The Perspective of Fact & The Foundation of Love

In the last blog, I explored my theory of the perspective of fact. The perspective of fact is based on accepting situations or conditions as they are. This point of acceptance provides a most effective platform in working with any situation since it is free from denial, regrets or worry. The other perspective is the conciliatory perspective. The conciliatory perspective is akin to the proverbial half-full or half-empty cup. Both these perspectives have important roles to play in life. A mystic strives to predominantly maintain the perspective of fact, and applies the conciliatory perspectives when there is a need.

Continuing in the exploration of the perspective of fact, this time we will get into how understanding the source of this perspective can be valuable to us. The perspective of fact is based on a strong foundation of love in the subconscious. This foundation of love can be provided by any source such as family, friends, creed, a cause, spiritual enlightenment, even a pet. This foundation of love creates the condition of security in oneself. The natural perspective that arises from this condition is the perspective of fact. When one views life and is able to handle its challenges from a strong base of security in oneself one feels equanimity and wholesomeness even in the face of adversity. This perspective also allows one to enjoy life holistically with a subconscious free from insecurity.

The lack of a firm foundation of love is the cause for insecurity in the mind. Without this foundation of love there is little direction or purpose in life and confusion eventually sets in. If this condition remains with no solution, confusion eventually becomes depression.

One of the signs to look out for to diagnose the onset of the condition of insecurity is a developing addiction. especially chemical addiction in the form of drugs, smoking and alcohol. The use of these substances may not necessarily be a sign of insecurity. I know people who smoke and drink alcohol purely for recreation and are not addicted to the habit. It is when the substance becomes a source of security that addiction occurs.

From the mystical point of view the most effective solution to recover from insecurity, confusion or depression is to start at the source and rebuild a foundation of love. One does not need to go through extensive psycho-analysis to find out why one is in a hole of negativity. The quickest solution is to first create a new foundation of love first. Once a new sense of security is established then one can return to the perspective of fact and unravel the morass of the past using acceptance and forgiveness. (Click here to go to the Yogic Self-Development Seminar on the power of acceptance and forgiveness)

The conciliatory perspective of the proverbial half-full cup comes in handy in recreating a new foundation of love. It starts with taking stock of the good that still exists in ones life. During this period of introspection one can uncover a passion or hobby that has remained unrealized. This passion or hobby must be something through which care and love can be expressed. Some examples of such effort include being a volunteer in a welfare organization, doing community service projects, taking care of a pet, cultivating a garden, growing food, learning to play an instrument, song, drama, dance, rekindling faith in God, joining a loving religious community.

With the heart and mind active in developing this new passion in life a new foundation of love will begin to form. As this foundation becomes strong one will begin to feel security in oneself and gradually a sense of purpose in life will appear. At this point one can regain the wholesome perspective of fact and let go of the conciliatory perspective.  From this firm footing complete recovery from previous conditions of confusion or depression is possible using techniques of acceptance and forgiveness.

This is the yogic solution for rekindling the zest and purpose back in life and coming back to the wholesome perspective of fact. I must also point out that it can be dangerous to unravel states of confusion or depression without first establishing a condition of security because, if the cause of the confusion or depression is resolved successfully one may end up seeing a deeper abyss in the mind than previously. Especially for those facing chronic depression, the depression itself may have moulded into a habit of life that without it one can feel very insecure. The yogic way is safer as it involves creating an alternate habit that will become the source of security which will act as a safety net. This method also does not substitute a chemical addiction with a different chemical addiction.

Modern psychiatry can learn from this yogic technique and even possibly free its patients from the use of anti-depressive drugs by first making an effort to develop a foundation of love in its patients. Once the sense of security is established, the source of depression and confusion can be resolved with the help of professional psycho-analysis without the need for drugs (or at least much less drugs) to deal with the backlashes of this tedious process.

In conclusion, the perspective of fact is a natural perspective of life when there is balance in ones life. This balance arises from a strong and stable foundation of love in the subconscious.

The Perspective of Fact - Video Blog

The Spiritual Perspective of Fact–It Is As It Is

How do you see half a cup of liquid – is it half empty or half full? I guess this proverbial question is a cliche. Our trained response will be half full of course. What if you don't like what is in the cup. Is it then okay to say that the cup is half empty? Or is that a no-no!

The crux of the matter is that perspective is a very powerful faculty of our mind. How we understand the world or view it in our mind determines how we act. If we like what is in the cup and decide that it is half full, then at least we can enjoy that much, though we may be craving for more. If we despise what is in the cup, at least we can console ourself that it is not a full cup of torture!

Besides these two perspectives of halves there is another perspective that is often overlooked and even underestimated. This is, that the cup is half filled... so there! It doesn't matter that it is half full or half empty. It is just plain fact that the cup is half filled and there is no need to console oneself one way or another than to accept this fact. This is a brave spiritual perspective that the mystics know as, 'It is as it is.'

Holding this perspective, especially for serious events in our life is not easy all the time (that's why there is the half perspectives). It does not allow room for blame transference or transfering responsibility to anyone but oneself. It takes stock of any kind of situation we may be in and puts us is the thick of it. If the situation is a mess, then we hand ourself the broom to clean it up. If the situation is good one, then we enjoy it to the fullest without any baggage of guilt or remorse. The challenge of this perspective is that we have to be completely honest with ourselves. Its rewards are the powerful feelings of freedom and clarity within us.

'It is as it is', is the perspective of the enlightened ones, and this is why such souls are sought after. The unreserved honesty in perspective that they hold is occasionally valuable to others who hold the consoling perspective of 'halves'. The 'half full' or the 'half empty' perspectives are mirrors of some form of inability to accept fact. In fact, these perspectives of 'halves' puts emphasis on the empty part of the proverbial cup. It assumes that we have to consider the empty part and do something with it. Instead the perspective of fact doesn't concern itself with the empty part of the cup at all and focuses entirely with the filled part and working with that.

One of the first lessons on spirituality that one learns in training with an enlightened master is to accept that whatever the contents of ones mind, especially the memories, as one's own and that they cannot be transfered to other persons to be resolved if they need resolution. I am referring to those heavy memories that cause all sorts of problems and negativity within a person (these are the memories that may be cause for us to look at the cup as half empty). The perspective of fact gives the ability to correct all wrongs by first pointing the finger at oneself. From this starting point one has the full power of the spiritual faculties of acceptance and forgiveness to put right all negatives and move forward positively. Any form of denial curtails spiritual power from utility.

The positive memories (these are the memories that may be cause for us to look at the cup as half full) are much easier to handle though they can sometimes be a hinderance in spirituality if one pines for that which one can no longer have. The perspective of fact teaches the enjoyment of the consequence of memory without craving. (To find out more about the subconscious mind, resolved and unresolved memories click here.)

I don't want to totally discredit the 'half full', 'half empty' perspectives. They are useful where there is the need for consolation. However, if we are looking to live life to the fullest, we will have to gradually develop the courage to look at life as it is in all its grandioseness, ordinariness and even its rawness and accept them wholeheartedly. From this pinnacle, we can improve what we can and adapt to what is as it is.