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 %TRUE HONEST EXPERIENCE PERCEPTION DOCTRINE THEORY+950119
     %SELF OTHERS COMMITMENT DOCTRINE RITUAL BELIEF+950119
  %PARADIGM THEORIES INTERPRET SELECT CHOOSE DECIDE+950119
                                    %DILEMMA TRAGIC 950119

     Often  we are confronted with the dilemma of  whether
to  be  true  to  ourselves  and  others  about  our   own
experiences  and  perceptions---or  to be faithful to  our
commitments  to  our  doctrines,    rituals  and  communal
beliefs;  our ultimate paradigms  and theories in terms of
which we interpret our experiences and perceptions.

     If  we repress our awareness of our  experiences  and
perceptions  in order to cling to and be faithful  to  our
doctrines,  rituals and communal beliefs---to protect  our
ultimate  paradigms and theories;  we lack  integrity  and
disintegrate  through  our collusive games of mutual  self
deception.

     If we let go too willingly of our doctrines,  rituals
and   communal  beliefs,  and so do not function in  terms
of any coherent paradigm with its theories---we get tossed
to and fro by the particularities of our day-to-day lives.

     It  is not simple to maintain a balance  between  our
convictions in terms of which to interpret our experiences
and perceptions,  and being true to self and others  about
experiences and perceptions which truly call into question
the  beliefs  and  convictions---to  which  we  may  cling
because  of our sense of insecurity in the face of changes
which we do not understand.

     Balance  cannot  be maintained without maintaining  a
keen  sense  of how easy it is to slip into  the  behavior
patterns  which  are  characteristic  of  addictions   and
collusive games of mutual self deception.   It helps to be
in  dialogue  with  people who are  operating  within  the
framework  of differing patterns of beliefs,   convictions
and    paradigms---in    efforts    to    transcend    the
particularities  of each person's outlook,   perspectives,
attitudes, prejudices and biases.

                                                                                                                               
                         (c) 2005 by Paul A. Smith in      
                    (On Being Yourself, Whole and Healthy)  
                                                                                                                               
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