yourself.
According to that great sastra Wikipedia, a well cultivated critical thinker:
- raises vital questions and problems, formulating them clearly and precisely
- gathers and assesses relevant information, using abstract ideas to interpret it effectively
- comes to well-reasoned conclusions and solutions, testing them against relevant criteria and standards
- thinks open-mindedly within alternative systems of thought, recognizing and assessing, as need be, their assumptions, implications, and practical consequences; and
- communicates effectively with others in figuring out solutions to complex problems.
There is a nice section in that article on overcoming bias, which begins by recognising that you have one.
The best use of critical thinking is sva-dhyaya, or self analysis.
If you want to change the world, change yourself.
Then speak from and of your experience.
The idea of every interaction is to be transformed, not simply to transform the world around us to accomodate our present state. We are placed into every situation to learn and to be changed.
That's the thought for the day.
svadhyaya
Nice thoughts. Refreshing to hear such thinking from ISKCON devotees.
Just a small remark: the word svadhyaya (sva+aadhyaaya) doesn't actually mean 'self-analysis', but rather 'studying (esp. the Veda) on one's own' or 'private study/recitation of the Veda'. 'Sva' is more like a pronoun than a noun: i.e. rather "one's own study" than "the study of one's self".
Thanks for the feedback
Thanks for the feedback prabhu.
Re: svadhyaya - really? I have no doubt that this may be one possible meaning of the term, but "study of the self" is how it is most commonly understood. In my own traversal of the astanga yoga path this is how I was taught it, and a cursory google/wikipedia search seems to reconfirm it.
Interesting. I've never seen
Interesting. I've never seen the term used like that in traditional texts. The term is used very frequently in dharma-sastra and in some Upanisads, in the meaning I've given before. But, as you pointed out, the interpretation you've mentioned seems very popular in contemporary discourse.
Very interesting :-) You've piqued my interest; I might look more into this.
criticism as intelligent relationship building
ok, bro. pranams.
I like criticism. Especially when its directed at me. Its great stuff -> how would I know where to improve my game without it?
There's only so much we can self-critique.
Sometimes we pay people to criticize us -> like a coach.
Sometimes it comes about due to our situation -> like marriage.
Sometimes its meant to tear us apart -> by envious people.
Sometimes its meant to lift us onto higher ground -> by a friend.
Without criticism, is a friendship really a friendship?
I like you. I consider you part of my family. You have to live with that. And all the criticism (past, present and future) you get from me you should just consider like the arrows that Bhismadeva lovingly fired at his worshipful friend Lord Krishna.
I gotta go and cook pizza for 100+ guests tonight. Chat later.
Your servant,
Ekendra das
http://www.gopala.org/
I was reading Sampradaya Sun
I was reading Sampradaya Sun this day. There is a lot of use of intelligence to criticise there, but the best thing to do with that is use it on yourself, so that one can become purified, personally.
The goal is not to reform the external world, but rather to reform ourselves, as several persons quoted Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saravati Thakura lately. Our positive example then becomes an influence on others. Be the change.
So that's where I choose to deploy my critical facilities first and foremost. On a practical level, not doing this leads to pride and then (if we're lucky) to humiliation. :-)