Multi culture

When USA entered the first world war and sent soldiers to Europe, some Europeans were surprised that the American soldiers considered themselves to be American. They were not American. Many of them were fresh immigrants from different countries. But they were ready to fight and die under the American flag.

In Europe at that time nationality was an issue of life and death. For a french person it could mean death just to talk to a German.

These days things are different. Thanks to EU, Europe has had a long time of peace. Never before in the history of that continent has there been so much peace for so long.

We see that the ability to live together and accept cultural differences is not about culture or nations, but about mind.

Is it in accordance with human nature to live in peace? Well, yes and no. The no answer seems to be the most obvious. There has been a lot of wars during history,

But the yes alternative is stronger.´If we have a chance to choose, we are easily convinced of the advantages of peaceful cooperation.

But if we want a stable peace we have to look into the deepest recesses of mind. What will we find there? We did find Nazism not that long ago.

The factor that could cause war could be called a dirty will to power. We all have a will to power. But it is only when it is dirty and infected that it becomes a serious threat.

Dirt and infection in mind is always adventitious, according to Buddhist psychology. So there is room for optimism.

Dirt and infection in mind can be eliminated by being exposed to light and awareness. And in the modern world with a high level of education and information all individuals can take part in this enlightenment.

So globalization and the meeting of cultures could by itself be a peace supporting process.

The liberator 2

The power of mind is normally used to suppress the power of mind. We are born that way, and often family and society supports this suppression.
The extreme opposite, a totally free and open mind is spontaneously quite difficult to endure for most individuals. It seems to have no stable points, nothing to relate to and nothing to refer to.
We can organise our life in many different ways, but if we choose one way we should stick to that. So we get conventions which are good in practical situations, but not good in any absolute meaning. These conventions can block access to the full truth, in particular if they contain ideas about ideologies or religious dogmas which can not be questioned.
Conventions are no block to total reality if everything can be questioned, and if we see the conventions as just temporary conventions and nothing more.
For mind itself it is difficult to look through its own limitations. We try to learn facts, rather than learn to question every observation. This difficulty is just a transitory stage, happily.
If we open mind and see that it can be used not only for routine operations about daily habits and material support, we find a state of harmony which is stronger and safer than any good feelings we might have with a mind blocked in suppression.
Then the power of mind will be used by mind to explore the full power of mind. For the individual this can be experienced as being born again.
The liberation of mind is a task for every individual. Others can not do it for us, but others can open our eyes and others can help remove disturbing external factors like dictators and irritating people.

Investigation 2

Thanks to the surveillance camera we can see which persons travel in a certain subway compartment at a certain time between certain stations - and we can collect millions and millions of such pieces of information from all over the world - and still know nothing interesting at all. Of course, for the subway company it is important to know the number of travellers at all times and places.
If trouble occur, the images can be used in retrospect. The awareness of the presence of the cameras might also be a calming factor.
But the cameras will tell very little about what is really happening during the trip. Yet it can be quite interesting, at least from a human point of view. Every passenger is living a unique novel, and this trip is probably a decisive chapter. But not all is seen on the outside. But all is in the mind.
We have this illusion that external factors tell a lot about reality. This illusion is also basis for the visual dramas we see in movies and television. But even documentary programs are not really documentary. They use the internationally accepted language of physical expression. Compared to natural activities, the language used in media is more precise in all details, be they hair cut, clothes, facial expression, body language, gestures and whatever.
The facade tells very little of the content in mind. So why study the facade?
The content in mind is very stable - in a sick way - in some people. But the mind itself can be open and free to mirror anything. If we want mind to act positively, we have to give positive impulses and projects.

Experience and experiencer 2

If mind was perfectly empty it would be as a video camera randomly filming anything, showing it to no one.
But it is not. Normally our life is very dramatic and drastic, full of emotionally charged happenings, hopes and broken illusions.
Our mind is not neutral. It gives importance to certain factors but not to others. Life and the meaning of life depends upon this "giving importance".
This process has two scopes, one external and one internal.
The external is when we decide about people, work, places, money. Internal is when we decide what to value and cherish.
When we make these decisions we normally relate to the reality as it is or as it should be. So it might seem as importance is given by external factors. And external factors can be very important. But the power of decision is in the mind.

Existence

In this fast developing world, the restraining factor is not money or technology but human beings. We drag our mind behind. It is not altogether wrong. We should know what we do, even if we never do.
Mind creates existence. Existence in mind is an anomaly, like a canal in mud. The canal makes it easier for energy to pass through it, but the borders of the canal gives resistance to the energy.
So existence in mind has these two aspects: facilitating and creating resistance.
We can easily create existence, in particular in archetypal situations as relations and job.
This is very good as long as the situation lasts. But when it changes our learning becomes a hindrance.
But existence in mind is adventitious. It is not stable. It can be changed, if we want it to change.
If we ware as aware of our ability to change existence in mind as we are of the effects of existence in mind, we and the world would be more happy.

Shambhala

The evil tyranny of greed and hatred will be subdued by Shambhala.
Shambhala is a mythical land situated "in the northern direction" in the world or universe...
Google earth has two Shambhala. Both are in England. But none of them is a land.
So the question is still open... where is Shambhala really?
Maybe it is only in the mind?
That would be the best place anyway.
What will subdue the tyranny of greed and hatred? Is it weapons? Is it Matrix?
Greed and hatred are ideas, and they can only be replaced by other ideas. What about tolerance and generosity?

Against

As long as there is rules, there is the charm of speculating against the rules. It is irresistible.
It is not just a bad idea. It is a deep urge to test if the rules are justified.
But some rules are justified.
To live within justified rules must not be bad or boring. It could be like painting new and perfect paintings. It is within the rules, it is new and very good.
OK, we know this when it comes to painting.
But what about money, public truth and violence? Why should these sectors be free from justified rules?
Money is the most important measurement in this world. It is more important than others measures, like the meter, the litre, the second.
When it comes to meter, litre or second we are extremely specific. The length of a meter is decided down to the smallest decimal. Very good.
But the value of money fluctuates, minute for minute. The relative value between currencies change, and inflation change the value within the currencies.
This should not be tolerated, as it is not necessary.
Public truths should be true, and let us all hope it will be so. May the times of stories about "weapons of mass destruction" be over.
When it comes to private use of violence, there are many rules in most countries. Of course, no one cares very much. Abuse, mainly of women, continues day and night all over the world.
The public use of violence is often seen as more justified. But is it? Should not every dictator be tried for every instant of violence as any other suspect?
If the political violence is justified, the leaders have nothing to fear.
But politics is always debated. There seems to be no general truth. But there is such a truth. It is on mind level.

Mutual trust

The difference between mind logic and body logic is quite obvious in military contexts. The military activity is traditionally body activity and mainly material.
In society in general, it is probably sports and the military who continues to focus on the body most of all. Almost all other activities are turning more and more to mind. Physical work is now done by robots or heavy machinery.
There are so many differences between body and mind.
Body activity is analogue - the more strength the better. Mind is digital - the result is not better if you press the button forcefully instead of mildly. The longer you do a body work, like digging a hole, the deeper it gets. For mind the important aspect is to do the right, which might take just a second.
There are many other differences between body logic and mind logic.
One issue is about security and the experience of security.
Military security is traditionally to have the most of men, guns and ammunition. Existential security is mutual trust. No weapons are needed.
For civilians who are not trained in military security it is difficult enough to trust in mutual trust. For those who are trained in military thinking it could be even more difficult.
So here we are ... the world will be safe when those who are trained not to trust in trust starts to trust trust more than weapons.
So, when will the world be safe?

School shooting

Most people does not return to their old school to kill people, but some does. What is the process in mind leading to this result?
One possibility would be a destructive mind loop.
We have many mind loops. Normally they are positive as in the extreme example of being in love. The thoughts return to the same subject all the time.
The world we live in is quite disturbing and distracting, so we often get negative impulses. All of them can start destructive mind loops.
But normally we dismiss these loops. Sometimes we play around with them, "just for fun" trying to figure out the perfect prank or even crime.
These games are quite risky, as we see in the world. A lot of strange actions take place.
The only safe way to get rid of destructive mind loops is compassion. Compassion is the will to help others.

Self made

As we have no self, we can be self made...
If we had a given self we could not change. As we have no given self we can change. When we have changed we can call this new situation self made - we made it ourselves.
The argument is something like this:
The personality we have now is decided by our body and mind. Mind is most important. It contains our experiences, our knowledge and our hopes for the future.
According to Buddhism there is nothing more. This is different from our spontaneous feeling and from most religions, which claim there is a self or soul which is the supervisor of all we do.
If our personality is nothing more than the effect of our present knowledge we might as well improve our knowledge and thus get a better self.
To change personality is not easy. It is not a superficial thing. But it can be done.

Open mind

Mind is the most sensitive aspect of a human being. From extreme suffering to extreme joy - maybe too much to endure.
For the sake of efficient life we create routines which replace mind processes.
It is better to have good routines than to fritter away life...maybe.
But routines are not the meaning of lie. The content is the meaning.
If we open mind and let it enjoy the meeting of good alternatives, the process of decision making becomes a source of enjoyment ... and the decisions get better

Absence

Absence is a more definitive word than emptiness. It is not totally wrong to say that something has emptiness, but it is totally wrong to say that something has absence. The combination "have absence" would be of the same category as "blade-less knife without handle".

The absence of inherent existence means that everything must justify its existence every moment. If not a process of decay starts immediately.

In society we try to create stability. And constant change gives stability. But if we want stability without change, we get problems.

The most important causes are in mind. Thoughts of importance are supported by other thoughts and experiences.

Mind as a construct of thoughts that partly support each other, and partly challenge each other is sophisticated, or should be sophisticated. In the reptile brain, the constructs are simple and gross. Then thoughts about violence and negativity are often supported, even if such ideas are not supported in other parts of the brain.

Mind is a secluded area, and any idea can appear and even get some support there. But the mere presence of an idea does not give it power or reality. The thought must be justified by other thoughts in order to have power and reality.

But in whose mind? This is another level of the analysis.

Are there direct connections between minds?

Anyhow, may you be happy, content and fulfilled.

Fragility

What defeated the Soviet empire? Nothing. It collapsed by itself. It was fragile.

In a democratic state the collapse is constant. Every decisions is questioned and often severely critizised. There are frequent changes of power. The whole construct is fragile, but all know that, so new - fragile - structures are erected immediately.

The fragility is a safety measure. If there is no fragility but for example military or economical control, the effects for humans can be very difficult.

The stability - whenever there is stability - is on mind level. Even mountains have "minds" that give stability. This mountain "mind" is technically seen the electromagnetic field that supports the atoms and the molecules in the mountain.

In the human world, the stability is given by human minds. The stabilising factors are agreement and trust.

In the inner world of the mind the difference between compassion and self centeredness is very important. Compassion leads to the good, and self centeredness to the problems. But it seems to be the other way around.

From mind only to only mind

It is quite normal be a mind only-person. When we try to understand an external world we are mind only. Typical mind only is natural science. Researchers figure out how material things work. Thanks to this knowledge we (no, not me personally, but we as culture) know how to build roads, bridges, airplanes and a lot more.

We experience an external world existing there on its own right. This is denied by mind only. The world is a projection, but the projection is done by a real mind. So if two or more minds see a thing in the same way, that is true.

But all of the external reality is not stable as the material reality. Some of the most important factors are very fluctuating and difficult to describe. People are fluctuating. And music.

In music it is popular doing top ten lists. The ten best songs ever ... There are many lists but none of them is really true. According to mind only, these lists are only subjective. Your list might be true for you but not for me.

We know this and top ten lists are not really a matter of life and death. But people might be.

In the old days, police tried to figure out who killed who. It was difficult enough, but it was about material things - knives, poison, shotguns and the like.

But now one task is to prevent terrorism. A terrorist deed is material, but the planning is not material.

If we hunt terrorists with mind only view we will find nothing until it is too late. But we can do a lot of harm while trying to expose something which does not exist.

If mind only gives no result it is a risk that the view changes to Madhyamaka prasangika. Then the investigator creates a world of subject - object and nothing more. Even the most harmless old age pensioner can look like a terrorist if the looker is fearful for terrorists.

So if someone in power glides into Madhyamaka prasangika it might be very dangerous for those around. The objective observation is changed into subject-object.

Normally we see the worst parts of our personality as external. We do not acknowledge bad or weak aspects of ourselves, but see those aspects as belonging to others.

If we know it is a projection, we can deal with the problems in our own mind. If we believe it is objective truth, we start persecuting innocent people.

Potential for change

This day, March 3, 2009, on the site http://www.mindminding.com/ a story called "Potential for change" is published. Why?

In the newspaper Dagens Nyheter of today, there is an editorial article called "Undvikandefilosofi" (Philosophy of evasiveness) by Hanne Kjöller. It is a commentary based upon a book called Någonting är sjukt (Something is sick) by the medical doctor in Uppsala Per Lytsy.

In the book is reported actual cases of individuals who have been on sick leave for years without being better. The conclusion drawn by Hanne Kjöller is that you can discuss what the solutions are , but we can be pretty sure that sick leave is not among the solutions.

And indeed, I agree very much. The causes for people getting stuck outside work and social life should be discussed.

And as usual for me, I feel that most of the solutions are on mind level.

The solutions are not on the physical, medical level. People might be healthy and still remain drop outs. So sick leave is not the most appropriate classification from that point of view.

The solution is not on the economical level. Economical stimuli or penalties does not work if the real cause is elsewhere.

The solution is not on the administrative level. The poor administrators have only a few alternatives in classifying problems, and these particular problems does not fit to any given alternative.

The solution is not on the political level. The problems are individual and they will survive any political change.

The solution is not in the labour market or in the capitalist system. Private and public work places are for production.

And so on. The usual explanations does not work. They are tried.

The solution is on mind level, but even that does not mean that all problems are solved easily. That is what the story "Potential for change" is about.

Welcome

Welcome

to this blog, Awareness of awareness. It started in the end of February 2009.

My name is Kurt and I used to be a journalist for many years. Now I am retired. Since 2005 I have the site http://www.mindminding.com/ .

It is about mind and mind aspects of all kinds of issues.

The knowledge of mind comes mainly from Buddhist traditions, in particular from Tibetan mahayana buddhism.



My intention is to use this blog as a meta site for the mindminding site. That means I want to explain some of the background factors and the reasoning behind the articles on the mindminding site.



The general background is that mind aspects are neglected in the general debate. I feel this to be an objective and obvious truth. Accepted aspects are many: political, economical, historical, social, psychological, cultural, scholastic, scientific, medical, gender, legal...and many more. But not mind.



Mind is the decisive aspects in many issues. Many solutions are on mind level. It is easy to see if we only start looking. In a humble way, I want to use this site for that purpose.