We all judge, consciously and unconsciously. Discernment is a skill we must learn first what it is, then apply in our thinking for what is in our best interest.

It happens so fast daily. I judge and then now I am observing and laughing at my silly ass. It was then, about 30 years ago, I began into my journey with discernment. Seeing with compassion for myself and what was healthy for me. Without being judgmental of others.

Judgment creates polarization~

There’s good reason why society has shifted away from judgment. It’s all too easy to fall into condemnation of things or people that are different than you, or to bad-mouth things that we dislike or disagree with. Judgment, labeling, stereotyping, and segregating can lead to polarization of societies, dividing and angering large and small communities.

The need to distinguish things~

At the same time, we can easily fall into the trap of swinging to the opposite extreme. Without some way to determine what’s good and not so good, standards disintegrate. The truth is, some people do certain things better than others. Not everyone can be a great artist, although we can all enjoy creating our own art. Some swimmers are faster than others, but even if we don’t win the Olympics we can still enjoy a dip in the pool. Hurting another person intentionally is wrong, period (taking circumstances into consideration). We can’t avoid altogether distinguishing things from each other.

What’s the difference?

Discernment may seem like judgment, but the difference between these two approaches to life is significant. The dictionary definitions of the two terms shed some light.

Judgment: “an opinion or estimate, criticism or censure, power of comparing or deciding”. Judgment implies a power differential – I perceive myself to have power over you when I judge you (for example, “you’re a loser!”). Judgment feeds the ego’s deception of being better (or worse) than someone or something else. Judgment assumes that the person judging has the power and right to determine what is good or bad in general, not just from their point of view. It usually comes from a reactive place inside of us, like a knee-jerk when the doctor strikes the mallet on that joint – it’s unconscious. Judgment also has a sense of finality, like a sentence being passed. We know what it’s like to feel judged by someone else: it sticks to you like duct tape, and at times you find yourself feeling the pain of that condemnation days or even years later.

Discernment, however, is a more personal and conscious approach. It’s the cognitive ability of a person to distinguish what is appropriate or inappropriate. With discernment we make good choices for ourselves, and for the good of others. Webster’s dictionary says that to discern is to “separate (a thing) mentally from another or others; recognize as separate or different” and “to perceive or recognize; make out clearly”. Discernment is described as “keen perception; insight; acumen”. Viveka, the Sanskrit word for discernment, is about seeing things as they are. Insight is seeing into something, from our inner self, not from outer rigid standards, opinions, or social pressures. When we use Viveka, we are tapping into something much deeper than our egos passing judgment. We are using the ability to perceive clearly.

Understanding and clarity in consciousness~

Therefore Viveka comes from understanding both ourselves and others, compassion for those who suffer themselves or cause us pain, and a balance of confidence in our own abilities and humbleness in the face of the greatness of the vast universe. We know there are others out there that are more skilled or gifted than each of us are, yet we also acknowledge our own strengths. We can recognize a master’s exquisite painting while still feeling the joy in our simple drawing of a flower.

A person who is negative, puts people down, and carries around anger all the time has bad energy – we choose not to spend time with them because it’s simply not healthy for us. We don’t have to tell other people “that’s a bad person”. We know they aren’t good for us and it will become self-evident for others who use their discernment. Viveka gives us clear perception and the ability to make good choices without having to be better or worse than anyone else.

The Real and the unreal: Ontology: I am a professional ontologist and astrologer.

Ultimately, in order to quiet the mind we need to discern between what is real and unreal. The outer distinctions – right and wrong, pleasant and unpleasant – are what we attribute to things, but they aren’t their true nature. The inner essence of all things, according to many spiritual traditions of the world, is spirit itself. Divine energy constitutes the true nature of existence.

For deepening our spiritual awareness, especially for practices of meditation, this more esoteric aspect of Viveka becomes vital. If we are to go beyond the mind’s tendency to make commentary, analyze, and judge, then we need to have some way of seeing beyond all those inner chatterings. Judgment doesn’t serve us in meditation, but discernment can.

Come back home to Love. To accepting oneness. For support in your journey I am available for counseling, story telling and astrological consultations.

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Process out what is not you. Mentor and H.W., M.