Pros and Cons of Judgement

I have been pondering the utility or judging people and things. Basically it is an attempt to strike a balance between discernment and judgement. Judgement must have some value or I wouldn't struggle so hard to dissuade my child from the superficial judgements she makes. To me it seems as if it is written into the genes, an evolution's tool for survival. Perhaps it is like all things inherent or invented. Once it exists it will be used. In contemporary American society where we are predominantly free from eminent danger it seems to be exercised as a method to set one self apart from someone or some thing. Additionally, I wonder whether it is used as a mechanism to simplify the abundant and complex sets of information. Branding of clothes or products wouldn't be such a popular idea if it didn't create and simplified way for individuals to establish an identity for the self and for others.

Another attribute of judgement is its staying power. Forming a judgement can be instantaneous but dispelling the validity of a judgement can take years. Judgement acts like a thread binding together a reality. If that thread is frayed, the fabric becomes unravelled. Sometimes this type of development leads to catharsis. Other times it can lead to the destruction of the self.

What makes a judgement valuable and a keeper and what makes a judgement invaluable and should be disposed of? Who can tell. There is an old Zen way of thinking that somethings appear good which may end up bad and some things appear bad that bring about something good. Judgement that brings harm to others would appear to be best put to rest. Ultimately harming others is harming oneself. Judgement which protects others and the self would be one type to keep.

Being a simple sort I attempt to bow out of judgements by accepting that only the being greater than the self has the capacity for judgement. The reality is that only if one was free from all encumbrances-physical, material and emotional- would one be in the position to judge with any accuracy. Live life, let others live theirs and pay attention to your surroundings. Those are the qualities of Observations from an Ordinary Life.

In the words of my father and one of my favorite authors who were holy unaware of each other.....So It Goes...