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.