Automaton movements such as eating, etc. come from a belief in life. Those who commit suicide have come to the decision and belief that life is no longer worth living.
When I am really troubled (doesn't happen much anymore at my age

Thank you Sandy. My first post here was to give a basic definition of this topic. When I spent time doing the research it all seemed to me that we do not exist without a belief system. I do not want to be a bump on a log although there does seem to be people that are nothing more than a bump on a toad stool or log as you say. I see them as politicians for the most part but even they have a belief system and for the most part it seems to be "everything for me and nothing for you". Guess that could be called the greedy, selfish belief system.Sandy Clark wrote:Belief systems are part of the Human Experience and without them we would sit like a bump on a log...non existing. Every decision is based on a belief system for the most part, even to move a body part.
Automaton movements such as eating, etc. come from a belief in life. Those who commit suicide have come to the decision and belief that life is no longer worth living.
When I am really troubled (doesn't happen much anymore at my age) I ask the deeper questions as Christine stated to see what belief I am acting from and whether I wish to reassess the situation or belief in order to move forward from a stuck position. In that my daily beliefs and values are in a constant state of movement as life flows however my core beliefs and values stay solid amongst the flux of it all. ie LOVE creates win-win situations, the GOLDEN RULE, etc.
Maybe that question was for Maggie but I wanted to mention a huge one I have: the belief in aging and death.LostNFound wrote:
I have to ask, what belief is it you want set aside.
I appreciate your "challenge" question. It's really important. I certainly must be a Believer more than I even know and I might be very unable to see my own refusal to set aside belief at any moment. This matter of beliefs is the very hardest aspect of operating in the thought realm. Thanks!LostNFound wrote:Maggie stated this. "What I have observed is that most of the people I have encountered are really not interested in setting aside belief to cooperate in an open ended investigation."
Question, is it only the other people that you are asking to set aside a belief or are you telling them that you are willing to set aside your own beliefs as well?
I must say that I find this statement a bit confusing and contradictory to the topic. One can not just set aside a belief without study of what it is that they believe in and to possibly be the only one that is required to do so just to talk with you seems a bit harsh and controlling.
I have to ask, what belief is it you want set aside. There are so many, I think a different one for each individual. What I mean to say is each individual has his/her own perception of whatever belief (system) may be in play. So in your observation do you start out talking with these ‘most’ people about their and perhaps your own beliefs? Seems to me if that is how you approach this then you are already starting an open ended communication which may lead to the open ended investigation. The cooperation part again sounds close to a control of or trying to control another individual. (If you don’t cooperate with me I will tell on you, I will hurt you, etc.) Get that picture? So then, “open ended Investigation” just what is it that you will be investigating” the other persons beliefs or yours? The word Investigation implies a belief in something, “open ended” also implies a belief in something, “cooperation” definitely implies a belief in something. Maybe we could have an open ended communication and then an investigation of each ones belief and after the investigation we both might find that we can set aside the current belief.