As far as the principles that characterize P-A, they are disarmingly simple and can be taught successfully to older elementary school students. In this article, we use simple dictionary definitions of some terms.
Beginning with the definition of worldview, lets define the four component parts: feelings and emotions, beliefs, attitudes and values. See the article on Feelings and Emotions. Beliefs involve “the mental act, condition, or habit of placing trust or confidence in a person or thing.” Or “something believed or accepted as true, especially a particular tenet or body of tenets accepted by a group of persons.” In P-A we do not need to place trust or confidence in a person or thing since physical form and even form as ideas has no substantial reality. Tenets that define P-B would all be illusions since they would have their foundation in ephemeral form. Remember that anything impermanent or short-lived is not real and only that which is permanent or unchanging (energy) is real.
Among the beliefs found in P-A would include trusting feeling or inner wisdom or the heart rather than the head. The present moment experience involves trusting intuition over the intellect (see Intuition and Intellect).
In P-B, attitude is “a state of mind or emotion with regard to some matters, for example an attitude of open hostility.” All attitudes in P-B can involve afflictive emotions and therefore suffering. P-A itself is a state of mind in which only “feelings” are experienced not afflictive emotions. The attitudes felt in P-A would include compassion, joy, happiness, peace and freedom.
A value involves “a principle or standard considered worthwhile or desirable.” Again, most of the values of P-B are based on illusion and therefore what is considered worthwhile is often based on the false self’s pursuit of security, sensation and power. Hence, the values of P-B involve desiring that which is unhealthy or self-destructive. In P-A what is valued would include the feeling experienced in the Now, response over reaction (see Response and Reaction), cooperation over competition, (see Cooperation and Competition), and reality over illusion.
Identity is central to the distinction between paradigms A and B. In P-A, we no longer identify with mind, body, or emotions, because doing so is responsible for much of the suffering and delusion of P-B. The senses cannot be relied upon to connect us to the profound truths of P-A, therefore our identity flows from our experience of “feeling” in the present moment which in turn is connected to our inner wisdom and the Implicate Order. We therefore see ourselves as indestructible energy expressing beyond time and space in a context of Oneness. We understand that all of creation is inter-related, inter-connected and inter-dependent. We are perfect expressions of energy in a perfect context experiencing joy, happiness, wonder, compassion, freedom and peace.
The Point of Power Practice would give students the tool necessary to begin shifting from habitually reactive behaviors involving craving and aversion to the ability to respond and remain in the present moment free from the primary causes of human suffering and delusion. The experience of life is to be embraced rather than resisted.
The curriculum described above would empower students to be self-reliant and give them the context, principles and practice necessary to build a sustainable human community. Simple Reality can be the basis for the transformation of human society and the elimination of the self-imposed human suffering that characterizes the human condition today.
