this is the best explanation i have read for how to look directly and honestly at the statement 'there is no you.'


14 September 2010 16:50

bobby said...

    This honesty that you describe, are you saying to start with the assumption that something is true then try to prove or disprove that assumption?
  
Ciaran said...

    No, you stare deeply into the possibility that it IS true.

    You look deeply and unflinchingly at the consequences, at what they would really mean, at what it would really involve if this thing was actually, really true.

    What you are not, not, not doing is engaging in some 'prove or disprove' shit in your head. This will be fatal to your honesty.

    If anything, looking at it from that point of view, you are trying to prove something you don't want to believe in.

    But even that is a hopeless parody of what this is really about.

    If you really want to disprove something, if you really want to fight something, you have to let go of your own preconceptions about it.

    Many people would probably nod along to this, but wouldn't actually do what it took - real honesty - to do this.

    What it takes, to leave behind your preconceptions, is to just force yourself to give the opposing viewpoint credibility.

    Even if it seems incredible - especially if it seems incredible.

    Even if it seems appalling - especially if it seems appalling.

    Even if it immediately makes you want to dismiss it - especially if it immediately makes you want to dismiss it.

    Force yourself (basically just shout at yourself until you do this) to treat the opposing viewpoint like it's genuinely credible.

    And the more credible you can force yourself to treat it, the deeper your understanding of it will be, and if it is untrue, in real life, the kind of counterargument you'll come up with by doing this will be absolutely devastating.

    If it is true, you will not only see that it is true, but how it is true and why it is true. That truth will be deeply rooted in you, and will give you a very strong piece of insight that will, because it is so deep, almost always shed serious light on seemingly unrelated issues.

    Force yourself to take shit seriously. That's it in a short sentence.

    In a medium sized sentence: force yourself to seriously face the possibility that whatever argument has challenged you is absolutely true.

    This is real honesty.


See the full post here:

http://ruthlesstruthdotcom.blogspot.com/2010/09/how-to-be-honest.html