Rationality can be transcended in two rational ways, by surprise or by remembering.
Surprise is the simple way, as when natural catastrophes or political revolutions turn the situation over. Remembering is when we feel a taste forgotten or hear a piece of music reminding of another reality.
To arrange for surprise is easy. Fashion is a systematic surprise business. Things should look new now and outdated tomorrow.
To transcend rationality and reach more subtle levels of reality is more difficult. But it is more rewarding. It is timeless, for ever. The music of Bach and Mozart is getting better and better over the years. Instead of surprise effect, it is the effect of deeper and deeper awareness of truth and compassion.
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
The principle 2
There are three obstacles to a better life in a mind based world view. They are own defilement, social obstacles and difficulties in understanding the principles of mind.
One of the principles of mind is that we get by giving. This is contrary to a materially based world view, where we lose what we give. But we get joy by giving joy, as we easily can test. The time lap between giving and getting is short in this case.
In other cases the time lap between cause and effect is long. This makes it difficult to understand the principles of mind.
In a mind based world view we can trust in that which is confirmed. The best confirmation is truth, which is pure mind. The second best confirmation is from other people or society. Others know more than we. But society is always biased. Social confirmation might be an obstacle.
Own defilement in mind are the primary obstacle. These defilement can be very difficult to get rid of. We often stick to our preconceptions and habits.
One of the principles of mind is that we get by giving. This is contrary to a materially based world view, where we lose what we give. But we get joy by giving joy, as we easily can test. The time lap between giving and getting is short in this case.
In other cases the time lap between cause and effect is long. This makes it difficult to understand the principles of mind.
In a mind based world view we can trust in that which is confirmed. The best confirmation is truth, which is pure mind. The second best confirmation is from other people or society. Others know more than we. But society is always biased. Social confirmation might be an obstacle.
Own defilement in mind are the primary obstacle. These defilement can be very difficult to get rid of. We often stick to our preconceptions and habits.
Monday, August 3, 2009
Full truth
Broadening the perspective and letting in more information is the way to solve problems, rather than try to work out a solution within a given framework.
Eventually there is no truth except the full truth.
The society is based on combination of truth and power, and the effects are sometimes strange with unlikely winners and losers. The ideal society is based only on truth.
One reason why the society is not already based on truth is that truth is difficult to see. There is a natural problem. This is traditionally increased by human secrecy, bad communication and will to deceive.
However, with the increasing interest in the workings of mind, the last obstacle to awareness is challenged.
Understanding the different functions of mind, including the extremely elusive but powerful long term effects, will clear the way to a just and free world.
Eventually there is no truth except the full truth.
The society is based on combination of truth and power, and the effects are sometimes strange with unlikely winners and losers. The ideal society is based only on truth.
One reason why the society is not already based on truth is that truth is difficult to see. There is a natural problem. This is traditionally increased by human secrecy, bad communication and will to deceive.
However, with the increasing interest in the workings of mind, the last obstacle to awareness is challenged.
Understanding the different functions of mind, including the extremely elusive but powerful long term effects, will clear the way to a just and free world.
Sunday, August 2, 2009
Direction 2
Positive mind development is in the direction of higher frequencies. Higher frequencies gives a more precise understanding and a wider outlook. It supports non violence, compassion and harmony.
We can make ourselves open for these higher frequencies by systematic practice. Meditation is normally a part of such exercises.
In our ordinary life, we use mind to deal with the issues at hand. While we do so, we get experiences and knowledge. When new situations appear, we use the old experiences and knowledge.
This is good, but it also has a conserving tendency. We solve the old problems in the old way, rather than seek for better ways of acting.
Solving everyday problems and practice for positive mind development is normally different things. Very different. In order to solve everyday problems we might use means like degradation, humiliation and violence. These means are contrary to positive mind development.
The lower the frequency level is in our mind, the more we feel stuck in our situation. The more inclined we might be to use bad means as violence and humiliations. In these cases, mind makes it more difficult for mind to start a positive development.
We can make ourselves open for these higher frequencies by systematic practice. Meditation is normally a part of such exercises.
In our ordinary life, we use mind to deal with the issues at hand. While we do so, we get experiences and knowledge. When new situations appear, we use the old experiences and knowledge.
This is good, but it also has a conserving tendency. We solve the old problems in the old way, rather than seek for better ways of acting.
Solving everyday problems and practice for positive mind development is normally different things. Very different. In order to solve everyday problems we might use means like degradation, humiliation and violence. These means are contrary to positive mind development.
The lower the frequency level is in our mind, the more we feel stuck in our situation. The more inclined we might be to use bad means as violence and humiliations. In these cases, mind makes it more difficult for mind to start a positive development.
Saturday, August 1, 2009
In mind 2
Compassion is the bottom line in Buddhist philosophy, and the other bottom line is awareness. Is there no conflict between truth and compassion? The answer is no.
Reality can be described in many ways, and all are good except the bad ones. The good ones are about compassion, which means a general, positive attitude towards others.
Compassion is an unusual attitude, as we see from history. History has been driven by egoism and strange ideas about superiority and the right to hurt and kill others.
In mind we can spontaneously have different ideas and experiences, but compassion is not spontaneous. It is something we have to learn. If we do that, we can see all issues in the light of compassion.
In Buddhist philosophy we find the connection between relative truth and absolute truth. The relative is an expression of the absolute, but not in a random or arbitrary way.
The relative truth can be understood in so many ways on the coarser levels of mind. We are normally deceived.
If we can not reach the deepest levels - which we can not do normally - we have to rely on rules of thumb - and the basic rule of thumb is that compassion is right.
Reality can be described in many ways, and all are good except the bad ones. The good ones are about compassion, which means a general, positive attitude towards others.
Compassion is an unusual attitude, as we see from history. History has been driven by egoism and strange ideas about superiority and the right to hurt and kill others.
In mind we can spontaneously have different ideas and experiences, but compassion is not spontaneous. It is something we have to learn. If we do that, we can see all issues in the light of compassion.
In Buddhist philosophy we find the connection between relative truth and absolute truth. The relative is an expression of the absolute, but not in a random or arbitrary way.
The relative truth can be understood in so many ways on the coarser levels of mind. We are normally deceived.
If we can not reach the deepest levels - which we can not do normally - we have to rely on rules of thumb - and the basic rule of thumb is that compassion is right.
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