This website is now, mostly, an “about me” site.   I grew weary of Facebook and similar, and decided to put my information on my own website.   If people find it, OK.   Or, if there is a reason to, I can direct people to it.  

This website used to be my website which offered my body-work services.   I am now retired from physical bodywork.   But still offer a few services and products.

These services and products include:

Distance Reiki Sessions   (30 min for $15)   Inquire through the "Contact Form".   Click for the form

Reiki Training Manuals   (Inquire through the "Contact Form").   Click for the form

Spiritual Life Coaching in the form of Zoom Discussion Meetings   (Free)   Click for info

I want to "meet you" prior to providing servies.    At a minimum, some email messages.   Preferably a Zoom (or similar) "face-to-face" conversation.    There are a lot of (lets just say) zealots who would not appreciate my services.

I am happy to chat with anyone, about my services, or just to converse about philosophical (spiritual) ideas, anything.

To inquire about serivces, or initiate a conversation:

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About Me:

I describe myself as "spititual but not religious".   As such, I find Truth/Wisdom in/from many sources: each-and-every of the world's great religions, lay teachers/gurus, nature itself, my own spiritual practices, and some mystical experiences.   Even so, I am ordained in "The Order of Melchizedek", an interfaith service ministry.   My ordination is most simply (and superficially) understood as my personal "statement" about my belief that we are all Divine beings, all the "children" of God, all priests and priestesses.   I just decided to "make it official", with credentials.  Ministering was never my vocation.   I made my living as a computer geek.

I've practiced Transcendental Meditation since 1974, with limited practice of 6 additional meditation techniques.

I received psychotherapy for 8 years and couples therapy for 3 more; I participated in 20 years of assorted "self-help" discussion and support groups, mostly dealing with separation and divorce and "primary" relationships, but also CODA 12-step; For 6 years I served as a “facilitator” (leader) of self-help discussion groups.   I've informally studied Buddhist philosophies such as 'Mindfulness', 'The Doctrine of No Self', 'Emptiness' 'The Mind Only School' and 'Attachment' for 20 years.   These were not all sequential, often several were concurrent. 

I was a professional Massage Therapist since 2000 (retired in 2026).

I have been practicing Reiki since 2000, and have long been attuned to the level of Master in 7 "flavors" of Reiki and, recently, also levels 1 and 2 of the Rand school HFR system.  And I've taught Usui Shiki Ryoho (Reiki) since 2005, using a set of 4 training manuals I wrote and self-published.

I am a Oneness Blessing giver (Diksha).  I have received the 9 Rites of Munay-Ki.

I endeavor to "walk the walk", not just "talk the talk".
Applied spirituality, made real through experience.
On my journey: "Some days I eat the bear.  Some days the bear eats me".

Personal Highlights:

I was born in 1952.   I got married at the age of 20 (too young),   I had a son, and then a daughter.   Eventually a divorce.   I was a single parent along the way.   Technically I am still a single parent.  Still single (and still looking) and still a parent.   I now have 3 grandsons.

Grew up in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.   Went to public schools, and local tertiary education: Augustana (College, then, now) University.   Had my first job locally.   Moved for work to Virginia in 1980.   Moved for work again, to Indiana in 2000.   Moved back to South Dakota in 2010.

In the summer of 1970, I lived with an uncle in Lanai Hawaii, and picked pineapple.   I picked about 150,000 pineapple at about 1/2 cent each.   I figured that out, while working.   Prior to that I was not good at aritmatic in my head.   But I had weeks to work on it.   I now understand this as an exmaple of neural plasticity.

In the summer of 1971, I built, with my own two hands, a lake cottage for my parents in central Minnesota.   I had learned enough to do so, from a "Vocational Carpentry" class in high school.   I had thought I was not smart enough for college/university, (high school GPA was 2.3 on 4 point scale).   The carpentry was intended to be "career training".   But I did go to college/university.   Gratuated Cum Laud, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Natural Science.   Most of my employment was working with computers, in a variety of ways.

The deterioration of my marriage led me into psychotherapy.   Arguably it is the best thing that every happend to me.   First I learned (enough more, certainly not all) about the (largely subconscious) content of my ego/self.   I call this "conventional psychology" and it focuses on what is called "narrator consciousness".   Later, I realized there is a deeper part of me, which led to questions/investigations about the nature of the ego/self.   I call this "spiritual psychology" and it focuses on what is called "witness consciousness".   Quote: "You are not the voice in your head, you are the one who listens".   Numerous source citations, both modern and ancient.

Between 2010 and 2020, from time to time, I dated internationally, living (with a girlfriend) in Beijing and (in an entirely separate situation) Taipei.  FYI: Taiwan is NOT part of China.   This living abroad consisted of repeated visits with the shortest being 3 weeks, and the longest being 9 months.   Long-distance, international, cross-cultural dating has its complications.   Not the least of which is, in contrast to the US where I am a college graduate and own 3 motor vehicles, in Asia, I am illiterate, neither speaking reading nor writing Mandarin (the dominant language in both Beijing and Taipei), and would not drive on a dare.

Wanabe musician.   I sing -- at least I could the last time I tried.   I own two musical instruments (electric bass guitar, and keyboard) but never mastered either.   Don't want to be a professional (well if somehow it happend, OK...), just music for the enjoyment of it.   Good harmony literally brings me to tears.   I think it is metaphorical for the relationship I envision.

Mostly vegetarian and organic.   Between healthy eating, Reiki, and meditation, people think I look roughly 10 years younger than I am.   But, figuring in some old injuries, and conceding some to aging, I must confess I don't always feel or act that much younger.

I wrote this website (and its predecessor).   I taught myself enough HTML and CSS to write it.   People at work helped the first time.   Mr. Google helped this time.   And it is self-hosted.   I created both of my logo images.

Formal Education:

I was a Nature Science major in college (1974, B.A., Cum Laud).   This major was a composite of Physics, Math, and Geography.   

In 1990 I graduated from a (COMTA Certified) professional massage school, with a 500 hour curriculum, featuring anatomy, physiology, and Swedish Massage, and also business practices.   The massage profession requires various certifications, licenses, insurance, and other credentials, some of which require continuing education.  I have an additional 419 hours of continuing education in Therapeutic Massage and Body Work.

In massage school we were introduced to many “modalities” (specialties) of body-work.  Body-work is a BIG world.   A lot of modalities include, if not being entirely based upon, working with “life force energy”, in one way or another.   Energy-based healing can be thought of as a type of “laying on of hands” healing.   However, it is based on energy (what science and medicine are beginning to recognize, and call the "human biofield") and may also include "faith" depending on the personal view of the individual practitioner.   I was immediately interested in Reiki.   It has since taken on the proportions of “a calling”.   I have been trained to the level of master (I can teach students) in 7 “styles” of Reiki, and levels 1 and 2 of the newer Rand-school “style” of Reiki.   Specifics are detailed in the "Credentials" section below.

I was formally trained in the practice of “Transcendental Meditation” (TM  -  Maharishi Mahesh Yogi), in 1974, and have practiced since.   Decades later, I was also trained in six (6) additional types of meditation, which I practice occasionally.   Specifics are detailed in the "Credentials" section below.

I received formal training as a Oneness Blessing giver (Diksha). 
And I have formally received the 9 Rites of Munay-Ki. 

Work History (Gainful Employment):

My first job was with an office of the US Geological Survey, in South Dakota, as a contractor employee.   This facility dealt with satellite imagery, aerial photography and maps.   I held assorted positions beginning with customer service and ending with data-base content management.   This job lasted 6 years. 

My second job was another contractor job with the US Geological Survey, doing computer data-base work, regarding satellite imagery, aerial photography and maps.   This was at their headquarters in Virginia, and it lasted 5 years.   Both of these contractor jobs required some computer expertise most of which was self-taught.

My third job was as a Computer Systems Requirements Analyst, with Peoples Drug Stores, also in Virginia, lasting 8 years.   This was the early years of personal computers.   I evoloved into the Desk Top Support person for Peoples Headquarters.   Peoples was later bought out by CVS.   By a quirk of fate, I had added corporate telephone systems administration to my skills, as the Peoples headquarters office was, over time, being closed down, and the previous phone people had been let go.   The desk top support (me) had to comtinue, and I could absorb the phone duties.   The phone system expertise got me the next job.

My fourth job as Corporate Telephone Systems Administrator was with SallieMae (the student loan people), also in Virginia, and also lasted 8 years.   I also learned DNS and NMS (computer mumbo jumbo, but) important to the operation of a large, Fortune 300, company.

I also began, in Virginia, a “side business” in body-work consisting of Therapeutic Massage and Reiki.   I first called my business “Therapeutic Massage Arts”, later changing it to “Transformation Bridge”.   In addition to Reiki treatments I also trained Reiki students.   I wrote and self-published 4 Reiki training manuals, for my students to use.

There was an internal hostile takeover of SallieMae, and new senior management bought another company in the student loan business, and closed down all the Virginia operations.   Everything about this entire situation was absurdly, foolish, and brazenly vindictive in-fighting.   But we all know the corporate “golden rule” – Those with the gold make the rules.

My fifth job was, again, with (a vastly changed) SallieMae, this time in Indiana, lasting still another 8 years.   My work was, again, DNS and NMS, to which I added design, installation, and administration of computer data center wiring.

In 2008 I came to the conclusion that even if someone wins the “rat race” they are still a rat.   I just quit my well-paid, full benefits, corporate job.

My sixth job was (sort of) being a full-time, self-employed body-worker (massage and Reiki).   As it turned out this was, more accurately, self-un-employment.

Educational Experiences:

While these do not include any formal education or credentials, I learned a lot about conventional psychology (the content of the ego/self):

• • 8 years of receiving psychotherapy.
• • 3 years in couples therapy (1.5 years in each of two methods).
• • Sporadic participation in CODA meetings (12 step program).
• • 8 years attending meeting with  “New Beginnings”, a self-help and support group for separated and divorced people, including 6 years serving New Beginnings as a trained discussion “facilitator” (leader).
• • 20 years of additional assorted psychological "self-help" discussion and support groups.
• • And, I would be remiss to omit the painful “education” from my separation and divorce.

While these do not include any formal education or credentials, I learned a lot about spiritual psychology (the nature of the ego/self):

• • 20 years studying Buddhist philosophies such as 'Mindfulness', 'The Doctrine of No Self', 'Emptiness', 'The Mind Only School', and 'Attachment'.
• • 20 Years of periodic audio and/or video recording and books by Adyashanti (a favorite spiritual teacher of mine).
• • Reading dozens of “spiritual” books (some with corresponding discussion groups). The authors included:
Abraham/Hicks, Cynthia Bourgeault, Deepak Chopra, Wayne Dyer, Byron Katie, Dalai Lama, Bruce Lipton, Jim Marion, Candace Pert, Eckhart Tolle, Neal Donald Walsh, Marianne Williamson, Gary Zukav.
• • In-person, and on-line discussion groups covering many spiritual topics, including ACIM (A Course in Miracles).
• • Extended meditation retreats, ranging from 5 days to 2 months: at Shasta Abbey (California), Phap Van Monastery (Texas), and Kumbum Chamtse Ling Temple (Indiana).

The educational experiences were not all sequential, often several occurred concurrently.

Credentials:

I had intended to put image/copies of all the credetials I have on this website.   More on this in a moment.  

These credentials include:

• • Ordination
• • Massage School Graduation Certificate
• • Massage Legal Certifications and Licenses
• • Massage Professional Organization Memberships
• • Massage Continuing Education Certifications
• • Reiki Training Certifications, and Registrations
• • Other credentials such as Oneness Blessing and Munay Ki training
• • College Diploma and Transcript

The most important massage credential was "Certified Massage Therapist" (CMT), as it was called when I got it.   This was commonly referred to as “National Certification” and was awarded by the National Certification Board for Theraputic Massage and Body Work  NCBTMB.   This credential required, first, graduating from an accredited massage (or other body-work) school, to even be allowed to sit for the test.   Then I needed to pass the 5-hour test of knowledge about anatomy, physiology, and massage techniques.   National Certification was later superseded with “Board Certification”, hence the BCTMB (Board Certified in Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork) credential after my name.   I bought my website name prior to becomming Board Certified, hence the letters "CMT" in the website name.

And there were state massage licences, county massage licences, and even city massage licences.   And all the other things indicated.

But, I checked.   Mr. Google IMMEDIATELY asserted that putting images of credentials on a website is a bad idea.   Doing so risks misuse of the information.   "Bad players" can steal your identity or other-wise impersonate you.   And they can use the images to forge fake versions of credentials for whomever they want.  

However, Mr. Google indicated it was better to simply list credential information rather than posting images.   Seems to me that is not entirely safe either.   But I've had my massage credential infomation on my previous website for 25 years.   And as near as I can tell, that did not contribute to the identity theft that I did suffer.   And believe me, "suffer" is the correct word.

So, with Mr. Google's (half hearted) blessing, and 25 years previous experience, here is a list of my primary body-work credentials which have identifiers:

• • Formerly Board Certified by the National Board Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork:   158779-00
• • Former Professional Member of the American Massage Therapy Association:   90226
• • Previously Licensed by the South Dakota Board of Massage Therapy:   997
• • Previously Licensed by the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency:   MT20900122
• • Previously Certified by the Virginia Department of Health Professions:   0019001913
• • Previously Licensed by Fairfax County, Virginia:   M00-015
• • Previously Licensed by the Town of Herndon, Virginia:   00-4168
• • Registered by the International Center for Reiki Training:   70861

Here is a list of my Reiki credentials (without identifiers, I have training certificates, but Mr. Google "just says no"):

• • Reiki Master, Teacher, and Author: Usui Shiki Ryoho
• • Reiki Master: Ethereal Crystals Reiki
• • Reiki Master: Gold Reiki
• • Reiki Master: Karuna Ki
• • Reiki Master: Kundalinin Reiki
• • Reiki Master: Seichim
• • Reiki Master: Shambala Reiki
• • Reiki Second Degree: Karuna Reiki®
• • Reiki Second Degree: Holy Fire®

And, here is a list of my massage credentials (without identifiers, I have certificates, but Mr. Google... ):

• • Graduate of Applied Kinesthetic Studies (AKS) School of Massage, Herndon, Virginia.   AKS was (now closed) a COMTA Certified School offering a 500 hour program including: anatomy, physiology, business practices and ethics, and Swedish Massage techniques.
• • Massage Continuing Education: 47 Hours   2 Classes:   (Acupressure) - Jin Shin Do®
• • Massage Continuing Education: 31 Hours   3 Classes:   (Acupressure) - Reflexology
• • Massage Continuing Education: 22 Hours   1 Classes:   (Acupressure) - Shiatsu
• • Massage Continuing Education:   9 Hours   2 Classes:   Aromatherapy
• • Massage Continuing Education: 42 Hours   3 Classes:   Bowen Technique
• • Massage Continuing Education: 40 Hours 14 Classes:   Ethics
• • Massage Continuing Education: 26 Hours   2 Classes:   Fibromyalgia
• • Massage Continuing Education: 13 Hours   4 Classes:   Geriatric Massage
• • Massage Continuing Education: 32 Hours   2 Classes:   Positional Release - Ortho-Bionomy®
• • Massage Continuing Education:   7 Hours   2 Classes:   Positional Release
• • Massage Continuing Education: 23 Hours   2 Classes:   Orthopedic Massage
• • Massage Continuing Education: 34 Hours   2 Classes:   Sports Massage
• • Massage Continuing Education: 15 Hours   1 Classes:   Trigger Point
• • Massage Continuing Education: 78 Hours 34 Classes:   Other  (Hover for details)

Total: 419 hours, 74 classes.

And now, here is the list of meditation techniques I practice.   These provided me with no certificates, or other paper records.   Just the knowledge and experience.   I've practiced TM predominantly.   The rest, occasionally.
I have, previously, confirmed that the TM organization has records, indicating I reveived their training.   If anyone needs to know.

And finally, I do choose to include my Ordination Certificate.   I consider this credential to be important.   I've experienced that most people don't consider ordination in any "tradition" (commonly understood to mean "religion") other than their own, to be meaningful.   None-the-less, I consider my ordination to be an important part of how I understand myself.   And, the implications are far reaching, affecting how I understand, well, everything.

Beyond my "say so", there is no other "evidence" I can offer to substantiate it's validity.

Poetry:

I wrote a few poems, "back in the day".   I do not consider myself to be a poet, becasue I didn't sit down with the intention of writing.   These just sort of "bubbled out of me"; Each in a single sitting of an hour or two; Then polished for a few days, and declared done.   I think it would be fair to say these were, for all intents and purposes, "channeled", originating from outside my conscious mind.   I was first the "scribe" (ideas came to me), and then the polisher (ideas came from me).

The following poem: "To Choose To Lose You", is copyrighted.
Copyright © 1986 David A. Smith. All Rights Reserved.



The following poem: "In Search Of", is copyrighted.
Copyright © 1990 David A. Smith. All Rights Reserved.



The following poem: "The Woman I Should Have Married", is copyrighted.
Copyright © 2008 David A. Smith. All Rights Reserved.

Pastimes:

Authors, spiritual:   Adyashanti, Eckhart Tolle, Marianne Williamson, Bruce Lipton, Candace Pert, Byron Katie, Abraham/Hicks, Gary Zukav, Dalai Lama, Depak Chopra, Wayne Dyer, Cynthia Bourgeault, Jim Marion, Neale Donald Walsch.

Books, spiritual:   "A New Earth" (Tolle), "Putting on the Mind of Christ" (Marion), "Wisdom Jesus" (Bourgeault), "Conversations with God (Walsch), ACIM (you decide).

Authors:a   James S.A. Corey, Edgar Rice Burroughs, Philip Pullman.   Just depends on if something catches my interest.   Most commonly, science fiction.

Actually I have a reading disablity.   This was undiagnosed when I was a kid in school, which predated such awarness.   So, I don't read much, unless REALLY motivated.   I don't read a lot.

Movies, spiritual:   What the Bleep (et. al.), The Shift (Dyer), You can Heal Your Life (Hay).

Movies:   Amadeus, Avatar, Babel (the most disturbing movie I ever loved), Cloud Atlas, Finding Forrester, Freedom Writers, Gran Torino, John Carter, Kings Speech, Life of Pi, Love Actually, Man from Earth (not your typical science fiction, really invites you to think), Memoirs of a Geisha, Music of the Heart, Pay it Forward, Peaceful Warrior, Phenomenon, Princess Bride, Sound of Music. Adventure more than drama.   I generally avoid violent, dark, heavy, and horror.

TV Shows: Current:   "America's Got Talent", "The Voice", Talent shows in general.   Occasionally soccer or (American) football.   When it was still on: "The Expanse".   There is not enough good (invites you to think) science fiction -- too many are all action, violence or comic-book.   I tend to wait (im)patiently for DVDs to be released for newer shows I am interested it.

TV Shows: Old (either reruns or box-set DVDs):   Frasier (original), Glee, Star Trek (TOS, TNG, DS9), "Hill Street Blues", "Babylon 5", "Battlestar Galactica" (newer one), "Firefly".   I dislike that (excessively expensive) cable TV was replaced with many (not necissarily cheap) streaming services.   I tend to wait (im)patiently for DVDs to be released for newer shows I am interested it.

Food: Lots:   Mexican, Italian, Chinese, Thai, Vietnamese, Indian, Middle-eastern. I cook some of it.   Mostly vegetarian.   Usually cook for myself.   When going out, more-so family-operated ethnic places, less-so corporate chains.

Music:   Mostly spiritual/"high-vibration" stuff.   And occasional classic rock.

Live concerts, Eclectic:   Charlie Daniels (twice), Cowsills, Deva Premal, Gene Pitney, Handles Messiah (twice), Josh Groban (twice), Michael Johnson, Peter Paul & Mary, Willie Nelson.  A few local bands, and some assorted tribute bands - some were pretty good.

Live concerts, Classic rock:   Bonnie Raitt, Chicago, Eagles (twice), Edgar Winter, Elton John, Emerson Lake & Palmer, Fleetwood Mac (twice), Fog Hat, Gordon Lightfoot, Grateful Dead, James Tayor (twice), Journey, Kansas, Mark Farner (Solo (Grand Funk Railroad)), Paul McCartney (twice), Paul Simon (twice), Peter Frampton, Pink Floyd, Rod Stewart, Steve Miller.

Zoom:

I host a discusion meeting on Zoom: "Spiritual Sharing"

"Spiritual Sharing" is a self-help and support group, for people who describe themselves as being on a spiritual path.   It focuses on "investigations" into ourselves.   The rationale is that the foundation and essence of all spiritual development is "true" awareness of ourselves.   As such, we share our current experiences, efforts, and understandings -- the "steps along the path" -- of our own journey of self-realization.

As always "the opinions shared are those of the person who gave them.   Keep what you like, and leave the rest".

And, we always trust that any wisdom we choose to express is realized (made real) -- in the ears, minds, and hearts of the receivers.   Or not.

To inquire, use the "contact Form"   Click for the form

Paradigms:

A paradigm is a belief system.   And each and every person has one - their own personal paradigm.   Often, "belief system" is used/contextualized to mean "religious" belief system.   But this usage of the term is far more than that, being entirely comprehensive.   It encompassing a person's view and understanding about how everything works - existance itself, the world, life itself, human life, and (not surprisingly) "my" life in particlar.   Everything - large and small, personal and impersonal, near far and everywhere - everything.

Each paradigms has many, many portions/components ("elements").   Some elements are shared with other people, perhaps many others.   These are frequently called "obvious", "common knowledge", or "common sense".   None the less, any given element may be shared by more or fewer people, and may be more or less sweeping in their (perceived) applicability.   Other elements are, to one degree or another, personal.

Typically, paradigms have an intrernal heairachy.   Generally, there is one (possibly more) foundational (primary) element.   A common example is one's choice of religion.   After one or more foundational elements exits (religious or otherwise), many of the remaining (secondary, tertiary, etc.) elements are predicated upon that foundation.

"Religion" can mean any of a great many things, ranging from the worlds "Great Religions" to Wicca, Shamanism, and regional or tribal.   But, atheism and agnosticism are also paradigm elements (belief systems, or portions thereof), filling the same "place" in a person's life as does religion.

However, less obviously and very importantly, (the tenants of) science, medicine (allopathic), and intellectualism and academia can be belief systems (paradigm elements).   These last examples actually are, almost universally, secondary elements, being predicated upon a primaray element: "mechanistic materialism".

Quote (paraphrased): "Many scientists fail to adequately distingush science as a method of inquiry from a science as a belief system".   Rupert Sheldrake

Mechanistic Materialism

A dominant primary paradigm element is "Mechanistic Materialism".   An earlier treatise regarding this is René Descartes' "Clockwork Universe".

Mechanistic Materialism, like any paradigm element, can-and-does include many specific (sub)components, including many dreamed up after Descartes.   There is no actual count or list, as this depends on all 8 billion people now living.   And literally anything can be part of a persons paradigm.   I'm sure we all know some people who believe some "uncommon" things.  

A very few examples, which are more common and more significant, are:

• The physical world is the only "reality".
• Mind is an "artifact" of brain (which results in what is called the "consciousness problem").
• Time is real.   (Another huge topic).
• The importance of power, with it's weapon of choice: money.
• The separateness of people and things.
• The limitations of resources.

At first glance these all seem obvious.   But they are all predicated on mechanistic materialsim.   If mecahistic materialsim is not the (apparantly God given) "truth" that it is commonly believed to be, well...

... Paradigms is a huge topic, and maybe I'll have much more to say (here on the website).   Or better yet, I should write that book I've been thinking about for 15 years, and have about 50 pages of notes and ideas jotted down...

Identity

A hugely important element within everyone's paradigm is their "identity"/"sense of self", which is commonly referred to as their "ego".   It is built from the summation of (their intrepretations of) their life experiences, situations, and circumstances.

Common useage of the term ego focues on the characteristics of the ego: too big or too little, excessively or inadequately assertive, smooth/easy/comfortable (for others) or abrasive, or similar considerations - the "content" of the ego.   For our purposes here, the content of the ego is immaterial.   What matters here is the (presumed and unquestioned, but untimately only) perceived "reality" of it - seeing it in some sort of objective or apriori way.

Quote "I think, therfore I am".   René Descartes.   For most peole this is is accepted as canon.

A "spiritual" perspective is that ones ego/identity exist ONLY in one's mind, constituting nothing that can commonly be thought of as "reality".   Said otherwise; "I (my sense of identity, as distinctly seperate from my body) exist only as the idea of my self, in my own mind".   An important implicaton of this is that ego is malleable.   And possibly, even, optional.

Quote: "People talk about 'my life' as if it something you possess.   You don't have a life, you are a life".   Eckhart Tolle   The implications are generally not immediately obvious, but eventually, far reaching.

An extrememly important part of any/every-one's identity, is that ANY paradigm element, can exist not only as an intellectual or philosophical belief, but also as part of their identity.   "I am (a/an) ...".   Examples can include: Christian, athiest, intellectual, poet, scientist, Goth, stupid, smart, old, strong, victim, cripple ... ANYTHING.   However, the degree to which something is made a part of a person's identity can vary from almost none to complete.   And, further, a person can have competing, or incompatible elements in their identity.   A person can be completely sure their view of (anything/whatever) is absolutely, totally, and completely correct.   And that any contrary view is absolutely, totally, and completely incorrect.   And anyone thinking otherwise is (your choice of pejorative insult).   But this can (for example) be "balanced" with "I am a kind, understanding, and accepting person" (even though they are WRONG).

And the importance of making something/anything part of one's identity is that "it", and anything to do with "it", become personal.

This is important because what could-have-been simply be a disagreement during a discussion (of whatever topic), also becomes personal.   If I say to someone "I am not Christian, and I think some tenents of Christianity are incorrect" (which is a perfectly innocent statement of MY OPINION), this can be upsetting to a devout Christian.   Specifically, because if Christianity is a chosen part of a person's identity, any (perceived) criticsm of Christianity is perceived as a criticism of them.   Read that twice.   And, this works exactly the same for any religion.

Or, for that matter, the same can apply to any paradigm element which has been incorporated into an identity.   For example "I think some tenents of science are incorrect" can be taken as a personal "challenge", by someone who has spent years getting their PHD (or post-doc) in a descipline that is predicated on mechanistic materialism.

Quote (slighly paraphrased): "It is the time you have spent on your rose that makes your rose so important".   Antoine de Saint-Exupéry   From his book "The Little Prince".

In an easy-but-telling example, a person can be a devout fan of a sports team, to the point of making it part of their identity.   If their team looses, the genuinely get upset.   And they may altercate (verbally or even physically) with fans of the opposing team.

The above commentary about identity addresses only the ego.   This is reasonable, since most people don't have (or didn't recognize) any experiences "outside" of their egoic perceptions.   Again, the ego is the sense-of-self originating from and contained within the mind.   It is largely concerned with the body and all its experiences, which inherently exists within the mechanistic materialism "aspect" of existance.   However, as previously hinted at, there is (at least one) additional "aspect" of existance.   This goes by various names: soul, higher-self, Buddha Nature, and Atman, to name the common ones.   Delving into any details abouth this aspect of existance is outside the scope of this writing.

Beyond simply introducing the idea here, I will say just a few things about it.   Almost every spiritual and religious tradition, in one way or another, to one degree or another, includes teachings about "higher" (things).   And they say, more or less directly, that this "higher" aspect of existance is the "real reality", and as such, contains the physical world.   Within the context of the physical world, mechanistic materialism is (effectively) "real".   But, the mystics and sages of the ages, consistenly report, "experiences" that transcend the (apparent) limits of the mechanisitc-materialism-bound, physical world.

Many people dismiss such claims, as superstion or religious foolishness.   Until they experience such a thing, themselves.   And even (especially) then, they need a way to understand their experience: what it was, what it means, and what it reveals about the "higher" parts of Human life.

Quote:   "Don't believe your mind".  Anam Thubten   If you understand Buddhist teachings, specifically the "Doctrine of No Self" and "emptiness", you will understand the quote.

Paradigm Limitations

As a generalization, believing any particular thing, precludes believing it's opposite, or even something that is vastly different.

Quote: “Few people are capable of expressing with equanimity opinions which differ from the prejudices of their social environment.   Most people are even incapable of forming such opinions.”   Albert Einstein

I expand the idea of "social environment" to be any part of a person's paradigm.   Few people can simultaneously believe in mechanistic materialism and religion (God, miracles, angels, etc.).   Or be both a Republican and a Democrat (American political parties) at the same time.   Or be a Muslim and a Hindu at the same time - although, arguably, Ghandi was.

Beyond this systematic limitation inherent in the nature of belief itself, there can be specific limitation for any specific belief (paradigm element), most frequently within "identity" beliefs.   Examples include:

Self-limiting beliefs.   These can be active, such as "I can't/don't (something/whatever)".   Maybe you can, or could learn to.   But you "can't", becasue you don't even try, becasue you start with the belief you can't.   If you tried, studied, learned, and/or practiced enough, well....   Self-limiting beliefs can also be passive - you simply never realized there could be any alternatves to the way you have always thought (and correspondingly lived).

Quote: "A fish in [psycho]therapy never talks about the water".   David Foster Wallace

Arguably, and VERY importantly, most perple are insecure - their belief in themselves, is limited.   For whatever combination of reasons (and there are SO many possibilities), they are sure they are not (take you choice: smart, strong, capable, good looking, young, old, rich, 1000 other choices, or simply:) ENOUGH.   They build (fake) "public" personas specifically to hide/compensate-for their own doubts about themselves.   Appearances (clothes/jewelry/shoes/etc.), posessions (cars/houses/art/etc.), (faked) attitudes, who they "hang with".

As such, a huge amount of time, energy, and money can become dedicated to maintaing their facade.   This can lead to a never-ending quest for MORE.   Which (can, and too often does), in turn, leads to competition, fair or foul.   And, in the not-uncommon extreme, hoarding, lying, cheating, thievery, or worse, or much worse, or much much worse.

All too often, instead of trying to improve themselves (presumably they don't believe it is possible to do so - most likely subconsciously), people seek out and proclaim faults in others (no matter how trivial or "far fetched").   This indicates some perverse logic - that "bringing other down" somehow raises "my" standing, at least comparatively.   This is the root of racism, and a host of other "isms" - "at least I'm better than THEM".   A mild and less direct form of this "comparison" process is complaining - the implication is "I know (or am) better".

However, the larger cost is the loss of all those resources that could be used to actually change, and become (more of) who someone/anyone wants to be (at the ego level).   Or deeper still, to become who they want to be (at the higher-self, soul, Buddha Nature, Atman level).

And, actually, the existance of this dual-nature of human beings, is the biggest paradigm limitation of all.

Quote: (slighly paraphrased):   "When the seer forgets him/her-self, they become lost in the seen - this is Maya".   Ashtavakra

Quote:   "The biggest illusion is that there is the entity called 'me' who is going to become enlightened.   The very idea of a seperate 'me' striving for awakening is the obistacle to awakening itself".   Adyashanti

"Dogma" is also a huge example of paradigm limitation, because (typically) it is an ACTIVE rejection of views "conflicting" with someone's/anyone's held views.   Often, these views are ones incorporated into a person's identity.   These views can be religious, or scientific, or something as trivial as which is better: Coke or Pepsi.   This limitation, often, can be characterized as "ignorant, closed minded, stubborn, and proud of it".   But, of course, dogmatic belief is seen, by the believer, to be inarguable truth.

Quote:   "Data that do not conform to the theory are disposed of".   Thomas Kuhn   This origniated in his book about how "believers" in established scientific theories tend to resist new, contradictory evidence.   But, it is easily genrealizable to any "contradicted" paradigm, thus: "Information that does not conform to the belief is ignored" - if not actively denied.

Quote:   "It is said that if we take one thing to be the truth and cling to it, even if truth itself comes in person and knocks at our door, we won't open it.   For [the entirety of] things to reveal themselves to us, we need to be ready to abandon our [pre-exiting] views about them".   Thich Nhat Hanh

Especially significant, is that egos (a major element of a person's paradigm) tend to judge, nearly everything, to one degree or another.   Common examples include: Good or bad.   Like or don't like.   Want or don't want.   Understand or don't understand.   The judging critera can vary, and may include varying claims (often exagerated) of objectivity.   But usually there is a significant amount of subjectivity: "I" ..., based on how (whatever it is) affects us, perhaps tangibly, or even if it simply affects how we feel about ourselves.   Thus, a person's paradigm directly can limit their ability to "appreciate" (something/whatever).

My Paradigm (a very few comments)

Quote: "Wisdom tells me I am nothing.   Love tells me I am everything.   And between the two, my life flows".   Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj.

For a long time, like so very many people, and specifically as a science major, I included "mechanistic materialism" as a foundational component of my paradigm.   In fact, the choice to major in science is directly connected to already being "rooted" in mechanistic materialism - I just wanted to perfect my knowledge of it.

But, I have evolved vastly from there.   Much, but not all of that evolution derives from the fact that I’ve had a handful of mystical experiences (none of which involved mind altering substances).   I only go into detail with select people, in select circumstances.   This is because zealous mechanistic materialists believe such experiences are categorically impossible.   Therefore they conclude that claims of such can only indicate, first that I am obviously wrong, and then at least complete foolish, if not obvious suffering psychological pathology (as the Brits would say: ”barking mad”).

I learned a very long time ago, that most people are not particularly open to “alternatives” to (at least parts of) their own personal belief system, their own paradigm.   As such, I don’t try (any longer) to explain myself to most people.   Experience has taught me that most people are incapable of understanding me (I am too “far afield” from their paradigm).   And too many are not (let's just call it) generous in their judgments.   Well, some are more generous than others, as long as the discussion is sufficienly philosophical, and they don't need to "take anything personally".   If anything starts to feel personal, people tend to "dig in their heels".

Quote: "Good judgement comes from experience. Experience comes from bad jusgement".   Will Rogers (and other citations).

This digging-in-of-heels is easier to understand if we keep in mind that ones (sense of) "identity" is also one of the elements of a pardigm.   Further, the parts of anyones paradignm that are the least open to "questions", are the identity parts.

I cherish the few people I know who are “on my wavelength”.

I have seen, with too many people, in an absurd double standard, that I am supposed to accept their view of reality, the world, life, and everything.   But when mine views ARE different, well, somehow, the reverse is not at all even plausible.   There is no possibility that my (or any) sufficiently differing “views” can be valid.   Or that, upon serious investigation, my views can be understood to constitute a superset (to used mathematical language) of theirs.

Of course, some people are “barking mad”.   Well, actually that really only means that they are "excessively" (an entirely subjective term) eccentric.   The question of pathology is mostly based on comparisons to "average".   But for anyone to immediately jump to such a conclusion, simply because someone else's views are "too different", without any serious investigation, consideration, or attempt to understand, suggests a limited (and thus limiting) paradigm belonging to “the judger”.

For many people, there is little (if any) allowance for the world to be bigger, wider, deeper, and/or more complex than their own view.   And consequently, other people can't legitimately have vastly different understandings/interpretations/conclusions about the nature of reality, the world, life, and everything.

A favorite quote of mine is this:

"It is one of the commonest of mistakes to consider that the limit of our power of perception is also the limit of all there is to perceive”.

This is from C. W. Leadbeater.   It is considered to be a paraphrase of philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer’s quote:

"Every man takes the limits of his own field of vision for the limits of the world"

To which we add psychologist Paul Watzlawick’s quote:

"The belief that one's own view of reality is the only reality is the most dangerous of all delusions".

Another example of absurd (non)logic, is the insistence, by zealous mechanistic materialists, that the only way non-material phenomenon can be considered real is if they leave material “finger prints” or “footprints”.   That “valid" evidence must be findable (and measurable), if not directly with the 5 senses, with machines.  “Say what”?   They are NON-MATERIAL PHENOMINA.   And to assert that lack of “measurable” evidence proves their non-reality, is entirely a circular argument.

To press the point, show me mechanistic-materialism-based evidence that love is real, that anyone ever loved anyone.

And we can also cite the philosophical axiom, “The absurdity of the conclusion reveals the absurdity of the premise”.   Unfortunately, any preferred premise can be (mis)used by anyone to bolster their own perspective.

The massively important point is that people live their lives based on a paradigm, their paradigm – as the “model” of how everything works.   To the extent that any particular paradigm is “limited”, the lives lived accordingly, are correspondingly limited.

The story of the blind people and the elephant is also very useful, here.   And even more poignant if someone actually sees, at least more of, if not all of, the elephant.

The importance of my mystical experiences is that they “realized” (made real), in personal experience, a great number of philosophical and religions “ideas” that had previously existed only in the mind, as conceptualizations.   By analogy, it is the difference of reading the travel brochure vs, actually visiting some new (and presumably exotic) place.

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