“Mind comes under two classifications. There are not two minds, but rather two names employed in describing states of consciousness: the objective, or conscious, and the subjective, or unconscious.” —- The Science of Mind
The above quote can do one of two things; it either re-confirms what you already knew about yourself, or reflect the nature of sleepwalking through your life up to and including this moment in time. It has always given me pause how distracted, disconnected, detached, impervious and unaware many individuals project themselves to be in this arena we call life. As a child, I was taught to be aware of my environment, surroundings, individuals, conversations, and behavior of those whom I came in contact. At first, I didn’t understand the necessity of this training, but later it was invaluable and has remained so for a myriad of reasons. With the passing of time, and the choices made through either conscious or unconscious means, I have become more involved, in tune, present, alert and actively alive in being aware of my environment . . . which has served me well. It is a developing skill set that continues to manifest itself in every circumstance, that enhances these words of Stephen Covy, “Our ultimate freedom is the right and power to decide how anybody or anything outside ourselves will affect us.”
In this life’s journey, time slips away almost imperceptibly. That taken into consideration, at this moment social media has overtaken society and culture. It really doesn’t make any difference where you work, walk, drive, fly, congregate, exercize or shop … individuals are completely immersed in their electronic devices. Walk into any fine dining restaurant, coffee house, fast food cafe, shopping mall, even on the street . . . people are unconsciously displaced via texting, phone, IPad, tablet, lap top computer etc., and the art of conversation among family, friends and loved ones is a lost by-product of technological/digital progress. That skill set of becoming aware of one’s surroundings, individuals, behavior, or listening with intent to another person’s conversation with sensitivity or compassion has been lost . . . not for all, but unfortunately . . . most existing in our society. We are now relegated/fixated to media sound bites, which illicit the same retort and response within the masses. We haven’t lost an art form that was part of life at one time . . . this was fully incorporated, contemplative, objective consciousness fully integrated into who and what we were. What has now evolved affects society in total, accompanied with an immense loss, as reflected in the words of Frances G. Wickes from “The Inner World of Choice,” “The art of living is, in its essential meaning, a development and transformation of the power of inward choice. Its products are fashioned in the workshop of the soul.”
There is absolutely nothing abhorrent regarding an advancement in technology, research, the coming Singularity as defined by Ray Kurzweil, continuing space exploration or in depth investigation of the capacity of the brain etc., bringing enhancement, enrichment and embellishment to the human experience. Given all the possibilities now and those that are inevitable through man’s continual exploration of what is yet to be developed/discovered, we have a contemplative, conscious responsibility . . . not a subjective or unconscious one. Sadly, our present society and culture will continue with what is today, without acknowledging the consequential trade offs . . . affecting our lives tomorrow. And perhaps that is as it should be, which in retrospect, has gone on historically for generations. Human nature coupled with the human condition, will undoubtedly continue and might be projected through this Yiddish proverb, “If you can’t be grateful for what you have received, then be thankful for what you have been spared.” JLR