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DanielLC comments on Issues with the Litany of Gendlin - Less Wrong
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I think it's supposed to be countering the idea that, since it doesn't feel like it's true until you believe it, it feels like believing it makes it true.Perhaps you should say something about that while there are problems caused by believing something is true, they are not the problems caused by it being true. For example, believing in global warming may make you depressed, but it won't increase global temperatures. Realizing you were stupid makes you feel stupid, but it doesn't retroactively make you stupid.
It also might be helpful to mention that, since all the problems caused by believing things are bad are just you feeling bad about them, they can be solved by emotionally acceptance, rather than denial.
Edit: How about something like "Through denial I can change my map, but with the help of acceptance I can change the territory"?
I think it would be interesting to say something like "It is dangerous to meddle with things I do not understand. I hope to meddle, but I first must understand".
"Pretending there is not a lematya in your bed will not make it go away if there is one. You must first admit to yourself the fact that there is a lematya — you must first accept its presence. Then you can call the animal control people and have them come and take it away. But until you first admit that it is there, you are going to have a lematya in your bed every night. It may save your pride not to admit that it is there, but your bed will be increasingly crowded."
— The Vulcan prophet Surak, in Diane Duane's Spock's World
(As many young nerds do, I went through a period of Star Trek fandom; this was the form in which I first encountered the same principle known here as the Litany of Gendlin. A lematya is a creature resembling a mix of a tiger and a komodo dragon. Surak's parable of the lematya is on the subject of acknowledging negative emotions as a step toward moving past them; but it applies as well to acknowledging unpleasant truths of any sort.)
I like this metaphor.
I like both of your lines. I'm wary of changing this particular Litany too much, but they might be useful as standalone phrases. I particular like:
It is dangerous to meddle with things I do not understand.
If I must meddle, I must first understand.
I think that stands on its own just fine.
If I were to alter Gendlin with your other statement, I think it would look like:
"What is true is already so.
Owning up to it doesn't make it worse.
Not being open about it doesn't make it go away.
And because it's true, it is what is there to be interacted with.
Anything untrue isn't there to be lived.
Through denial I can change my map,
But only through acceptance can I change the territory."
But I think it might be better to craft a new Litany (perhaps just call it "Litany of the Map and Territory". Something with that name should probably exist, regardless, if it doesn't already.
You never must meddle. Perhaps:
It is dangerous to meddle with things I do not understand.
If I wish to meddle, I must first understand.
How do you separate stuff by one line like that?
Edit: lines correctly separated.
Put two spaces after your line.
Like this.
I just learned this, like, 2 days ago, and it has changed my world.
I'm going to use this, so now we need to name it.
Obvious option is "Litany of Daniel".
Second option is "Litany of Velma."
(This is going to be in a not so serious section of the evening, and if we use "Litany of Velma" then we can follow it up with the Litany of Joseph: 'Knowing is Half the Battle')
Who is Velma?
Scooby-Doo character? She was the most rational of the group.
Editted to add this
And since it's probably still unclear, Scooby Doo is relevant because of the oft-mentioned phrase "You meddling kids!"
It's actually NOT the best example of the word "meddling" in this context. "Do not meddle" usually refers to powerful forces that will destroy you if you mess up, whereas Scooby and Co. are just meddling with con-artists, and they usually LEARN stuff by meddling in the first place. But I couldn't think of a better reference offhand. Did a search for "Meddle with forces" and similar things and couldn't find a source that seemed suitably ancient that it would been the original line or anything.