Holistic Thinking and the Link to Freedom

Can Personal Problems be Solved, and Fragmentation End?

In my first blog, I introduced the notion of distinguishing between two dimensions of perception or consciousness, now this theme is explored in more depth; on one hand an individual psychological structure for each person from birth to death; on the other hand an holistic psychological non-structured consciousness including all humans. In this regard, everyone is a part of the whole. However, the whole is not the sum total achieved by adding together the individual thoughts of each person in a linear context, either horizontally or vertically. In other words, the part (being limited) can not approach the whole, but the whole (unlimited) may influence the part through the intelligence of impersonal insight. Holistic insight is not yours or mine; it’s just insight.

A scientific account of the manifestation of consciousness has been provided by Professor David Bohm in many interviews. I found his explanations about “coherence – incoherence” in thought processes; “wholeness and the implicate order” and his views on “dialogue” most interesting. 1

Psychological evolution

The evolution of mankind (including women), particularly in the modern era moves according to the first dimension explicitly and implicitly and therefore manifesting into what is known as a unique individual (me and mine) separated from others who also have their own unique individual consciousness (you and yours). This of course begins from the earliest gathering of experiences by children with toys etc. It carries through in family interaction and subsequently education, social development and society. Everything you and I know or experience is recorded in brain memory cells this way as bits of knowledge in the form of abstract simulations. Subsequent presentations or expressions of the represented images is usually retrieved verbally. Being largely word based or symbolism, the brain’s retentive memory translates every new sensation as compatible with old registrations thereby altering the orientation of incoming stimulus. Remembering thoughts is adduced by means of the past participle.

The effect of measurement and comparisons

Since the ancient Greeks first discovered measurement, the western world has advanced rapidly in technological evolution culminating in the latest inventions we see today. Some are beneficial to mankind eg. computers and surgery and so on, whereas others like weapons for warfare have frightening effects we see examples of in the destruction of many civilisations on nightly news reports. The story of using binary methodology for technological advancement doesn’t need further enunciation; its good, bad and otherwise.

Turning now to the psychological structure in humanity, the story of evolution along individualised lines is not so clear cut or beneficial. The underlying divisions between me and another is perhaps the source of all and every disagreement whether person to person, within families, tribes, races, religions, cultures, nations and so on. These disputes have been around since time immemorial and obviously lead to conflict and ultimately wars. So humanity has not really evolved or progressed at all psychologically and it’s still going on seemingly without end.

The role of society

Society’s structures built around competitive institutions that regulate or impact our daily lives are also manifestations of duality writ large or small and we are conditioned to compete in every aspect of life according to the Darwinian principle “survival of the fittest” at the expense of anything else.

Psychologically, this continuous struggle utilising mechanisms of thought to create and seek solutions to problems is never ending. Because thought is a material process relying on accumulated knowledge and experience, it must be limited as everything it draws on is only a facsimile of an original hypothesis or experience and therefore subject to modifications over time. This means that knowledge is always accompanied by ignorance – there is no complete knowledge of anything.

Deterioration over time

Like any machine repetitive movements wear out the motor, in this case the brain structure supporting time bound mental processes. Psychologically, we carry on repeating thoughts driven by the network of words as things desired by choice, completely unaware of the deeper effects which are accumulating until they reach overload and breakdown causing crisis within and without. What is described here is not restricted to just a few people who find themselves needing help from psychologists, counselling agencies or psychiatrists. Everyone is potentially suspect to deterioration (entropy) mentally and socially due to the mechanical nature of thought processes.

The evidence of these effects is borne out by the growth in incidence of human anxiety and depression, just to name two well discussed areas. But, the list goes on including dementia which is more common as people are living longer nowadays.

Remedying the fallout

Professionals advise “early intervention” is required to address the malaise. The number of professionals operating in these fields is growing like mushrooms. Good for them, these are highly remunerated careers and they have a virtual monopoly over the territory, having largely replaced organised religions as the go-to place for troubled souls. However, treatment is usually on-going as there is no offering of an end to suffering or a complete cure.

What’s wrong with this you may ask, isn’t this all there is available to address such situations. The trouble is all these professions begin working from symptoms, analyse retrospectively and form conclusions (diagnosis) around the notion of pathology in what is assumed to be biology. The fragmented thinking process, being intangible, is not recognised for the cause and effect role it plays in the pleasure and fear roundabout in consciousness.

The question of opposites

What’s difficult to understand is the movement of becoming or positive psychological conditioning (like v dislike) which assumes that opposites are separate objects in mentality. So a desired thinking mechanism based on values automatically tries to retain ‘liked’ and get rid of ‘disliked’ objects and ideas. The mind has accumulated a basket of clever tricks to aid in reaching the desired goal.

The superficial aspect of the becoming movement gives an appearance that the above mentioned activity works – a triumph for will power, even if only temporarily. Now, the unseen factor that’s important is the fact that opposites in mind aren’t really separate; they arise out of each other and retain that linkage in the world of reality. This link is not permanently removed by movement from ‘what is’ to ‘what should be’ because the residue of whatever started out as the problem still remains. For instance, psychological violence (fact) is not eliminated by non-violence (non-fact). Violence when perceived totally can be ended without resorting to a method for achieving non-violence. Therefore psychologically, ‘to be’ and ‘not to be’ are two sides of the same coin. In fact, movement within thought is merely appearance via images requiring a driving energy sourced from friction, an effort gross or subtle.

The question then is, as this is regarded as the normal approach to problem solving, is there another approach which is without effort and therefore not energy sapping? Little attention is given to investigate whether fundamentally there may be clues tracing back to the original question about consciousness itself. Why is it that humanity is ignoring something that is evident if you are open to seriously looking, not from dualistic individual backgrounds and therefore caught in abstract images. What is overlooked is the fact that consciousness is not a uniquely individual phenomenon, it is actually one undivided consciousness including all humans and possibly other sentient species.

To say ‘oh good’ this means the general mindset of society is what’s being referred to in preference to an individual particular mindset, is a fallacy because when you investigate deeply it will be seen that the particular and the general are not divided, psychologically. To put it into the language of jury’s verdicts – ‘so say you one, so say you all’. One doesn’t need to look far for examples of the herd mentality in everyday life.

The flame of discontent

If you are like me burning with the flame of discontent and yearn for freedom in itself, not freedom from something or other, may I point out respectfully that the flame of discontent is your own best friend never extinguish it – question everything.

Krishnamurti had this to say: “Contentment is never the outcome of fulfilment, of achievement, or of the possession of things; it is not born of action or inaction. It comes with the fullness of ‘what is’, not in the alteration of it. That which is full does not need alteration, change. It is the incomplete which is trying to become complete that knows the turmoil of discontent and change. The ‘what is’ is the incomplete, it is not the complete. The complete is unreal, and the pursuit of the unreal is the pain of discontent which can never be healed. The very attempt to heal that pain is the search for the unreal, from which arises discontent. There is no way out of discontent. To be aware of discontent is to be aware of ‘what is’ and in the fullness of it there is a state which may be called contentment. It has no opposite.”

To understand the complexity of discontent is to see its connection with the ‘mystery of what is’. To truely understand discontent and the relationship of content/discontent with ‘what is’ in daily life is what Krishnamurti referred to as meditation. This meditation is the psychological alchemy that ameliorates the affects of conditioning and ultimately brings freedom to the inner consciousness.

Emotional memories

To see the intricacies of the mind’s remembering process clearly is made difficult due to the emotional factors accompanying thoughts. Emotions are part of the thought process, not separate as commonly regarded. Feelings are influenced by the superstitious or sentimental meanings often attributed to language passed down through the ages by cultures and societies. Can we use words to communicate facts without being driven by the power of words in our daily relationships? The actual never conditions the brain, but the theory, the conclusion, the description, the abstraction, do condition it. 2

Holistic effect of ‘what is’

Having carried out a thorough investigation into the affects of conditioning on every day psychological exigencies, it’s incumbent on oneself to consider seriously the question of whether to remain aligned with the traditional mainstream socialisation or to opt for an alignment with an alternative holistic perspective. Part of the process of conditioning is to resist the ending of the hold it has cultivated on the mind. So aligning with the holistic state is a radical step indeed, and it can only be undergone after seeing the limitations inherent in fragmented thought movements as an incontrovertible fact.

What is necessary is to unburden your individualistic psychological memory bank in order to perceive the fact of one undivided consciousness completely. Don’t worry no harm will come by doing it. We rarely act holistically because the conditioned thought process swiftly intervenes to replace what is actually happening in the present moment to fit into it’s internal database of ideas held in memory just like a computer. It is always moving away from ‘what is’ to ‘what was’ or ‘what should be‘ and in so doing it’s seeing everything through a prism of the past automatically as a reflex and from it projecting a future state of being. Probably, everyone remembers numerous occasions when future predictions were largely inaccurate.

Learning about fundamental change

So now who’s up for finding out more about holistic thinking? Or does it sound like too much trouble, just stick with what I and others are accustomed to and continue to compete for the spoils, thanks. It’s entirely up to each person, be aware though that traditional institutions are never going to relinquish their power bases for some new changes that might upset the applecart which has taken eons to put together. Self interest and group interests prevail; always has and will be. Evidence of harm inflicted by traditional power bases on innocent people is being uncovered almost on a daily basis. Sitting on your hands and hoping for some divine intervention is unlikely to benefit your life situation. Change in the psychological sense can only be effected by you acting in your own interest, holistically.

Jiddu Krishnamurti and Bohm have done all the groundwork in this respect which means that we don’t need to retrace each of their steps as an academic study, As Krishnamurti points out Columbus underwent a difficult journey over wild seas to discover America, now you jump in an aeroplane.

Jiddu Krishnamurti with David Bohm in one of their regular dialogues.

Photograph by Mark Edwards. Copyright © Krishnamurti Foundation Trust Ltd

Everything you need to discover for yourself is available at no cost on the YouTube website. Be warned, you still need to do the testing work in your own daily life. It is certainly not an informational help line.

There is much to learn, you may be curious as I was to discover that ‘what is’ may be the key to unlock the mystery of holistic consciousness. This is not a scholastic enterprise, nor propaganda nor theoretical nor philosophy nor a new religion or ideology. There are no silent retreats or special courses in mindfulness to attend. It is couched in plain English language without techno jargon or intellectual descriptions. Therefore it is easily understandable to anyone with a reasonable general educational background and a thirst for wisdom. Even if it seems a bit strange at first, just listen with all your attention and let it find it’s own home within consciousness. It doesn’t help if you try to translate while listening or viewing.

Here’s the good news, you don’t need to seek out an outside authority for expert help. They are conditioned to the individual mindset and their knowledge base also acts according to the same fragmented structure and patterns as yours. You don’t have to lead a second hand life, psychologically – be a light unto yourself, not a light lit by another. Be acutely aware of your own thinking patterns with complete attention and you are on the journey to learning the history of yourself which is also the history of mankind.

The key question to release the grip of conditioning

When the question: How do we change? was put to Krishnamurti, this was his reply: “ Only complete inaction, only the complete negation of ‘what is’. We do not see the great force that is negation. If you reject the whole structure of principle and formula, and hence the power derived from it, the authority, that very rejection gives you the force necessary to reject all other structures of thought – and so you have the energy to change! The rejection is that energy.” 3

This is not intended as an invitation to engage in some form of physical revolution, the targeted area is the internal structure of your mind, brain and body’s nervous system. That’s as much as I can share in a blog and I do not want to lay any claim to knowing all about it. There are no conclusions in the usual sense, only a living, moving dimension continuously flowering and dying. This movement is the true natural life meditation and the doorway opening to freedom.

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1. The Millennium Interview; Interviews with David Suzuki – Renee Weber et al on You tube and The David Bohm Society’s website.

2. Krishnamurti to Himself Ps 108 – 110

3. Can Humanity Change P 197