Saturday, December 04, 2010

Prejudices, Stereotypes and Preconceptions

Nathan says:

[M]y own experimenting, and the sometimes interesting reactions I get to it, show that it's kind of easy to get hung up on forms, forgetting that forms are skillful means that may or may not fit the situation at hand.


 Nathan's right. People function with a HUGE number of stereotypes and preconceptions.  And the problem is, it's ridiculously easy to see how they are operative in other people.  On the other hand, we, (in the sense of "We are not amused," a.k.a., the Royal We) do not have any.  None at all.  


Right?




In fact, we believe we can even see through our prejudices, stereotypes, and preconceptions, even if  we did have them.  Which of course, we don't.

Hell,  we practice Buddhism, right?

Even if we notice ourselves conforming, operating, or reacting to some  prejudices, stereotypes, and/or preconceptions ("PSP") we can alleviate the effects of the training and conditioning that give rise to PSP with our zazen and mindfulness, right?


Can not you see where I'm going here?

5 comments:

Kyle said...

I'll admit, it took me a couple reads, but when I saw "we can alleviate the effects of the training and conditioning that give rise to PSP with our zazen and mindfulness, right?" I busted out giggling because I realize what you are 'REALLY' getting at.

Nathan said...

to be honest, i'm not sure i understand what you're getting at here.

is this a suggestion that "I" take a look at "myself," instead of pointing outward?

or is this some Dogen zen joke?

or am I totally missing it?

Mumon K said...

Kyle:
Thanks.

Nathan:

Ummm...No to all 3. And it's certainly especially not about "you."

Nathan said...

lol - i was hoping it was a Dogen joke - just sounded like a parody of something he wrote.

Mumon K said...

Nathan:

That wasn't my thought at all.

I think I've said this before on my blog: I think MAD-LIBS was one of the greatest things ever invented, because it got me to thinking what happens when I change nouns, pronouns, and tenses (e.g., change "you" to "I") and see how the sentences reads for veracity, emotional content, etc.