In my opinion, being conscious means being awake and aware of many things about ourselves, each other and our world and universe. Especially, being conscious means being aware of the contents of our mind, which are the beliefs we hold about what is true and not true, what is right and not right, what is good and what is bad, and especially aware of where these beliefs came from. And these beliefs do come from somewhere!
When we are born, we enter this world with none of these beliefs, knowledge, information or misinformation we possess as adults. So along the way from birth to childhood to adulthood we either 1. acquire or 2. create all of our beliefs along the way.
There are many sources for these beliefs that we hold, including our parents and other family relatives. Also authority figures, real or imagined experts or people we pay attention to in society, especially those we idolize, whether in the wider cultural milieu or from our own culture or sub-culture, these people all influence and teach us, to varying degrees.
Religious texts and cultural traditions that have been passed down for generations or millennia are taught and assumed to be correct. There are many teachings and schools of thought on many subjects that influence us. This type of transmittal of beliefs from one individual or group to another is called Conditioning, Programming, Indoctrination or Brainwashing.
In addition to accepting the beliefs transmitted to us from these and other sources, we also form our own beliefs and reach our own conclusions about ourselves, each other and the world. We have many different experiences and we interpret those experiences and what happens to us by attributing meaning. As a result of our interpretations, we attribute to ourselves, each other and the world certain characteristics that we hold to be true, such as “I am a good/bad person” or “People are dangerous and can’t be trusted” or “all taxi drivers are inconsiderate”. This type of learning can be called Interpretation or Generalization.
Some other beliefs we might hold include “honesty is the best policy” or “it’s OK to lie or cheat sometimes” or “it’s never OK to be unkind” or “sometimes you gotta be cruel to be kind” or “there is no doubt that Jesus is the son of God” or “Jesus died for your sins” or “Allah really said 'kill and terrorize your enemies’ there is no doubt about that” or “I am, or we are ___________ (insert whatever label or identity you want here, such as: a man, a woman, a Canadian, an American, French, Catholic, Protestant, Muslim, Hindu, a lawyer, a teacher, a doctor, a construction worker, etc.) I am right, we are right, we are superior to others, you are wrong, they are wrong” etc.
These beliefs that are the contents of our minds are frequently not even noticed by the individuals that hold them, but when they are noticed these beliefs are usually just accepted as being true, good and right. Our beliefs are rarely, if ever, questioned by ourselves or by each other. We hold our beliefs to be sacred and unchallengeable.
Challenge to our beliefs is seen as a threat to our identity and to our very existence. And even this belief that challenge is threat is often not even noticed, it is only reacted to—or overreacted to.
Whatever we are taught by others, whatever beliefs they have passed onto us and instilled in our minds, or whatever conclusions we reach on our own, becomes our operating system for seeing and acting in the world. Knowing this is the first step to liberation from conditioning, programming, indoctrination, brainwashing and interpretation. It is the first step towards awakening, consciousness and spiritual and psychological maturity.
Being conscious is being aware of what we believe to be true, good and right, and aware of where or who those beliefs came from, that is, the origin of those beliefs, whether it be family, tribe, nation, religion or whatever source.
Being conscious also is questioning and challenging the validity of those beliefs and putting those beliefs to strict tests to see if they are really true, good and right---or not. And if not, then admitting and speaking out about that discovery.
There are many religious teachings, religious people and their actions, for example, that I find quite troubling, dangerous and even insane. There was a Muslim man on TV recently who outside a mosque quoting the Koran saying “Allah said terrorize them.” The Koran and other older religious texts also state that God said “Kill your enemies”.
In addition to accepting the beliefs transmitted to us from these and other sources, we also form our own beliefs and reach our own conclusions about ourselves, each other and the world. We have many different experiences and we interpret those experiences and what happens to us by attributing meaning. As a result of our interpretations, we attribute to ourselves, each other and the world certain characteristics that we hold to be true, such as “I am a good/bad person” or “People are dangerous and can’t be trusted” or “all taxi drivers are inconsiderate”. This type of learning can be called Interpretation or Generalization.
Some other beliefs we might hold include “honesty is the best policy” or “it’s OK to lie or cheat sometimes” or “it’s never OK to be unkind” or “sometimes you gotta be cruel to be kind” or “there is no doubt that Jesus is the son of God” or “Jesus died for your sins” or “Allah really said 'kill and terrorize your enemies’ there is no doubt about that” or “I am, or we are ___________ (insert whatever label or identity you want here, such as: a man, a woman, a Canadian, an American, French, Catholic, Protestant, Muslim, Hindu, a lawyer, a teacher, a doctor, a construction worker, etc.) I am right, we are right, we are superior to others, you are wrong, they are wrong” etc.
These beliefs that are the contents of our minds are frequently not even noticed by the individuals that hold them, but when they are noticed these beliefs are usually just accepted as being true, good and right. Our beliefs are rarely, if ever, questioned by ourselves or by each other. We hold our beliefs to be sacred and unchallengeable.
Challenge to our beliefs is seen as a threat to our identity and to our very existence. And even this belief that challenge is threat is often not even noticed, it is only reacted to—or overreacted to.
Whatever we are taught by others, whatever beliefs they have passed onto us and instilled in our minds, or whatever conclusions we reach on our own, becomes our operating system for seeing and acting in the world. Knowing this is the first step to liberation from conditioning, programming, indoctrination, brainwashing and interpretation. It is the first step towards awakening, consciousness and spiritual and psychological maturity.
Being conscious is being aware of what we believe to be true, good and right, and aware of where or who those beliefs came from, that is, the origin of those beliefs, whether it be family, tribe, nation, religion or whatever source.
Being conscious also is questioning and challenging the validity of those beliefs and putting those beliefs to strict tests to see if they are really true, good and right---or not. And if not, then admitting and speaking out about that discovery.
There are many religious teachings, religious people and their actions, for example, that I find quite troubling, dangerous and even insane. There was a Muslim man on TV recently who outside a mosque quoting the Koran saying “Allah said terrorize them.” The Koran and other older religious texts also state that God said “Kill your enemies”.
There are at least 17 passages of vengeance in the Koran.
It is extremely doubtful that God really said that, which should be obvious to any sane, rational and mature person. Yet the brainwashed, psychologically immature, spiritually blind and extremely unconscious religious people disagree—they are right and those who disagree or disobey their doctrine are wrong!
Another example is from the recent trial of the “Toronto 18” Islamist terrorists who were on trial for the planned bombing of downtown Toronto. The court heard that one of the Islamic terrorists of this group received religious approval for the bombing from his father, who is a so-called cleric and is the head of an Islamic “school” in Mississauga.
Many religions state either overtly or covertly that those who adhere to and believe the religious doctrine enjoy special relationship and special favor with God. Many religious people view themselves as superior to those who do not believe as they do, and see themselves as separate from other non-believers.
If there is a God, how could he play favourites like that with his creations? That is extreme pettiness that is way beyond the mind of God, in my view.
Being conscious also is questioning and challenging the function of those beliefs. What functions in the self, in others and in society are served or fulfilled by our believing what we believe?
Others who instill their beliefs in us do so because that is what they were taught, that is what they believe, and they think their beliefs are true, good and right and they believe that others should believe as they do, too.
What do those who teach us what we believe want or need or get in return for us believing exactly as they believe, for us believing what they want us to believe? What rewards or payoffs do they get from getting others to believe as they do? What are their motives for indoctrinating us?
Another example is from the recent trial of the “Toronto 18” Islamist terrorists who were on trial for the planned bombing of downtown Toronto. The court heard that one of the Islamic terrorists of this group received religious approval for the bombing from his father, who is a so-called cleric and is the head of an Islamic “school” in Mississauga.
Many religions state either overtly or covertly that those who adhere to and believe the religious doctrine enjoy special relationship and special favor with God. Many religious people view themselves as superior to those who do not believe as they do, and see themselves as separate from other non-believers.
If there is a God, how could he play favourites like that with his creations? That is extreme pettiness that is way beyond the mind of God, in my view.
Being conscious also is questioning and challenging the function of those beliefs. What functions in the self, in others and in society are served or fulfilled by our believing what we believe?
Others who instill their beliefs in us do so because that is what they were taught, that is what they believe, and they think their beliefs are true, good and right and they believe that others should believe as they do, too.
What do those who teach us what we believe want or need or get in return for us believing exactly as they believe, for us believing what they want us to believe? What rewards or payoffs do they get from getting others to believe as they do? What are their motives for indoctrinating us?
When those who are able to convince others to believe as they do and that they are right, they get a payoff of approval which rewards and reinforces their sense of rightness, and reinforces their sense of identity which is based on their doctrine, such as those religious people who identify themselves with their particular creed or sect.
Those who are able to convince others to believe as they do also get the payoff of controlling others' minds and behaviour via their indoctrination. With control of others’ thoughts and behaviours, they can allay the threat to their own insecurities and threat to their identity that free people with free and mature minds pose to them.
Your ideas and feedback is welcome.
Those who are able to convince others to believe as they do also get the payoff of controlling others' minds and behaviour via their indoctrination. With control of others’ thoughts and behaviours, they can allay the threat to their own insecurities and threat to their identity that free people with free and mature minds pose to them.
Your ideas and feedback is welcome.
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