How can we help people help themselves?
We can give them information. We can teach them to think for themselves. We can show them a perspective—a way of seeing things—that they did not have/see before.
We can teach them to have dignity.
We can teach them about illusion vs. reality, to question beliefs and assumptions, to realize that the way they see something is not the same thing as the thing itself;
to learn self-control;
to understand conditioning;
to learn what they can control and how they are controlled by their illusions and conditioning, and that they have ultimate control over that, as well as the responsibility to do so.
We can teach people to recognize that they might not be doing what will get them what they really want (happiness, love, completeness, etc.).
We need to teach people self-control, responsibility, to think for themselves and take responsibility for their own lives and actions.
We need to provide people with such education, while at the same time teaching them how to think for themselves; teach them humility with dignity, confidence without arrogance.
People want responsibility, respect, love, trust. We have to give these things to them and let them make mistakes, so they can learn how to think for themselves, so they can have faith in themselves, and cultivate their own power. Learning the truths of power (not over others, but rather personal power), and to love yourself without narcissism and/or pride. It is very much the way I think we should “raise” children.
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From my personal notes, 6/7/00
