Sometimes, especially regarding things in the outside world, judgment is necessary. When crossing the street (on foot) one must prudently judge when the appropriate time to cross exists (to avoid oncoming traffic). However, many of us “overuse” judgment, especially inwardly, within (and “as”) consciousness. One may judge inwardly, condemning oneself for what one did years ago. One, however, is not what one was years ago, and it may be wiser to be more attentive to “the present” than to dwell on what happened in (and “as”) the distant past. One may project or imagine (via inward judgment) that one is inferior to others, and (thus), while in public, feel “looked down on” or “inferior.” Such a projection (via self-judgment) may be a waste of energy. Or one may project (to oneself inwardly) that one is superior or far more elite than most people; in such a case one may radiate an air of bigotry (against others) and pompousness (about oneself).
Holistic intelligence only uses judgment sparingly and prudently (when it is actually needed). It transcends the limited self (that gets tangled in, and by, judgment). It does not become a victim of inner conflicts and crude situations reflected by habitual, conditioned protrusions of judgment. Such intelligence perceives clearly and directly without a lot of conflict-inducing judgment clouding and interfering with direct perception and understanding. (Such intelligence is likely not just personal intelligence, by the way… it’s an intelligence that transcends the self.) Judgment often leads to conclusions… and conclusions frequently cloud the mind and box it in (into rigid, crass, limited, conditioned ways). The light of intelligence can nullify the darkness (i.e., the distortion) that crude judgment can manifest as.
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Lovely post – although not trying to judge. 😂
Thanks, and… very clever comment, Pam! 😀
Bravo. I judge myself still for past deeds and it sours the present. Gotta stop doing it but it’s hard…they’re part of my memory and of where I came from.
Well, i understand, paperlight. However, past memory need not be what you “came from.” In going beyond thought/thinking — those limited protrusions of memory — one can be what is magically beyond the stale past, the dusty yesterday. Then there can be an intelligence that is neither yours nor mine; it is beyond fragmentary (little) protrusions. 😉
excellent post Tom – Again I see that ‘both and approach’ – judgement is necessary of course but oh gosh it’s also a bit demonic – surfacing to intimate or belittle – and we must beware – I am having a hard time with judgement now because so little attention – actually no attention – is being paid to a planet we give lip service to or dismiss while economy is king.
Yes, Sara, judgment is like a tool that can — at times — be used properly or be over-used inappropriately. When one judges, one is the actual judgment… not necessarily (as we were taught) something separate from it. And, yes, the planet is being misused and abused; however, the weather’s karma is slipping into retribution mode and things will be getting more unpleasant for the abusers (and non-abusers too, unfortunately). Just remember, life is resilient and recovers. 😉
I like this – when we judge we are the judgment – and I am making a judgement when it comes to the way we treat our planet – it’s not ok and we all shall suffer – you know I don’t think of the weather patterns shifting into retribution – i think retribution is a human thing – in the big picture what I see is that we all are going to live the CONSEQUENCES of abusing our planet – and yes life will go on – after all life has been present for roughly 500 million years… but oh -the suffering =
We are often too “judgey” if that is a word … I find myself questioning everything and do not always make the wisest decisions based on those initial judgments.
Yes, Linda, and the judgments are a often reflections of our conditioning. In transcending conditioning, there is a possibility of wisdom and intelligence as freedom. As i said, sometimes judgments are necessary… but most of us are overly judgmental in limited, conditioned, and fragmentary ways.