The Distinction between Judgement and Assumption

[UnbornTao]

@Joshe 

My claim wasn't that assessing and judging are "bad" and to be avoided (value-dependent activies as well) but rather that, without the space for things to be considered good or bad, positive or negative, those activities can't occur. In our experience, notice how we are always at the effect of everything perceived. Everything has an effect on us that allows us to adopt an orientation toward it - either aversion or preference. Think different thoughts and observe how each one usually generates a particular feeling or reaction.

Do you feel attracted to what you're experiencing right now, or do you move away from it?

When looking at a pencil, the effect that arises differs from seeing a banana. Notice this tendency to assign value. "Value" tells us whether to adopt a positive or negative relationship toward something. Even when a preference isn't clear, there is still an emotional orientation to what you encounter. You do this, for instance, with every emotion you have: you automatically judge it, evaluate it, assign it a certain value, and determine a positive or negative relationship with it.