Shree: Three Levels

 

Shree

 

Mind operates at some levels: (interpreted from The Search for a Form…By Eliel Saarinen)

Subconsciously mind can only directly feel the flow of creation happening from internal world to external world and it knows that the internal world informs external world. The external world “therefore” becomes an “extension” of the internal world. We think that the “form” of external world is different, BUT such an operating subconscious mind does not consider external world separated (or as a separate form) from internal world – both are so intimately tied. When any object is seen, or an activity done, it is done with the inherent intent of internal world’s behavior. For such attitude, the external world cannot exist independently of the internal world’s existence. Tribal architecture, primitive or indigenous architecture talks of such expressions. I think that the issues that we face and articulate have no place in this mode of “thinking”  - indeed the word “thinking” takes on a dimension spanning inner and outer worlds and hence may have all components from myth, traditions, ancestors, spirits, social relations, humans, other life forms, environment, spirits, to livelihood. That is what “makes” something tangible for them – be it an element or a façade or a space or a movement between or through spaces.

In conscious working of the mind, it is aware of this relation and perhaps starts to refine this relation wherein principles of aesthetics seem to get contemplated, discussed, debated and expressed. Herein the emphasis is on refinement of the Invisible Order and whatever it takes to do it – ought to be done. The emphasis continues on shared world views or shared values yet a kind of sophistication, hierarchy also seems to govern this process. Medieval cities or pre modern architecture was said to express this attitude towards architecture.

In self conscious workings of the mind, the mind does action for the sake of doing action! The burden of “external expression at whatever cost and articulation” is higher than the voice of inner world (which is independent of any conditions). The level of sophistication is extremely high to the point of total disconnect with the inner world of thoughts and feelings. The issue of complexity, style, critique, verbosity, power, social constructs and so on are used as tools for understanding the creative process. Space and form may get to  much verbalized at the cost o getting divorced from contextual understanding of the place. Commercial interests may take a higher preference than social preferences or even sacred preferences. We may find environment getting plundered for satisfying self interests and the rate of change and the intensity or the scope of action may leave a very large ‘carbon footprint’.

As the mind moves from one form of working to another, it finds the other form quite alien or hard to comprehend – yet in reality it is the same mind that has operated in the three levels. Today at times, we find ourselves moving from subconscious working to self conscious working (linear progression – if that is the idea of origin) or we may also find all three forms of mind working in our contemporary world.

A difficult question is  - it is not a choice of the three ways of working that is to be ‘selected’ for obtaining ‘best/ favorable results!’ – since choice and selection are also seen from self conscious perspectives, so can become short sighted. Then perhaps it is about discovering or unfolding.

 

Hari Om.