To: K-list
Recieved: 2003/02/10 00:53
Subject: Re: [k-list] Mirrors
From: mundane zen
On 2003/02/10 00:53, mundane zen posted thus to the K-list:
>when i see something in someone else
>that i judge (either positively or
>negatively), this is an aspect of myself
>that i am seeing reflected.
>
>how is this so?
This question can be answered from several different perspectives,
metaphysical, sociological, etc., but the most direct answer is
psychological. Basically, it's empathy, putting yourself into someone
else's shoes. For example, you see a man staring at an attractive woman,
looking her up and down, drool forming at the side of his mouth. You know
that when you look at a woman that way, it means you are sexually attracted
to her. Since you are astute enough to match his actions to your own, you
conclude that he is having the same kind of lecherous thoughts.
There is a similar psychological process to empathy, but instead of being
cognizant of your own reaction to the situation, you place all the burden on
the other person. This is known as projection. Since it is difficult to
accept our own faults, we often develop a blind spot and project them onto
others. Thus, if you want to know what a person's faults are, just listen
to what he complains about in others.
Now from a spiritual perspective, I can say this. During deep meditation
(especially when K. is very active) I have had a sense of transcendental
consciousness -- pure awareness that extends beyond my physical body and
personal ego. While a materialist may dismiss this as brain chemicals or
stimulation of the "god center" in the brain, there is a deep sense of
knowing that accompanies it, which makes me feel that something more
profound is going on. I feel that this transcendental consciousness is the
essence of our being, although it has yet to be directly observed by
objective science. Our individual consciousness may reflect the entire
universe, like a hologram, according to quantum physicists like David Bohm
as well as certain mystics and eastern philosophies. For example, Zen
teaches one to have "clear mind", to reflect the world like a well-polished
mirror, like the forest reflected in a still pool, like the reflection of
the moon in a dewdrop.
>are there any exceptions to the rule?
You can incorrectly project. For instance, you see tears streaming down
someone's face during a sad movie and assume the person is moved by the
story. You say to him, "I see you are deeply moved by this movie".
He answers, "Oh no, I hate it. I'm crying because I have hay fever".
Spiritually, when you let outside conditions affect you, it's like ripples
on a pond or waves in the ocean. If the pool is turbulent, the reflected
image becomes distorted.
ken
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