Perception and Conception

Perception and conception – as dimensions of the mind (quality of the force that exists or which is felt in life forms) are relative to the life form itself.

In other words, how a particular life form ‘thinks’ is a function of itself. We cannot separate our thoughts from the structure of our senses and other physiological blue print created by our genes.  The idea of asking ourselves ‘why’ and being aware of our own constructs is pronounced in humans and hence we may be able to go beyond our own limitations of mind/body and may also be able to connect with all life forms. The highest potential is realizing the world view mentioned by Advaitist – One Consciousness permeating everywhere.

The nature of force –as a mind – differs from life form to another life form. What is mind after all? It is ‘how’ the sense organs receive outside signals of five elements (again a force of a different kind) and ‘how’ these signals are carried to the brain where they are put together to generate a response. The decision to act on a particular input which is felt/ received from the environment is called mind. Certain life forms may receive UV lights, sense heat waves, will sense smell or magnetic forces stronger than other life forms – hence their responses to the environment/ space differs. So is there anything that appears “universal” for all?! If I see a tree and an ant sees a tree and maybe a buffalo walks past the same tree, each one of us will perceive and respond to the object of the tree in a different manner. Thus, different life forms exhibit different intentions while existing in a given body. In other words, the nature of force (intention of a life form) and the subsequent built environment the life form creates differs. So fundamentally, we are primarily seeing, sensing and responding to intentions or forces of nature.

Related to this phenomenon, is the concept of scale. The external force (such as gravity) will be felt differently by a human, ant, bacteria and the planet earth. The effect of that force on our perception will again be different. Two planets are held together by remaining suspended in space by force of gravity and repulsion. If I were to be somewhere in between these two planets, I will feel floating in space but under no influence of gravity at all. The intensity of gravity acting between any two bodies in defined by Newton F = Gm1m2/r^2. No doubt this equation is powerful. The more fundamental question is how does this intensity of force which acts on us affect our perception? This answer (as a science) may be offered by astrology – which is again, geography specific. There is another theory of expression to this – that of Theory of Relativity, wherein a relationship of space, force, time and matter has been stated mathematically. By applying this equation, phenomena of cosmic scales can be explained. Theory of quantum mechanics describes the behaviour of the world at sub atomic scale.  

In any of these sciences, we are dealing with the tendency of space to change its state to different forces leading to a state of visible manifestation into five elements. These five elements get received and responded by internal force of the ‘mind’ – as a state of existence. Knowing the primary state of force – is the Consciousness which is the same for everything and everywhere. So, we have completed the cycle!

So, having realized that what we say as mind – is a kind of a force, why is it that this force in each human being creates a different effect on outside environment? The answer to that lies in tendency of force that is nurtured by the individual. Thought (as felt) is sequencing of thought-unit. We are invariably deciding the sequence of thought by deciding how we intend to respond to the environment. In other words, we write the narrative of perception and conception. At one level, there is no answer to why do we continue to harbor certain tendencies of thoughts (Satvik, Rajas and Tamas). These tendencies will keep on imposing thought patterns and subsequently our behavior and our built environments. We can be aware of our own tendency and having accepted the tendency, we may choose to move in the direction that expands our minds – makes us more liberal, connected, compassionate and comprehensive. Consciously then, we are attempting to change our nature of force and subsequently, our world view. This is a lifelong practice and we need to remain aware constantly.

In undertaking this journey, one will realize that to engage oneself in this exercise, one will require, not just the ability of the intellect, but feelings as well, actions as well, and the ability to remain in suspended state as well – and yet – one may feel that the destination is far to reach. What becomes important is the journey that assists in discovering of our potential, rather than the destination. Destination is an ‘idea’ (a futuristic one – something yet to be reached) – there is no need to confirm to a word or a form that describes the destination. It should dawn on us and when it does, we will realize that we seem to have arrived.

Related to above observation is the concept of what we choose to think – we see the same in others and we seem to attract more of the same thing. If a person thinks primarily through the intellect, he/she will see the world as a grand design of the intellect – contemplating on sequencing, cause + effects, time, pace, making it organized, structuring it, making it more visible/tangible, making things more compartmentalized and more efficient. Then there is a combination of intent and the ability of intellect. For what purpose are you engaging the intellect? A criminal may also be an intelligent fellow as compared to a Saint, who also uses intelligence to decode mysteries of the mind. For such a person, the journey goes from narrow mindedness/meanness to universal consciousness.

If a person thinks through feelings, (feelings are also thoughts finally), he/she will see the world from the aspect of Feelings/ Love/ Compassion and suspend using the voice of a critique or being too judgmental. The person surrenders, trusts and seems to remain fluid and organic and perhaps spontaneous. The journey of such a person is from emotions (person specific) to universal feelings (Rasa) and beyond.

If a person chooses to act, he/she will see the world as full of action and the person will remain neck deep into the thick of things – the goal of the person will be to change the practical world for the better. The highest achievement of the process of action is about love of action itself – and reach a state of universal consciousness.

All above paths are complimentary and we often are a combination of all three ways of moving ahead in life. There is always a complimentary side to what you are thinking right now and you are also representing a complimentary side to something that exists in different dimensions out there. Acknowledging this inter linking of forces holds the key to remain peaceful.

Practice

Practice is the imprint of sequence of thoughts one chooses to entertain, everyday, every instant. The imprint – of the mind – decoded as billions of thoughts – is a default effect. One cannot ‘see’ existence without the mind or the impressions of one’s generated thoughts. Thoughts are Force and we operate in this realm – of past/ present/ future, desires, urges, compulsions, intellect, feelings and mechanisms of comparisons, inferences etc. The sum total of these constituents is the Force.

Human beings can be said to represent the universal phenomenon of Space – Force – object (In fact everything there is the cosmos represents this). We may feel ourselves different in the way we generate our own constructs and remain attached to the same – whatever we do, it is the Force through which things get manifested and this Force operates from the consciousness. I am not really sure where to situate this consciousness – in physical terms one can explain physical space, physical force and physical object. How does one explain the presence of consciousness as a generator of thoughts in ourselves? Meditation or Raj yoga is one technique to locate the consciousness or feel the consciousness in us – to be able to go to the state of super consciousness. Physiologically, we are then referring to a state where no force of thought is required to exist or has not manifested. Which means, to stop electrical impulses. Our breadth and electrical impulses and hormones + chemicals in the brain represent the feel of the Force or the construct of the ego. To feel the Force, means to feel thoughts and therefore the definition of life. The urge to connect or express oneself is so strong that we can see for ourselves the development of history that has happened and continuous to happen here. History or past, present and the imagination of future needs to look from the angle of Force – urges and desires and kinds of imaginations entertained by us.

A force is composed of many things – of many attachments, subsets, ideas, constructs. A person acts from the totality of all these and also the medium of super consciousness that manifests as these constructs. The sum total means the total of the manifested things and the unmanifested potential – these make us or makes everything around us.

Our knowledge of existential phenomena is related with manifestation. This means time, change, impermanence and transformations and dependence.

If we argue, we are merely arguing about impermanence. The point of argument should not be to prove something right or wrong, but to move closer to the Truth and hence shed the ego. Closer to the Truth (and the change in our imagination) can happen through any act, any study, any thought, any situation, any instant, any commitment. One must be at it.

Three Questions

Certain things give us certain amount of peace. Currently I am considering these set of questions and these will be answered in a non technical way – just to use common words, being as simple as possible and try to uncover the essence of thought/ feeling–

What is peace - Philosophically, it the ability to see the force of the mind as it is and not being a puppet to the force or not being attached to the force. It is to realize that peace is beyond dimensions of space and time and these, as such, exist is ‘us’. When we say ‘us’, we are in a state of force – some may have huge doses of ego, some may have thoughts dictated by senses and others may be more evolved in thoughts – but we (as constructs) get defined because we remain attached to a dimension of space called – Force. Why am I introverted? No answer. Why do I entertain certain thoughts? No answer. Why do I make certain thoughts explicit? No answer. This force compels us to perform, run, prove, and what not. It is also the search for perfection and to understand the idea of incompleteness. All these impulses or tendencies come alive if we remain attached to the Force – that we keep feeling that ‘we’ are the same as ‘force’. States of existence are different. If we see exactly what is going in all the thoughts that we project, we maybe able to slow down to the extent of seeing the space, from where, thoughts arise and fall or dissolve and continue to come and go. The tendency is so deep rooted and so subtle, that focusing on it immediately accelerates the units of thoughts into a sequence and compels an action! Not focusing may lead to see the thoughts as they are without any disturbance. The moment there is a thought (perception and conception), we cause an “imprint” on a neutral moment, we generate a memory, we see the present and think of the future. So who is responsible for any kind of an imprint? We are. And your imprint and my imprint for the same circumstances will be different, so we become different individuals and act in different ways. We are just forces interacting with one another. There’s no such thing as what should be confirmed by all, as it is an individual reality of space – force and object.

How do we tend to react – This force is so subtle and so much effective that if we are not aware of it, we will just keep reacting to situations (which is our own making!). Reaction or any kind of a thought involves many desires, assumptions, urges, and compulsion to respond to the same. The interesting question is ‘why’ do we construct such notions of thought? There is no reason for this question. However, notions are constructed or force is constructed. And depending on what kind of life form are we, the nature of force will compel us to act in peculiar ways. Hence, whatever we think, there’s a tendency to express, there’s a tendency to keep interpreting situations and keep reacting to the situations. This tendency has no rational basis, (rationality comes within the tendency domain) and this tendency is responsible for the way in which we make decisions about life. Why do people react, why do they love, why do they hate or cry or get angry – all come from this tendency. Why do we experience pleasure and pain and what are its ingredients – again all are the result of this tendency. Any feeling is a matter of force – no matter how deeply felt or no matter how authentic it might have been experienced. The only thing important is to know how much comprehensive and compassionate can be the quality of this force we express.

What’s the hurry/ craze of being full proof - Very funny. We assume to reach a particular destination, a state of situation, accomplish something, have too many things stacked for ourselves – all assumptions by the way, and we keep running to make the picture of our life perfect! DAMN IT! The sooner we realize what’s happening, we may start to lay different priorities. Life is comprehensive – there’s no such thing as small or big – involvement matters, presence matters, connect matters, compassion matters. And every moment – work or no work, people or no people, can be converted into a caring moment for the self, if we just stop taxing ourselves for unnecessary performance criteria we subject ourselves to. For whom are we performing and is it really, really worth the effort that we put in for some kind of a praise or a promotion or a security? Why so we do it? Very funny!

We are not expected to do anything – for others. Whatever we do, we do it for us and therefore, better enjoy what we set out to do. Enjoyment or fulfilment is a right and we must take care of ourselves regardless of whatever others might have to say on this.

Lockdown and 'Us'

A lot is being said about current Lockdown. I would refrain myself from talking about details. However, there’s one area that needs to be touched upon – which is the psychological space.

I think that the :Lockdown has forced us to consider – the turmoil that happens in our minds and the compulsion to react to the internal turmoil. It is of course difficult to separate our sense of wellbeing with the turmoil that seems to have gripped everyone, but that’s the point we need to learn.

The question is – why is the turmoil getting created in us and why are we letting circumstances affect our inner peace? A related question is therefore, what is peace and how is it attained and how are current circumstances not letting us experience this peaceful state of mind? These are complex questions, however, it is a must to entertain them or allow themselves to seep in deeply in our consciousness.

I am not offering you any answers, as I am also on a path of self exploration. In fact no one answers anything in life! However, we have a hint from the seers who have said something about the experience of super consciousness or the state of mind that is beyond physical space and tangible time. This state is state is present in each of us, in every scale of existence from the atom to cosmos. This physical state of space/void – force – object and the feeling of consciousness – force/ thoughts – body is again present everywhere.

From space or consciousness, everything manifests – be it some kind of force and then an object. The nature of force will decide the characteristics of the object and if it can sustain creation or if it needs to be dissolved. Creating or dissolving something is an act of Force, which itself requires ‘space’ to exist. Other word for Force may be called as ‘tendency’ (to manifest) and whatever we try to do, this tendency cannot be stopped – it is the urge of creation!

What we identify with our ‘ego’ or ‘mind’ and the power of intellect and feelings and all sorts of thoughts that come along with it – is a Force. Mind compels us to act and the signals of perception and conception contribute to it. This means that the bottom line is what do you choose to think? How should you think? These questions will transform the nature for Force for you – it will transform the imagination of life that you create for yourself. Effectively, the tendency to attach oneself or identify with our thoughts and environment needs evolution/ transformation.

Who is this ‘you’ that one is talking about? And should you really run from post to post to solve the situation or rectify anything? Is there a problem, in the first place? So, what are our tendencies that we seem to generate perpetually? Do these tendencies require any control of the environment? And even if the environment is controlled, will it control the tendencies?

These require constant monitoring and practice. The problem or the challenge is to consider everything as having an effect on you and this entire construct of ‘you’ and therefore everything else. This exercise keeps on going. Actually, probably we haven’t understood ourselves completely as phenomenon of the world. We are a phenomenon – just as a plant or a stone, except we may have different tendencies. However, we are expressed as phenomenon. Any phenomenon starts with space, has a force and projects as an object…and it keeps changing. We exist in thoughts/ mind. So, we can modify ourselves and we can also get a touch of super conscious state.

All ideas of incompleteness, anchoring, fragmentation, comprehensiveness, compulsions of any kind, desires, anxieties, turmoil – mean the same – Force. We are dealing with Force. Let’s not forget that. And let us then, work our way to compassion and nourishment.

Technology and World View

Technology – as an idea and as a process – affects the way we see the world or connect with the world around us. The word used for this entire phenomenon can be referred as  - imagination. People have spoken about World Views for many centuries – these are mentioned in different forms of expression from language, to idea diagrams to art to symbols. In research domain, we encounter positivism, post positivism, critical theory and social construction – all concerned with the way we imagine things around us. To me, the concept of social construction comes very close to the idea of imagination, however imagination also means the nature of thought/force and the state of consciousness we exist in an awakened state.

Beyond this state, beyond the conception of definite space and time, we have a super conscious state – or beyond any kind of construction or imagination. That becomes the world view of philosophers. This world view is also concerned about how something gets manifested from ‘nothing’ and what are the basic components of this process – these being space, force and object. Although we use words to segregate or differentiate between these three states of ‘forms’, in reality, it is stated that no such absolute distinction ever exists. The distinction is only apparent and our nature of thoughts (quality of force) is what is going to define the perception of these states. In a nut shell, the philosopher encourages one to evolve and realize that states of existence are only apparent – a sort of an illusion and the illusion that we exist as an independent being. The emphasis is on the connect with the entire cosmos.

One may ask oneself, how does this attitude develop? What are the processes that encourage such a state of ‘mind’? And the answer to this, may lie in understanding the forces that shape the geography of our places and by which, we are affected. One route to realize this state of mind is a route of geography, history (as an act of reinvention and continuity) and philosophy. If at all, as human forms, we were to seek answers to the beginning of an introspective mind, it lies in geography. So, understanding of one’s environment can bring about such awareness.

Another route can be of science. The idea of space-form and object/ of relativity/ of manifestation is found at a microscopic level (quantum mechanics) and cosmic level (Theory of Relativity).

Further route can be a scientific study of genes and kind of relationship it generates on physical forms and thoughts. It is possible to ‘think’ in a particular manner only because our body mechanisms (as coded by genes) allow us to do so. Whatever nature of mind we have, we owe it to genes. As genes become more complex, the nature of thought can become more complex and refined or comprehensive. These terms of complexity and refinement are different. Comprehensiveness is a cosmic connection – its results are very fundamental and profound. Complexity is the play of the intellect minus maturity – to fragment and make the situation ‘appear’ apparently complex.

The above background was necessary to raise the question of what seems to be the effect of being engrossed in virtual environment (and internet) on our imagination? It is not just a question of time, multitasking, efficiency, speed, rate of change that nevertheless get altered at an overwhelming speed – similar to a centrifugal force, where the ‘tendency’ is to get knocked off or fall from a cliff and the counter force therefore, is to increase the force of anchoring oneself to some centre.

Above components of change in thought affect our memories. Memory is cosmic (super conscious state), comprehensive (considers the environment) collective (across generations, across births) and it is individual also. The scale of time for such memories to be generated in us is enormous – so large, that the linearity of time is replaced by spiral nature of time and the individual is replaced by the collective + cosmic. This is the change in our own imaginations. Where is the place for ‘me’ alone or where is the validity of the ‘moment’ as an independent spec of time? The moment and cosmic time – are one and the same.

Conversely, with increased mixing of virtual environment and internet, we are forced to remain connected to online systems, always forced to respond and always forced to produce, react and be efficient – for no apparent reason whatsoever. In this system or process of thought, we acknowledge no existence of any other connection with any kind of phenomenon. There’s no past, there’s no future and we ourselves become too fragmented to appear confused, lost and anxious. It is a mistake to assume that current times of internet involvement can give benefits.

Technology is always neutral – and any situation for that matter. It is what we think about it or what kind of effect it produces on us, affects our imagination.

Hence, to conclude, what is the manner in which we choose to engage ourselves with such a reality – to be a part of the online ‘grid’? This is a question we need to keep ourselves engaged in.