This article was inspired by a dream I
have had on 25 November 2013 morning. In my dream I was teaching a class of students on Values and their important in change. When class was about to be over, one student asked me a question " How do you explain Values in Context of Buddhism ?". That's a good question I answered, and this is what that have been explained in the dream.....strange?
Value is a broad and deep subject for me to be writing and in the context of Buddhism, just almost never crossed my mind. However I gave a lecture in my dream, and before I woke up, I heard an inner voice that tells me I need to write this up. This is a 2 part blog, as the subject I am trying to explain does take more words than usual.
What is personal Values? Values are the
driving force that governs your every thought and behaviour. What you
personally deem as important, not important in your life. Each person
raise in human society will slowly grow up to 'value' certain things/
thoughts or behaviour in which the person will recognize as
important.
These Values serve as the filter in our
existence in everyday life. Everyday there are millions of events
happening simultaneously around us from the most minute bodily
function to the gross change of the weather surrounding us. Our brain
definitely cannot and will not take in ALL the information that is
happening. Therefore our brain will only selectively FILTER out what
is important to us. That is crucial for our survival, or else we will
go mad in even few minutes of trying to comprehending all that is
happening around us.
Our SUBCONSCIOUS mind is already
handling our bodily function, from how many times your heart is
supposed to be pumping to distributing all the nutrients in your body
and more.
So where does VALUES comes in? VALUES
are the pre-programmed prime importance that we have given our brain
to lead our daily lives. Most of our actions are checked by our own
subconscious on whether it is fulfilling those VALUES or detracting
us away from the VALUES that we have.
For example, a person will
UNCONSCIOUSLY have the values hierachy of
- Love
- Money
- Family Relationship
- Health
- Serving the community
So for this person, he (presuming its a
male) will find it very difficult to have time to exercise. He does
not understand why? He keep telling friends and family members that
he knows the important of good health but somehow there is not any
time in his life to do it. Or somehow he cannot start.
If you look at his value list, you can
instantly know why. Health is ranked number 4 in what he view is
important in his life. Therefore, getting signal that he is loved,
earning enough money (whatever the amount) and good family
relationship are more important than health. Therefore no wonder he
cannot find time to exercise.
Because each VALUES will have certain
criteria that is already set by his UNCONSCIOUS mind of what needs to
happen in order for that value to be viewed as fulfilled. WHAT IF his
Love Value has a condition that he must do activities together with
his spouse in order to fulfill this LOVE value?
Presuming if the spouse have a Health
Value of no 10 in her list. Then what are the chances of this person
being able to start even a simple exercise routine?
 |
| Exercise is definitely not in the Value list... |
The most amazing part of VALUES are
that MOST people go through life, behaving the way that the behaving,
making the decisions that they make WITHOUT every realizing WHY they
do it.
It is because, most people don't ever
sit down and sort out what is the thing that they VALUE in life.
Therefore they picked up VALUES that sometimes may not be valuable
any more with their present life condition. For example, if a person
that grows up economically deprived (poor) in a bad neighbourhood, as
he/she grew, they picked the value of the need to be
recognized/respected by others. And when they looked around the
neighbourhood, they adopted the beliefs that in order to fulfill this
value, I must have luxurious items to show my status in society and
among friends.
This person will then have No 1 or No 2 Value in life and Recognized/Respected. So their behaviour will constantly seek out to buy luxurious item, branded items even at the expense of bursting their credit cards to fulfill his/her beliefs that the owning of the product needs to happen to fulfill the Value of being Recognized and Respected.
Friends and society, who does not
understand this, will then view them and insane, slaves to branded
products etc.
Each and everyone of us have a VALUE
list in our UNCONSCIOUS mind that is governing our behaviour. Our
behaviour are also attune to our BELIEFS system which governs our every
thought in handling and fulfilling the conditions that are in it. Once
the conditions are fulfilled, then we will think that we are in 'congruent'
(your are aligned with your purpose in life) with our VALUES. And
when we are in congruent, finally we will FEEL satisfied, complete
and HAPPY.
Can Beliefs and Values change?
Definitely. As most people does not consciously find out their
beliefs and values. Most changes happen after strong experiences in
life, traumatic events such as death of loved ones or strong
realization of a need to change.
Hence most of the time, you will see
people setting New Year Resolution, Goal Setting that never seems to
happen. It is because their Beliefs and Values does not change,
therefore the behaviour is unable to be congruent with their
resolution and goals. It is just that simple.
CONTINUE TO PART 2.........
**Those who like to know more about Feng Shui, please visit my blog at http://gkhamconsulting.blogspot.com
**Those who like to know more about Feng Shui, please visit my blog at http://gkhamconsulting.blogspot.com
