People’s pattern of knowing and feeling is set by their genes, by their education and brainwashing, and by various chancy encounters.
Most people accept the world view of their natal culture. They are thus not much better than robots. They feel that they are unique and worthy citizens with rights - which they can be easily convinced to die for.
But all cultures have a few radical thinking, free-spirits. They introduce alternative patterns of thinking and feeling. Thomas Kuhn introduced the concept of a paradigm. On the big stage there is the slow shifting of paradigms which leads to the faster cracking of a wide range of the small stage norms.
Changes since the European renaissance, reformation and enlightenment have led to scientific and objective ways of thinking and understanding and, to the exceedingly fast development of technology.
In science and philosophy, a paradigm is a distinct set of concepts or thought patterns, including theories, research methods, postulates, and standards for what constitutes legitimate contributions to a field.
This has its good and bad points. It is therefore encouraging to recognise an ascending second group of radical free-thinkers who pay particular, subjective attention to the thoughts, feelings and moods that pass through their attention centres. The ancient Eastern paradigms promote stillness and mindfulness. This prevents automatic and unconscious mindbrains from being hijacked by the myths and magic of the natal (iron age?) cultures.
70 years is not much time. But Western mind doctors and Eastern meditation masters are increasingly in agreement about what needs to be done.
- Tame and train your mind.
- No self no problem
- Don’t just do something, sit there
- Just sit
- Present moment, wonderful moment
- Don’t fritter your time
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