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Discover .Your .Mind New .Ideas .in .Psychology .and .Idealism

Understanding . New . Experiences,

whether of Grandeur or of Sorrow

It is necessary to experience a new state of mind many times before it can be properly understood. This is true of any kind of experience, irrespective of whether it is a psychic one, a spiritual one, or a confused psychological one (such as madness). I have found that the most difficult experiences to analyse are those that have happened only once or twice to me.

When we have a new experience that we cannot relate to an old one, then at first we only identify the big values, the big facts, the big feelings. This is because the new experience is too much to absorb in its totality.

After a few repeat experiences, we begin to see the intermediate values, facts, feelings, etc. The highlights no longer dazzle us because we are growing accustomed to them. Then after still more experiences, we see even the small pieces of the picture. Now we can put everything into perspective and see how it all fits together. We have arrived at an adequate description of the experience.

An adequate description is the first stage of understanding, and most people are content to go no further. The final stage is that of analysis : of contemplating causality and motivation and meaning.

This process of understanding is shortened if we have a guide who can explain the new experience. If not, then the process just takes longer. This longer time is OK if the experience is a positive one, but is very distressing if it is a negative one.

Consider the attempts to understand reality

In religious ideologies, the stage of analysis is moderately developed, but the initial description is too narrow and limited (for example, large areas of experience such as sexuality and mental confusion are ignored). In scientific ideologies, the description is moderately developed, but the analysis is too weak and limited (for example, the metaphysical foundation of reality is ignored).

How do I cope with this situation ? . I take on board religious ideas, and use them to help me develop my code of ethics. And I take on board ideas of science, to give me an intellectual discipline and methodology. Then I go my own way, in search of motivation and meaning. I follow ideals, not ideologies.

Ian Heath
London, UK

www.discover-your-mind.co.uk/

e-mail address:
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