PACIFIC WORLD - The Institute of Buddhist Studies

326Pacific Worldand beliefs 20 that function as the template for our ordinarily experiencedworld. This map is comprised of (1) those constructs that establish thebackground and focal dimensions of the perceptual field (i.e., concepts ofsubstance, inherent existence, temporality, spatial orientation, etc., 21 aswell as the linguistic and conceptual inventory of the “things,” qualities,and experiences comprising the world), and (2) the evaluative associationslinked to every thing and experience within that perceptual context—theconditions that define desirability versus undesirability (I will refer tothese as perceptual and evaluative constructs respectively). The first categoryof constructs functions to reify or objectify experience and constructperceptual duality. 22 The second generates the evaluative interpretation ofexperiences and objects as attractive, i.e., desired or aversive, i.e., repellent,providing the basis for our essentially dualistic, affective responses to life.These levels are functionally interdependent since evaluative associationsonly occur in relation to a self (i.e., what the self wants and does notwant) and a localized self in turn presupposes the perceptual duality of selfversus object. In addition, the localization of awareness as a self (one poleof perceptual dualism) is in part constructed by a network of identitydefiningconcepts bound together because of the evaluative associationslinked to those concepts. For example, I may define myself as “nice”because of the positive, evaluative associations linked to that concept (i.e.,the correlation between being nice and feelings of safety, belonging, andlove), and this in turn functions as one factor within a larger system thatdefines or constructs the boundaries of personal identity that localizeexperience and so perpetuate a dualistic perceptual context.Perceptual and evaluative constructs are also mutually reinforcing,since an evaluative response to some “thing” first requires being able toexperience or perceive that thing, while the judgment about it reinforcesrelating to life in terms of things. Evaluative judgments as a whole reinforcethe self-concept and therefore the duality of self versus object: all inputs areprocessed in terms of how they affect the self, reinforcing the self as theorganizing locus of mental life. The sense of being a “self” in turn generatessome degree of attendant vulnerability, and therefore a need to manipulatepeople and the “objects” of one’s world and mind (thoughts) to be safe. Thisstrengthens an object-oriented engagement with the world (internal andexternal) and objectifying thinking in general. Self and object becomefurther “solidified,” perpetuating efforts to “deal with life” based on thisdualistic perspective. In general, these interconnected variables hold ourattention within a dualistic perceptual context, which in turn reinforces themind’s categories and concepts.Evaluative responses occur on two levels: (1) those that are derivedfrom innate drives or needs (survival, food, safety, etc., are innately good;death, pain, abandonment, etc., are bad) and (2) those learned throughsocialization and empowered through their association with innate needs. 23