Integrity is very significant in life. A mind that is merely a sponge, just robotically spewing out what it absorbed, is likely not of integrity. A mind without integrity and order is limited and fragmentary. Integrity means wholeness, soundness. Integrity is of an unadulterated innocence. A mind full of limitations is of conflict and is bound to do divisive and chaotic things. Wholeness exists beyond the limitations. Many of us, when we were younger, accepted behavioral patterns — which society spoon-fed to us — based on competition and conflict. Most of us have accepted such behavioral patterns — largely based on fragmentation and conflict — and have gone on in existence, adhering to these patterns of limitation and conflict. True bliss, however, is not of limitation and fragmentation; true bliss exists with (and “as”) wholeness, integrity. But so many of us have merely accepted what was poured into us when we were young… and we have gone on in the old ways; we have gone on in the antiquated traditions.
Limitation, being based on conflict and tending to produce conflict, inevitably contributes to the divisive and chaotic attributes of society. Limitations — based on conflict — are restrictions, and they snag the mind and keep the mind within (and “as”) constrained and blocked realms. Blocked mental realms often manifest as disorder and conflict. Disorder and conflict do not generally reflect wholeness and integrity.
Interestingly, our very concepts of time are based on fragmentations and limitations. We accepted these time-oriented fragmentations and limitations from society; we fully accepted them as being totally legitimate. However, it may be that we have largely accepted what is fundamentally erroneous and distorted. Our limited conceptualizations of spacetime may be largely fragmentary and perverted; we see what we were programmed to see. Our time conceptualizations may be somewhat relevant physically — in getting actual physical things done — but in the psychological realm, they may be rather absurd, limited, and illusory. One says, “I will try to be less envious of others tomorrow,” but then (at that moment) one creates a space between what one considers to be “oneself” and “others”; one additionally fabricates a “tomorrow” that is separated from “now” by psychological time (which also is of a concocted space). This concocted space is of conflict, which was a distorting factor (initially) in the situation. To live in limitation, conflict, and distortion may not be order, may not be bliss. Deep joy and order may come when distortion ends, when limitation is not just overwhelming.
his looking, day after day
year after year,
Was through the mental screens and motifs
that They provided
Hence, it wasn’t his “looking” whatsoever;
it was Their “looking”
And it wasn’t “seeing” whatsoever;
it was the death-like absence of really seeing
Tom's Nature-up-close Photography and Mindfulness Blog 
What is that beautiful slinky thing, Tom? A tendril? I don’t think it’s a snake…
Hello, Tom, I’m glad you write about integrity, a virtue that has been lost in society, but if regained individually, nations would thrive and God would smile upon, thanks for this gentle reminder…and the photo is exquisite.
Thank you, scribeforlove! 😊
Yes, how sad that integrity has largely been lost in society.
You are welcome.
It’s a tendril, Harini. 😊
From the poetry of T.S. Eliot:
Will the sunflower turn to us, will the clematis
Stray down, bend to us; tendril and spray
Clutch and cling?
wonderful write, Tom. integrity is a rare quality these days, and the many issues society faces is reflective of that. i agree, it is wholeness, balance, truth. this became so obvious during the Trump presidency, when the opposite forces were amplified. society is in deep need to return to simpler, more genuine and meaningful ways. or soon such words like integrity will become obsolete, together with the quality. at least mother nature will never lose her integrity! she doesn’t follow fads and tv commercials😄
Yes indeed, Monica, the way things are going, words like “integrity” will be obsolete.
I have a letter on my desk that i will respond to later today; i will be sending in a donation regarding it; it is to go towards helping stop voter suppression. How truly sad, that in a country like the U.S., one needs to donate to such a thing! In the last few years, people have embraced hatred, division, ruthless tactics, and underhanded tactics. Crazy!
Synchronicity – over the weekend I participated in a group look at the hours of the day as energy cycle (sort of like phases of the moon monthly cycle) – loosely based on The Book Of Hours. My personal cycles have never aligned with the 24-hr clock, and I’m not one to repeat specific mantras (on any schedule) – but fascinating to spend a few hours better understanding why some are so inclined. Your perspective of time feels like an invitation to stay in the moment, embrace life as it swirls around me – tiny enough to climb within a vine coil – a “container” with ample view outward in all directions + plenty of places to brace against winds, rain, whatever comes.
Would love to be inside the coil on a clear night, looking up at the stars.
Thank you, Tom – this brightens my day. (Our clematis coils similar to your inviting image. I’ll be looking at those coils differently now.)
People repeat mantras, Jazz, because they want to get something out of it. But mantras are a good way to self-hypnotize. So-called gurus from India were at my college when i was young, but i didn’t buy into their silly mantras. I knew what self-hypnosis was and i didn’t want to go anywhere near it!
😊 Here is a fragment of a poem that i sent to Harini (in the comments up above):
From the poetry of T.S. Eliot:
Will the sunflower turn to us, will the clematis
Stray down, bend to us; tendril and spray
Clutch and cling?
How brilliant nature is. Wonderful photo Tom!
Yes, Peter, nature is magnificent! 😁
Thanks, regarding the photo!
beautiful shot and wise words, Tom!
Thank you much, Michael! So glad you got something out of it!
😁
You know Tom, it seems like true integrity is a non-existent concept in many ways nowadays, because it is filled with limitations, manipulation, and fragmentation as you noted. Could I add the compromise of ethics to that too? 🤔 Behavioral patterns of such limitations are indeed in conflict with what true integrity embodies! Thanks so much for sharing this thought-provoking entree, my friend. 🤗😊😎
😊Yes, Kym, i know what you mean. True integrity is quite the rarity these days. Like i mentioned to Monica, in the comments up above, i will soon be donating to a cause that is trying to put an end to voter suppression. How sad that in a country like the U.S., voter suppression is being accepted and is embraced as a legitimate movement! A lot of hatred and fascism going on lately, and people are callous enough and blind enough to endorse it!
Tom my friend, I am dropping the mic for you! 🎤🎤🎤 First of all, I applaud your activism. Somehow, some folks are trying to go back into time, like a century ago. What the hell? We have been fighting some blatant in your face gerrymandering in our area, which has gone on far too long now. And voter suppression has been going on longer than we thought, it’s just been covered up and people were none the wiser, while others, like you said embraced it as a legitimate movement. They’ve given some compelling ignorant arguments, that I can’t believe folks are actually buying. It’s sickening and disgusting.
Let me say this though, many people I know will not go backwards. Things will not go well for those arrogant narcissists trying to call the shots and control everything for their advantage! Let’s not get started on that, because “integrity” has been removed from politics. Restoring integrity is going to be one hell of a challenge. SMH But the B.S. has got to stop. The fascism is what gets me, and I can’t believe the folks who are on board with it, but they are so against socialism. Interesting!
Exactly, Kim! So very many are stone-cold against what they misconstrue as socialism, but with what really IS heading for fascism, well they are just fine with that. It is tragic really. And, as you suggest, in politics, integrity is out the window. I’m so glad that Marla and i didn’t have kids. With all of the corruption and pollution — both psychologically and physically — what a s.-hole world to be living in now. It is tragic.
What threw me initially was your use of the word integrity which I use to describe a way of being in the world that is honesty and trustworthy – but integrity also means wholeness and the two definitions can’t be separated can they? Fragmentation is the primary disease of our culture isn’t it? Everyone is broken… so our job is to try to figure out how to heal our own splits – over a lifetime – hard work – and too easy to project outward the inward splits don’t you think?…. love these posts – they make me think!
Yes, Sara, honesty, trustworthiness, wholeness… they really are all the same thing (in a big way). 😊 Yes, fragmentation is a real disease right now in our culture; and, really, it’s been around for eons. Look at all the armor people used to wear in the past!
Going beyond the splits… yes, it involves a lot of hard work, but it involves a lot of pure effortlessness too! 😉
Yes honesty is a form of wholeness because then you get a real person – integrity reigns – a gift
PS love those tendrils… my passionflowers are full of them and in the early spring if you watch quietly you will see them on the move! What amazing photos – I am perpetually astonished.
Thanks, Sara! 😁
Here is a portion of a poem from Eliot that i gave to some of the other commentators up above.
From the poetry of T.S. Eliot:
Will the sunflower turn to us, will the clematis
Stray down, bend to us; tendril and spray
Clutch and cling?
Integrity is not something you find much of these days I’m sorry to say. I hope if someone were to label me, they would say it was a quality that I have. I love those wispy lime-green tendrils and your macro lens has captured the minute hairs that enable the tendrils to grab onto wherever they may climb.
Yes, Linda, tendrils are extraordinary components of certain plants; one wishes that integrity was an extraordinary attribute of a lot more people. 🤨
This cold, snowy weather is not making a lot of insects happy; i am not overly fond of it either but it is a natural occurrence for this part of the world. My mother-in-law has cool black squirrels running around in the yard-area by her assisted-living room! 🐿
Integrity, like manner, is becoming rare I think.
The weather has been so strange. I just told one blogger that last Sunday people did yard work in short sleeves and tomorrow we have one or two inches of snow to contend with.
When we moved to the States we were surprised at the huge Fox squirrels as we had only seen the petite black squirrels before. We had none where we lived, but my grandmother lived in Toronto on a tree-lined street and had many black squirrels. They are cute, especially now when they dive into a pile of leaves and all you see is the bushy tail sticking out!
I think that the black squirrels are rather unusual for our particular area here in Illinois. In Dwight, where i used to work, there are not only black squirrels but also white squirrels.
I just realised the photo credit is to you, lol, beautiful work. I enjoy your writing, thought provoking and intelligent – a nice change from what we are spoon-fed. Greetings from Tasmania 🙂