*********** This writer would just like to say, “thank you!” to those of you who have been liking and/or commenting on my posts, while being open-minded about it. Of course, to go beyond the superficial, one goes beyond my photos; we are well aware that many are merely satisfied with the photos; it’s not (fortunately) just about the photos. A lot of what is written here, we know, is way beyond the norm; thank goodness for that! Many of the best scientists have said that reality is likely way different than what we have been lead to believe up to this point… way different than what we can imagine. (That is for sure!) I am very appreciative of those of you who stick with this and continue to read, even though, at times, it must be very difficult to swallow or stomach. I’ve always deeply cared about the truth, no matter how uncomfortable the answers may be, no matter what was revealed. Those who do the same, this movement deeply admires. (Truth is beautiful, and there are real treasures if one is open, independent, passionate, honest, and not afraid to go beyond the primitive, antiquated ways.) Too many of us are like clay that (over time) hardens after it has been molded by (equally desiccated) others. *************
Thinking — as a process — is fractional and sequential. Thinking involves a sequential series of patterns; these patterns are always symbolic, limited, and (unless rare insight occurs, influencing them) merely dependent on banal, past memories and ordinary experiences. Patterns, in a sequence, constitute time; thinking and time are not two separate things. Experiencing, in most minds, is dictated — as to how it takes place and manifests — by implanted, past memories. When, as it does with most people, a learned and supposed static self-image seems to be claiming (from a supposed psychological distance) to have control and be dominant over moving, rearranging, sequential, symbolic thought-patterns that thought/thinking considers such a self-center to have power over via managing and authoritatively manipulating… deception takes place. If the supposed central image is not — in reality — central at all, and if it is merely another one of the images (which it is), then things are not as they appear and there must be a significant paradigm shift; otherwise, all kinds of misbehavior and distortion occurs.
A dominating center that — in reality — is not truly dominating and not, in any way, central… creates a tremendous amount of havoc for the (unfortunate) mind miseducated to contain (and “be”) such an array. The havoc involved manifests as needless inner friction, inner conflict, fabricated space, needless dominancy, false glorification, and needless separation. When one segment claims to be dominant and “in control” of other sections (from a fallacious distance)… inner tyranny, friction, struggle, and pseudo-power-control materialize; these often manifest (outwardly) as conflict, outward dominance, and violence in the external world. Additionally, such a false center inevitably leads to the cultivation selfishness, jealousy, and competition; it fosters inner self-aggrandizement, indifference, and isolation. The supposed center is considered permanent, most important, and lasting, while the other thoughts and feelings are considered subservient, more or less temporary, and as something to be used. Surgeries on the corpus callosum within the brain, resulting in two fields of consciousness, are indicative of the falsity of a permanent center. Yet, psychiatrists and psychologists still promote antiquated methodologies which continue to constrain the mind into practices promoting a fallacious center.
A true and intelligent paradigm shift would transcend these false bonds and conceitful ways. A genuine, beautiful psychological transformation would occur when the mind acts — not merely reacts — as a whole without false separation and delusive, fallacious space. Then, when reflection takes place, one is not something separate from the reflection; then, when compassion occurs, one is not something separate from compassion. Since so many thoughts are fractional, limited symbols… the holistic mind would often intelligently go beyond them; the whole is more than the sum of the parts. In this, no crude, dominating part would exist to stupefy, tyrannize, manipulate, or intervene. In this lack of friction and loss of falsity are bliss and integrity. In such wholeness, wisdom manifests, eternity manifests.
Looking Downward (1) Photo by Thomas Peace c. 2016
Looking Downward (2) Photo by Thomas Peace c. 2016
Tom's Nature-up-close Photography and Mindfulness Blog 
Frogs – cute and ugly all in one…
Like us humans! 🙂
I love reading your words, you have such an interesting way of looking at life!
Thanks, Jessica! I hope it’s a clear and undistorted way!
Your thoughts are always well addressed here, Tom. These are not only uncomfortable topics, but difficult to express, even one believes it. Sometimes, we believe or understand it, but in reality, we see or feel with our heart. Thank you for sharing your wisdom and insights!
I love your photos, I rarely comment it. I guess I always pay more attention to your thoughts and words. 🙂
Better the words than the photos anytime, Amy! Coming from you, that’s quite an honor… since you are an expert photographer! It’s so good that you can see beyond your expertise; few can! 🙂
Appreciate your comment, Tom. 🙂
mind want to read
it again.
eyes want to keep
starring at the froggy 🙂
Thanks so much, David! 🙂
Here’s a little koan 4 u:
You’ll read it again
even if
you don’t decide 2
read it again
Your words are profound and earnestly speak to the way of a new world and paradigm. If we go inside instead of seeking outside of ourselves we will find everything we need to change ourselves and the world. Part of that would be to expand the part of the brain that is our consciousness state. From Joe Dispenza who wrote, Evolve Your Brain, “Personal change takes an intentional act of will, and it usually means that something was making us uncomfortable enough to want to do things differently. To evolve is to overcome the conditions in our life by changing something about ourselves.”
Thank you for your thoughts and insights.
Much appreciated, Laura! 🙂 It’s a subtle, delicate thing; (and please don’t take this as being insulting) but one can’t agree with some of what you have written. Evolution is not what is needed — not even evolution of the brain — since evolution (psychologically) depends upon time and gradual change. What is timeless and pristine does not come about via time. An intentional act of will has nothing to do with it either, as will involves the belief that we are psychologically free, or somehow exist as something beyond conditioning. It is highly probable that will and psychological evolution (not biological evolution) are — for the most part — fallacious and unreal. If the timeless will not manifest as a result of gradual change, psychologically, or from a calculated act of will by a fictitious center, then in what manner can it happen? Find out! (Methodology, or following a blueprint, has nothing to do with it. Many, consciously or unconsciously, give methods, platitudes, and blueprints… which is why i don’t follow many blogs.)
The background colors in the second image look nice, soft and warm. And the whole is always more than the sum of the parts, indeed, which makes everything seem quite mysterious, or mystical, full of beautiful magic, anyway, yet so simple and transparent. 🙂
Yes, the whole is more that the sum of the parts! 🙂 One wishes scientists would fully realize that! It isn’t likely, however! They’ll just go on dissecting and analyzing things!
As always I am captivated by your images and frogs are friends of mine. What kind of frog is s/he?
I am also interested in what you have to say about surgeries on the brain that produce two fields of consciousness because I experience two fields of awareness at times – the ordinary world, and occasionally, a field of awareness that is non ordinary where time as humans normally experience it is suspended – in this crack between worlds – relationship becomes all there is and there is no separation between self and other. I experience this latter world most frequently with nature. And no, drugs are not a part of this…
Can you give me some more information on this brain surgery?
Thanks, Sara! 🙂
I wrote about the brain surgery thing in more depth in a previous posting quite some time ago. Here is the web address of that posting:
https://tom8pie.wordpress.com/2013/03/13/the-human-brain-can-be-split-and-two-fields-of-consciousness-then-occur/
Other than that, do a web search on “surgery severing the corpus callosum,” and you should find a lot of info on it.
I often find that your words are exactly what I needed to hear on a particular day. Sometimes I must read slowly, while other times I read the content over again and again. Your wisdom and thoughts deserve to be digested differently at times. I can’t say I would ever describe your prose as difficult, but that could be that I am not one to mince words. I think it’s silly to carefully be tactful, cautious or gentle when saying something important. I am all about confronting and being honest. Your words are always worth pondering throughout the day. 🙂
Much appreciated, Lori! 🙂 I have sensed, in the past, that you may be getting a lot out of what is being written here. That is priceless! Sometimes one wonders if people may be taking what is written in a wrong way and then may be becoming depressed (or may feel down) about it. On the contrary, i never feel down or depressed; i never get bored or feel melancholy or insignificant. We need to be young at heart and perceive all the magic that is there! 🙂
I do read your posts, though I don’t think I understand much, but I do always think about your words.
This frog is lovely; I like the second photo particularly, with the 100s and 1000s effect. 🙂
Well, Sci, understanding can’t be measured! Thank goodness!
Thank you for your kind words! 🙂
You’re welcome, as always Tom. 🙂
Thank you for your interesting posts and awesome photos 🙂
maybe tom have interest in what j b s haldane say once. here what he say. “I have no doubt that in reality the future will be vastly more surprising than anything I can imagine. Now my own suspicion is that the Universe is not only queerer than we suppose, but queerer than we can suppose.”
Yes indeed, Mr. Monkey! The beauty of real mystery is that it can’t merely be measured and calculated! That’s magically delicious! 🙂
That’s exactly what I like about your posts. The words make me think and since I love nature and photography (plus creativity), I ALWAYS look forward to seeing your photos!
Thank you so much, Mary! I’m delighted that what is written encourages you to ponder (hopefully deeply)! I love nature and photography too… and we sure do enjoy your photos! 🙂
Lovely photo, Tom! I enjoyed reading your mini-essay, too, though I’m afraid a lot of it went over my head. ;p
Thanks much, Karen! Maybe not as much went over your head as you think! 🙂
The background certainly changes how the frog appears to look.
Well, we’re glad you see with some kind of depth! 🙂
An interesting read, Tom.
Just wondering what you mean by ‘eternity manifests.’
Thank you, Jean! 🙂
That’s an excellent question! It means that when one actually perceives holistically (i.e., sees the whole) without mere fragments, then what has no beginning and no end (the timeless) comes about. Most merely perceive things sequentially, in fragments, and what they see (and are enmeshed in) is exclusively in fractional time. Real wisdom is open (not closed) to the wholeness; that timeless wholeness (which is not merely static) is of an immense intelligence beyond mere compartmental, fractional thought.
Tom — You speak of a wholeness that is more that is more than the sum of its parts — a wholeness that can be achieved internally and (at least in theory, I believe) externally — and of a wisdom and eternity that can be found in that wholeness. Ram Dass referred to that place of wholeness as “the Heart Cave,” and Kabbalists call it the “Yichud,” which is Hebrew for “Unity” and implies the place an individual’s soul merges with Gd’s Infinite Nothingness.
So, I’m curious: Do you have a name for the wholeness? Do you see the wholeness as possessing or arising from “divinity”?
Thanks! jen
Jen, thanks for asking my next question for me.
Thanks, Jen (and Jean). 🙂 No, i don’t have a name for the wholeness, and i think that it would be inappropriate to give it a name. After all, names are merely labels, and they are very limited, fractional, and symbolic. The word “Thomas” certainly isn’t me; (and my personality certainly isn’t something that can fully blend with what we are talking about; nor can anyone else’s; we’re all too petty and small to merge with that.) Additionally, giving it a name tends to project it as being “a thing that can be intellectually conceived about,” which it isn’t; that unnameable immensity is too vast and profound to merely affix a petty, little label to. People who say that they see the wholeness of everything, and the unity of all things in nature, may think that that is what we are referring to; but it isn’t. Since it — even using the word “it” is limited — cannot be intellectually conceived about, giving it a name is rather ludicrous. It’s like building a path to the pathless (which so many do with orthodox religions, unfortunately)… which will lead one (and others) nowhere. It cannot be intellectually conceived, but it can manifest (as a kind of visit) if one uses labels and symbols skillfully when necessary… and (at other times) prudently looks beyond mere labels, symbols, and beyond the screen of intellectual patterns that were molded into us. That “looking beyond” has nothing to do with methodologies, fabrications, or paths; the methodologies, fabrications, and paths are all in the words, names, labels, and systems.
woww Tom excellent job, amazing pictures and beautiful! 🙂
Thank you, Marcela! 🙂
“Patterns, in a sequence, constitute time; thinking and time are not two separate things.” This line left my head spinning for some time…
That’s a good thing! 🙂
(… and like what was mentioned to Jean above, this (timelessness) is not a static thing.)
How did you get that frog to do that!? Cute 😉
Profound thoughts I’ll think on with my limited mind struggling to understand. To get past the “antiquated methodologies which continue to constrain the mind into practices promoting a fallacious center,” I reflect on the center and circumference of truth, life, and love.
This is written so beautifully. Thanks so much for sharing! Have a read of my latest article if you like: ‘The Pursuit of Mindfulness: Stepping Off the Hedonic Treadmill’ 🙂
Lovely. I appreciate folks who enjoy diving deep into the unknown! It’s a fun place to play and explore. Your photos reveal the same.
You are a great thinker – the truth is beautiful