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  %ULTIMATE PARADIGM FRUITS REFLECT REFLEXIVE TRUTH+930604
     %ACCEPT REJECT EXCOMMUNICATE MUTUAL UNDERSTAND+930604
            %RESPECT LOVE LISTEN META VALUES IDEALS 930604

     By their fruits we may know the merits and draw-backs
of the   various  paradigms  which   ultimately  lead  our
reflections  upon  the  attitudes,  concepts,   languages,
convictions,   beliefs,   decisions and actions  of  those
people who embody the paradigms.

     We inevitably reflect upon:

     1. Each other person of importance to us.
     2. Ourselves.
     3. Relationships between self and each other person.
     4. How others view our relationships with others.
     5. Our own ideals, values, hopes, expectations.
     6. Dissonances between reality and intentions.

     At  least  some of the previous forms  of  reflection
include  the  process by which we and others reflect  upon
previous reflections.

     The  process  of reflection can become as an  endless
set of  reflections as between two nearly parallel mirrors
viewed  from  a point in between the two  nearly  parallel
mirrors.   What we see depends upon the exact orientations
of  the nearly parallel mirrors and  what  else beside our
self is between the nearly parallel mirrors.      It  also
depends  upon  how flat or curved the  mirror  are,    how
perfectly  each tiny bit of mirror reflects,  diffuses  or
absorbs light, etc.

     If  we do not engage in a sufficiently high level  of
meta-reflection  upon ourselves,  others,   relationships,
ideals, etc. ---  we endlessly repeat mistakes in terms of
misleading paradigms.

     If  we become addicted to finding and  fixating  upon
the highest  possible  levels of  multiple  reflection  in
reflexive considerations---we are bound to lose touch with
reality  and  get  lost  in the hall  of  mirrors  of  our
reflexivity.

     If  we  seek to avoid insane reflexivity and  try  to
take refuge in the world of purely objective relationships
where we do not reflect at all upon our interactions  with
other  objects and other people---we cannot learn from the
consequences of our past mis-guided efforts.

     We need to ask:   In  terms  of what reflections upon
what  levels  or reality  may be find the way to a balance
between  totally impersonal and non-spiritual objectivity,
and the  insanity of  paying  attention only to the higher
levels  of  reflections and reflexivity?   The  answer  we
arrive at will depend  upon  how we relate our reflections
to our more immediate relationships and experiences.

     We go  insane  if we lose  awareness  of  our primary
experiences  of sight,  sound,  taste,  smell,  touch  and
bodily movements.

     We  go insane if we lose awareness of each  other  as
separate/unique  persons  who  are independent  of  us and
cannot be controlled by us.

     We  become  dysfunctional  if we fail to be  true  to
ourselves and each other in open and honest  dialogue with
self   and   others    about   our   primary   sensations,
experiences,   and  perceptions;  and in open  and  honest
dialogue   with   self  and  others  about   our   primary
reflections there-upon.

     We become thoughtless if we do not engage in open and
honest  dialogue with ourselves and each other  about  the
basic elements of the paradigms,  ideals, values, beliefs,
abstractions,  concepts,  and languages which serve as our
meta-guides; and about how they inter-relate within us and
affect our relationships with each other.

     If our paradigms,  ideals,  values and belief systems
lead  us  to be preoccupied with  grounds  for  rejecting,
excommunicating,  humiliating,  doing violence and killing
each other---then we and our communities disintegrate.

     If our paradigms,  ideals,  values and belief systems
lead  us  to cooperate with each other in seeking ways  to
creatively resolve the conflicts which we encounter in our
relationships   with   each   other---then  we   and   our
communities will enjoy increasing levels  of  personal and
communal integrity.

     We  need  to seek together to learn together  how  to
cooperatively  recognize paradigms,   ideals,  values  and
belief systems which  will  lead  us in the  directions of
integration;    rather   than   in   the   directions   of
disintegrations.

     Successfully  finding  and articulating  excuses  for
disintegrative   decisions  and  actions  is  not  a  very
integrative activity.

     Successfully finding and articulating ways to promote
both   personal   and  communal integration  is   a   very
integrative activity.
                                                                                                                               
                         (c) 2005 by Paul A. Smith in      
                    (On Being Yourself, Whole and Healthy)  
                                                                                                                               
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