An Introductory Discussion on the Qualities of
Neutrality. (A PEARS episode)
Mention the word, “neutral” and many people will form an image of a person or state holding themselves uninvolved from events not occurring directly to them. Others might feel that at a personal level of application, neutrality is ‘not taking sides’ in a situation, or becoming involved. These two concepts are almost the opposite of the quality of neutrality as we are talking about it.
In the case of a ‘neutral’ nation state like Switzerland, the Swiss are intensely involved in, and educated about, events happening around them. They could not direct their national and international policy without it. Switzerland will take specific positions in international politics; but in neutrality, it will not adopt any position without a huge amount of consideration and big picture thinking.
Neutrality, as we are discussing it, is an internal state; one of complete presence and authenticity. Rather than representing any level of disengagement from the world, neutrality demands full engagement, requiring hearing to understand all sides of what is happening in the world around you. Neutrality is a state possible only when as complete a picture of a situation is understood as completely as is possible. Neutrality only entertains big picture thinking, one that considers all possible aspects before determining a hypothesis on a subject.
Illustration: The neutral point of a set of [old fashioned balancing] scales is the balance, the fixed pivot around which the scales move as they work towards balance. Neutrality is holding one’s self to the point of balance. Neutrality is not stepping onto the scales, to become something that requires counter-weight and counter-force to remain balanced. Neutrality represents a point of consistent balance within a dynamic environment. Neutrality can not be selfish.
Neutrality is NOT remaining unengaged, uninvolved, or avoiding the very real life happening all around you. Neutrality is observing and consciously selecting one’s own state of being, identifying and eliminating any non-neutral motivation origins polluting your thought processes.
[Non-neutral motivations require, seek, or seek to elicit a response or reaction of another in some way, or is aimed towards satisfying a fear based pattern of expectation.]
You are as close to a neutral internal state as you can achieve in any given moment when your motivations are objective, not biased towards seeking an outcome/response, or ultimately aimed at satisfying/validating a fear based behavior pattern. Only from this place can you be totally present and authentic in your response to a situation. Neutrality is about your internal state of being, as opposed to disengagement and aloofness from the world. False neutrality is often used to excuse a lack of honest introspection or engagement in the world; representing avoidance and distraction from authenticity. What is being avoided – under the guise of spiritualism &/or neutrality – is the internal examination and the deep internal work that such neutral presence requires.
The practice of neutrality is just that, a practice. An ongoing process of refinement and skills development. When we started the PEARS program, we mentioned that the internal gateway we are all working towards is represented by the qualities of the presence, acceptance, and neutrality. Each quality is so interdependent on the others that the three qualities are essentially inseparable. In very real terms, presence and acceptance define neutrality; presence and neutrality is acceptance; acceptance and neutrality is presence. When we use the word, “neutrality” or “neutral”, it can be safely assumed that presence and acceptance are co-requisites of that neutral state.
Over the coming PEARS episodes, we include an ongoing series, “A Flavor of Neutrality in…”. We will examine different concepts and applications as we expand and explore our definitions and understandings around neutrality. These will be more specific applications of this general introduction. Our first installment with start examining concepts of neutrality in relationships.
Rather than giving you instructions, we will be directing you inwards (as we always will do). It is conceptualizing the internal state of neutrality, and applying tools to find and hold that state, that is the ultimate goal of the PEARS program.