It is my belief that our experience of reality is rooted in our confirmation bias. Until an individual can effortlessly maintain mindful awareness of the emergence of these biases, we risk becoming trapped in a cognitive-emotive loop. This loop reinforces our subjective interpretation of reality. The term 'belief perseverance' describes the phenomenon where, even when evidence disproves our beliefs, we remain unwilling to examine the reasons behind them. This concept is closely linked to indoctrination, the process of uncritically accepting a set of beliefs.

While some beliefs are tied to morality or ethics – in Buddhism, for example, nonviolence is a core principle – there are numerous instances of individuals whose moral convictions were central to their faith. Figures like The Reverend Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Franz Jägerstätter and Sophie Scholl, who all opposed Nazi ideology and were executed for their beliefs, exemplify this. A cognitive/emotive loop is essentially a recurring pattern that strengthens our preferred narrative of events, regardless of whether they appear to be beyond our control. In Buddhism, appearances are not predetermined and Karma is not synonymous with fate". Karmic results arise from a natural process, not divine judgement. Experiences result from past actions, but our responses remain free, though they will shape the future. Unjust behaviours can create conditions that encourage further injustice, but the choice to act justly remains.

I contend that reality is simply 'what is', or 'the dharma' in Buddhism. "Suffering" arises when we resist the disparity between our personal view of reality, shaped by confirmation bias, and objective reality. The saying "Pain is inevitable, suffering is optional" encapsulates the Buddha's teachings. It's easy to assume that spiritually enlightened individuals have transcended basic human experiences, but regardless of one's spiritual state, daily life is still navigated through attachments to personal biases. Spiritual awakenings do not automatically erase these beliefs. Prolonged inner work is essential for developing empathic emotional intelligence. Without examining our beliefs and biases, we risk remaining trapped in neurotic thought patterns, anxiety, mood swings and self-doubt.

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