Emotion clear-cuts the natural diversity of original, unfiltered perception. Certainly, this is an innate survival adaptation. Anything ‘aware’ would require such a way to filter out extraneous sensory data to avoid sensory overload. Extraneous is that which has no immediate bearing on survival. Nevertheless, the filter’s wide mesh still allows plenty of stimuli through to arouse the nervous system.
Now, consider the added filtering effect that words and names have on perception, often to our detriment. For instance, merely thinking that a tree is a tree filters all unique individual trees down to a preconceived category. This perceptual pigeonholing, along with any emotional underpinnings, stifles awareness of chapter 1’s, Mystery upon mystery, the gateway of the manifold secrets.
However, we do get treasures to cherish in return, including: beliefs, biases, music, ideals, poetry, stories, facts & figures, education… the list goes on. This ‘furniture’ of our mind fills perception’s clear-cut barren landscape. Words and names, and the knowledge they weave, swaddle us in cognitive security. Yet, who cares? We normally can’t miss what we don’t know; and even if we do, we don’t know how to turn off the naming filter. This pigeonholed reality of ours is a perceptual bridge to cross. As chapter 10 hints, When your discernment penetrates the four quarters, Are you capable of not knowing anything?
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