PART 1: Nature Of Humans
1. The origin and nature of humans ·
2. We monitor reality by (see more in the "Existence" section, below)
3. We freely choose to live purposefully ·
5. We are sceptical
[Wisdom From The Buddha] ·
6. We apply conscious living strategies ·
- Science, especially archaeology, anthropology and genetics provide the best explanation of the origin of humans.
These explanations will, I have no doubt, undergo some astounding changes as more relevant knowledge is found. - Human nature is a product of genetics, and the functioning of the human intellect.
Although, I fear our “nature” is not changeable, and we are doomed, as a species, to continue with our basic inhumanity to man.
2. We monitor reality by (see more in the "Existence" section, below)
- being sentient (capable of subjective feeling)
- being cognizant (capable of objective thinking)
3. We freely choose to live purposefully ·
- act with civility (listen and respond appropriately to others)
- be a mentor with a servant’s heart (support others with compassion)
- build community (converge toward healthy, congruent, consistent, and integrated association)
- love and nurture (encourage, watch over, and sustain the emotional, intellectual, introspective, physical, societal, spiritual and singular genius evolution of our self and others)
- increase in wisdom, in stature and in favour with others (intellectual, physical, and societal growth)
- pen, publish, publicize and perform our hidden song(s) (acknowledge our shadow side and integrate with our light side)
- support and safeguard that which you esteem (resolutely ensure the safety and the security of yourself, others, your context, your planet)
(walk softly and carry a big stick) - wipe out evil (seek out and destroy that which deliberately harms the defenceless and/or undeserving)
(hold evil, its perpetrators, and its horrors up to public scrutiny & justice)
- self relationship
- social relationships
- organization relationships
- context relationships
- spiritual relationships
- romantic relationships
5. We are sceptical
[Wisdom From The Buddha] ·
- Believe nothing just because a belief is generally held.
- Believe nothing just because a so-called wise person said it.
- Believe nothing just because it is said in ancient books. (or a modern one such as this!)
- Believe nothing just because it is said to be of divine origin.
- Believe nothing just because someone else believes it.
- And believe NONE of what you read here! Unless it fits with the next Wisdom Statement.
- Believe only what you yourself test and judge to be true.
6. We apply conscious living strategies ·
- acknowledging reality
- identifying purpose
- living congruently
- nurturing interactions
- seeking meaning
- thinking critically
PART 2: human characteristics
BASIC ASSUMPTION: Human characteristics are opposite pairs, and human behaviour is distributed along the bell curve
negative=========================================positive | However, Normal is a setting on my clothes dryer and I never use it. |
Humans, depending on an instantaneous context, can be anywhere on any characteristic continuum… even doing things that are completely “unlike” them.
THE MAIN HUMAN CHARACTERISTICS WHICH ULTIMATELY DETERMINE BEHAVIOUR
The numbered opposite pairs define a characteristic, without naming it. The lettered opposite pairs define subsets of the main characteristic.
I see the left-hand characteristic as negative, whilst I consider the right-hand characteristic to be positive.
I can well imagine that I have missed some.
1) Evil – Virtuous
a) Malevolent – Benevolent
b) Obnoxious – Pleasant
c) Sociopath – Saint
2) Acquiescent – Assertive
a) Complacent – Challenging
3) Anxious – Calm
a) Apprehensive - Confident
4) Obdurate – Receptive
a) Closed_mind – Opened_mind
b) Intractable – Searching
5) Cowardly - Protective
a) Fearful – Brave
b) Submissive – Mutinous
c) Timorous – Proactive
6) Abusive – Nurturing
a) Abandonment – Safety
b) Damage - Heal
c) Depletes - Supports
d) Forsakes – Shields
7) Dependent – Self-reliant
8) Bleak - Humorous
9) Scattered – Centred
10) Uncertain – Secure
a) Aloof - Emotional
11) Bigoted - Understanding
12) Discordant – Congruent
a) Contradictory – Consistent
b) Indecisive – Focused
13) Dissolute – Temperate
14) Entitlement – Gratitude
15) Irresponsible – Prudent
16) Destroy – Sustain/Create
17) Sordidness – Integrity
18) Disruptive – Civil
19) Fundamentalist - Scientific
The numbered opposite pairs define a characteristic, without naming it. The lettered opposite pairs define subsets of the main characteristic.
I see the left-hand characteristic as negative, whilst I consider the right-hand characteristic to be positive.
I can well imagine that I have missed some.
1) Evil – Virtuous
a) Malevolent – Benevolent
b) Obnoxious – Pleasant
c) Sociopath – Saint
2) Acquiescent – Assertive
a) Complacent – Challenging
3) Anxious – Calm
a) Apprehensive - Confident
4) Obdurate – Receptive
a) Closed_mind – Opened_mind
b) Intractable – Searching
5) Cowardly - Protective
a) Fearful – Brave
b) Submissive – Mutinous
c) Timorous – Proactive
6) Abusive – Nurturing
a) Abandonment – Safety
b) Damage - Heal
c) Depletes - Supports
d) Forsakes – Shields
7) Dependent – Self-reliant
8) Bleak - Humorous
9) Scattered – Centred
10) Uncertain – Secure
a) Aloof - Emotional
11) Bigoted - Understanding
12) Discordant – Congruent
a) Contradictory – Consistent
b) Indecisive – Focused
13) Dissolute – Temperate
14) Entitlement – Gratitude
15) Irresponsible – Prudent
16) Destroy – Sustain/Create
17) Sordidness – Integrity
18) Disruptive – Civil
19) Fundamentalist - Scientific
PART 3: The Nature Of "Existence"
2. we exist
3. we gain information through our senses
- ears
- eyes
- intuitive
- nose
- proprioceptive
- psychic/metaphysical (I am really unsure of this one... do these exist?... are the 2 words synonyms?...
is "intuitive" the same?)
- touch
4. we make sense of information through our mental filtration system based on
- experiential reference
- maturity of intellect
- scope and substance of worldview
5. we explain what we believe we perceive through language which is:
- imprecise
- metaphorical
- oft-misunderstood This document is “living proof” of this last point!