RATIONALIZATION 21 April.

nWe all rationalize here and there, now and then, to the world and to ourselves, to get away, bending, stretching and “re-interpreting reality” to excuse ourselves front the unpleasant aspects of reality about ourselves. This is actually breaking the Fourth Precept, which is about respecting the Truth. All rationalizations “serve” to explain away our negatively thought thoughts, spoken words and deeds. Rationalizations, when done quickly and habitually, become a great enemy of spirituality as it becomes a powerful form of subtle self-deception that is difficult to keep in check in the lack of mindfulness.

There is perhaps no rationalization as dangerous as that lying to oneself --- one can actually lie to oneself without consciously knowing it. One could think one is the light of Wisdom, which is actually the darkness of ignorance. Rationalization is not rational at all. Always keep honesty to oneself and the world in check.