]

Ok, your spelling errors, digressions into a positive portrayal (favourable comments from a real doctor? So what, you're healthy then? Congrats&#33

and outright denial of any faults on your part have convinced me: you're a total moron. My question was simple and you've gone to extremes to avoid dealing with it. It's not jumping through a hoop, you cad, it's me wondering why you make up lies and expect no one to question your motives (or rather, that they'e "unworthy" of this sort of questioning...power trip much?). It's not an interrogation, it's the belief that people such as yourself can make errors and then be given the chance to explain themselves before they can be judged as liars. So, unfortunately I'm always going to see you as a liar of the worst kind, the kind who won't even acknowledge his lies. Well, whatever, this is the internet. I'm sure we'll bump into each other in some other forums and dislike each other there as well. I still wonder why you said this

The European Existentialists didn't already know what they were living for and tried to put together an intellectual package to give meaning to their lives, and then when they found they could come up with no truly compelling reason (people who can't prove God can hardly prove anything else that is important either) and so they nearly all committed suicide... either very directly, or slowly with alchohol and drugs. [/b]

Jeez was that ever off-base