Reversals

All of this may be obvious in general and for the stories we clearly recognize as stories, guides, pointers. Where it gets interesting and juicy is for the stories we still take as true, the ones creating friction and stress, the ones attention naturally is drawn to, the views we identify with, the basic assumptions we haven’t questions and explored yet.

Any story has a number of reversals, and each of these reversals also has validity. We can find specific examples of where each of those reversals are genuinely true for us. This is a reminder that no story has absolute validity, and it is also an invitation to explore ways to hold the limited validity of all reversals of any particular story. And then find the genuine validity in the reversals of those more embracing stories.

Any story also hinges on a number of assumptions, and each of these has valid reversals. The assumptions usually include the basic ones of space, time, objects, beings, a me, doer, observer and that these exists as real, separate, out there etc.

Reality cannot be touched by any story. It is always more than and different from any story. And that is something we can notice from within a conventional view, and also in the context of what we really are.

Stories are practical guides in daily life and also in spiritual teachings. They guide attention and actions. They are pointers. Questions. They may be medicine for one-sided and fixed views. And they may be helpful in some situations and not in other. Their value depends entierly on context and aims.

They can be seen as practical tools, and as any tool – such as a hammer or saw – they have no inherent value and no inherent truth in them.

When we take a story as true, our lives are in service of that story. We filter and live as if it is true.

And when we recognize a story as a tool only, that story – and its reversals – can be in service of whatever wisdom, kindness and experience is available to us. There is a freedom to chose stories as guides depending on what seems most helpful, wise and kind in the particular situaiton.

All of this can be explored from within a conventional view. It can have a great deal of practical value in our everyday life. And if we take it just a little further, questioning and exploring our most basic assumptions, there is even the possibility that what we really are may notice and recognize itself.

This is one of the many ways that a focal point in philosophy, science, psychology and spirituality – and what is helpful in an ordinary practical sense – align, converge, and is really just the same.

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outline….

• reversals
  • each story, validity in its reversals
    • neutralize each other (as having absolute validity, priveledged view)
    • reminder that none have absolute validity
    • invitation to find ways to hold the limited validity of all of them, which will always evolve
  • also, hinges on many assumptions, each with valid reversals
    • including basic assumptions of space, time, objects, beings, me, I etc. (that these exists as real, separate, out there etc.)
  • practical guide – in everyday life and as teachings (same/similar function in both cases)
    • guide/pointer for attention and action
    • medicine for one-sided, fixed views
    • helpful in some situations, not other
  • a tool, and as other tools, no inherent value + no truth in it (at most, helpful in some situations in a limited way)
  • reality – in conventional + bm context
    • not touched by any story
    • includes and is beyond what any story can point to
    • simpler, more complex, different in kind etc.
    • don’t know
  • service
    • when take story as true, our lives are in service of that story
    • when a story is recognize as a tool only, then it + its reversals can be in service of wisdom, kindness, experience etc. (our lives too)
  • all of this…
  • • may be obvious in general + for stories we clearly recgnize as just stories, tools, medicine
    • but gets interesting and juicy for those stories we still take as true, the ones creating friction and stress, the views we identify with, the basic assumptions we haven’t questioned and explored yet

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outline

• reversals
  • validity of each angle (neutralize each other)
  • useful as a tool, sometimes, in some situations
    • practical guide, pointer for attention + action
    • guide in the world
    • teaching context: guide for attention/action, and also medicine for a rigid view, help soften identification w. it
  • each angle hinges on many assumptions (stories, angles), none of them true
  • freedom to chose stories as temporary guides, chose from whatever wisdom, kindness, experience, skills available to us (can always go further here, always room for improvement) (attach to stories = rigid views = limits choices)

– each angle/assumption valid in its own way, can see how it is a valid view + can be helpful in some situations –  but none are true alone (reversals also validity) –  and none are absolutely true (only a story, a guide, pointer for attention and behavior)

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As we know from daily life, our stories and worldviews change over time. There is always other stories and worldviews that fit the data better than the ones we are currently familiar with. There is always new data that we are not currently familiar with, and when these arrive they invite our stories and worldviews to change. Even our stories of data are interpretations, they hinge on a great number of assumptions, they fit into and come from a particular worldview, and they come with the limitations of any other story.

And as we also know from daily life, there is not only validity in the reversals of any story, but none of them can even begin to touch reality. Reality is always more than and different from any story. Reality is far simpler than any story. Reality is far more rich and complex than any story. Reality is different in kind from any story.