How to have infinite hope, by reserving judgements.

I didn't read beyond the first page of the novel The Great-Gatsby by Fitzgerald, when I came across, I think most fascinating idea presented in the book. The character of Mr. Carraway describing himself. Why, he had been reserving his judgement on everyone he meets, following his father's advice. And he summarizes the advice in following form.

“Whenever you feel like criticizing anyone,” he told me, “Just remember that all the people in this world haven’t had the advantages that you’ve had.”

Tea

Because of this advice he had become a good listener, and many have come to confess to him, even before The Great Gatsby himself, as he had given them infinite hope. So, how can someone give infinite hope to another, or to himself. And that is by reserving the judgement. Which I like more meaning and power that we should explore. How, beautiful if we can have infinite hope? by following the advice given by Fitzgerald.

"Reserving Judgement is a matter of infinite hope."

The key to having, or giving infinite hope is by understanding, what it means to reserve judgement. It may be not so obvious to someone who has not done any mindfulness practice on their own. If you looked at your mind for a few hours a day, you would understand all that mind does is recognizing things and passing judgements on them. Putting labels good or bad.

Pavements broken -> bad government.

Crows flying over -> dirty animals.

Flowers on the hedge -> beautiful

That girl in the shed -> 7/10

The bus arrives 1 minute late -> bad.

The mind, when it does it, do not try to discriminate what it sees, meaning, it doesn't matter it's an animate or inanimate thing. People, animals, houses, things, yesterday things, tomorrow things, it will put a judgment label on everything which it recognizes throughout the day. Second after second. And it is through these judgements we act normally, guiding our activities. Someone might say these judgements are essential for proper rational functioning of any mind. Yet, I can see, that passing judgement on someone or something would put a constraint on its use. As, now it has become this one thing, which is suitable for one thing only. If you label a child, a good child, you wouldn't expect bad behavior. Moment, they do a bad thing, you will relabel them as a bad child and giving no hope of ever becoming a good one. But if you reserve your judgement and consider an act by a child as an act. Then there would be infinite hope in every good or bad action.

How non-judgmental Mindfulness gives you infinite hope?

This also applies to anything you recognize, as good or bad in your immediate or imaginary environment. Essential component of mindfulness practice is being non-judgmental on the objects of the mind. It is not at all easy, as the process of the mind is fast, and unrecognized most of the time during a day. However, if you do not judge this process bad, you can have infinite hope that eventually mindfulness will grow. A flower would just be a flower, without good or bad. And that is the best thing we can do, in a day. Nothing more nothing less.