Francis;
I’m saying it is ok to be unaware of this fabulous birthright, they’re saying that it’s not ok.
Is there a non-dualistic, meta-physical, transcendental, timeless precept for such a conviction, or is it rather a more moral, ethical, empathetic impulse –or even a vast, colorful combination of multiple motivations?
It seems as though we are back to ‘it’s all good’ once again, and I’m just simply trying to get a lock on its timeless origins, and its potentially omniscient veracity.
To answer your question, I consider it a pragmatic approach.
To highlight just how impactful exterior, cultural realities have on our own personal interior world views –when I initially read your word ‘pragmatic’- my first association was of Obama, and his own predictable and safe pragmatism, at a critical time in history, when anything but, would seem to be required. As I recently told a friend not too long ago; “He wrote a book called ‘The Audacity of Hope,’ not ‘The Audacity of Pragmatism!’” One of the most frequent words the media seems to have chosen to describe our new president is ‘pragmatic.’ As a liberal, progressive, democratic, and dare I say ‘spiritual’ observer, activist, and voter –I have become quite disappointed with not only Obama’s preference for pragmatic, centrist governance- but it also seems to be the favorite default position of nearly every other elected, democratic politician as well. In certain political circles the term is known as ‘republican lite.’ Suffice to say, in the last few months, that simple word has taken on a whole new meaning –or association- for me, and I have to confess, it ain’t none too positive either. Be that as it may, I truly do understand where you’re coming from though, with your use of the word. However, I just thought it a practical ‘meme mining exercise’ to take a moment periodically to re-reflect on just how easy it is to program and influence our inner realities, and to also wonder just how many of us actually takes the time to pause and take stock in these matters. I would venture a guess that precious few of us do so. I would also surmise that such an exercise might very well make up the bulk of the psycho-therapists itinerary, as well as being a large part of what might be regarded as another’s ‘spiritual work.’
If I don’t accept the way other people are, how can I hope to be accepted for the way I am?
Now that is pragmatic. Some might even say ‘commonsensical.’ Those folks would not be the politically conservative though. They save the term ‘common sense’ only for that which fits into their non-accepting world view. You will accept the way other people are, because that is your nature –that is a part of who you are. There are people who will never (I use the term ‘never’ loosely) accept you for the way you are, simply because that is the way they are, and all the logic in the world is not going to change that.
If I judge them, my judgments will bounce back and bite me in the ass.
Speaking of ‘ass’… Sometimes when confronted with an asshole, a little judgment just may be in order. A lot of judgment may not be wise, but a little judgment will help you decide if you might want to take this guy home to meet your sister –or if perhaps you should better yet deposit him in the nearest drunk-tank instead. I will readily admit that most of us are far too quick in the judgment game, and one of the most needed tools to remedy such a shortcoming is to find a way to bring in far more empathy with ones fellow inhabitants than we are presently engaged in. However, if we were to look at those people who judge, and those people who are concerned about judging –we would easily observe that although the two might be enmeshed in the process of judgment- the degree that one judges with reckless abandon and righteous indignation, and the degree that another judges while lamenting their own shortcomings for judging, cannot be considered as equally egregious offenses. People who judge on rare occasions, and then beat themselves up for their trespasses, are not on the same level, or footing, as those who judge everything and everybody, because of their deep-seated beliefs or associations about life itself, and everything in it… To be less judgmental is a good, integral practice for growing into a better, more empathetic human being. It is also simply the result of that ongoing growth.
If I’m not coming from the point of view of ‘I’m ok and you’re ok’, then I have a problem, not them. Does that make sense?
It does. But sometimes ‘you’re okay,’ and your neighbor is on a wild rampage that requires tear gas and handcuffs. If you don’t like the word ‘judgment’ –like I don’t like the word ‘pragmatic’- maybe a little ‘discernment’ instead might be in order. I really understand where you’re coming from here. I think this is probably ‘Paradox 101’ on the spiritual time continuum. Before we proceed on to the next step of our ethical, spiritual, moral, human growth project, it becomes rather self-evident that there are very real divisions in the world and the sure thing that seems to cause these divisions the most –besides violence itself- are the violent judgments we hold towards one another, both at home and all over the world. Naturally, a simple solution to such a problem would seem to be to stop all the violence, and stop all the judgment. The problem with moral relativism however, is the same problem that Barak Obama has. He doesn’t want to look back, he only wants to look forward. He cannot seriously affect change because to do so would force him to look back and to judge those –and those circumstances- which were responsible for our present –and some would say ‘unpleasant’- reality. Sometimes there are good policies, and sometimes there are bad ones. And sometimes there are those that are so badly screwed up that they just scream out for some serious judgment –particularly from the folks that do not like to judge…
My take on ‘It’s all good’ is that it’s like the expression ‘it’s 5 o’clock somewhere’ meaning that the cocktail hour can start at any time.
Well there’s that pragmatic side again, and it’s probably based on some very practical considerations. Many times my cheerful demeanor has been responded to with something like; “my, you’re certainly in a good mood,” which has oftentimes been followed by a well founded reply; “well, it sure beats the alternative, doesn’t it?” I am all for focusing on the sunny side. But I am also equally certain that when things are amiss, then we are also called to draw attention to those areas as well.
Shift your perspective if you don’t want to feel bad.
I think a big part of this experience we call physical reality, and being human, is how we deal with things we don’t like. I could turn off the TV, stop reading the newspapers, dial out the radio, and stay off-line if I don’t want to experience the un-pleasantries that life has to offer. Or I can just as easily feel a desire, or an obligation to participate in the collective era that I was born into.
There are no absolutes, so why stay in a state of mind that’s focused on the bad aspect of something, marinating your brain in stress chemicals when a mere shift in perspective is all that’s needed to feel better?
I certainly don’t see any value in stewing in one’s own juices forever on end. But to only shift my focus to the sunny side when our world around us is seemingly cracking at the seams appears to be no more a realistic alternative than the former.
“Every silver lining has a touch of gray” but why focus on that? Don't forget it, but don't focus on it either.
I’m not too concerned about a little rain on a picnic from that gray cloud you describe. I’m more concerned about those ominous, metaphorical thunderclouds which bring about something like the four horseman of the Apocalypse, because we refuse to judge our prior incarnations as it seems they detract from our present or future manifestations.
To some extent it's the same approach as that of the threatened ostrich, in fact I call it the ostrich approach. Works for me.
I’m sure we all play the ostrich from time to time. However I would hesitate to adopt it as a viable alternative to coming to terms with our own personal and collective shadows though…
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