I very much like Kahneman’s phrase, “Theory of Induced Blindness”. Identity with a paradigm, simultaneously valid yet contradictory realities, transgradient flexibility, conditioning, preconceived notions… How many ways have we said it?
Really, with just a little thought, it is self-evident… isn’t it? Education at some point is more about indoctrination than true education. Right? I think everyone actually knows it. However, it is like gravity. Everyone knew about gravity before Newton named it. Yet there is power in the naming of it. Once named, it is more easily focused upon, worked with, and more fully understood.
It is the same with spirituality. Every person, every religion, understands it, feels it, with some degree of clarity… or vagueness, depending on how you look at it… the glass half full or half empty. A belief system is identified with, thereby limiting people from seeing the bigger picture.
True learning is about expanding awareness, so all paradigms, all perspectives, all belief systems are understood… used or abandoned based upon the need of the moment…. i.e. transgradient flexibility. It is important to understand this, yet ultimately living it is a state of physiology, a level of consciousness, as opposed to just another belief system.
How did Emanuel Lasker, the ‘grandfather of chess’, put it? “I spent the last half of my life trying to forget what I learning in the first half.” Of course, you do not really try to forget. You just evolve your relationship with it. You become less identified with it. You see beyond it. You understand it on a deeper level.
https://creativeconflictwisdom.wordpress.com/2011/07/05/theory-induced-blindness/
Seems to me that everything can work in theory but when it is put into practice is when you see if it aligns with nature.
What I feel, almost literally, in reading this post is the structured and unstructured-ness of existence. Going even a millimeter more than needed in one direction is too much. And in that I sense the delicateness of every moment, every belief, religion, paradigm to be and serve its best and so easily potentially falling into its worst from what we do with these, in how we relate to and act from them.
Beautiful blog. And, as always, very helpful and practical application for me. I so appreciate the concept of transgradient flexibility. I’ve felt the intensity of my own inflexibility lately when I’m confronted with others’ strong belief systems. I realize that flexibility comes from evolved awareness and physiology, but the intellectual understanding is also a helpful step. Thank you.
I love this idea of there being value in naming something. Also in the indoctrination that happens with education. Thank you so much!
The article was interesting to read. I liked how you presented your teaching to further explain how it works in our lives.
I enjoyed it very much
I’m needing to read and re-read this blog, letting it settle in. As my practice shifts, I am finding that I am called upon to teach again. Mulling this over deeply in this MeR and getting my handouts reworked. I trust that your teachings will help me do that with grace and transgradience. Thank you once again Michaelji.
Another wonderful blog! It’s incredible how hard everyone is working at Mt. Soma to bring forward more teachings through social media. It is inspiring. I love all the knowledge. Thank you!!
I recognize fear as a big culprit in limiting awareness, causing this blindness. Why Brahmarshi, is there so much fear in our world consciousness?
Like Bonnie, I see my own inflexibility most when I run into a strong belief system held by another. Interesting.
Chick,
One thing is clear: everything pulsates… everything cycles. The sun rises and sets. We walk from one foot to the next. The wave that goes up and then down is everywhere, on all levels of creation. Fear too cycles through the Ages. We live in the Age of Fear… Kali Yuga. The good news is: If you can artfully navigate the waters here in this time, you can do it anywhere at any time. That’s why it is said that Kali Yuga is the time you can evolve most rapidly. However, few are up to the task, as in fear they pack away their acorns, hide under their rocks, and never reach for the stars.
Thank you for providing the chart and compass!
Indoctrination can be blatant (especially seeing it in others), though I find indoctrination can be so subtle (especially when trying to seeing it in myself). It is amazing how blind we can be to our own indoctrination. What a challenge it can be to find where we are ‘blind.’