Investigate your beliefs (reason)
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- Category: Exercises and tests Exercises and tests
- Published: 29 January 2015 29 January 2015
A belief is an opinion for which we have gathered enough evidence in order to start believing in it. Beliefs can be divided into two parts; personal (individual) beliefs, i.e. “dancing is hard for me”, and collective believes, i.e. “the Sun is shaped like a ball”.
Our beliefs are always true to us, but for someone else they can be quite erroneous. There are no waterproof beliefs, only different thinking patterns and experiences. A person must not be held hostage by his/her beliefs, otherwise he/she is doomed to repeat his/her own and the previous generations' errors and mistakes. This is discussed in the Bible under the passages which talks about things continuing across generations. In House of Truth these sorts of beliefs are called our mental heritage, which can be found in the level of Reason and more than often "founded" by our parents and other people involved our lives.
Our most common beliefs have to do with our environment, other people, our own behavior, and our own know-how.These beliefs may have a good or a bad influence on us. The latter are called limiting beliefs. Limiting beliefs exist on several levels of our thinking. The rule is that the deeper the level, the more bigger the influence.
Limiting beliefs are for example:
- People are always evil - which makes us live too a careful and suspicious life.
- I have a terrible memory - which makes it hard for us to learn and remember new (and old) things.
- Only money matters - which makes us behave like animals, fighting and envying each other and trying to collect as many things as possible.
Finally, we have good news and bad news for you. These limiting beliefs are nothing but the figments of your imagination, this is the good news. The bad news is that you will have to learn more about Knowledge concerning Cosmos (your mind) and Ethics in order to awake from your dream state. Knowledge liberates us from the vicious thoughts of our own minds.
There are three limiting beliefs above all others, and they are presented in the article concerning our identity, because they are related to our beliefs about ourselves. Even our self-image is nothing but a belief. Only pure Knowledge can make us see ourselves in the truthful light - not too bright, nor too dark.
Socrates said: ”I know that I know nothing.” He consciously released himself from the vicious circle of beliefs. Some have described the state of enlightenment as a state free of beliefs and the limitations they present. This state is also known as Tabula Rasa, the empty slate. Also the modern science has discovered this same result lately and it is called the Dunning-Kruger-effect.
However, enlightenment is not only reaching a pure state of mind. We should see that the Way to enlightenment is formed of two parts; the Lesser and the Bigger. The Lesser part is the empty mind, or virgin base of thoughts as the language of symbolism calls it. Correspondingly, the Bigger part is our new pure identity, which is tested in everyday life. When our beliefs are flushed away with purifying water, we still need to harden ourselves through fire. Water and Fire lead us, through the language of symbolism, to eternal Knowledge and timeless wisdom once more.
Find and identify your beliefs
There is no better way to learn about your beliefs than to write down some of your thoughts, and then to analyze the outcome. Once again, you will need pen and paper. Look for a peaceful environment and take all the time you need. With this exercise, you will find some basic beliefs that guide and limit your life subconsciously.
Step 1: Write down your beliefs
Continue the following sentences according to what you think is true.
People are…
Europeans are…
Americans are…
Asians are…
People in my town or city are…
Poor people are…
Rich people are…
Children are…
Young people are…
Old people are…
Fat people are…
Skinny people are…
Emotional people are…
Religious people are…
I am…
At this age, I…
In life it is important to…
The world is…
Nowadays you can even…
Life is…
Health is…
My mother’s advice for life is…
My father’s advice for life is…
My own motto in life is…
Money is…
Friendship is…
Love is…
Wisdom is…
The truth is...
Enlightenment is...
I will never…
I do not deserve…
I cannot…
I do not want to…
I always have to...
Step 2: Analyze the answers
This phase should be fun for you. You understand that almost everything you think about in life and other people are just beliefs. They might be true for you, but they can be just as false for someone else.
While reading your sentences, try to understand whether this is your own belief, or something that your father, mother, mentor, guru, priest, boss, friend or any other person might have given you. Do you really think that you are correct? Can anyone else be correct? Can you find other answers to the same questions which are also correct? Please try at least the following different point of views:
- Reconsideration; is this sentence true, for sure?
- Opposite; in any circumstances, is there possibility that also the exact opposite of this sentence could be true?
- Degree of certainty; how I can be absolutely sure, that this sentence is true? What kind of actual evidence is in favor of this?
- Temporal origin; since when I have thought like this? Was this thought already with me, when I was born? How about when I was toddler, in school, teenager, adult, middle-aged or senior?
- Who’s in charge; who has given this belief to me? (tip: usually father, mother, teacher, wife, husband, partner, friend, someone you know, consultant, priest, coach, etc.) Or have I built this belief by myself, by building up enough evidence in favor of this thought?
- Double-check the parents; what is my father’s opinion of this belief? What is my mother’s opinion of this belief?
- Final-check; after all this information and feedback, do I still agree with that original thought that I had about this belief? Is this sentence of mine the Ultimate Truth itself? Is it true among everyone and all the nations worldwide, with all the different circumstances?
The next thing is to analyze which beliefs affect your everyday behavior. Remember that the level of behavior is the level, which is correct, because it is actually happening. You may think whatever, but if you do not realize your thoughts in the form of actual deeds, your thoughts are not true. For example, one can think that he/she is a very generous person, but if he/she never puts this into action, this belief is false. With your beliefs, it is normal that you will take offence and even get mad, while you still try to convince yourself to believe in some of your own lies. As soon as you become aware of something, it can be changed. Beliefs are made to fall down, and only the truth will stand forever.
Remember this practical rule: observe your behavior and you will reveal the beliefs too.
