I have discovered, after over 15 years of study, that every wisdom tradition in theworld’s history has 2 core teachings.
1.The normal state of human consciousness is limited/dysfunctional/dreamlike.
2. There is a way to wake up out of the dream and return to a state of harmony, clarity.
These two teachings form the basis of every religion, spirituality and cultural story.
I’m never one to just take on a belief willy-nilly or take someone’s word for it. I like to examine, explore and test the things I’m told so I can know for myself the truth of it.
In this post let’s do our own examination of teaching number one. Is the ‘normal’ state of human consciousness dysfunctional?
Looking around at our planet we see signs everywhere that there may be some truth to this, but lets take a closer look. What is going on inside the mind?
Let’s say you went to the doctor and told him you were hearing voices in your head. This doctor may send you packing to a psychologist. Then again, he might simply say “Hey don’t sweat it! We’re all hearing voices in our heads all day every day. It’s normal!”
It’s something we generally overlook isn’t it? But the fact is that most of us are going about our days with an internal voice continuously chattering away in our respective heads.
This ‘voice in the head’ wields enormous power over your life – even if you aren’t aware of it. It determines how you see the world, what you believe and how you behave. It also controls how you feel on a daily basis.
By extension, like the ripples in a pond, it affects everyone and everything around you— the people you work with or run into on the street; the people you love; the way you interact with the planet.
The Monkey Mind
The Buddhists use the term the ‘monkey mind’ to describe the characteristics of the mind in this so called ‘normal’ state. Have you ever seen a so called ‘crazy person’ on the street incessantly rambling and mumbling to himself? This is really not to much different than what goes on inside most people’s heads a lot of the time— the difference is simply that we don’t do it out loud!
We ‘sane’ people keep it inside. It’s a private conversation, but it’s often just as dispersed and fractured in nature as that ‘crazy’ persons mutterings. Here is something to consider – If someone were to put your ‘inner voice’ on loud speaker for a day what would that sound like?
The voice in the head goes on all day. It may fantasise, compare and contrast, make judgments and jump to conclusions, reminisce about the past, wonder or worry about the future.
The mind is often quite chaotic, jumping from one thought to the next. Often, those thoughts are completely unrelated—fractured—and are just taking up mental space.
One minute you’re thinking about the fashionable outfit your neighbour wore yesterday; two seconds later you wonder if your children are going to take care of you when you get old; thirty seconds after that, you’re replaying a scene from a movie you saw when you were 10 years old. And—as if the talking isn’t relentless enough — sometimes the voice brings along visual aids; it plays mental movies for you or gives you mental snapshots.
Wherever you may go, whatever you may do, the mind is there with its non-stop noise, never giving much room for inner peace.
The Mind on ‘Autopilot’
The mind is like a naughty monkey when it’s on ‘autopilot’ mode. Research shows that this is the state of mind in which most people spend the majority of the day. This research concludes that most people think between 40,000 and 60,000 thoughts on average during a single day (1). That’s a lot of inner noise!
Interestingly, approximately 96%-98% of these thoughts are said to be the same thoughts we had yesterday and the day before that (and the day before that!). In other words, we continuously repeat ourselves.
Our minds can be like records stuck in automatic replay, with the same old songs playing over and over again. These unconscious conditioned patterns of thought are not usually very constructive at all. In fact they can be the cause of a lot of stress and suffering, and keep us locked into mechanical ways of thinking and living that may not serve us.
Symptoms of A Mind in Disharmony
This state of mind, it does seem to me, is dysfunctional. It seems we are not fully lucid when consumed by all that inner noise and that we repeatedly play out conditioned patterns of thought unconsciously. It seems to me we are not in full possession of ourselves in this state of being – not fully conscious.
For some unfortunate people the mind can be like a tormentor, constantly attacking and punishing them, leading to depression, anxiety, anger or in extreme cases even suicide.
For the average person though, all that inner noise causes symptoms that are less acute in nature – a vague sense of unease in the background of their lives. A subtle feeling that something more is needed to be fulfilled and whole; A feeling of ‘not enough’ or ‘something is not right’.
These feelings can often result in a constant desire to achieve, acquire and consume in an unconscious attempt to try to find wholeness. You keep dreaming…when I get this job, this relationship, this car, then finally I will feel ok – but the wanting doesn’t stop no matter how perfectly your life is put together.
Why? Because the cause is still there. The mind is still in a state of disharmony.
We may not realize that our inner disharmony is the true cause of our stress or negative emotions. We may believe it is our life circumstances- something ‘out there’.
But the world’s wisdom traditions tell us that lasting peace and fulfillment cannot be experienced until inner harmony is restored. Look at your own life experience and that of others to see that this is true.
Prevailing feelings of suffering, stress, tension and of ‘not being whole’ are simply symptoms of the mind in a state of dysfunction. They are a call for healing.
Instead of trying to drown them out or distract yourself from them with constant activity, you can choose to listen to them and heed their call. They are a signal that things are out of balance and its time for restoration.
The first step in healing is always the recognition that healing is needed. It’s a courageous step. It’s a sobering step and it’s absolutely necessary if you want find healing, harmony and lasting happiness that is your birthright.
If your curious to learn more about teaching number 2 (the way to wake up) go on and explore this blog further (that’s what its all about) dive in and discover the marvellous art of mindful living!
ps. Please feel free to share your own wisdom or ask any questions in the comments section below. I’m happy to help. Stay in touch!
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