[Futurework] Re: Projection makes perception

[Darryl and Natalia]

Lawry,   The implications of projection are both fascinating and frightening, for of course if the theory rings true, we have a lot of reflection to do with respect to our own observations or accusations of others. Yet it is a condition that I believe underlies the very nature of our existence here on Earth, and because we are all in it together, we must learn to recognize our misperceptions of others as not just individual projections, but rather the product of the collective mistaken mind that harbours guilt as the attraction to this mostly grim physical existence, where our only real joy is quite naturally spiritually (love) derived. The guilt transforms to collective imprisonment that causes the mind to miscreate because it does not believe it is free. It is limited, or imprisoned by itself, and its creative side cannot under the circumstances assert or express itself.   "Projection makes perception" is a much emphasized lesson in the book I have mentioned before called "A Course In Miracles". Freud's more insightful ideas are incorporated to some extent in its presentation of psychology to better understand relationships. Perception itself is used as an ever altering learning tool only in time (and space). It is fundamentally distinguished from knowledge--which is unalterable and unaffected by time. Like everything in this world of opposites, perception can be transformed to bring the dream (illusion) of our separation from one another to light.   From here, two distinctly opposing thought systems are observed. In the realm of knowledge, we share one will with creation. The world of perception is believed to have come about by the mistaken belief in opposites, separate wills that conflict with one another and conflict with creation itself. What we see, hear or feel (perception) appear to be real because they allow into awareness only what conforms to the desires of the perceiver. This self-deception is an exhausting act to keep up, constantly requiring defense because it is not based in knowledge. It's a small wonder we crave sleep when depressed. We seek release in the only place we will ever find it--in the mind itself--yet for all the physically unfettered benefits in the land of dreams, we still battle between ego thoughts and those we remember from what we once knew in truth. Perception "is learned, rather than given, selective in its perceptual emphases, unstable in its functioning, and inaccurate in its interpretations." (p.x - intro)         "The world we see merely reflects our own internal frame of reference--the dominant ideas, wishes and emotions in our minds....We look inside first, decide the kind of world we want to see and then project that world outside, making it the truth as we see it. We make it true by our interpretations of what it is we are seeing. If we are using perception to justify our own mistakes--our anger, our impulses to attack, our lack of love in whatever form it may take--we will see a world of evil, destruction, malice, envy and despair. All this we must learn to forgive, not because we are being "good" or "charitable", but because what we are seeing is not true. We have distorted the world by our twisted defenses, and are therefore seeing what is not there. As we learn to recognize our perceptual errors, we also learn to look past them or "forgive." At the same time we are forgiving ourselves..."(p.xi - intro)   Perception is fortunately but temporary because it is questionable. It is also our hope for joy because we can recognize that we can change our minds about what it is we choose to see.   A few more paragraphs that may be insightful from the same source (text, p.40-41) Please try to bear through words that may seem offensive in the "religious" sense. It was my greatest difficulty with the book initially, not realizing at the time that religion and spirituality are too often mutually exclusive.      "The miracle (forgiveness), being a way of perceiving, is not knowledge. It is the right answer to a question, but you do not question when you know. Questioning illusions is the first step in undoing them. The miracle, or the right answer, corrects them. Since perceptions change, their dependence on time is obvious. How you perceive at any given time determines what you do, and actions must occur in time. Knowledge is timeless, because certainty is not questionable. You know when you have ceased to ask questions.    "The questioning mind perceives itself in time, and therefore looks for future answers. The closed mind believes the future and the present will be the same. This establishes a seemingly stable state that is usually an attempt to counteract an underlying fear that the future will be worse than the present. This fear inhibits the tendency to question at all.    "True vision is the natural perception of spiritual sight, but it is still a correction rather than a fact. Spiritual sight is symbolic, and therefore not a device for knowing. It is, however, a means of right perception, which brings it into the proper domain of the miracle. A "vision of God" would be a miracle rather than a revelation. (Revelation is described in this book as direct experiential communication from God to the created--never the reverse.) The fact that perception is involved at all removes the experience from the realm of knowledge. That is why visions, however holy, do not last."     "When you say you are acting on the basis of knowledge, you are really confusing knowledge with perception. Knowledge provides the strength for creative thinking, but not for right doing. Perception, miracles and doing are closely related. Knowledge is the result of revelation and induces only thought. Even in its most spiritualized form perception involves the body. Knowledge comes from the altar within and is timeless because it is certain. To perceive the truth is not the same as to know it."   Please keep in mind that the above describes the process of internalization interpreted as reality which gets reflected in everything we see and do. Forgiveness is a liberating tool, not to be confused with indifference or inaction when compassion or action are required. Allowing yourself to be physically attacked, for example, would ultimately result in harm to both attacker and attacked.   Projection/perception is as vast a topic as the reason for time itself, and I hope you're not sorry to have mentioned having pondered it.   Warmest Regards, Natalia        All mail scanned by NAV ----- Original Message ----- From: Lawrence deBivort To: 'Darryl and Natalia' ; futurework@fes.uwaterloo.ca Sent: Thursday, September 15, 2005 7:47 AM Subject: RE: [Futurework] Minuteman Groups Hi, Natalia,   People often assert that they hate and denounce most in others those things that they hate in themselves. I have found this phenomenon intriguing for many years, for it provides a short-cut to understanding how a person views themselves, consciously or subconsciously.   People often also accuse others of things they themselves do.    I think the reason for this is that we know ourselves at a deeper level then we know others, so we reflect and project our own sense of ourselves on others.   Yes, it is very revealing.  Thanks for your post.   Cheers, Lawry   From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Darryl and Natalia Sent: Thursday, September 15, 2005 12:16 AM To: futurework@fes.uwaterloo.ca Subject: [Futurework] Minuteman Groups   All mail scanned by NAV   Ever desperate for an excuse to bear arms, new groups of US citizens have been not only congregating to discuss concerns about illegal immigrants crossing their borders, they are actually taking it upon themselves to patrol the borders. They say they are worried about drugs, and especially about terrorists. They have been guarding the Mexican border for a while now, and as can be expected, have been subject to accusations of racism. Now a group is prepared to do the same at the Washington border to Canada, and have already begun to wander the nearby woodlands looking for those possible twenty or so per annum that might sneak across that way. It's a leisurely past-time, just them and their gun accomplishing very little, but walking off the pent up aggression over their loss of American Way of Life, which once included respect for Americans from Canada, I guess.   Personally, I think they'd be far more effective if they were to patrol the White House or Dubya's ranch for dangerous terrorists, but the collective hive mind cannot permit the possibility that the patriarchal hero of 9/11 has created for them the most dangerous time in America. They fail to grasp that the collective subconscious can only sustain an ego by projecting onto those who disagree with their warring minds the intent of harm.   As was interestingly demonstrated by Prof. McMurtry of Guelph University Philosophy Department, the US tends to accuse other nations of evils that they themselves are currently or are about to unleash upon the accused. Best recent example is, of course, Iraq's alleged intent to use WMD, and the resultant release of same by US forces upon the people of Iraq.   Yesterday, London England was host to 60 countries for the biannual Defense Systems & Equipment International exhibition. A little one-stop shopping to help feed the $trillion plus per annum industry. Included guests were China, Algeria, Saudi Arabia, Columbia, Iraq, Israel...all of whom have questionable human rights records. (I believe this is the one Prince Andrew was involved with two years ago.) So here is Britain, sanctioning these events under the guise of counterterrorism and defense technologies for both governments and corporations, and crying horror and amazement over the recent bombings.   Then we received the Ft.Worth Star Telegram report about US 2003 international arms sales, which stated that 20 out of the top 25 of the US best clients were either from undemocratic regimes or from governments with major human rights abuses. We all know the US leads in world arms sales. Can't stop manufacturing WMD. Can't find enough nations to accuse of building them either.   If ever there was a nation so full of guilt, waiting to unload it onto others, it is America. The fear will only escalate if it continues to find profit in war. Deep down, they all know what these weapons do to others. At the moment, America's only saving grace may be Katrina's direct hit to the infrastructure. With it, the illusion of terrorism being the nation's number one concern is exposed as little more than an excuse for profit for a few.   Natalia Kuzmyn     _______________________________________________ Futurework mailing list Futurework@fes.uwaterloo.ca http://fes.uwaterloo.ca/mailman/listinfo/futurework

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