I’ve been studying up on some of the early to mid twentieth century history of Russia. I often find myself ignorant when it comes to the cultural history belonging to countries outside of my own. I’m sure many across the globe might feel this way if they thought about. For the most part, based on my experience growing up in America, I can only assume that the distilled version of history taught in schools here which shine a positive light on the current governing regime is about the same procedure anywhere else. Indeed, how could the history books give an unbiased detailing and recounting of the past? The ones who write the history books are always the victors of any conflict. The countless voices of those who’ve been slaughtered, usurped, conquered… where do they go? In the ground is where they go, never to utter a word. Sure there might be a few who escape or who try and express their version of events, but those voices are relatively easy to drown out since a few individuals own the majority of global media, finances, and resources. Humans also yearn for social acceptance and fear being isolated or rejected. Or worse, exterminated for being a dissenting voice against the majority world-views.
I’m always curious about what “the other sides” of any given unconsciously adopted “truth” might say. I’ve found many times in my life, that I have unconsciously adopted “facts”, unaware of the little critical thought they have been given, only later to discover the perspective indoctrinated into me was so incredibly narrow and superficial. With even a little critical thinking applied to any notion, ideology, history, or data given to me which I would not inherently have the capacity to know, it isn’t long before things start to fall apart. What is the nature of “truth” anyway? There are things which are. Things which have happened. And things which have yet to happen, from our perspective. But all of these things are inherently related and affecting one another. The future cannot be with the past and the now. The now cannot be without the past and the potentiality of the future. The past cannot be without the now with which it can be reflected upon, or the future with which it intends to bring.
The problem with “knowing” about the past, present or future, is that one cannot be in all places at all times. One cannot live all human lives simultaneously, and contain the collective knowledge and experiences of all minds. At least not consciously. And since we are all playing out this dual, divided reality experience, we rely on one another to find common ground. We rely on one another to understand the past, present, and future. And we must cooperate in this so that we can make decisions for ourselves which align with “truth”, ultimately. That is the reason this notion of cooperation in the cultivation of “collective-truth” has such a nice ground to stand upon. That the growing tension and resultant chaos in the many infinite narratives being spun left and right, up and down, clockwise and counter-clockwise is problematic, is quite obvious.
But in order to understand anything which is proving to be problematic, especially something so convoluted, it must be picked apart until there is a clear view of the roots. The roots of these things must be easily and objectively seen, understood, and addressed before one can even begin to address the symptoms. The symptoms truly are just a distraction, though some of them seem to have a more pressing need to be alleviated than others. Even that, I would argue, will only further convolute things if there is no clear view of the root system, however good intentions may be.
The baseline formation of every human being is his or her past. That is, the culmination of all the beliefs which have been consciously or unconsciously adopted in the psyche of the individual, held up against the experiential reality. But it is important to understand that the experiential reality must always be distilled through the filter of the belief systems (the past) in order to be perceived. Anything outside, underneath, on top of, or on either side of a particular individual’s tunnel-view, basically does not exist. Those channels are muted, so to speak. The receiver of the individual tunes only to his or her approved and experienced channels. All other channels are inaccessible. That is, unless there is an awareness that infinite channels exist, and a desire to perceive new and unknown channels arises. It is helpful to imagine oneself walking through a literal, individual, never-ending tunnel which has uniquely been built for this experience, and to name the process of walking through this inescapable tunnel, “real life”. Now which tunnel-experience is the real, real life?
That’s a good question.
I’m inclined to think, none of them. Rather, “real life” is everything happening outside of the tunnels, and within the individual himself, collectively. With a completely obstructed view of existence outside of one’s life-tunnel, how could it be comprehended? I would say, if the tunnel cannot be escaped given one’s current capacity, then they must turn within themselves. We know the nature of the mind is limitless. We can observe this in dreams, and in our imagination. The only limits the mind experiences are the ones placed upon it, by oneself or one’s environment. The body has limits, surely. But the mind does not. This is one of the reasons it is such an incredibly tedious and difficult process to become the master of one’s own mind. It has absolutely no boundaries. It is completely free in its nature, and will not be easily directed and organized.
So it might be worth asking oneself, “Where is best to direct my energy?” Is it in walking through the tunnel and shouting so that one’s voice continually comes back and validates his existence? Or is it perhaps taking a seat, closing the eyes, and using the infinite potential of the mind to experience oneself? I guess that’s up to each individual.
But I’d say it’s a safe bet that most of the past and history one takes for granted to be true is largely a story which has been written in order to yield particular outcomes and attitudes in the tunnel-dwellers based upon victors’ intentions. And that the force of the human will is a real power. A power which can be utilized by the individual himself, or given away. And if one finds him or herself in a position in life feeling defeated or confused, or even certain that one’s particular experience is real-life, it might be a good time to stop shouting in the tunnel. It might be a good time to listen. To listen to what’s going on inside of one’s own being.
