[Note: Currently we are thinking of the victims of Hurricanes Harvey and Irma, regarding the human species (and other animal species). We donated to the Red Cross for each specific area. Please consider donating if you haven’t done so already. Additionally, please do more to help curtail global warming. I’ve been warning, for a long time now, about the winds and weather getting substantially worse due to man’s neglect regarding clean energy; things will get far worse if we do not radically change our ways.]
A lot of minds are unbalanced these days. Most minds, really, are very unbalanced. A truly balanced mind is like a rare, precious jewel. Unfortunately, very few minds, in this rather rotten society, are truly balanced. To be truly balanced means not to have a mind that has been conditioned by the current rotten, immoral society in which we currently live. It involves having (i.e., being) a mind that has stepped out of the morass of selfish values, indifferent separation, cold competition, and crude status quo beliefs. A balanced mind does not follow the crowd, especially when that crowd has been indoctrinated to accept and hold orientations and tendencies that have been going on since ancient times. Many people, these days, would be able to fit in quite nicely into the ancient Roman culture; the changes necessary — to so fit in — would not be very dramatic in the least.
The balanced mind that goes beyond all this, that largely transcends beyond conditioning and fragmentation, is far from what the ordinary man can understand or discover. Real balance goes beyond unnecessary internal friction and conflict. The balanced mind is not composed of learned (i.e., absorbed) barriers which separate it from all life, or which separate a supposed controlling center from other thoughts. The balanced mind is not what looks from (or “as”) a screen of mere prejudices, edicts, beliefs, pigeon-holing labels, or hand-me-down values. When a balanced mind looks, it looks without the mental-programming that dictates to others about how they should look (with certain preconceptions). A balanced mind has its own intrinsic, natural empathy, holistic perception, insightful understanding, and unbounded wisdom.
Can the unbalanced mind, the conditioned, corrupt mind, step out (mentally) from the quagmire that it is in… and be balanced? Can separative, crass concepts and preconceived viewpoints go past the crude limitations that they are? The mind can psychologically die to its own accumulated corruption. Such a psychological dying is a real innocence, involves silence, and is real living… and it does not involve a learned method that takes time.
Chillin’ (1) Photo by Thomas Peace c. 2017
Chillin’ (2) Photo by Thomas Peace c. 2017
Tom's Nature-up-close Photography and Mindfulness Blog 
I cannot agree that our society is rotten, Tom, for even in the midst of troubling times, there are warm hearts all around us.
Yes, Jet, i understand. There is, of course, real compassion out there that i am well aware of. 🙂 However, what also exists is too much ruthless competition, indifference to the health of the environment, willingness to make and sell products that make $ but that are not healthy, overpopulation, and greed and separation that breeds violence and that causes much suffering. We can do a whole lot better! We are overpopulating this planet, taking more than our share, and polluting way too much. The oceans and nature are clearly dying.
I hope your words will be heard, Thomas. The world has been ravaged and now they all wonder why it strikes back. Regards Mitza
Yes, Mitza, a major portion of the human species cannot be blind to the delicate nature of the environment and then expect everything to run in balance, smoothly. Corrupt values make for an environment of chaos that is destructive.
Well said Tom. Acts of kindness are performed all of the time by the very few but there are a large number that would agree with you the society on a whole is rotten. Many believe what they read or hear as the truth and are indoctrinated by it making it easy to spread such rottenness. Now if only you could get to those that need it.
Yes, Francis, there are decent people who have a good heart and are willing to help. 🙂 However, our planet is small and very vulnerable and we, as a species, are taking way more than our share, are polluting and overpopulating way too much, and are remaining separative (maintaining wars and nuclear bombs). We can do so much better. However, very many are indifferent and unwilling to change. People, unfortunately, are very easily influenced by Big Greed and propaganda (that they accept with open arms and blind eyes).
wonderful mind focusing
on doing what matters;
helping others 🙂
We hope so!
Be independent, uninfluenced, and perceptive! And help compassion be! 🙂
Balance doesn’t lie in the middle of a scale; it pushes opposites evenly apart from each end. Preconceived notions are it’s only limiters whether learned from others or reasoned carelessly in our own thoughts. To push the limits you have to be ready to teeter both ways before balance is achieved .
I feel that real balance has little to do with opposites or scales. Direct, pristine perception doesn’t need separation or opposites. Yes, preconceived notions are limiting. That limitation easily then embraces more preconceived notions… (which causes further limitation); the whole thing continues to snowball in innumerable many… and the end result is an orthodox entity who is a mere shadow of corruption and distortion (all the while wholeheartedly accepting what it has absorbed as the truth). It then is willing to fight or die for such truths.
That sounds like chaos to me , but even my beliefs are balanced between doubts and faith. In an infinitive amount of infinities lie values, true balance would have to represent a perspective of all value and lie between equal positive and negative values having no value of its own or equaling 0; zero representing nothing. But beliefs are obvious validations of ones reason and have little purpose to those who don’t apply. Without validation is doubt and there in lies something many are willing to fight and die for. So an all knowing entity with all perspectives would be required with a constant control of free will for anything to exist. Life is a delicate conglomeration of exacts that requires near perfect tolerances in its constitution. Kill a small insignificant species or raise the temperature a few degtees;)
No!
Congratulations, Tom!
I have nominated your blog for the Real Neat Blog Award.
More about this nomination is at
https://dearkitty1.wordpress.com/2017/09/12/real-neat-blog-award-congratulations-to-14-nominees/
Thanks but i am really not into awards or receiving honors or awards. It’s a Socrates Parable of the Cave kind of thing. 🙂 http://webspace.ship.edu/cgboer/platoscave.html