breaking down the doors of perception
the dizzying distractions and running thoughts
all melt effortlessly away
without the doubts and fears
you look out and see nothing the same
you see only the world as it is
simple awareness with no filters
endless appreciation for the
vast beauty in all things
it is calm, serene
with infinite potential
I was reading about Dual-coding Theory, which states that visual and verbal information is processed on distinct and different cognitive channels. The verbal cues refer to symbolic codes; in other words, arbitrary representations of something (such as reading or listening to a speech). The visual cues are perceptual, that is, a direct representation of what you are seeing.
Dual-coding refers to utilizing both visual and verbal, that is, symbolic as well as perceptual codes. Memory seems to favor the visual channel, and this is known as the picture superiority effect.
Think of watching the presidential debates. The information is symbolic (through words) as well as visual. What we remember tends to favor the visual, which can then act as a voluntary trigger to retrieve the words.
This is an interesting concept, and taken further leads to synesthesia– a rare phenomenon where one cognitive pathway triggers another involuntarily. For example, someone with synesthesia may see numbers in different colors; or see musical notes. And not a voluntary association, but a completely involuntary reaction. The advantages should be obvious, such as encoding symbolic information into long-term memory as easily as a visual information.
I wonder, if with the right training, we could develop in ourselves something like synesthesia; associating visual/perceptual codes to symbolic codes — allowing perceptual representations of abstract concepts.
We tend to do this naturally with metaphoric associations, such as an emotional reaction to an image or sound. I suspect we can take this much further, where we directly leverage perceptual codes to involuntarily trigger any number of symbolic/abstract information (whether emotional, or intellectual, or artistic)
I was thinking about the 20% of my efforts that have yielded 80% of my life; that is, the most important actions that led to who I am today. The list grew pretty long– and included friends, books, projects, art, travels, etc.
An interesting theme emerged– of all the friends, books, mentors, travels, etc., the ones that made the list tended to be those that challenged me to do something new. More importantly, “something new” that I was uncomfortable doing at first.
Perhaps we can define ourselves in terms of challenges overcome, and levels of comfort achieved… Comfort in the face of uncertainty and struggle.
“If the doors of perception were cleansed every thing would appear to man as it is, infinite.”
- William Blake
Taking notes during an altered state of consciousness:
I go deep. Voices point me towards what first appears as an abyss. Further down it opens up. Amazed at the overwhelming detail of what I am seeing, I wonder what I am not seeing. An infinite number of paths each with limitless depth — the experience reminded me of zooming in on a fractal.
Breaking through that glowing membrane … I go deeper … outside of my conscious mind. It is dark as there is no visual representation to adequately describe the experience. Like driving late at night only the road before me is illuminated yet the ever present feeling of the infinite abounds. And what can only be described as children were pointing me towards a glowing opening. As I thought “follow my happiness”, they seemed to agree, “yes, that way”.
At any point I could have stopped, any path, any where — all of them so rich in details and life — the focus of my attention seems to drive me forward. Details unfold as I go. Dark, but never empty and not frightening.
And so I went, onward through another layer, darkness at first and blinding light seemed to mix together. I came upon two distinct windows of blinding light, my eyes. I’m looking out through them but the feedback is recursive. They are connected to me through this path, this loop I have just created — I am seeing “me” from the other side but through my own eyes.
My body, I realize, is not a temple — it is merely a vehicle from which I am aware; finite awareness of an infinite space, like zooming in on the edges of a fractal.
I stand up. Assuming my experience is at an end — the world looks the same. Only it is not. I close my eyes and see… Strands of consciousness and thought, glowing fibers criss-crossing into infinity. I move from strand to strand.
I decide to exercise — meditate through tai chi. Simple stretches and moves. My eyes closed — everything seems to move with me, it is not me that is moving, it is the universe moving through me; I am only an awareness of the movement of the universe. It seems to dance and rearrange itself at my every whim. Conscious awareness of a finite piece of an infinite universe.
I was momentarily worried that I just tied my brain in a knot. I recognized that was just another filter, trying to map the experience into terms I can rationalize… like trying to imagine a hypercube in 3-dimensions. It seems to cross through itself in impossible ways, but once you realize what it is — it’s just your mind rationalizing it in 3-dimensions that makes it seem impossible.
I realize it is only our perception; the ultimate filter on the infinite. The epiphany was when I realized it all comes back to my awareness in life — that I am just this singular awareness of a finite perception of the infinite — and where in past meditation I did not see, I realized that the movement was the key. You can see and experience the boundless energy of the universe, but letting it move is amazing. Life becomes the movement of the universe through you — things you are thinking come and go into your life — exactly like zooming into the edges of a fractal.
Breaking through the membrane of conscious thought– we remove the
filters and experience the universe as it truly is… Finite awareness
of an infinite existence
**
All that scurrying about with various bouts of drama — all very exciting — and long after you’re gone the tide continues. Our impact seems simultaneously important and meaningless.
The concept of “importance”, seems relative to our own perceptions of reality; a circular train of reason that if removed leaves everything without explicit meaning, just that it exists. And by that logic, art, beauty, etc all fall into that same category: yet another perceptual filter. Beauty exists only in our minds, perhaps so that we may persist in a world whose meaningfulness may be of our own design.
And after you’re gone — perhaps the world is slightly shaped so that your perceptions may persist for others to experience
** and why does my iPhone take better pictures than my camera?
… you believed you knew what you wanted. You achieved what you wanted only to find that you were still not satisfied. You simplified, looked inward, and understood that which drives you. Simplicity and a designed life were only goals you set and achieved. Achieving these goals results in the same stagnation. Your life is a series of goals towards some end, some ideal, something before death.
You yearn, again, for something different. Anything different. Your own advice and that of countless others consoles you. Do you merely set and attain goals over and over until you die? The futility of this process is… futile.
Your past can remind you of where you want to be if you get too far off course. This is where it begins. The simplicity is needed in order to build the momentum needed to achieve something larger than yourself. Your ideals guide you in action towards larger goals that shape this world. Where it begins — something big — the world at your fingertips.
I love pineapple. It’s one of my favorite fruits. Particularly if it’s freshly cut and mixed with strawberries and kiwi. My mouth is watering just thinking about this.
Strangely though, I found that rather than enjoy my pineapple, I tended to tap people on the shoulder and tirelessly extol the virtues of this delicious treat. I mean, I know people will like it, so I figure I’m helping them by getting them to eat a pineapple.
“No” they would say, “it looks gross.”
“You’re an idiot,” I would exclaim.
Eventually most people would get around to trying the pineapple and usually like it, but never really thank me for it — especially after the unpleasant exchange and the pending “I told you so”.
I realized recently that I don’t need to knock on doors with my pineapple. I can just sit back and enjoy it. Seeing me enjoy the pineapple usually invites a friendly “hey, what’s that? You seem to really be enjoying it.”
At that point I can share my pineapple, and share the wonderful experience of eating this delicious fruit without having to find validation in getting other people to eat it.
And if no one wants to share, well, more for me!
There are subtle and simple changes over time, a continuous change from one moment to the next. There are times that things look dramatically different, barely recognizable from a previous state. For example, changing seasons can dramatically alter a landscape from winter to summer. Other times the world appears nearly identical to the previous state, though never exactly the same.
Those small changes can be the most dramatic; more dramatic than between a field of snow in the winter and dust in the summer. When we miss the continuous change it appears only as two isolated landscapes.
Through passive observation of change our mind will connect with the previous state and bridge the gap to the present. We re-frame our perceptions of the past state and build a momentum towards the next change. In this process we may guide ourselves through life shaping the world to our wants.
Wireless, adjective, having no wire; network with no physical connection
Duffel Bag, noun, a large, cylindrical bag for carrying personal belongings
If there were an impending disaster near your home and you were forced to evacuate, what would you take with you? What possessions matter most?
Looking around at your belongings, would you ask yourself why you own what you own? Do you own things that help you live your life? Do you own things that remind you of past joys? In that state of crisis when one has to determine what really matters, we quickly realize what is important.
If you live your life as I do, as so many other people live, you surround yourself with your life — bathing in the constant reminders of past and current inspiration. Some for entertainment, some for pleasure, some for business. Your belongings often reflect the life you have lived; the outward expression of your perception of reality. In those moments where you breathe in the experience of your world, the adornments in your home shine with life.
But life is not a picture, it is not static, it continuously moves. And it does so whether you are aware of it or not.
So what happens to the possessions that once sparkled with life that now gather dust? The books once read that sit on calm shelves, never to be disturbed — never to be experienced? We become curators to the remnants of our past; dusting the shelves of lifeless relics holding only to faint memories that these things were once important.
Do you re-read the books in your house? Do you re-watch all of the movies? Are the toys played with? And the guitars?
I found in my house a tub of Lego’s and it had not been touched in years. This tub had been moved with me from place to place sort of following me around as if hoping to be used. There’s a sort of sadness to Lego’s going unbuilt. As a child I escaped into imaginary worlds reflected outwardly in those toy building blocks. But looking at the tub of unused Lego’s, it was like a muse with no artist.
What do you need to be happy? And what do you need to experience the most from life fulfilling your desires?
I would propose you need only two things: one is the necessities to sustain your existence, the other are the tools to live out your desires.
Necessities
The essential things to sustain your life! You need food, shelter, perhaps clothes… Think of the things you take with you when traveling.
I have realized I need clothes, toiletries, a bed, a bathroom, and food. When traveling you find the food as you go, and the astute traveler knows that a bed and bathroom can be found as needed on any journey. So you pack only the clothes and toiletries that you’ll need for your journey, the rest you will acquire as you travel. And of course, the lighter you pack, the more you can do and experience while you are traveling.
In order to carry these things, the most perfect luggage is the Duffel Bag! It’s light, simple, and will hold your clothes and toiletries as you move about the world. The necessities of life can fit in a Duffel Bag and go with you anywhere! And toiletries are easy to pick up as you go, so don’t worry when the TSA throws them out (it’s happened to me more times than I can remember).
Tools
The necessities keep you alive, but you need more to really live! This is different for everyone. For some, this might be entirely minimalistic: a pad of paper and a pen, the book you’re currently reading, a laptop, a phone, etc.
What I’ve realized in traveling and needing to work remotely, everything that I personally need to really live can also fit in that same Duffel Bag! Given a good laptop with wireless Internet access and a phone, I can work. I can’t read too many books at once so I rarely ever need more than a few books at any one point in time. Art and photography supplies have been drastically reduced as I have moved to digital.
And that giant CD and DVD collection? Pick your modern alternative (currently, I’m going with Last.fm and Netflix).
In trying to make sure all of my computers from the home to the office have access to the same files I store everything online (including version-control so I can track any edits and changes); I also do this to ensure that if one of the machines crashes then I won’t lose important documents. I got to a point where all I needed was a modern computer (Mac, Windows, or Unix) and I’m easily up and running with personal and professional work. No one computer is a necessity, they are all just tools.
If this “Information Age” can do anything for you, it is to unbound you from that traditional way of life where you would need shelves full of reference materials and supplies. Unbound and wireless to live your life without being trapped in offices or studios. The information age studio can be by design, and perfectly mobile.
In a sort of life experiment, I decided to get rid of most of my possessions. If all I really needed to fully live and enjoy my life was so simple then I should be able to not only continue doing all of the things I do but to actually do more.
It was tricky; our minds race to think of the time and money invested into these possessions. How can we just “give them away?” Remember: the past value is not the present value — and for possessions unused, the present value becomes a negative debt against the priceless time you have to live your life!
If you are to surround yourself with anything, it should be the in-progress life and not the past.
With that in mind I kept a bed to sleep on, a desk to work on, a camera, a computer, art supplies, and an iPhone (of course). And in this information age I have combined the computer and the entertainment center to provide me a fully integrated music, movie, television, and computing environment — which I must admit is much nicer than running cables around the house. So I am making no sacrifice even in my laziest moments where I lounge around watching television. I can draw on my Wacom tablet staring at a cinema display in the comfort of my home or I can take it with me in my wireless Duffel Bag.
