One often points out here that it may be prudent to go beyond the limited and fragmentary domain of thought/thinking. One is not asking you to dive deep into a lot of philosophical abstraction. On the contrary, i am suggesting that you do something that is immensely pure, pristine, and beautifully simple… which is to not always be of (and “in”) the domain of thought/thinking. You see, thought/thinking — if we are at all honest with ourselves — is where all of the abstraction is. Most of us habitually live in (and “as”) abstraction. Our thoughts (i.e., our abstractions) are actually what we are. These abstractions are dreadfully habitual, and we do not want to let them go. Most of us even accept words as being rather equivalent to reality… even though words are merely virtual abstractions. (Sometimes words are necessary, but they are only tools.)
Too many of us are satisfied with virtual, illusory, fragmentary ways. Little wonder why the world is full of a lot of insanity and chaos. We need to wake up and change.
Tom's Nature-up-close Photography and Mindfulness Blog 
First of all…That praying mantis – oh Tom – just superb! Hmmm… thinking…. when I fell my dogs began to scream with voices I did not recognize although they could not see me – towed away myself my vet rescued them after I was gone…then, drugged senseless I spent s week unconscious (I was given 17 drugs in all – none with my consent)- the connection between us was severed completely. The day they first came to the hospital three weeks later i cried out and 4 huge eyes stared at me without recognition – in that timeless moment i “knew” they believed me dead because that relationship had been completely severed by the drugs – in a moment it was over – and they leapt into my arms – but even now that we are all home there are changes – they are watching my every move – sleep literally on top of me as if i would disappear – that they THINK, anticipate, perceive future outcomes is reality – but their thinking is not shrouded by our cultural conditioning… yesterday I was trying to explain how cartoons distort reality for children – the response was ‘oh the kids love them’ as if this wasn’t a problem… even our children are socialized into a distorted world with fake people and animals with BIG heads – BIG as in Hubris – I see no way out -just going through – we are not going to wake up.
Sara, I’m so very sorry about your falling and about the horrific situation in the hospital (with their incessant pharmaceuticals) and all.
Yes, Sara, dogs are very perceptive, and their perceptions go deeper into things (in some areas) than what most of us humans are capable of. Dogs do have a very loyal, deep, and steadfast bonding and love for humans. I wish that more humans were more like them in many ways!
They watch your every move because they care about you.
Keep getting better and stay (for sure) in tune with the magical beauty of nature (as you do).
Oh thank you Tom for your kind wishes – i am doing well considering and enjoying every second of fresh air and the bare branches of every tree and birds everywhere – Blessings all especially the dogs!
Glad you read that you are doing better, Sara! Give your dogs a great big hug from me! 😊
I’m taking yet another look at this amazing creature – you caught the soul of the Mantis…
Thanks about the Mantis, Sara. When I encounter them, i let them walk on my hands. Most love it after a short while. But a few are broncos… they bite over and over again and keep on biting. 😉
oh gosh Tom I remember my childhood days when they were so common and my little brother nd I befriended many and yes, some bit or pinched
“Too many of us are satisfied with virtual, illusory, fragmentary ways.” – Oh my gosh Tom, yes, yes, yes. And it’s been long overdue that we need WAKE UP and change. Yet, we all too often become complacent and quite comfortable in our world of abstractness! 😱😲😆
Yes, Kym, and it’s the equivalent of being satisfied with shadows. That’s why Socrates’ parable of the cave has special meaning for me! 😉
I have never seen a Praying Mantis before – thank you for sharing this photo of it along with your wise words Tom.
Thank you, Linda! 😉 Mantids blend in well with the surrounding foliage, so they are very easy to miss. But, these days, there are fewer and fewer of them. I used to have them in my yard all of the time. Not much though, these days. Too much Roundup and such (out there)!
I hope to see one some day Tom (before they disappear altogether). I was at Belle Tire on morning, sitting in the waiting room and I saw a Walking Stick climbing up the big window. I was fascinated watching it – a first for me!
So cool, Linda! Walking Sticks are so very awesome! They are in our area but they are very rare. I’ve come upon them in the woods (years ago). Some people keep them as pets. A young Mantis was walking on my kitchen screen window earlier this year. 😊
Well, you will like this story Tom. I was watching the Walking Stick while everyone was playing on their phone or watching TV. No one else noticed it. So I went over to the window and pointed it out to everyone …. the gentleman who was sitting at the window where it was “walking” (outside), nearly flew out of his skin! It was very cool. Those bugs I can handle interacting with as they move slow.
Cool! Too many people, these days, look at cell phones and do not look at life and reality. Most pet walking sticks come from other countries, like India.
Yes, I was fascinated Tom – I wished I had a camera as I would have taken a photo of it for a post – not everyone sees a Walking Stick at a tire center. I didn’t know the pet Walking Sticks came from India.
Nice silhouette of a unique bug. My son had one for a pet and when it died, he wrote a story about it that makes me cry every time I read it. Even bugs can be good companions.
Ah, Siobhan, i had a pet Mantid too at one time (that i feed thawed frozen brine shrimp fish food to). It lived way past the wild ones and laid a lot of egg sacs (that i put outdoors). They can lay eggs that are viable clones of themselves without a mate. The day mine died, it kept kissing its arms, as if it knew its time to move on was near.
So cool that you let your son have one as a pet! 😊