Viewpoint noun /ˈvjuː.pɔɪnt/

• A place from where a person can look at something, especially at an area of natural beauty. ‘The viewpoint by the side of the road gave us a stunning panorama of the whole valley.’

• A point of view. ‘His viewpoint is his own and does not affect how I think about the issue.’

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A point of view is the unique position from which something (or someone) is observed; hence, there are always certain aspects not visible from a single point of view. From a practical perspective, considering our physical limitations, one cannot consciously encompass all the points of view, nor can one see or observe from all points of view at the same time.

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At which point have I found out that everything that I am saying, or perhaps doing, only represents my point of view, my perspective, and my expressed beliefs at the time of speaking? I don’t mind admitting I don’t really remember. What I do remember is the huge amount of energy I used to persuade people to see my point of view. At times, the more I was trying to convince someone, the greater the resistance was, and often the discussion tended to turn into a passive aggressive dialogue. Was I doing that out of an unconscious desire to get more perspectives? Was I trying to convince my interlocutor? Was I trying to convince myself? Have I ever succeeded? It doesn’t even matter.

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What really matters is that once I gave up judging, once I understood and accepted that each and every one of us has his own perspective, his own point of view, his own truth, and each and every one of us has the right to explore any truth or any viewpoint he or she wishes, once I understood that I was judging the dreamer's dream, I have found tranquillity, a tremendous release, and deep peace of mind.

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There are no big or small upsets or big or small bipolar discussions; they are all equally disturbing to one’s peace of mind. At times, one may fail to fully comprehend the complete havoc the so-called small upsets cause to one’s peace of mind. Acceptance is still and quietly does nothing. It offends no aspect of reality, nor seeks to twist it to an appearance that one may like. It merely looks and contemplates, and most importantly, it does not judge.

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Fundamentally, detaching from the notion that a viewpoint or a truth is the only way and replacing it with the notion that one’s truth is only one way can increase the acceptance of others and lead to much better communication between people, regardless of whether or not they can see eye to eye on a particular idea. I am sure I am far from alone in believing that increasing the acceptance of others and better communication leads undoubtedly to a greater unity since there is strength and unity in diversity.

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Peace of mind is undoubtedly an internal matter. It must begin with one’s own thoughts and then extend outward to the world. Out of one's lack of judgment, out of one's peace of mind emerges a peaceful perception of the world.

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Can anyone really judge? Does anyone have the complete evidence of an event? No one can judge based on partial evidence. That is not judgment. It is merely an opinion founded on ignorance and doubt. Its apparent certainty is but a cloak for the uncertainty it would conceal. It needs an irrational defence because it is irrational. And because there are so many doubts underneath the surface, its defence appears solid, convincing, and unquestionable.

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While judging, you do not appear to be doubting what you see. You don't really question what your body's eyes are trying to tell you. You also don't question why you think that, despite having long since realised that your senses can be tricked. It's even stranger that you believe them to the last detail they report when you consider how often they have actually been unreliable witnesses. Why would you have such complete faith in them? Why, but because of underlying doubt, which you would hide with a show of certainty?

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How can you judge? Your senses provide you with the witness upon which your judgement is based. Yet witness never falser was than this. But how else would you judge what you see? You have pitiful confidence in what your eyes and ears say, you believe your fingers are in contact with reality and the truth. Can this be judgement?

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It is always a good advice to refrain from judging, not because it is a right to be withheld from you but because you are not capable of judging. You can merely believe the ego's judgements, all of which are false. It carefully manipulates your senses to demonstrate your weakness, helplessness, fear, fear of a just punishment, blackness from sin, and misery from guilt. Since judgement does not exist outside of perception, judgement is symbolic.

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When the Bible says, "Judge not that ye be not judged," it means that if you judge the reality of others, you will be unable to avoid judging your own. The loss of peace stems from the decision to judge rather than to know. Judgement is the process that underpins perception but not knowledge. Judgement invariably entails rejection. It never draws attention to just the positive aspects of what is judged about you or about other people. What has been perceived and rejected, or judged and found wanting, remains in your mind because it has been perceived.

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The idea that the things you have judged against have no effect is one of the delusions you suffer from. Unless you also think that the thing you judged against doesn't exist, this cannot be true. It is clear that you do not accept this, or else you would not have judged against it. Whether your judgement is correct or incorrect does not really matter in the end, because either way you are placing your belief in the unreal. In judgement of any kind, this cannot be avoided because it suggests that reality is something you can choose from.

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Once you recognise and accept what you are and what your brothers are, you will come to understand that judging your brothers in any way is pointless. Actually, their meaning is lost to you by the very fact that you are judging them.

NOTES

The series comprises 23 works.

Medium: Cotton mountboard and acrylic on artist’s frame

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