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Author Topic:   Primary Assumption
raj_105_2001
Knowflake

Posts: 1321
From: Chennai
Registered: Apr 2001

posted August 29, 2006 10:08 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for raj_105_2001     Edit/Delete Message
Recently I came across a book that talked abou Lateral Thinking. I am sure many Knowflakes would be familiar of this phenomenon.

According to the concept of Lateral Thinking, we may not be able to solve a problem, because we may have unknowingly (not unconsciously), certain assumptions regarding how the solution would be. Once we break this assumption, the solution appears neat.

The most important point here is We do NOT know what assumption we have made that is handicapping us from reaching the solution.

This stirred my thoughts and I wondered, whether we have all some assumption, or each one of us have some assumption regarding life itself (I guess this is a Saggitarian way of thinking!) that would prevent us from gaining deep insight into our lives. I call this Primary Assumption.

Primary Assumption takes two forms. One is global to everyone in the world (to humanity itself) and the other is specific to each individual himself.

Finding out one's own Primary Assumption must be a joyful discovery, obviously. Most interestingly, What could be humanity's Primary Assumption?

I thought I would post this concept here and hear what you knowflakes would tell about it.

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geminstone
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Posts: 1010
From: Golden, CO
Registered: Nov 2004

posted August 29, 2006 06:58 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for geminstone     Edit/Delete Message
Cool string Raj_105_2001
I have only a little time so, here's my own guess and, just a quick one... first thought after reading your post...

Mankind's/Humanity's Primary Assumption?
My own guess ~ 'Have to'

~ geminstone

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raj_105_2001
Knowflake

Posts: 1321
From: Chennai
Registered: Apr 2001

posted August 30, 2006 09:25 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for raj_105_2001     Edit/Delete Message
I didn't get what you meant geminstone!

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maklhouf
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posted August 30, 2006 01:20 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for maklhouf     Edit/Delete Message
M.G is referring to something I call "Musterbation"

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And I will give thee the treasures of darkness
Isiah 45:3

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juniperb
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Posts: 7200
From: Blue Star Kachina
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posted August 31, 2006 09:28 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for juniperb     Edit/Delete Message
I Me My Mine. Ego is primary assumption

Very global and very specific to the individual.

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~
What we do for ourselves dies with us. What we do for others and the world is immortal"~

- George Eliot

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raj_105_2001
Knowflake

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From: Chennai
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posted September 08, 2006 09:23 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for raj_105_2001     Edit/Delete Message
Ego is Primary Obstacle. It could be Primary Assumption too, but I think the answer could be different, juniperb.

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Alope
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posted September 08, 2006 02:33 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Alope     Edit/Delete Message
That's a really interesting idea!

It can explain why you find it easier to solve a problem after you've left it for awhile and had it out of your mind--by the time you come back you have forgotten or weakened the impact of the assumptions you previously had.

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raj_105_2001
Knowflake

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From: Chennai
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posted September 09, 2006 07:13 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for raj_105_2001     Edit/Delete Message
Excellent, Alope!

It couldn't be described better.

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Randall
Webmaster

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From: Columbus, GA USA
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posted September 13, 2006 05:30 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Randall     Edit/Delete Message

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"There is no use trying," said Alice; "one can't believe impossible things." "I dare say you haven't had much practice," said the Queen. "When I was your age, I always did it for half an hour a day. Why, sometimes I've believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast." Lewis Carroll

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tuxedo meow
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From: Texas Gulf Coast, USA
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posted September 25, 2006 06:38 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for tuxedo meow     Edit/Delete Message
When frigates brought men to Australia it is said the Aborigines did not see the frigates because thet had no concept inwhich to place them. The ship frigates of course, not the bird frigates! LOL

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raj_105_2001
Knowflake

Posts: 1321
From: Chennai
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posted November 01, 2007 10:50 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for raj_105_2001     Edit/Delete Message
Once I got this Quest for Primary Assumption in my head, I did everything to find what it is. I went through books, web sites and news paper articles all that could relate to this supreme important question. And I was not surprised when I discovered the answer!

The Primary Assumption (of humanity itself), is the doctrine: Resist Evil. Jesus Taught: Do not Resist Evil (Resist Ye Not Evil). What every (I mean Every, not just a few or most) religion really teaches is about how you tackle evil, though it is not understood as such by everyone, and even if it is understood, is often subconscious. Some religions say you need to resist evil (they mean your Primary Assumption is correct), and other religions ask you not to resist evil (they tell you, your Primary Assumption is wrong).

In fact, many religions are initiated by seers, who want you to discover your Primary Assumption, since that alone is a major block to your solving all the riddles of your life and existence itself.

Many men and women do not understand the message as it is. In fact many people believe their Primary Assumption to be completely correct and all they must do to please God is to Resist Evil. May be some lateral thinking would help them.

All men and women have some form of Universal Primary Assumption in their life - their personal Primary Assumption. Most often, understanding and discovering the Universal Primary Assumption is a key to unlock the riddles of your own Primary Assumption, or it can be the other way around too. Discovering your Primary Assumption would help you discover Universal Primary Assumption.

I have told you what the Universal Primary Assumption is, and so what do I mean by "discovering" it? When I tell you what the Universal Primary Assumption is I am merely imparting Knowledge. It is intellectual. And Universal Primary Assumption - the very human nature to resist evil - is emotional. It takes self introspection to find out how Universal Primary Assumption exists in the emotional setup of your mind.

Thus discovering your Personal Primary Assumption and discovering the Universal Primary Assumption will really happen together and you may not be aware of it happening.

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yourfriendinspirit
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From: California, USA
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posted November 01, 2007 04:14 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for yourfriendinspirit     Edit/Delete Message

raj_105_2001, I am very excited by this this unique topic you've supplied and just wanted to say thank you

I also wanted to recognise how young children's thinking patterns are quite different in relation to this subject. Further emphasizing that these asumptions are not of an innate nature but rather one taught by our society.


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Randall
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posted November 03, 2007 09:26 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Randall     Edit/Delete Message

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"There is no use trying," said Alice; "one can't believe impossible things." "I dare say you haven't had much practice," said the Queen. "When I was your age, I always did it for half an hour a day. Why, sometimes I've believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast." Lewis Carroll

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26taurus
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posted November 04, 2007 12:11 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for 26taurus     Edit/Delete Message
I guess it's a different story when you have a hard time finding or seeing "evil" out there..

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raj_105_2001
Knowflake

Posts: 1321
From: Chennai
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posted November 05, 2007 08:48 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for raj_105_2001     Edit/Delete Message
Children are taught a lot about evil (what acts are classified as evil), by telling them "Good boy" (or "Bad boy"), and they also must resist the evil. The knowledge is taught as the most fundamental. You need to know first:

1. Is it really evil?
2. Or even if it is evil, must you resist it with all your strength? Why not just give up?

Also the inability to see the evil out there. This directly springs from the tendency to resist evil. Some people are blind to evil, because they cannot afford to see the evil out there, because they cannot resist it. They do not have the strength to do it.

The point is: You need not resist the evil out there.

Many many people cannot admit they have made a mistake. They make mistakes regularly, and they also know they will make it quite often. Still, they cannot admit to themselves, they can make mistakes, because of the underlying assumption (or one would say belief): Mistakes are at par with evil. No matter how you explain: Mistakes are human, everyone does it, even Edison made mistakes none of these can convince without challenging the underlying assumption.

The consistent pattern across all religious seers, is how they tackled Primary Assumption, of their society. Mahabaratha is a great epic in India. It is really a collection of many stories that were told by seers, all of which were later compiled into one great volume. In Mahabaratha, one keeps finding the same message through out the volume. It explains humans why evil is necessary. The message runs as a deep, intricate thread in the entire fabric of the tale, and not recognized at first read. Even though people think that Mahabaratha said that those who were honest and patient won at last, Mahabaratha said why even those who were honest and patient had to sin, for a reason.

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26taurus
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posted November 12, 2007 02:16 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for 26taurus     Edit/Delete Message
That is all interesting.

edit* n/m
smiles.

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EighthMoon
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posted November 13, 2007 07:02 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for EighthMoon     Edit/Delete Message
Raj...brilliant.

This would explain the difference between "religious" and "spiritual." Religious would be that which a man learns between good and evil...constantly judging. Spiritual would be when a man can get himself out of the way to allow something greater to work in him/through him.

Using the Christian example, every time God wanted to use a man "directly," He had to wear the man down until he was again humbled and reached the point that Socrates referred to... "The only true wisdom consists in knowing that you know nothing."

Paul, who was educated in the best "religious" schools, who was doing what he deemed was right...resisting evil...beating down evil by punishing Christians, was blinded by God and went into the desert for 3 years to "unlearn" all that he did, so that he could become an instrument...i.e. get his own thoughts and judgements out of the way.

I'm sure that this archetype runs through all beliefs.

You are so RIGHT on!

Blind faith! Now the trick is...how do we do it!?

8th

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Randall
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posted November 14, 2007 10:20 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Randall     Edit/Delete Message
Very interesting.

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"There is no use trying," said Alice; "one can't believe impossible things." "I dare say you haven't had much practice," said the Queen. "When I was your age, I always did it for half an hour a day. Why, sometimes I've believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast." Lewis Carroll

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raj_105_2001
Knowflake

Posts: 1321
From: Chennai
Registered: Apr 2001

posted December 21, 2008 07:49 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for raj_105_2001     Edit/Delete Message
At this point, I would like to introduce what I call "the evil inside". Many emotions including jealousy, hatred are known to be evil. But can the emotions like hurt, anger(or rage), sorrow, guilt be classified as evil too?

My answer is: Yes, they are. They may not hurt someone, but they hurt yourself. When you try to suppress (resist?) these emotions, they can have adverse consequences on you.

It is said that "When you feel sad, the best justice you can do to yourself is to cry". There is no statement farther from truth than that. When Jesus said "Do not resist evil", I believe he was also counseling about the evil inside.

The common medical advice "Do not bottle up any of your emotions" is one of the most fundamental instructions not only in a day to day life, but for spiritual progess as well.

The statement "Do not resist evil" is deep and fundamental. It has many facets when fully understood. It not only speaks about forgiving (turning the other cheek), but also about forgiving yourself.

EighthMoon, the trick is exactly what you said: Unlearn. The best way is to stay alone. Spend some time for Self Introspection. I am yet to meet someone who can stay alone for an extended a period of time happily. It is not possible, and people think they are feeling bored when they stay alone. That is not true. They are not feeling bored, they are just unable to stay with themselves, to let all the steam out (it is an emotional danger, they have no idea what would come out, and they cannot handle it).

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