Stiff 2

Mind is openness. It is so open that it can be trained not to be open. The opposite to openness is being stiff. Mind can be stiff and react in one particular way to a certain stimulus. This happens in basic military training. The idea is that soldiers should use their weapons automatically in war situations.

War has this technical aspect of handling weapons. It also has the humane aspect of relating to other individuals.

It is easier to avoid this issue if the mind is stiff. It the others are understood as just enemy, evil, threatening and not as nice people longing for love and kindness, it is easier to kill them.

Is this good or bad?

A person with a very stiff mind can treat others very bad and still feel that he is doing the right and good thing.

To relate to others is difficult, in particular in the meeting between different cultures. Here we need the openness of mind. We need new solutions or at least a new understanding.