Can we change, or...are we only ourselves? The river was wide and swift, and the scorpion stopped to....?

I heard another version.

They get to the other side, then the scorpion stings the frog, and scuttles off. "You fool", say the frog's friends, "didn't you know it was the scorpion's nature to sting?"

Frog is sick, but recovers. Shortly after, back comes scorpion, seeking to retrace his journey. "How about another lift, Mr. Frog?"

All Frog's friends appear. "Don't do it, Mr. Frog! Remember what happened to you last time! It is in the scorpion's nature to sting!"

"Indeed, friends", replies Frog, offering his back to the scorpion again. "And it is in my nature to help. I survived last time, and can do so again."

Moral? If fear of death is so weak that it does not deter evil, then it certainly should not deter goodness. We can change, and exemplars are out there to show us the way.

Is it foolish to give, to live in fear, or live life? Trust is always hard to give to anyone. The more I learn the more I know that people see what they want. I could look at any one thing and expect that it is what it is, it takes more courage to challenge it. If I were to die that way I would admittedly be a fool, but a fool with an experience.

Edit more reflection on the question:

Can we change or are we are selves? Because we are human and have the ability to reason and solve problems I think we are capable of changing a few things about ourselves.

I think it takes a greater conciseness of knowing what it is to change. Then it takes ambition, and will power.

Overall I think we change day to day with knowledge and different experiences, but that doesn't mean that the change is good or bad. It is with in ourselves to make the outcome.

I had a friend that used to say " maybe snake...maybe bite"

another story that comes to mind, as I think of your anecdote about the scorpion...

the christmas eve tale of two sides in the first world war...a temporary cease fire was called, in which the warring parties sang christmas songs across the trenches. they both shared the sentiment of the evening. for how long, I don't know, but the sad part was ...they began firing at each other the next day.

we all put faces on our enemies that are not really true...the british would shoot a german out of the sky, but offer him cigarettes and coffee if he landed with a broken leg or arm in their backyard during ww 2.

maybe in heaven we get to sort some of these things out.

thanks for the great question. very thought provoking.

Hi

I am agree with the message of that tale. I strongly believe in moral determinism, because it has to do with the confused area in which we express the universe. It is better to talk about express in a brigther and wider way the nature, universe, universal conciusness, our soul, God, the name you use.

If we dont begin to be aware of the darkness of our vision of life, for so begin to express better the universe, all our life will be ruled by the same patterns, trends, tendencies, inclinations, that arise in a given moment or situation, sooner or later. Therefore, the tale talks the truth: the moral determinism of human beings.

We all have the inclinations and patterns of wise and prophets, even the nature of Plato, Jesus, Buda and Lao Tze, but that knowledge is deep inside and needs to be arosen with suffering, dialectics, attention, patience, perseverance and a long period of time of proofs and dissapointments.

We cant change as such if the "attention" of our mind is not directed to the deepest things of existense on a regular bases. That is, changing the poison of the scorpion for nectar of gods, the sting of pain for the touch of life and happiness.

Have a nice day...............................

Well it depends Stefano

Its up to "You.

if u wanna change For something good, and ur trying real hard To bring a change in yourself then nothing is impossible.

Someitmes Its just We loose the control!!

And i think that yes We can bring a change in ourselves untill and unless We want too ...Nobody can help you, you are Ur Best friend :) nobody understands you better then You Urself !!

And if ur talking Abt Human nature then i'll just say "“The more one analyses people, the more all reasons for analysis disappear. Sooner or later one comes to that dreadful universal thing called human nature.”

and “There is nothing that can be changed more completely than human nature when the job is taken in hand early enough.”

hv a gr8 day

This seems to be at least the second time you have posted such.

Humans are not scorpions nor frogs.

Humans have the ability to awaken and realize their true essences and, therefore, their place within the grander scheme of life and such realization give humans the personal opportunity to change as, when and if the same is necessary.

However, humans are only a part of the whole of creation and therefore play their own part in the balance of all.

(Please, post something original...)

namaste.

I don't know if we can change our character to its opposite, I guess we're locked within psychological boundaries and our ability to change stay inside these limits. All the issue is to clearly identify the borders. But the story of the frog and the scorpion is a little too radical for me. It tells us we humans absolutely can't change, I disagree.

Rather, a hyper-conventional reduction, or simplification, of "nature as law" in operation here, a cruel machine engineered from, by, and for "selves". There can be no other rationale for the fable, which promulgates an artificial, as opposed to natural, rationale for survival.

The alternative is a direct and radical confrontation with nature, which is continuous, needful of no re-telling.

Hi Stefano! This is a very good question....

How we suppose to change our inner nature when our thinking and feelings are shaped by our genetic inheritance, when “ it runs in the family”. Also don´t you forget, that we evolved from animals (in fact: we basically are animals) and they are what they are, controlled by their inherent instincts.

How many people have you met so far, that have changed their personalities?

Have you seen a wolf behaving like a lamb? Or viceversa?

The argument can be made that we really can't change our essential nature, BUT we can change our behavior. We cannot transform our inner ego, but we may live by a common law that dictates mutual respect.

But remember that left to their own, people will naturally return to their primal roots: Beasts struggling to survive............... don´t matter what !

Wars, along history..... show this to us......

Have a lovely Sunday !

G You see, that is the way of the life condition of animality. Scorpions and frogs don't have the ability to change the parameters of their life because their sexual selection is determined by conformity to a narrow band of characteristics.

Humans build elaborate structures with language and protect themselves from selection within those structures by the vaunted ability to learn. Unfortunately, most of the ability to learn is clouded by delusions that keep much of humanity in life conditions close to those of animals. Here is a description of a reliable way to transcend those limitations. Anyone can use the SCBTM.

Six Combined Basic Truths Method

Generalist -April, 24, 2009

There is mass confusion that keeps most people tending toward the lower four levels of life. That makes life fragile and unsatisfactory for most. The levels are helpless suffering, endless craving, excessive positionality, and egotistic compulsion. When people advance a little, they can operate at higher levels more consistently and can calmly reflect, then learn, then realize, then help others and, slowly, or immediately, even be enlightened and understand the whole scope and never stop teaching and learning. This process is called the ten worlds in Buddhism.

It is not a ladder, but a multi-dimensional mind-state continuum of tendencies where anyone can immediately be anywhere depending on mind-body-brain shifts. The tendencies are part of life and we can choose not to be dominated by the uncomfortable tendencies. Here is how to gain mastery.

The human brain only presents a minute split of what is going on to the consciousness. There is simply too much going information streaming in from the senses. In addition, the vastness of the universe and our ignorance of it preclude knowing everything. It is also not necessary to know everything.

To function much better than usual, we only need to

Focus Intention –Nam-in order to understand the basic relevant realities like the inseparability of

Tangible and Intangible-Myoho

Causes produce Effects,-Renge

Change never stops-Kyo- so no one is stuck, and that by reciting the formula that includes all of these basic realities in a short form, gets results. It’s in Japanese because the topic can’t be expressed as succinctly in another language, and its originator lived in 13th century Japan.

This process clears the mind for greater comprehension. It is not magic, it is cognitive exercise.

Put your palms together and recite the formula for a great life (Nam Myoho Renge Kyo.) This summation of life's realities is the basic truth which anyone can use to enhance life. The dichotomies and contradictions disappear as fast as a person allows them to.

Source(s):

Nichiren Daishonin, by way of Daisaku Ikeda

What have I gained since I started to use this formula?

Unknown artistic ability discovered. That ability led to success.

Rebuilding of an unhappy, isolated, paranoid, chain saw personality to being a middle class nice guy with all the friends I want.

Money is much better.

Professional ability is much better.

Met and married the woman of my dreams 16 happy years ago.

Comprehensions added.

The comprehension required to help hundreds of people change their lives to happy success. Success as they individually defined it

if you want more information, click on: http://www.sgi.org/