This idea is another step in the direction of identifying cause and effect as it really operates in the world. You see no neutral things because you have no neutral thoughts. It is always the thought that comes first, despite the temptation to believe that it is the other way around. This is not the way the world thinks, but you must learn that it is the way you think. If it were not so, perception would have no cause and would itself be the cause of reality. In view of its highly variable nature, this is hardly likely.
If you happen to lose your job, you can respond, “Oh no, I lost my job, the world is horrible”. An alternative response would be, “I lost my job, what can I learn from this.”
Neither is a neutral thought. The thought “the world is horrible” is a cause that will create an effect as is “what can I learn from this?” We can’t always control what happens to us, but we can control (to a large extent) how we perceive what happens to us.
- I do not see a neutral cup because my thoughts about cups are not neutral.
- I do not see a neutral rocking chair because my thoughts about rocking chairs are not neutral.
- I do not see a neutral cat because my thoughts about cats are not neutral.
- I do not see a neutral pillow because my thoughts about pillows are not neutral.
- I do not see a neutral statue because my thoughts about statues are not neutral.
- I do not see a neutral potato because my thoughts about potatoes are not neutral.