catalyst

But isn't that true about most people's (yes, I am generalizing, deal with it) view of other's beliefs? People in general often have very little working knowledge of their own belief structure, so is it that surprising that their ignorance of others is even greater?

Gunnaheave

Ah, but that's just the reason why some "other" is so useful. If it's just your own tradition, then it's incompleteness is a real threat to it's legitimacy. Why doesn't it all make sense? Why don't you have good answers? But if you adopt someone else's beliefs, then you can imagine THEY have all the answers, and your ignorance is just a sign that the future is rich with possibility. Now add a few shameless gurus or shamans willing to sell the spiritual tourists whatever they appear to want, and you have the makings of a beautiful relationship. That is why I think images of Indian spirituality (in both India and America) are a bit more prone to shameless flights of imagination.

catalyst

To say nothing of how easy it is to milk the tourists for a few extra dollars to peform a 'sacred indian ritual'.
<sigh>

And I do agree with you that people often tend to idealize a belief structure outside of their own, usually because they are not satisfied with the one they currently have. And it is amazing how often they do not even bother trying to understand their own before looking elsewhere.

Or, as one really smart man I was honored to know once said "People spend so much time looking outward because they are afraid to look inward."

premjan

what's so great about looking inwards? what's so interesting about what's there?

catalyst

It was more about the need for the critical examination of self than anything else.

premjan

and what does self-examination actually buy us, other than make us articulate at parties.

It materially weakens our self-preservation impulse and causes us to drop out, partially, of the daily struggle or rat race, et. al.

catalyst

Why is that?

premjan

it can cause us to rationalize defeat.

catalyst

How so? Perhaps we do not mean the same thing when we talk about critical self-examination.

I would apply the principles of critical examination to my reivew of myself, my performance, etc. Rationalization is less than honest, IMO, even though most people engage in it on a regular basis, and few people are completely immune to the process.

How does reviewing our attitudes, our performance, and our moral code, just to name a few, lead to rationalizing defeat?

premjan

see: reason and rationalization are hardly separable. it all depends how hard you think. A high degree of analysis generally leads to paralysis. you should think hard enough to figure out what to do, then stop thinking until it is next required. What I mean is: if you stop to think about the real reason and true origin of everything, then you are likely to be completely stopped in your tracks. at least this is my personal experience.