09 Sep '12 17:07>
"...Fear of otherness lies at the root of prejudice. From the point of view of duality – nothing is as ‘other’ or dissimilar as the non-dual state. From the perspective of non-duality, we are prejudiced against our own natural state.
In the condition of dualistic estrangement – our own beginningless enlightenment becomes alien to us, and we therefore become antagonistic to it in every form it assumes. From this primitive antagonism every type of prejudice arises: racial discrimination, chauvinism, sectarianism, religious bigotry, bias, intolerance, insularity, fanaticism, and narrow-mindedness.
Within the self-created field of dualistic bewilderment, that which is natural seems unnatural – and that which seems natural is unnatural. On the basis of this primitive prejudice against reality, all other forms of prejudice arise – prejudices against: race, gender, physiognomy, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, class, intellectual capacity, age, and appearance – ad nauseam. Whatever form of distinction has existed in the world, prejudice has existed with regard to it. It is evident from this that the focus of prejudice is always empty of the causes of prejudice. The only cause of prejudice is fear of otherness.
Although prejudice—as a distorted aspect of experience—is a phenomenon which people of good heart and humanity have sought to eliminate for several centuries – it still persists. Prejudice persists and will always persist – whilst we remain in ignorance of the natural state."
http://www.aroencyclopaedia.org/shared/text/p/pride_prejudice_ar_eng.php
In the condition of dualistic estrangement – our own beginningless enlightenment becomes alien to us, and we therefore become antagonistic to it in every form it assumes. From this primitive antagonism every type of prejudice arises: racial discrimination, chauvinism, sectarianism, religious bigotry, bias, intolerance, insularity, fanaticism, and narrow-mindedness.
Within the self-created field of dualistic bewilderment, that which is natural seems unnatural – and that which seems natural is unnatural. On the basis of this primitive prejudice against reality, all other forms of prejudice arise – prejudices against: race, gender, physiognomy, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, class, intellectual capacity, age, and appearance – ad nauseam. Whatever form of distinction has existed in the world, prejudice has existed with regard to it. It is evident from this that the focus of prejudice is always empty of the causes of prejudice. The only cause of prejudice is fear of otherness.
Although prejudice—as a distorted aspect of experience—is a phenomenon which people of good heart and humanity have sought to eliminate for several centuries – it still persists. Prejudice persists and will always persist – whilst we remain in ignorance of the natural state."
http://www.aroencyclopaedia.org/shared/text/p/pride_prejudice_ar_eng.php