The Nature of Belief, Truth, and Asymptotic Learning

[Plenum]

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as human beings, we are creatures of belief.

some might think they have eradicated all their 'irrational' beliefs, and are now working with 'rational' thoughts, but everything we do is based on beliefs.

the reason for this is the Veil

The Veil prevents us from ever coming into direct contact with reality as it is. There is always a shield between us and other beings (ths illusion of separation).

as such, our attitudes towards beliefs becomes a critical factor in how fast we can evolve and change

at the start of Session 2, Ra offers this:

There are few who will grasp, without significant distortion, that which we communicate through this connection with this mind/body/spirit complex.

effectively saying that many people are going to 'construct' around the words the Ra offers, and that the true meaning is going to be distorted to some degree.

now, we are all beginners or initiates on this Journey. Our beliefs guide us towards the Light.

holding our Beliefs lightly allows them to change more easily when contrary data comes into attention. Rather than dismissing that data, we can maybe alter or adjust our beliefs to accomodate a 'greater reality or unity'. Our beliefs become more 'encompassing' to hold that new data or experience.

when we hold to our Beliefs tightly, that prevents them from changing easily because the ego, pride, and self-defense come into play. We become 'locked in' because we need to defend this 'strong opinion or belief' that we hold so dearly.

that is not to say that we flip-flop on positions, when the wind sways. It is more that the ineffable Truth is better and better approximated if we allow our Beliefs to adjust for changing circumstance. In maths, that is an asymptotic curve (geek reference).

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I hope this is not too 'pushy'

[BrownEye]

I am finding that our autonomous body needs to be in about 80-90% control, with our ego controlling the rest for maneuvering through experience. Looking at certain sick bodies they are inverted, with 70-80% control by the ego, and not giving the autonomous body enough control to heal itself.

Belief has temporary usefulness. We create our blockages with belief, and so it might not be conducive to growth to hold too tightly to belief. IMO it needs to be more malleable.

[abstrktion]

- -

The Veil prevents us from ever coming into direct contact with reality as it is. There is always a shield between us and other beings (ths illusion of separation).

as such, our attitudes towards beliefs becomes a critical factor in how fast we can evolve and change

at the start of Session 2, Ra offers this:

There are few who will grasp, without significant distortion, that which we communicate through this connection with this mind/body/spirit complex.

effectively saying that many people are going to 'construct' around the words the Ra offers, and that the true meaning is going to be distorted to some degree.

now, we are all beginners or initiates on this Journey. Our beliefs guide us towards the Light.

holding our Beliefs lightly allows them to change more easily when contrary data comes into attention. Rather than dismissing that data, we can maybe alter or adjust our beliefs to accomodate a 'greater reality or unity'. Our beliefs become more 'encompassing' to hold that new data or experience.

when we hold to our Beliefs tightly, that prevents them from changing easily because the ego, pride, and self-defense come into play. We become 'locked in' because we need to defend this 'strong opinion or belief' that we hold so dearly.

that is not to say that we flip-flop on positions, when the wind sways. It is more that the ineffable Truth is better and better approximated if we allow our Beliefs to adjust for changing circumstance. In maths, that is an asymptotic curve (geek reference).

- -

I hope this is not too 'pushy'

I really liked the line about "holding our beliefs lightly"--didn't Gandhi once say that you can't shake hands with a clenched fist?

I think we really learn when we listen and try to deeply understand what another person is trying to say. I've been guilty myself of wanting to talk too much, tell others what I discovered because I was so excited about it etc. and then all of a sudden realizing that I didn't get to learn anything because I monopolized a conversation! Very sad! I think many people have learned to adopt a "debate" stance instead of a "dialectic" stance in discussion.

I'm relatively new to this--forums and Ra for the most part, but seeing the conflict on this board, I feel like what you're advocating is the idea that we all just really want a greater understanding of any topic. That doesn't mean we won't be passionate, but it does mean that we'll truly listen to one another and consider what each has to say because, heck, like Ra says, its all a distortion anyways! But I agree with Pickle in that belief is useful despite being temporary--its what we can "open" on our desktop while the hard drive holds all the other programs latent in the background.

My view of the expression of spiritual understanding is like my view of art:
  I believe that artistic expression and appreciation is essential to the well-being of both individuals and society. Each artistic endeavor, realistic or abstract, presents a vision that is both unique and shared. A work of art reflects the artist's particular connection to the archetypal world, the world of spirit and dream, and as such, it is completely different from any other. Yet, as art proceeds forth from a place where all is one, each work represents and reflects that which is common to all, a microcosmic representation of the macro-cosmic totality—and thus, we all share in it as we all share in the common joys, trials, and triumphs of being human. If the united creativity of humanity may be viewed as a gigantic jigsaw puzzle, then each artist brings through a piece of the total picture.

I can't wait to see the puzzle when its all done!

In the meantime, RA seems to be telling us that each view and way of being in the world is "right" (all the info on STO AND STS)--but it is also "right now"--because, hopefully, we can change our understandings as we grow--if those around us will let us change. But that's another topic!