Mr. Pitiful
08-25-2004, 10:59 PM
;)
Including you.
Each of us is a mystical, magical combination of our genetic, culture, and family programming, which is constantly changing. Many of our beliefs and values have been programmed into causing us to feel driven by unconscious conditioning.
When we think someone is terrific, it's because he or she meets our ideals, we like their belief system and their style of doing things. When we don't like someone, it's because he or she doesn't meet our ideals or image. Once we realize that it's all conditioning, however, we don't have to think of people as bad or wrong just because we don't like the way they are. You can intensely dislike someone's personality and behavior and still remember that that person is a sacred being just as you are, you can decide that you don't want to spend time with someone, but you don't have to throw that person out of your heart.
You can also use this concept on yourself. If you handle a situation unskillfully, say something inappropriate, or constantly get scared or depressed, you can say to yourself, "I am acting out my programming. It may not be useful programming, but I am not bad, I can learn to change it."
Remember, your programming isn't your core identity. Your beliefs and programming dance around the edges of your spirit, which is always sacred and always within you.
:cool:
Including you.
Each of us is a mystical, magical combination of our genetic, culture, and family programming, which is constantly changing. Many of our beliefs and values have been programmed into causing us to feel driven by unconscious conditioning.
When we think someone is terrific, it's because he or she meets our ideals, we like their belief system and their style of doing things. When we don't like someone, it's because he or she doesn't meet our ideals or image. Once we realize that it's all conditioning, however, we don't have to think of people as bad or wrong just because we don't like the way they are. You can intensely dislike someone's personality and behavior and still remember that that person is a sacred being just as you are, you can decide that you don't want to spend time with someone, but you don't have to throw that person out of your heart.
You can also use this concept on yourself. If you handle a situation unskillfully, say something inappropriate, or constantly get scared or depressed, you can say to yourself, "I am acting out my programming. It may not be useful programming, but I am not bad, I can learn to change it."
Remember, your programming isn't your core identity. Your beliefs and programming dance around the edges of your spirit, which is always sacred and always within you.
:cool: