Page 23 - 100th Monkey

I may crystallize my mind against what you do or say and fail to notice your good intentions . . .
which usually are just like mine!

Even if you drop a bomb on me your purpose is to settle arguments — and create peace!

These are good intentions — just like mine!

You just need a more effective way to realize your positive intentions!

A stereo set is not the record it plays.

If a record is scratchy, we don't throw out the stereo set. All we have to do is change the record.

We don't have to reject a human being because we don't like his or her programming.

We can just make it clear that we like the person — but we don't like a particular action.

And our thoughts and actions can change because they're not us — in our essence.

I have the direct experience that in my essence I am something apart from the mental habits that
spin out my personality and the current soap opera of my life.

Thus I can dislike a person's behavior and still feel that this is a human being who like me is just
trying to make life work using the programming we picked up when we were young.

Your thoughts and actions are only a set of mental habits in a state of flux as you evolve from
stage to stage of your life's growth.

All of us have done mean, sloppy and uncaring things that we wish we hadn't done.

I always hope that you won't identify me with the things that I've done that were unskillful
responses to life situations.

The mind can be trained to nurture a "me-and-you" consciousness in which patience and
understanding will compassionately harmonize the flow of our activities so that we all want to help
each other work things out.

We can develop an awareness that things aren't problem-free for me until they're problem-free for
you!

This applies equally to relationships between individuals or between countries.

When I create my experience of you I may forget that you are not your thoughts or actions.

I don't know you from inside — as I experience myself.

I may forget that in every important way you are like me.

You have a human heart that feels pain and warmth, sadness and happiness.

In your essence and in your intentions you are basically good — just like me!