Attention on the True

2003-10-25 03:54:00

I wrote the following in response to some questions from Susan and Sterling's list. I thought it may also be of value here.

Lance writes:
Thanks for your reply Susan I looked up the principles of discovery to find the following:

JJ:
(17) Put your attention on finding that which is true rather than that which is in error.

That which is not true is error, or in the true reality - NOTHING. If one spends his life looking for nothing what will he find?

Nothing.

Think of your circle of friends and pick one who is critical and always looking for error and red flags. Does he or she have any truth to teach?

If he does it will not have been discovered while looking for error.

Lance:
I disagree completely here, this is another example of something, which is purported to enlighten but destined to confuse.

For JJ to state that looking for error is looking for nothing and gives you nothing to teach, fails his own common sense test. Looking for error reveals truth.

JJ Response:
It is not looking for error that reveals truth, but looking for truth while discerning error in the process.

Take a look at those who discovered great truth. When Joseph Smith had his first vision was he looking for truth or error? He was attempting to find the "true' church and in the process the errors of the churches were revealed to him.

Lance:
One cannot refine ones beliefs unless one looks for the errors within them. If a golfer wants to improve his game he does it by looking for the errors in his stance, swing etc. Not by looking at what is still good in his game.

JJ:
BUT the best in any profession concentrate as their prime objective on their ideal game and as the game progresses toward the ideal errors are revealed which are then corrected. If one does not have the ideal (truest) game in mind looking for errors alone would drive him crazy and prove frustrating.

It's the hypochondriac principle. If a person concentrates on what can go wrong and only reads books on disease then he will never feel completely healthy as see sickness with every bubble of gas, itch or discomfort.

Lance:
He'll probably employ a coach to specifically look for the errors that are holding him back.

JJ:
But it will be a coach who sees the ideal game for him.

Lance:
In mathematics it is often much harder to prove something true than false, as I pointed out in my previous post if I make the deductive claim that all odd numbers are primes. I can gather my evidence that 3, 5, 7, 11 are all odd and are also all primes and not look for errors. I could look for further seeming truth and find 17,23,29 etc.. However I am now under illusion and will remain so indefinitely. If though I were to look for error here, I would quickly find the number 9, which would immediately reveal the belief in this theory to be illusion. So looking for error has saved me from illusion.

JJ:
This goes along with what I teach rather than contradicts it.

As Blayne said, the principle of putting attention on the truth is more of an attitude. When looking for truth you will perceive much error, but this is not your objective. Your objective is to find truth. You have to look at the whole of the Principles of discovery to understand what I am saying with completeness.

For instance principle 9 states: "The Process of Elimination. Eliminate those things that are definitely not true and contemplate on that which remains."

You just used this principle in finding that 9 is not a prime number yet it is also odd. This leaves us with the conclusion that one or more odd numbers are not prime numbers.

Lance:
Have I found nothing? Have I now got nothing to teach?

JJ:
This is not what was implied. What was meant was that error is that which is not true and that which is not true does not have a real existence. In other words, it is no better than empty space in the creation of anything with meaning or beauty.

Lance:
I have found that finding errors removes illusion, a principle I can now begin to teach.

JJ:
This is true and in harmony with all I teach.

Lance:
Interestingly and paradoxically on a email list such as this, it is only the perceived errors others make that motivate us to reply, even JJ himself admitted in his discussion with Howard that he felt no need to comment on their points of agreement.

JJ:
Both those who look for error first and those who look for truth first will see error and both groups will have much more to comment on when it comes to perceived error.

Why?

The answer is quite simple. When you see a simple truth there is often not much to say. For instance, John has made several excellent posts lately and I just read then and think "sounds good to me."

But if someone sates that 2+2=3 my attention will be roused and I'll question the person and insist he prove his point.

In other words, it's the nature of the situation and not the nature of the search that causes error to stand out.

On the other hand, often I have come across a truth that is a stepping stone to more truth and have found I could write a book on it. Truth must ultimately prevail over error for true learning to take place.

Lance:
As for your own explanation of right brain intuition and left brain logic, thanks for reminding me of that :).

It does add another layer to the problem, but unless you are saying that we need the Holy Ghost to confirm our intuition, I am not sure that it addresses my concerns. To quote JJ again:

JJ:
I am using a different definition of intuition than you are probably thinking here which does require the Holy Spirit to achieve. True intuition accesses the mind of God. That which the world calls intuition is often instinct, gut feelings, or lower psychism.

Lance (First quoting me):
"He who finds new truth will reach a real new level and will be able to explain it with clarity because the truth is always simple when realized."

If one can always reach a level where one can explain truth (language being a logical left brain activity) then unless appealing to the Holy Ghost produces such an understanding, the appeal is no more than a strengthening of faith in your belief.

JJ:
True revelation of truth does come with understanding. A false one only strengths belief.

Lance:
It cannot help you know anything, because surely to know must mean to comprehend with both parts of the brain not just have a gut feeling based upon the one side.

JJ:
Agreed

Lance:
I'd also be interested to know if you've ever found that there was something about which you had said that, "you don't know how you know, just that you know" which it turned out you didn't know at all?

JJ:
I've never said this. When I say I know, I know how I know.

Lance:
I ask this because often what we find, is that we only make this claim after some logical evidence confirms what we think we already know. We then smile and say, see, I knew I knew that. Which really means, now I know I knew what I thought I knew.

Lol! now I am speaking in riddles.

JJ:
All of us have certain things we are not sure of that we eventually get confirmation on which leads us to more sure footing. I rarely say that "I know" something as it means nothing in the end. Only a testimony from within has real meaning. Thus I teach with no authority and let those who listen decide for themselves.

Below I am including some of my writings on the principle of discovery under discussion so the group can get a better idea of what I have taught about it.

Principle 17 in the discovery of Truth "Put your attention on finding that which is true rather than that which is in error."

Many people seek to prove a thing true by looking for errors and flaws. The idea is that if they find no error then only the truth is left. Why is this approach not reliable? Why is it easier to find truth by looking for truth?

Perhaps we could ask it this way. Is it better to look for red flags or the light that reveals?

Many people seek to prove a thing true by looking for errors and flaws. The idea is that if they find no error then only the truth is left. Why is this approach not reliable? Why is it easier to find truth by looking for truth?

Perhaps we could ask it this way. Is it better to look for red flags or the light that reveals?

Keith writes:
You get what you look for -- if you concentrate on errors you get exactly that. It's like the weatherman telling you that it's a 30% chance of rain -- why doesn't he tell you it's a 70% chance of sunshine? Your mind can only concentrate on one thing at a time -- if it looks for error it will find error and maybe miss the truth.

JJ:
Great answer. By the way- are you a new Keith or Raptor Keith?

Yes, we draw to ourselves that on which we place our attention. Jennifer worded this well: "If one puts one's attention on learning how to recognize truth, i.e. its hallmarks, then truth will stand out from amongst that which is not true, much more readily." Xavier makes several good points one of which is: I think (expanding the topic) that one has to follow what seems good: why would I follow a guy that I think is deluded? Except to overcome a major blind spot of mine." So what should we do when we meet one who is obviously deluded? Shall we still look for truth in his illusions? And in placing our attention on that which is true, are we more likely to be deceived than one who looks for red flags?

To this I ask another question: By expecting a meal to be taste delicious are you likely to be deceived by a rotten egg that you happen to taste? Of course not. Your attention on what is good does not take away your discernment in sorting out the bad.

On the other hand, if your attention and expectation is on the idea that the meal may taste bad, or perhaps you are suspicious that someone has cooked you rotten meat will this interfere with the pleasure of your dinner?

Yes, it certainly will. We have all met picky eaters that can't seem to let themselves enjoy a fine meal because of some fear that it has not been prepared or seasoned properly.

Researchers did an experiment with color and food. They cooked some delicious steaks and fed then to group one and they all enjoyed them immensely. But then for group II they cooked the same meal but had them eat under a green light - thus the whole meal had a greenish tint to it.

Even though group two had the same meal the greenish tint caused them to focus on the fact that something may be wrong with it and few were able to enjoy it and some got sick.

Truth is like the steak. Do not focus on the greenish light (or what may be wrong) but on what may be right with it. Only by doing this can one enjoy all the truth and flavor that is in the steak.

Question:
Can one put his prime attention on that which is true and yet still use the process of elimination as an aid in discovery?

Answer:
A definite yes on this one. As my food analogy illustrated one is not oblivious to bad food when he is expecting a good meal.

When one looks for the good as a primary focus of discovery he will in the process come across a number of items which stand out as obviously false.. When a real falsehood is discovered then the seeker can use this fact as one of the items in his process of elimination.

In looking for truth you may discover that 1+1 = 2 and in the process realize that the guy claiming that 1+1=3 is not correct. Now that you have proven this to yourself you can eliminate consideration of this falsehood unless some new light come to view.

Question:
How does the lack of understanding of this principle of looking for truth instead of error cause mainstream religious people to not see any truth in the world of metaphysics?

We received some great answers on this from Gloria, Larry and the oneness version of our friend Paul. These are all good food for thought and stimulation.

Let me give a few additional thoughts on the matter.

This is an extremely important principle in the search for the truth. In some ways it may be THE most important of all.

Why?

Because, in this world there lies before us at all times two paths. Path one leads to truth and the real world. Path two leads to illusion and deception. Each decision that we make takes us in the direction of one of these paths.

Visualize yourself on a path that divides. The left hand path leads to deception and the right hand leads to truth. Where are you likely to find the most truth? Taking the left hand path and discovering everything that is false, or taking the right hand path and discovering truth after truth. Which path leads to the greater progress?

The answer should be obvious.

When one puts his attention on seeing that which is true he is taking the inner right hand path. His attention on that which is true moves him in the direction of this path and moves him forward on it to truth after truth, greater light after greater light.

When one puts his attention on looking for error this attention on error moves him toward the left hand path, and as be moves along this path he sees error after error and rarely has any observation of new truth to report.

Take me as a teacher as an example. Many have come to this forum with a focus on finding truth and despite my weakness in presentation and limited grasp of higher realities, these individuals have discovered truth after truth for themselves. There have been times that members have found truth in my words that I did not realize was there.

Then there are others who join that just seem to have the feeling that something is wrong somewhere. Some feel I am in this for the money, the ego or just sincere, but deluded. Instead, then of looking for truth in my words, they look for wrong motive, ego or deceit. The problem is that we usually find evidence to prove that of which we have a preconceived notion to believe.

If, therefore, one suspects I am motivated by ego and decides to look for evidence of that conclusion he will find his evidence. The evidence may be a reflection of his own ego, but he will find it nevertheless..

Take the life of Jesus for example. He was an innocent and virtuous man, yet the Jewish leaders immediately suspected that he was in league with the devil since his teachings did not agree with their preconceived notions. Therefore, when they looked upon his words and acts what did they look for? Did they look for truth or error.

Of course, we all know that they looked for error.

And what did they find?

The amazing thing is that even with a holy man such as Jesus these individuals found only error. And thus they saw the face of the devil in the face of Christ.

If looking for error caused them of old to see the face of the devil in the face of Christ, then ought we not learn a lesson from their mistake? For if we ourselves make the same mistake of letting our prime focus be the discovery of error then would we not also see the face of evil in Christ if he were to walk among us again?

Can you think of a worse fate for yourself than to die an enemy to Christ while thinking you were fighting evil?

The interesting thing is that many who make this mistake of looking for evil are fairly decent people sincere in their search for truth. But as they progress along this left hand path the time will come that their mistake becomes obvious and when this time of reckoning does come the pilgrim must then retrace his steps and tread the higher path. If he refuses because of pride, selfishness or ego then he becomes a willing accomplice in treading the path of deception and taking others along with him.

I therefore admonish all true seeker who reads these words to walk the path of light by seeking the light and looking for the light.

Glenys appropriately quoted Paul on this principle: "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things." Phil 4:8 Notice that Paul advises: "think on these things." Yes, my friends, "think on" and see the good, the beautiful and the true and you shall become a magnet for these things and shall draw truth, pure as the driven snow into your life experience and the light that is in you will be great so no darkness or deception can there abide.

Two babies were born on the same day at the same hospital. They lay there and looked at each other. Their families came and took them away. Eighty years later, by a bizarre coincidence, they lay in the same hospital, on their deathbeds, next to each other. One of them looked at the other and said, "So. What did you think?" Steven Wright