Glossary of Definitions

1. A relationship between a consciousness and its present reality that is: (1) A condition for effective functioning within that reality, and (2) Based on the unequivocal rejection of the option to apply force in dealing with said reality (i.e., it is linked with tolerance).
2. The opposite of rejection (of reality).

The transformation a (relatively) changeable part of reality undergoes in order to reduce or resolve a conflict with a (relatively) unchangeable, or “fixed”, part of that reality.

Pertaining to the emotional part of consciousnesses, which is independent of language and is complementary to the cognitive part.

An intoxication-causing emotion that stems from a sense of entrapment and cuases the illusionary conviction that the use of force will lead to freedom[/glossry].

A trait that reflects a capacity to experience suffering in a way that results in a positive personal transformation by it (a term coined by the philosopher Nassim Taleb).

(Compare with Resilience)

1. A mental pain that results from the perception of a potential threat. (Compare with Fear)
2. A mental pain that results when the wish to control something collides with the realization that it cannot be controlled.
3. The absence of inner peace.

The recognition of a positive value (in something or someone).

A state of mind (that can, but does not have to, be associated with recognizing one’s accomplishments) hallmarked by the notion that the value of one’s ‘Self’ is inherently superior to the value of others. It is associated with hubris.

(Compare with Pride)

An imaginable, attractive vision of the future recognized by the imagining mind as having a significant enough potential to materialize to warrant an investment in its pursuit.

(Compare with Expectation.)

A type of mental connection hallmarked by a non-negotiable insistence on arrival at a specific, desired outcome (which inevitably causes suffering).

(Compare with Commitment)

A mental function responsible for the prioritization of the data that is held in consciousness.

Attention is the first human resource in that the allocation of any other resource is secondary to the allocation of attention.

A data-processing brain function responsible for editing perceptual information, thus influencing the ultimate shape of (subjective) reality.

The product of a positive attitude is a construct (i.e., a subjective reality) that support the operator’s pursuits and aspirations. The product of a negative attitude is a construct (i.e., a subjective reality) that hinders the operator’s pursuits and aspirations.

A perceived need or internal pressure to reduce the distance between the ‘Self’ and something (a ‘Non-Self).

A person appointed as a guide in a specific area. To be appointed the person must (a) possess superior knowledge in that specific area, and (b) be trusted to use their superior knowledge in a fair or better (i.e., generous to selfless) way.

Note that a true ‘authority figure’ is appointed as such, which promotes an harmonious relationship. An imposed (rather than appointed) guide is actually a ‘power figure’, which often invites a conflict.

The capacity of self definition by exercising freedom of choice.

A state in which something is managed, allocated, or divided in a way that optimized its stability and the efficiency of the processes to which it is relevant.

A quality that stems from the (conscious or subconscious) appreciation of the organization of the parts of something and manifests with an added value to the ‘whole’ over the sum value of its parts,

(Note that the perception of beauty originates from the appreciation of the level of organization, but an appreciation of a level of organization does not necessarily result in the perception of beauty.)

(My term, in honor of the physicist Niels Bohr)

A Bohrian Truth is a Great Truth. The mark of a Great Truth is that its opposite is another Great Truth (according to Niels Bohr).

In contrast, a trivial truth is a true statement the opposite of which is a false statement. (For example “I can not breathe under water”, the opposite of which — “I can breathe under water” is a false statement.)

The following are examples of Bohrian Truths:

• We are all the same — Each of us is unique.
• Everyone always does the best they can do — No one ever does the best they can do.
• All pain is felt in the brain — The brain feels no pain.

A state of observing without reacting.

1. The experience of possessing a passion.
2. The intensity level of one’s emotional response to a specific object or event (i.e., it is a “meta-emotion” — the “volume setting” of an emotional response; the more intense one’s emotional response to something is, the more they care about that thing.)

1. A voluntarily made commitment to follow one of two (or more) available behavioral or mental paths, which is the ultimate product of the human brain.
2. The sole instrument with which the human brain influences the pursuit of happiness. (The quality of a choice exists exclusively in the context of the pursuit of happiness, such that high-quality (“good choices”) support the pursuit of happiness and low-quality (“bad choices”) impede it.)

Pertaining to the intellectual part of consciousnesses, which is language dependent and is complementary to the affective part.

The automatic realization of the way that the majority of ordinary people would relate to a given issue or dilemma, which can be applied as a source of guidance in choice making and in cultivating inner discipline.

1. The state of mind that emergence from the combination of acceptance, forgiveness and hope. As a relationship, it is hallmarked by the capacity to simultaneously accept someone (self or other) exactly as they are in the present, forgive their past, and sustain [glossaryhope[/glossary] for their future.
2. A state of mind hallmarked by an investment in the lessening of someone’s suffering.

Note that (at least as it is used in this work) compassion is not a sentiment or a feeling. It is a state of mind that supports optimizing the quality of the choices generated by that mind and thereby, the efficacy in its pursuit of happiness.

An interpersonal device designed to bring corrective attention to a problem perceived by the complainer.

A relationship between two (or more) entities that enables the transmission of influence between them (such that a change in the state of one entity leads to a change in the state the other(s)).

1. A (imaginable but unattainable) relationship between a consciousness and something in its reality that permits it to manipulate each and every relevant variable according to its preferences.
2. 100% influence.

The human capacity to generate a design that, when followed, raises the organization of something to a recognizably higher functional or esthetic level.

A succinct expression of the meaning of something (that is being defined).

A plan (or a recipe) for the organization of the parts of something that manifests (when implemented effectively) in an added value of the ‘whole’ relative to the sum value of its parts.

An attraction toward something that is perceived as necessary in order to satisfy a self-centered need.

Compare with passion.

The state of mind that forms in reaction to entrapment (i.e, the loss of freedom) compounded by the loss of hope of breaking-free.

The sensation that arises when a mind concludes it has made the right choice.

The suffering associated with an unfulfilled expectation.

The capacity to follow a rule over time.

The opposite of respect i.e., the recognitionof a negative valuein something.

The normal response to being exposed as inadequate or lacking something that one has no responsibility for. For example, embarrassment is a normal response when one’s is exposed in their innocence.

(Compare with Shame)

An individual trait manifesting one’s ability to experience a pain without reacting to it (measurable, in principle, as the duration a pain can be experienced before reacting to it becomes unavoidable).

(Compare with Tolerance)

Contractual entitelment: The right to receive what a contract defines as the reward for doing one’s part in the contract.

Self-based entitelment: A state of mind hallmarked by the conviction that the Self rightly deserves a reward for being (the Self).

An imagined future (desired or undesired) that the imagining mind considers as certain to materialize.

(Compare with Aspiration.)

(Two types:)

1. Outcome based failure: An experience in which one must surrender to not getting what they desire.
2. Process based failure: An experience that undermines one’s balance moving forward.

1. A state that emerges when a resource is allocated by a design that correctly manifests the relative magnitude of the competing needs for it (i.e., fairness is achieved when each of the parties needing a given resource is appropriated a fraction of it that is proportional to each party’s relative need for it; e.g., when the needs are identical, fairness is accomplished by the appropriation of equal parts).

2. A state that emerges when all the participants in a contract (or an agreement) adhere to their parts in it (i.e., when each of the parties to an agreement deliver their part as stated in the agreement).

The conviction that a promise will be kept even though it was never made (compare with Trust).

A doubtless conviction of the complete validity of one’s own perception of Reality, which makes it non-negotiably superior to any and all different perceptions of the same reality.

A mental pain that results from the perception of an actual threat. (Compare with Anxiety.)

Collectively, feelings are an innate, survival protecting device, experienced as a language independent, perpetual component of consciousness, that functions by instantaneously determining the subjective appeal (on an attractive to repulsive  continuum) of the perceived present reality, then triggering the corresponding physiological and behavioral responses.

Note that ‘feelings’ are experienced in the context of the Self, such that in the context of the physical-self feelings are referred to as (physical) ‘sensations’ and in the context of the non-physical (mental or psychological) self feelings are referred to as ’emotions’.

The use of energy to promote change at a point in time (compare with strength).

(A state of mind hallmarked by) The willingness to give up all hope for a better past.

(This is a fantastic definition I plagiarized from a bumper sticker on a moving car.)

A measure of one’s influence over one’s (physical and/or mental) position.

The state of mind that follows an imposed postponement of a gratification. (It is uniquely important because it is a precursor to anger[/gloosary].)

1. The appearance of the capacity to act deliberately without deliberation.
2. The appearance of dignity.

1. The state of mind that normally follows the recognition that one has received more than one’s fair share.
2. Targeted appreciation.

A state of mind hallmarked by tension due to attraction to something and the conviction that it can only be resolved by its possession.

1. The normal emotional response to the recognition of a loss.
2. The suffering associated with the pain of a loss, i.e., the meaning of loss.

The normal response to the conclusion that one has acted in a way that is less than fair.

1. A mental shortcut connecting a response to a stimulus skipping computations.
2. Acquired reflex.

The most desired, approachable but unattainable, state of mind that stems from the concurrent maximization of inner-peace, passion, and compassion.

A state of mind hallmarked by a repulsion from something and the conviction that, therefore, it must be destroyed.

The conviction that the future has the potential to be better than the present (compare with optimism).

1. A state of mind with a narrative hallmarked by the conviction that one’s satisfying experiences result from one’s unique and superior defining traits.
2. The self-centered meaning of satisfaction (which, as such, is at the opposite end of the spectrum from misery and equally problematic in the pursuit of happiness).

An inherently attractive (or repulsive, in the case of negative values) feature or trait that pertains to a specific human role.

For example, activism may be a positive value pertaining to one’s role as a community member. Or, negligence may be a negative value pertaining to one’s role as a parent.

(A state of mind hallmarked by) An accurate awareness of one’s unique strengths and weaknesses, coexisting with the awareness of our  sameness and interdependence.

1. A correctable detachment from, or lack of awareness of, the truth.
2. A remediable inability to distinguish between that which is real and that which is not-real.
3. The opposite state of the state of enlightenment (complete enlightenment equals the abolishment of all ignorance which, in turn, means the cessation of suffering).

(Compare with Innocence)

The reason (or justification) for investing a resource (i.e., making an effort) that is needed in order complete a task or meet a challenge.

A state of mind that forms when acceptance triggers resentment.

A sub-type of discipline in which the operating rules are generated within (or internalized).

1. The absence of inner conflict.
2. The absence of anxiety.
3. A state of mind that emerges when the perception of that which is ‘real’ (reality) is the same as the perception the ‘ideal’ (reality).

An unmeditated (i.e., not involving a choice) trait that describes one’s distance from an unpleasant or painful truth (compare with Ignorance).

1. The motivation associated with a purposeful, deliberate behavior.
2.  That which a deliberate behavior aims to accomplish.

The degree closeness permitted by the participants in a relationship, determined by their capacity to lower their defenses (which, in turn, is a function of their levels of trust).

A reversible state of impaired mental functioning that manifests, primarily, with reduced reliability of one’s perception of reality.

The corrective consequence of unfairness.

A human connection based on enthusiasm for selflessness.

A state of mind hallmarked by a tension-filled  attraction to someone and the conviction that it can only be resolved through their sexual possession.

A word or a phrase that is to be attended to repeatedly in order to promote  positive mental changes.

1. The perceived potential of an event to cause a significant (i.e., measurable and enduring) change in a defined system.
2. The degree of change something is perceived to cause to a given reality (i.e., that which ‘matters a lot’ therefore makes ‘a big difference’, and vice versa, that which doesn’t matter, doesn’t make a difference).

The information encoded in the cause-and-effect connections that link a given slice of reality with the (preceding and ensuing) rest of Reality; it includes the subjective value of (said slice of) reality and guidance for interacting with it effectively.

Or, more succinctly: Meaning is a critically important meta-information about Reality, encoded in its causal sequences.

Compare with Purpose

The self centered meaning of suffering.

A language-independent facet of consciousness, composed of the quality and intensity of the feelings experienced in a given present moment.

1. The (conscious or subconscious) justification for the investment of resources in a pursuit.
2. The (conscious or subconscious) reason to make an effort.

A mental event that leads to the justification of spending a resource in order bring about its own cessation.

A collaborative, creative process that aims to generate a new valid point of view.

The conviction that the future will be better than the present (compare with hope).

The expression of a design.

(Note that a design does not necessitate a designer; organization can emerge spontaneously, as an expression of the laws of nature or in response to pressures, as is the case in “evolutionary design”.)

A noxious sensation designed to bring attention to a problem that requires a course correction (The opposite of pleasure).

1. The intensity of the emotional response (either positive or negative) to something in one’s reality.

The subjective experience of passion (i.e., feeling passionate) is synonymous with the experience of caring (the intensity of which is proportional to the value automatically attributed to that which the passion, or caring, is centered on).

2. An attraction to something that is disconnected from the needs of the self (e.g., passion for the Truth, passion for art).

3. Suffering (from the Latin word passiō which means suffering; e.g., the passion of Christ = the suffering of Christ).

Compare with Desire.

The calm willingness to postpone gratification (compare with tolerance ).

A relationship between a consciousness and its surrounding reality, based on simultaneous recognition of the present’s positive value (or high quality), the future’s positive potential, and the unequivocal rejection of the use of force as a method for conflict resolution.

1. That which has no flaws.
2. That which can not be improved beyond its current state.
3. A state to which any addition would result in a subtraction.

A feature that is required in order for a viewer to generate a realistic assesment of the distance from, and size of, that which is being viewed.

(That is, without perspective a viewer cannot gauge the distance separating them from the view, or the size of what they are viewing.)

(A state of mind hallmarked by) The conviction that the future will be worse than the present.

The opposite of pain: A desired sensation that arises from the release of a preexisting tension and triggers a reflexive attraction to something (i.e., a movement toward the source of the pleasure).

1. The time period (of varying duration) in which one subjectively experiences one’s life taking place.
2. The duration that separates the perception of a ’cause’ from the perception of its ‘effect’.
3. The duration that a given state of mind lasts.

(Note that these are definitions of the psychological Present. The Present in physics is the duration that separates the Past from the Future (sometimes referred to as Planck Time, which is 5.39 × 10 ⁻⁴⁴ of a second). It is a tiny fraction of a second in which no neurological or psychological event can be completed, thus making the Present in physics irrelevant to a discussion about anything that can be experienced in consciousness).

A state of mind that follows the recognition of a self-made valuable, accomplishment. It is associated with self-respect.

(Compare with Arrogance)

1. The design behind the meaning of something.
2. The a designed causality (cause-and-effect sequence) around a given event.

(Note that a design implies the participation of a designer but, as per Charles Darwin, design does not require a desiner.)

1. An attribute (of an object or a process) that expresses the perceived gap between its realized state and its desired state ( i.e., the gap separating the ‘real’ and the ‘ideal’).

The attribution of high quality is associated with the perception that the realized state of the thing exceeds the desired state; the attribution of low quality is associated with the perception that the realized state fails to meet the desired state.

[Note that the desired state (i.e., the state the thing “is supposed to be in”) can be concrete (based on a contract, such as a manufacturer’s advertised specs), presumed (based on some standard), or arbitrary (based on wishful thinking or the imagination).]

The (perception of a) need to increase the distance between the self and something.

1. The automatic response to unfairness.
2. The opposite of gratitude.

The capacity to experience suffering without being changed by it.

(Compare with Anti-fragility)

Something that is (1) recognized to have a value, (2) is finite, and (3) is transferable, that can be used in order to realize some desired effect (e.g., be exchanged for goods or services).

An subjective attribute linked to something (e.g., a person, an object, or an idea) that manifests its perceived value.

A recipe for conduct with built-in consequences for failure to follow the recipe.

1. The meaning of pleasure.
2. The opposite of suffering.

(Also, the thing that Mick Jagger found difficult to get.)

The value a mind associates with its Self, which is manifested as self respect.

The state of mind that stems from one’s predicted probability (or likelihood) of performing a specific task or enduring a specific challenge successfully.

The normal response to being exposed as both inadequate and having responsibility for the inadequacy (for example, being exposed as deliberately deceitful, falsely advertising, or willfully ignorant).

(Compare with Embarrassment)

The conviction that there’s more to reality than the human sensory apparatus and/or any instrument (that is now or that ever will become available) can measure or even detect.

The conviction that in reality “more goes on than meets the eye”.

A section in the stream of consciousness, consisting of three types of data: Information picked-up by the sensory organs, a cognitive component (i.e., a language dependent narrative) and an affective component (i.e., feelings,  emotions).

(To expand on the definition: Consider consciousness as an ever changing chain of documentary clips, where each clip is a State of Mind. When a clip ends it becomes part of one’s past and it is replaced by the next clip, which is then the present. Each clip is composed of sensory data {e.g., the sounds and sights picked up by the microphones and cameras} accompanied by a sound-track that includes a narrated commentary (the cognitive stream) and music (the emotional stream). The different components of each clip must be “in synch” and in balance for the clip to “make sense”.)

The use of energy to promote change over a period of time (compare with force).

A role-specific positive experience that exists in two types:

Outcome focused — The experience of getting that which one set out to get or accomplishing that which one set out to accomplish, and

Process focused — An experience that supports one’s balance moving forward.

The meaning of pain.

A state of mind hallmarked by acceptance of a difficult present without hope for a better future.

A ‘container’ to every conscious process, defined by time and place parameters.

A meaning dependent, probability-based choice generator.

Time is the force behind impermanence. Time is change.

According to Einstein: “Time is what a clock reads”

The calm willingness to experience a sensation (which is typically negative, i.e. a pain) without reacting to it.

(Compare with Patience and with Endurance)

The conviction that a promise (ultimately — to do no harm; which can be made explicitly or implicitly) will be kept. (Compare with Faith.)

An attribute of something (a concept, an object, or a process) that manifests its perceived relative importance which, in turn, is linked to its conveyance of a truth, its scarcity, or its potential to fulfill a need, respectively.

For example, the value of the statement “All men are created equal, with unalienable rights for Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness” stems from its conveyance of a truth. The value of gold stems from its relative rarity. The value of the skill-set of a surgeon or a plumber stems from their potential to fulfill a need.

Note that the attributed importance can be personal/individual (as in ‘sentimental value’) or collective/conventual (as in ‘the value of the American dollar’).

A method of conflict resolution that relies on the use of force.