Maybe I should reiterate the following;
It would seem to me nearly impossible to communicate with people who remain unaware of their belief systems, and the role their belief systems play in their understanding of the world, which they inhabit. How these belief systems go on to color and organize their world for them, without them knowing it.
This is no criticism, simply an observation.
As an example, “What is ‘THE’ purpose of life?” … some have asked.
It is a question phrased in the singular. ‘THE’ purpose of life - as if thinking that things must function in the singular where life is concerned. Why is that – could it simply be because that is how they think for the most part, in the singular,
They assume that the answer to life must be in the singular as well, because that is how they think - so that is the approach they use.
This singular approach to life, or the meaning to life for that matter, is ingrained, it’s automatic – it takes place without forethought – without premeditation of any kind.
But wait, why not ask; “what might be the multi-faceted purposes (plural) of life?”
Do we not exist in multiple planes or dimensions in this life? Two of which might be the spiritual and the physical - most, but of course not all, seem to agree to that. Logically, would both dimensions have the same purpose?
Humans tend to think in linear thought - (A to B, B to C, etc.). But do all beings?
What about convergent thought (all information arriving simultaneously)? Humans don’t process information that way, for the most part.
The universe is much bigger than our imaginations – we can’t let what we can imagine, limit us in any way.
Our belief systems are simply a template we all use. We put this template over everything we encounter. Most often, these templates elicit either a YES or NO response.
Either what you encounter aligns with your belief system – or it doesn’t.
So that in the blink of an eye – your belief system decides for you, what is, and more importantly, what is not, relevant to you at any particular point in time.
We need to understand that our belief system is doing this - all the time – with us unaware.
With regard to our belief systems, what is the answer then?
Maintain ‘presence of mind’ – at all times. Acknowledge that you see the world ‘through the eyes’ of your belief system. Our belief systems – regardless of what or which ones they might be – color our world and everything in our world.
What about our religious beliefs - which system is best; Judaism, Christianity, Zen, Buddhism – which?
It depends upon the culture of which one is a part, one's higher self and where one is (spiritually) at any particular point in time. The answer is what is best for the individual, given their circumstances at any point in time. It’s an individual matter, although, typically, belief systems are followed en masse.
One might even wish to devise their own belief system if they so choose, for that matter. And for that person, that would be appropriate.
Arguing about belief systems, is really arguing about what is best for the individual – and only the individual, via the higher self, can make that choice.
There is no belief system that is best for all people – although those belonging to popular belief systems, within any particular culture, might disagree.
See, it always seems to come back to our thought process, that process by which we think. It can limit us, and our understanding of our world, without our knowing it.
...
It would seem to me nearly impossible to communicate with people who remain unaware of their belief systems, and the role their belief systems play in their understanding of the world, which they inhabit. How these belief systems go on to color and organize their world for them, without them knowing it.
This is no criticism, simply an observation.
As an example, “What is ‘THE’ purpose of life?” … some have asked.
It is a question phrased in the singular. ‘THE’ purpose of life - as if thinking that things must function in the singular where life is concerned. Why is that – could it simply be because that is how they think for the most part, in the singular,
They assume that the answer to life must be in the singular as well, because that is how they think - so that is the approach they use.
This singular approach to life, or the meaning to life for that matter, is ingrained, it’s automatic – it takes place without forethought – without premeditation of any kind.
But wait, why not ask; “what might be the multi-faceted purposes (plural) of life?”
Do we not exist in multiple planes or dimensions in this life? Two of which might be the spiritual and the physical - most, but of course not all, seem to agree to that. Logically, would both dimensions have the same purpose?
Humans tend to think in linear thought - (A to B, B to C, etc.). But do all beings?
What about convergent thought (all information arriving simultaneously)? Humans don’t process information that way, for the most part.
The universe is much bigger than our imaginations – we can’t let what we can imagine, limit us in any way.
Our belief systems are simply a template we all use. We put this template over everything we encounter. Most often, these templates elicit either a YES or NO response.
Either what you encounter aligns with your belief system – or it doesn’t.
So that in the blink of an eye – your belief system decides for you, what is, and more importantly, what is not, relevant to you at any particular point in time.
We need to understand that our belief system is doing this - all the time – with us unaware.
With regard to our belief systems, what is the answer then?
Maintain ‘presence of mind’ – at all times. Acknowledge that you see the world ‘through the eyes’ of your belief system. Our belief systems – regardless of what or which ones they might be – color our world and everything in our world.
What about our religious beliefs - which system is best; Judaism, Christianity, Zen, Buddhism – which?
It depends upon the culture of which one is a part, one's higher self and where one is (spiritually) at any particular point in time. The answer is what is best for the individual, given their circumstances at any point in time. It’s an individual matter, although, typically, belief systems are followed en masse.
One might even wish to devise their own belief system if they so choose, for that matter. And for that person, that would be appropriate.
Arguing about belief systems, is really arguing about what is best for the individual – and only the individual, via the higher self, can make that choice.
There is no belief system that is best for all people – although those belonging to popular belief systems, within any particular culture, might disagree.
See, it always seems to come back to our thought process, that process by which we think. It can limit us, and our understanding of our world, without our knowing it.
...