From International Viewpoints (IVy) Issue 3 - November 1991
 
New Realities
By Mark Jones, USA

Judgement

We may hear admonitions from time to time to not be judgemental, that 
it is not spiritual to judge. Yet we know that without using good 
judgement, we will encounter failures and setbacks in life. How does 
one resolve this apparent paradox?

In one sense, most of people's and the world's problems stem from 
people being judgemental. This is viewing others and their activities 
through fixed opinions or beliefs, that essentially categorize them, 
often with an inferior or bad connotation. Thus we see Croates 
fighting Serbs, trying to destroy each other because of the other 
being judged to be bad people, or as bad because of having ancestors 
who allegedly perpetrated harmful acts. The categorization of public 
as wogs or raw meat, or dissenters as SPs and "fair game" by members 
of the C of S, or the similar labelling by religious groups of 
disbelievers as heretics or agents of the devil are examples in which 
individuals view others through fixed beliefs that they are inferior 
or bad. We see it occurring between ethnic groups, and in prevalent 
male attitudes toward women. In the so called independent field, we 
see it in the intolerance of other's selected paths of exploration and 
a 'my way is the only true way' attitude, which mocks having a truely 
independent viewpoint.

Yet careful observations and evaluation of conditions and 
circumstances are essential elements for success in life. However, 
observation and evaluation through fixed viewpoints is invariable 
skewed, and becomes judgemental. It makes it impossible to truly 
duplicate and in a sense become one with that which is being observed 
or considered.

As long as individuals hold fixed or limiting beliefs about 
themselves, and their own inadequacies, they will tend to project 
these on to others and to be judgemental. This will bring about 
distorted observations, evaluations, intolerance and lack of success. 
Only by identifying and eliminating beliefs can individuals become 
competent observers and evaluators. As they do, their path to success 
will becomes easier and more joyful.