Most of us, i feel, were educated to accept innumerable fallacies as facts and as ordinary phenomena to be taken for granted. These have been presented to us since birth and, although it wasn’t deliberate indoctrination, the word “indoctrination” is very applicable to what actually has largely taken place. In our youth, we were not encouraged to deeply question society’s values, doctrines, principles, beliefs, and systems (and go beyond them). We were molded to conform, to remain with (and “as”) the status quo, to accept competition… and deviating from that (significantly) was definitely not tolerated. Some people, reading or hearing about this, would say, “Yes, I know,” or “Yes, I realize that.” It is unlikely, however, that many have even the foggiest idea of just how vast the conditioning (and indoctrination) runs into their lives. We were not brought up to be truly open, creative, questioning, deeply insightful human beings; we were, for the most part, programmed to be copiers, replicators, and obedient parts of the machine.
Most of us do not see the world as “one organism”; we perceive the many parts, many species, many others, many sections. We’ve used thought (as we were taught to) for advantageous purposes, yet most all of us greatly overuse it (dwelling, almost exclusively, in that realm). (Some of us who absorbed calculated methods to go beyond thought, by sitting on mats and all such planned nonsense, have substituted mere glorified hypnotic technique to displace thinking, all the while thinking something great has been accomplished.) Very few of us have intelligently seen the limitation of thinking and have truly (intelligently) gone beyond that limitation. Thinking, being the sequential arrangement of symbols (that it is)… is always partial, always very limited. Thinking is a very necessary tool, a necessary instrument that is extremely useful (at times); however, at other times, it is unnecessary to remain in (and “as”) the realm of thinking. Need the mind always merely exist as symbols, as sequential tokens to attain (or “represent”) something? The very supposed core of most people’s selves consists of fragmentary images and symbols (such as “me” and “I”) that they have absorbed from others. So many are existing in a virtual world of man-made images and fabricated constructs that consist primarily of mere representational ideas and habitually learned patterns.
Real perception, real intelligence goes beyond all this — and that is where the real bliss and eternity exists — not by accumulating more methodologies, not by absorbing more systems and patterns, not by blindly adhering to more authority. The truly perceptive mind looks without outward and inward authority. It sees beyond the symbolic, the partial, and the taught. Such a mind is of real bliss and order. It has no teacher, no resting place, no anchor that others have provided in (and “as”) the past. Without looking with (and “as”) the dead past, such a mind may be truly free, pristine, and unspoiled. There is no procedure or “how” regarding getting there. A lot of people prefer to comfortably remain in the leftover debris that was shoveled to them, and they call it “security” and “wellbeing,” yet they remain full of anxiety, uncertainty, and sorrow. Real (fundamental) security and genuine bliss, however, go beyond the residual norms of a fragmented, nocuous society.
Together … Photo by Thomas Peace c. 2017
Tom's Nature-up-close Photography and Mindfulness Blog 
Nicely colored moss on the tree. 🙂 Yes, if only more of us could try to be more creative and imaginative, or truly allowing their children that beautiful liberty… only if.
Thank you, Nicole! I like the different colors due to the lichen’s symbiotic relationship with algae. 🙂
Looking without effort, without all of the stuff that was poured into us, is not that difficult. But so many of us habitually look (and see) exactly in the way we were taught… and that, in itself, manifests difficulty. We can do better for children by right education; however, we must first clean up ourselves.
Hi Tom, thanks for liking my blog post on walks, picnics and slow living – which has brought me to your wonderful blog! I love nature and philosophising, so i look forward to reading more posts from you.
Thanks, Marguerite! 🙂 In this fast-paced world, people need to slow down, relax, and go beyond the superficial.
You are so right about the debris we inherit. Not being able to make sense of it, and yet keeping it because it was handed down to us — it’s like a house full of junk, making you uncomfortable and unhappy. I am at the moment packing to vacate the house we have lived in for the last 15 years, and your post makes me realise that it’s not only the material things that I need to reevaluate. Thank you. And that’s a stunning picture!
Thanks much and good luck with your move. 🙂 Hopefully, you can get rid of a lot of psychological garbage too. Don’t get me wrong… a lot of what we were taught is very useful and accurate; however, a lot of it (even regarding what our very essence entails) is very primitive and inaccurate. We have to be prudent and walk a fine line.
you are completely right with this, Thomas. I hope you will reach a lot of hearts and brains with your messages, regards Mitza
Thank you, Mitza; that would be nice! 🙂
Took Tweetie out to exercise and said to her, “How are you?”
She replied, “Better!”
I said, “I’m so glad you are doing better!”
She, upon looking at me, then said, “How about you?”
I said, “I’m doing good too; thanks for asking.” 🙂
Very true Tom, very good post, to reflect! 🙂
So glad you see meaning in it, Marcela! 🙂
True, Tom. Creative thinking is also eliminated in the workplace, all the policies and procedures…
The image is remarkable!
Yes, usually, in the workplace, you are supposed to follow their patterns and do as you are told; computerized robots are being used to do the same thing at a much lower cost. Thanks regarding the lichen photo! 🙂
Interesting Tom, but a very complex subject compressed too much, I feel. I would benefit so much more from an example of your personal experiences to illustrate some of your posts – how do you feel about exposing some of your wisdom for others in this way? Yes, I can definitely see what you’re getting at, but as many of us are only just beginning to go down these paths, personal experience shared would be helpful. Thank you, Kind regards, Gaye 🙂