Author: ScottyBoy

Getting Rid of a Defect

There was an early American who spent some time observing himself and came up with twelve defects which troubled him. He resolved to rid himself of them, ‘Not by hunting ten hares at once, in which case they all run free, but by hunting them one at a time.’

For a period of two months he worked exclusively on one defect at a time. At the end of two years he had eliminated his twelve worst features, which allowed him to proceed in life with much success and happiness.

This man was Benjamin Franklin.

Impartial Observation

In order to dissolve a psychological defect or ‘I’, it is necessary to observe impartially. Do not condemn the defect, this will only push it further into the recesses of the mind. Think of them as wary prey, startling or scaring them will only make it harder to observe them. In like fashion, do not justify or trivialize what you see, this will only strengthen the defect.

The trick is to be impartial, neither condemning nor excusing. This is like the parent driving with the children in the car. If you can keep quiet they will forget about you and in talking to each other divulge everything. But the minute you interject they will clam up.

The main objective is to understand how the defect works, what is the mechanism or process in the mind. By remaining impartial we can see and discover much.

When a defect is fully comprehended it will disappear. When there is less ego, more of the Essence can shine through. We become more conscious. Where there was once anger is now only joy. Where there was once impatience is now serenity.

Hence, those who have much will get more. Those who don’t – even what little they have will be taken away.