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A mind is troubled when it is beset with doubts, perplexities and problems. Such troubles come from misalignment of data in the mind, which prevents the mind from resolving the troubles.  If that data could be aligned the troubles shall resolve.

The mind tries to resolve the misalignment of data by making postulates. A postulate is something taken as self-evident or assumed without proof as a basis for reasoning. A postulate is valid to the degree it helps align data. A valid postulate makes it possible to resolves doubts, perplexities and problems.

A postulate is something taken as self-evident or assumed without proof as a basis for reasoning. 

The common error occurs when the postulates align data only within a narrow context. Thus difficulties and problems are partially resolved in a narrow context only. From this comes about the idea of comfort zones. The narrow-minded postulates do not work beyond their comfort zones.

People become used to their narrow-minded postulates. These postulates become part of their mindset and beingness. They are happy as long as they are in their comfort zone. But when their circumstances change they find it difficult to adjust and they become unhappy. Most people are unhappy because nothing remains the same in this universe for long. It is common to be thrown out of comfort zone.

The mind becomes problematic when its postulates align data only within a narrow context.

In other words, all problems come from being narrow-minded. The solution, therefore, is to have postulates that help one align data in as broad a context as possible. One’s postulate must be flexible. When one becomes aware of a larger context, one should be able to update the postulates to align data in that larger context.

The solution is to develop postulates that help one align data in as broad a context as possible.

The mind becomes more problematic as its narrow-minded postulates become fixed. Resistance to change comes from fixed narrow-minded postulates.  The only way to overcome this resistance is to encourage willingness to examine the misalignments of data in a larger context.

Resistance to change comes from narrow-minded postulates that have become fixed.

Postulates that help align data in a universal context are considered objective. The laws pf physics fall in this category and so do the fundamental postulates of various philosophies. Postulates that help align data in a limited context only are considered subjective.

Postulates that can help align data in a universal context are objective. They can help resolve all doubts, perplexities and problems

Subjective postulates are usually limited to the context of “self” of a person. These subjective postulates act like filters that “color” the perceptions and evaluations of the person. Any problems that extend beyond the “self” of the person cannot be resolved by subjective postulates.

A person unwilling to change his subjective postulates ends up generating unusual solutions to resolve his problems. His life becomes increasingly complex, and he mostly runs around on wild goose chases.

Subjective postulates make one’s life very complex.

Free association helps one align data in a universal context. It helps one upgrade the postulates from subjective to objective. Sometimes misalignments in data come about from traumatic painful experiences. To resolve such misalignments free association needs to be carried out in a patient and disciplined manner. That discipline is provided by mindfulness.

Severe misalignments of data may be resolved through practice of free association under the discipline of mindfulness.

In cases where deeply painful data is difficult to access, a mindfulness guide may help the person through needed free associations. The mind is then able to inspect the postulates made under traumatic conditions and sort them out.

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Nirvana in Buddhism is expressed as accessing that “still center” around which the self is built. We may refer to this still center as “The Unattached Viewpoint”.

The primary effort in Buddhism is to access the reality of this static condition directly and not just logically. Once this “static” is accessed, a person is forever oriented properly not only to his self, but also to the rest of the universe.

The ancient Vedas tried to approach the reality of this static through the practice of “neti-neti”. The Wikipedia states:

In Hinduism, and in particular Jnana Yoga and Advaita Vedanta, neti neti is a Sanskrit expression which means “not this, not this”, or “neither this, nor that” (neti is sandhi from na iti “not so”). It is found in the Upanishads and the Avadhuta Gita and constitutes an analytical meditation helping a person to understand the nature of Brahman by first understanding what is not Brahman. It corresponds to the western via negativa, a mystical approach that forms a part of the tradition of apophatic theology. One of the key elements of Jnana Yoga practice is often a “neti neti search.” The purpose of the exercise is to negate rationalizations and other distractions from the non-conceptual meditative awareness of reality.

Thus, this “static” may be viewed as the ultimate orientation point from which to sort out the confusion of self and the universe. This has been the characteristic feature of the eastern philosophy.

In the western philosophy, the orientation point is the concept of “God”, which has been defined as “the uncaused Cause” or “the unmoved Mover.” It has been assigned infinite characteristics. The Wikipedia states:

In monotheism, God is conceived of as the Supreme Being and principal object of faith. The concept of God as described by most theologians includes the attributes of omniscience (infinite knowledge), omnipotence (unlimited power), omnipresence (present everywhere), divine simplicity, and as having an eternal and necessary existence. Many theologians also describe God as being omnibenevolent (perfectly good), and all loving…

In theism, God is the creator and sustainer of the universe, while in deism, God is the creator, but not the sustainer, of the universe. In pantheism, God is the universe itself. In atheism, God is not believed to exist, while God is deemed unknown or unknowable within the context of agnosticism. God has also been conceived as being incorporeal (immaterial), a personal being, the source of all moral obligation, and the “greatest conceivable existent”. Many notable philosophers have developed arguments for and against the existence of God…

Thus, there are many different concepts of God, but the underlying concepts seem to be a point from which motion is created without limit. It is the concept of a Self that has infinite characteristics. It is the ultimate kinetic.

We seem to have a spread of characteristics from the “zero” of ultimate static to the “infinity” of ultimate kinetic.

We may represent this spread by a scale of motion and emotional characteristics. The static end represents Nirvana, whereas, the kinetic end represents God.

Nirvana and God seems to represent the opposite ends of a scale of physical and metaphysical characteristics.

The ultimate static of Nirvana represents an absolute zero not only for physical reality, but also for metaphysical and spiritual reality. It is zero qualities, zero capabilities and zero potential.

The ultimate kinetic of God represents the infinity not only for  metaphysical and spiritual reality, but also for physical reality. It is infinite qualities, infinite capabilities and infinite potential of this univrese.

Mathematically, “zero” is always viewed as the reference point on any scale. The zero of positive numbers is also the zero of negative numbers. Consistency lies in having the same zero for all numbers, whether positive, negative, rational or irrational.

Similarly, consistency lies in having the ultimate static of Nirvana as the reference point for all reality, whether physical, metaphysical, spiritual, abstract, real or imaginary. It is the point from which all values and characteristics are measured.

Infinity of God is simply an extreme value of all reality, whether physical, metaphysical, spiritual, abstract, real or imaginary. To understand infinity one requires the reference point of zero.

The understanding of God requires the orientation point of Nirvana.

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