> You are not surprised because you have already formed a negative > opinion of me. Has nothing to do with me, though.
I think this was a theme of earlier threads: whether perception changes judgment or does pre-judgment shapes perception? What came first the chicken or the egg? To have no pre-judgment, in its broadest sense, could mean tabla rasa -- not so productive -- more alzheimic -- though even that state has its sweet virtues, IMO (observation). Categorizing people, generalizing about traits, etc, has some value -- but to a point. We generalize about a child's abilities (sometimes to be shockingly awakened to be in the presence of a semi-prodigy). We generalize about various socio-economic and educational backgrounds, and adapt our initial conversations with someone based on that. Such becomes unproductive, when such generalizations and pre-judgments become rigid and set. As with beliefs, one needs to have some working hypotheses, about how the world works -- and not start each day in alziemic tabla rasa fashion. The degree of alacricy that one can change a working hypothesis, on the fly, with new information, to me, is the key. More generally, such virtues might be termed, adaptiveness, flexibility, resilience and responsiveness. ("And now if you will look at this scientific chart, these qualities are clearly vitalized by the practice of ..... :)") To have an opinion of, or more broadly, to be aware of a persons demonstrated characteristics, is not a bad thing. To let it shape our perceptions of new actions and information from the person is the pitfall. A person may have acted in self-centered, limited, cognitively limited ways in the past. And its productive, IMO, to be aware that future or present interactions with them MAY manifest such characteristics. But to have that expectation set in stone, pre-disposes one to finding such faults, in much greater weight to finding virtues. Such is a strong cognitive bias. Research showed, at one point, that TM increases "field-free" reference -- or something to that effect. Which I think is the more academic view of my points above -- though perhaps they are focussed on something similar bu not the same. And from day 1, TM introduced a more field free detached from past judgments. Like every moment is a "new morning." A chance to see the world anew, from a fresh, happy, unencumbered space. Other practices, inquiries, and life experiences can have a similar effect. Like a good nights sleep. Or falling in love. Oddly, I find, from an admittedly small sample, a negative correlation in attachment to past evaluations and judgments, with awakening claims. Not a perfect (negative) correlation. But some inverse relation. Manifest in seeming obstinacy to a point of view, perception of a thing or others, etc. And such obstinance, IMOb, has strong effects on shaping perception -- as best that can be judged from their resulting actions and words. Though some persons, who oddly don't make any awakening claims - but are respected as free souls, are so fluid and unencumbered by past views, ever creative and fresh in their outlook every second, its wonderful to be in their company.