This is http://www.essayz.com/a9604231.htm         
Previous-Essay      <== This-Essay ==>     Following-Essay
Click HERE on this line to find essays via Your-Key-Words.
{Most frequent wordstarts of each essay will be put here.}
==========================================================
      %EXPLORE GLOBAL GEOGRAPHIC PHYSICAL RISK HERO+960423
     %INTIMATE RELATION RELIGION POLITICAL BUSINESS+960423
       %OPEN HONEST DESCRIPTION PERSONAL EXPERIENCE+960423
   %REFLEXIVE PRAYER MEDITATION COLLUSION ADDICTION 960423

     Consider the risks and benefits of explorations.

     In the days  of  Columbus  global  explorations  were
encouraged  by  political  and  business  leaders  at high
levels---in spite  of the great risks which they  entailed
for  many people  and businesses.   The explorers who came
back from their adventures were  welcomed  as heroes;  and
further explorations were encouraged.

     In  modern   days  intimate  explorations  are  often
discouraged by political, business,  and religious leaders
at many  levels---in spite of the great benefits which may
come   from   improved   understandings of honest intimate
relationships.    When  honest intimate explorers come out
and  recount  their  adventures they are not  welcomed  as
heroes; and further explorations are discouraged.

     Why  is  there  such  a  contrast---in  spite  of the
opportunities to reflect  upon  the  advantages  of honest
explorations  and  reports  of  what  is  found  in honest
explorations?  What is at stake?

     Explorations for unknown objective realities were not
as  threatening  to many people as explorations for  known
(but hidden) reflexive realities.   Modern honest intimate
explorers are threatening  many known (but  hidden)  facts
about collusive games of mutual self deception, profitable
businesses  of  promoting  addictions,   and  patterns  of
control.  People who have played collusive games of mutual
self   deception  and  hidden  such  reflexive  facts  are
terrified at  the  prospect of modern  intimate  explorers
exposing them.

     It is one thing to be  fearful of the objective risks
of  objective  exploration.    It is another thing  to  be
fearful of  the reflexive risks of reflexive explorations.
In the former case  the  objective world expands and there
are perceived m any opportunities  for profitable business
ventures.   In the latter  case there is the risk that the
reflexive   world  of  collusive  games  of  mutual   self
deception  will  collapse  and  the  cosmic  egg  will  be
crushed; not only cracked.

     Fearful people inhibit reflexive exploration; seeking
to  control  future  behavior  in  the  darkness  of  past
experiences.  They seek to  promote conformity in terms of
the past.  Explorations entail  transcending the  past and
conformity  which  is  based upon the past.   Explorations
threaten patterns of control and the advantages of  people
who are in control---or think that they are in control.

     People in love promote reflexive explorations;seeking
to open up new possibilities and new futures in the  light
of  past experiences.   They seek to promote creativity in
terms   of   expanding   possibilities.     Love   entails
transcending  the  dark  past by being  in  dialogue  with
people who have learned from the dark  past  by being true
to themselves and each other.   Love threatens patterns of
control and the advantages of people who are in control---
or think that they are in control.  God is Love.

     Religious leaders who  have traditionally  thought of
themselves as  being in control of the reflexive realms of
human  relationships---are  not  happy  to  see  reflexive
explorers  intruding  onto their turf  and bringing hidden
truths into the  light  of  daily  experiences  and honest
dialogue.

     Objective scientists  and the  scholars  who envy the
certainties of objective  scientists---are  embarrassed by
reflexive explorers who reveal that the ideals, values and
goals of  objective  scientists and the scholars who  envy
them---are  reflexive realities which lie  outside  of the
realm  of objective reality,  which they often  think  and
feel is the only ultimately real reality.

     Political  leaders  who  get  what  they  can  get by
manipulating  reflexive  realities---are   embarrassed  by
reflexive  explorers  who  reveal the  collusive  games of
mutual self deception through which political leaders seek
to be (or appear to be) in control---in the best interests
of those whom they presume to "serve".

     Reflexive exploration is  dangerous for reasons which
far   transcend   the   immediate   risks   of   reflexive
exploration.   The  risks  compound  when  the   reflexive
explorers  come home and report what they have  discovered
in  their explorations.    Often  the  risks  of  honestly
reporting discoveries far exceed the risks entailed in the
explorations themselves.
                                                                                                                               
                         (c) 2005 by Paul A. Smith in      
                    (On Being Yourself, Whole and Healthy)  
                                                                                                                               
==========================================================