tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1087502739566584714.post7728093564188149071..comments2023-10-14T22:00:58.392+11:00Comments on Midlife - A Journey: TruthLozhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10513517402604501840noreply@blogger.comBlogger23125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1087502739566584714.post-74835987827079352402007-09-11T05:09:00.000+10:002007-09-11T05:09:00.000+10:00Interesting! I'm currently reading a book, "Why We...Interesting! I'm currently reading a book, "Why We Believe What We Believe" by Andrew Newberg and Mark Robert Waldman. The inside cover asks, "Why do you believe the things you believe? Do you remember event differently from how they really happened? How do morals evolve?"<BR/><BR/>It's fascinating. It covers how our emotions affect what we remember. So you're right, there is no "one truth."<BR/><BR/><BR/>Here's something I just read this morning that I'm still wrapping my mind around:<BR/><BR/>"I suspect that if a person could maintain a more open-minded state, the range of interpretations concerning spiritual experiences might increase. In many eastern traditions, one will find spiritual teachers who believe that all perceptions of the world are essentially cognitive interpretations. If practitioners could meditate to suspend the brain's propensity to make interpretations, they might glimpse a truer reality. But they wouldn't be able to put it into words, because language is a highly interpretive process."Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1087502739566584714.post-47179839255771523812007-09-08T07:23:00.000+10:002007-09-08T07:23:00.000+10:00I don't think there is any way of knowing whose pe...I don't think there is any way of knowing whose perception is the closest to the truth. I don't think ANYONE's perception is spot on truth. Nevertheless, it doesn't change the fact that there is one absolute truth - even if no one can fully know it.Jeffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16060441484392165488noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1087502739566584714.post-32781169960150045932007-09-06T14:53:00.000+10:002007-09-06T14:53:00.000+10:00Yes, I often joke that if five writers all experie...Yes, I often joke that if five writers all experienced the same thing, they would all write completely different accounts of it. And, let me tell you, it is WAY worse with family. So many family members seem intent on reinventing history. Of course, my memories are always the correct ones.Charlotte Rains Dixonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12657052065864065323noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1087502739566584714.post-19294507022991665452007-09-06T11:26:00.000+10:002007-09-06T11:26:00.000+10:00Seiche - thanks for coming back. Don't worry too ...Seiche - thanks for coming back. Don't worry too much about the lack of commenting, I've been a bit the same lately. Not out of lack of interest, more lack of time.Lozhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10513517402604501840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1087502739566584714.post-68531795173993298762007-09-06T01:31:00.000+10:002007-09-06T01:31:00.000+10:00I'm a little late in joining the discussion, but I...I'm a little late in joining the discussion, but I have been thinking about this post since you threw it out there. I have to agree with wfw; it all comes down to the amount of importance one places on things. Hindsight is most definitely NOT 20/20. <BR/><BR/>And I want to thank you for writing about things like this. I've been somewhat lax in commenting lately on the blogs I check everyday, but this post practically demanded it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1087502739566584714.post-33182290206363871062007-09-05T15:42:00.000+10:002007-09-05T15:42:00.000+10:00Dorothy - it was George Herbert who said "Follow n...Dorothy - it was George Herbert who said "Follow not truth too near the heels, lest it dash out thy teeth."<BR/><BR/>I wrote a post asking whether there was such a thing as a virtous lie on my other blog Sunrays and Saturdays here - http://manta57.blogspot.com/2007/04/is-there-such-thing-as-virtuous-lie.html<BR/><BR/>So I think there is an argument for telling falsehoods at times because the truth can hurt.Lozhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10513517402604501840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1087502739566584714.post-71643640362335911662007-09-05T15:06:00.000+10:002007-09-05T15:06:00.000+10:00Loz; The other day, my daughter reminded me of so...Loz; The other day, my daughter reminded me of some personal things I had shared with her. They were all true, however, I wished I hadn't said them... She remembers, I wish she didn't... I couldn't say a word except, I listened and thought wow, they tell me the truth will set you free...in this case not so...<BR/><BR/>Have fun with this one...its true.<BR/>Dorothy from grammology<BR/>http://grammology.comDorothyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03181570769074774554noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1087502739566584714.post-30992935161053577592007-09-05T11:27:00.000+10:002007-09-05T11:27:00.000+10:00As I do to your blogs dear Paisley :)As I do to your blogs dear Paisley :)Lozhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10513517402604501840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1087502739566584714.post-87359303425639130332007-09-05T10:23:00.000+10:002007-09-05T10:23:00.000+10:00exactly... just recently i posted on a similar sub...exactly... just recently i posted on a similar subject,, as it has been clear in my mind as well... i think we are both coming along in all of this quite nicely loz... and i love dropping in to find out the latest...paisleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08231453820728399262noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1087502739566584714.post-7592247704827472772007-09-05T10:16:00.000+10:002007-09-05T10:16:00.000+10:00Mel - I am glad I've got you thinking :)Mel - I am glad I've got you thinking :)Lozhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10513517402604501840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1087502739566584714.post-54075579481851828322007-09-05T10:15:00.000+10:002007-09-05T10:15:00.000+10:00Gypsy - it makes a lot of sense and is the reason ...Gypsy - it makes a lot of sense and is the reason why we say some people hear but others truly listen.Lozhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10513517402604501840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1087502739566584714.post-32828962624197632802007-09-05T10:14:00.000+10:002007-09-05T10:14:00.000+10:00Lady Penelope - yes there are choices but sometime...Lady Penelope - yes there are choices but sometimes the framework in which we live does not allow us to see them. May I point you to a book by Don Miguel Ruiz called "The Four Agreements" which explains this far more eloquently than I. I first talked about it in this post not long after I started this blog -<BR/>http://midlife-journey.blogspot.com/2007/04/agreements.htmlLozhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10513517402604501840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1087502739566584714.post-8060377112137295572007-09-05T10:09:00.000+10:002007-09-05T10:09:00.000+10:00Jeff - but whose perception is truth.My sister rem...Jeff - but whose perception is truth.<BR/><BR/>My sister remembers getting the strap from my mother for something I did. Neither my mother nor I have any memory of that happening. Of course I wasn't the one who had the stinging leg so maybe it just wasn't important enough for me to remember. The issue here is what is the "fact" and if we can't determine that then is either truth actually wrong?Lozhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10513517402604501840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1087502739566584714.post-63896491686756216042007-09-05T10:07:00.000+10:002007-09-05T10:07:00.000+10:00Absolutely Josie. But we can sometimes judge peo...Absolutely Josie. But we can sometimes judge people on things that may or may not have happened in exactly the way we remember them happening.Lozhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10513517402604501840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1087502739566584714.post-62742297468086447002007-09-05T10:05:00.000+10:002007-09-05T10:05:00.000+10:00Beth - you are so right. Stress can heighten some...Beth - you are so right. Stress can heighten some experiences and numb others. There is a protective mechanism in our brain that often filters out the bad things.Lozhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10513517402604501840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1087502739566584714.post-15022646100270870322007-09-05T10:04:00.000+10:002007-09-05T10:04:00.000+10:00wfw - the weight of importance is something I have...wfw - the weight of importance is something I have dealt with a lot over the past few years. Things that I remember from childhood are simply that my memories, not necessarily what happened.Lozhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10513517402604501840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1087502739566584714.post-75381677209502255452007-09-05T09:56:00.000+10:002007-09-05T09:56:00.000+10:00"Therefore the opinions people hold of others are ..."Therefore the opinions people hold of others are formed in ways which are coloured by their own perceptions and realities which may be a truth, but not necessarily the only truth."<BR/><BR/><BR/>Now, THAT is a lot to think about my friend.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1087502739566584714.post-60736014826673479702007-09-05T09:48:00.000+10:002007-09-05T09:48:00.000+10:00You are so right Loz. We do all have a different ...You are so right Loz. We do all have a different perception of the same event and that perception and our recollection of it is OUR TRUTH. <BR/><BR/>Even a simple conversation can be interpreted differently depending on the person listening. They put their own spin on things because they are not only listening to the words but bringing their own beliefs and experiences into it as well. Those beliefs colour what they are hearing therefore they are not really "hearing" what the speaker is saying. Does that make sense? It sounded right in my head? I might not be explaining myself properly but I totally "get" what you're saying. <BR/><BR/>My truth might not necessarily be your truth but neither of us are lying :)Karenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14339140046788925506noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1087502739566584714.post-47115897018838099312007-09-05T08:21:00.000+10:002007-09-05T08:21:00.000+10:00Truth hurts - own it and move forward. Hindsight i...Truth hurts - own it and move forward. Hindsight is wonderful! Something I have tried to use in my daily life. <BR/><BR/>We all have memories based on where we, our individual selves, are at that time in life. We have to look at the outside influences that affected our experience and acknowledge that there were also aspects affecting that someone else sharing the same experience. Our memories differ because of that.<BR/><BR/>Isn't this why we are all individuals. Why we all walk different life paths. Why we have the ability to use hindsight and choice in our daily life.<BR/><BR/>Great Post Loz!Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03804060386383922516noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1087502739566584714.post-63165585571762658652007-09-05T06:07:00.000+10:002007-09-05T06:07:00.000+10:00I hear what you are saying and agree with you in p...I hear what you are saying and agree with you in principle. My only reservation is the loose interpretation of the word "truth". There is only one truth. Everything else is perception:<BR/><BR/>FACT: The boy through a stone and killed the robin. One person saw the bird kill a crow. Yet another, saw him use a slingshot.<BR/><BR/>Both of these witnesses BELIEVE their perceptions. YET, there is only one truth: the boy killed a robin by throwing a stone and striking it a fatal blow.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1087502739566584714.post-28754259847560139372007-09-05T05:28:00.000+10:002007-09-05T05:28:00.000+10:00Profoundly true post, Loz! I've had the same expe...Profoundly true post, Loz! I've had the same experience with my sisters. Just two and three years separate us in age, yet are memories are so different at times that one wonders if we are talking about being raised in the same family. My little sister especially seems to recall very few of the intense moments my older sister and I do. My older sister's view of "truth" is very definitely colored by her emotional stability, she can "remember" events that absolutely did not happen! I guess that'a another factor in whose truth we are talking about. You are right - truth is very subjective!josie2shoeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15452791371126155173noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1087502739566584714.post-3920093923141214992007-09-05T00:49:00.000+10:002007-09-05T00:49:00.000+10:00Loz; I so agree with your post - I would even go o...Loz; <BR/>I so agree with your post - I would even go one step further and say that we all see things differently depending on the amount of stress we are under at the time. I remember some things one way when I am under stress, and a totally different perception of the situation when I am calm. Hard to keep track of all those truths...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1087502739566584714.post-72431565585492178302007-09-04T22:04:00.000+10:002007-09-04T22:04:00.000+10:00This so reminded me of discussions between parents...This so reminded me of discussions between parents and children. I'd never thought of it in this way, that our different developments altered our view of the same point. <BR/><BR/>The other thing is the weight of importance. Something which we may have found trivial might have meant a lot to the other person. We may have forgotten it while for them it's remained a thorny issue. <BR/><BR/>Oh heck Loz, we can but do our best and hope if we fail we can forgive one another and put it to rest.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com