Slaves of Intelligence

If we have even a little self-awareness, we will notice that most of us are slaves to conceptual reality. This expresses itself in that we often confuse facts with beliefs. We do not ask "What is really true?" Or ask the question poorly or shallowly -- or do not pursue the investigation to its proper end.
We can explain such reticence by either spiritual laziness or better by the fear of being suspended in sunyata (emptiness) of uncertainty (insecurity). We do not really know much factual information about the world, or ourselves. We hate to admit it but hardly 1% of what we think we know is factual. The rest are not facts but speculations, fantasy and beliefs. We find comfort in beliefs.
 

We can readily observe that the objectivity of scientific facts is more akin to "objectivity" of beliefs if we only consider how many scientific facts regarding nutrition, smoking, medications were thought to be solid only to be proven wrong later on or if we take time to study how many physical models of atoms from planetary to quantum caused great revolutions in thinking, how they became the only dogmatic rules and principles and then abandoned with great abandon into the oblivion of history. Remember flagistron, the cause of fire studied by the contemporaries of Benjamin Franklin? Or great allegiance to the "certainties" that followers of Karl Marx or Ayn Rand were ready to kill for?
 

How should we approach our ever changing thoughts? Modern seers assess all their beliefs from the position of their usefulness in relation to their personal journey -- our spiritual journey. We firmly cherish that intention that we should abandon any thought form the moment it stops supporting our process -- the moment it stops helping and starts harming. Thus, we should approach beliefs as tools. And we should view our intelligence itself as a tool of our intention.
 

We should follow/hold a belief or conviction if it brings joy, freedom. Keep the belief if it opens your energy up, makes it flow, brings enthusiasm. We should immediately abandon or change a belief if it oppresses our spirit, leads to depression, introduces even a tiny drop of mistrust or hate. It does not matter how true the thought might seem -- if it does not serve you, you should get rid of it!
 

We are aware how much courage it takes to leave cherished beliefs or habits of thoughts. That is why the first thing that a truly successful spiritual seeker encounters is the very real and fundamental fear of loosing the ground under his/her feet... If you feel like someone is pulling the carpet from under you, you and your teachers are doing something right!