Ideology in form of conventional truth, religion, politics, and social taboo

In today's society, one cannot help to notice that political views, religious views, and social taboos, no matter how controversial, are considered to be impolite subjects. The reason is that they are based on belief systems, more than critical thinking, experience, and experimentation. When a religious, political, or socially contrived conventional belief system is adopted unquestionably as true, then questioning it appears to the dogmatist as a personal; threat. The more insecure the holder/ideologue is, the tighter they will grasp. We have already mentioned how religion pre-manufactures and prefabs ideologies for those who have been stripped of their ability to do their own thinking. Similarly, for those who do not have intact their ability to think clearly for themselves in regards to economic systems, political systems, ecological systems, and the like, simply adopt a political faith, placing faith in their leadership, just as if it were a religious belief with faith placed in a pope, priest, guru, or god. Similarly, the more insecure and confused such people are, the more they tend to grasp onto their adopted belief system. There is great similarity between political and religious belief systems/ideology, as both give the adherent an ersatz identity (ego) and world view.

Almost as tenacious are those who adopt conventional reality and conform to peer pressure. This pramana is not as strong as the former, because it is obvious that conventional and social customs/realities change many times in one's life time. Similarly, beliefs constructed around fears/taboos, trauma, mental pain, intimidation, shame, and guilt are more subtle. Although they may be protected via belief systems, they are more properly dealt with as vikalpas, samskaras, and vasana, which is discussed in detail later. In short, all these vrttis must be abandoned.