I. A first cultural assumption in the Modern West is the belief in individualism, is the notion that
                                   the part is prior to the whole.

   A first cultural assumption in the East (and also among traditional peoples and ancient West) is the notion that
                                the whole is prior to the parts.

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II. A second cultural assumption in the (ancient and modern) West concerns a notion of
                    time and progress and the virtue of striving.

   A second cultural assumption in the (ancient and modern) East concerns a notion of
                    surface and depth and the virtue of letting go.

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                                IDEAL                             DEFECT                                 REMEDY

WEST:

A) Imagery:             In-the-Garden                             Out-of-the-Garden                           Return to Garden
                                        state                                                 state                                                     state

 
                    Story from Genesis is shared by the religions of the Book: Judaism, Christianity and Islam
 
 

B) Language:         What OUGHT                                      What " IS"                                  Time and Steps
                                    TO BE                                                                                                     (when balanced)

in modern times                                                                                                                             Type-A Striving
                                                                                                                                                         (when balanced)
"OUGHT vs. IS"

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Notice                     IDEAL                                                 DEFECT                                                 REMEDY

                    What "ought to be"                         What "is" is is taken to be                                  a form of
                    is projected into                                                 situated in                                             seeking 
                        future                                                              present
 

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                        IDEAL                                     DEFECT                                     REMEDY

EAST:

A) Imagery:     Being Awake                                         Being Asleep                                             Waking Up
 

                Story is that of Gotama Siddhartha who became the Buddha --
                                                                                                the One who Awakened
 
 

B) Language:    What IS                                                     What IS                                                 Letting Go
                            at the DEPTH                                 at the SURFACE                                             of sole
a double IS --                                                                                                                                   identification with
small-minded  vs                                                                                                                                        surface
 large-minded                                                                                                                              
        way
    of relating

                                                                                                                                                    (when unbalanced,
                                                                                                                                                        the "letting go"
                                                                                                                                                            is a quietism,
                                                                                                                                                                an escape,
                                                                                                                                                                a mushy
                                                                                                                                                            "go with flow"

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