Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Understanding the Mind, Mental Existence and Mental Faculties, How to Manage, Develop and Use Them

Physical-Biological Roots and Foundation

Understanding the mind, mental existence and mental faculties, how to manage, develop and use them we need to distinguish and differentiate between different elements. First, we need to distinguish and differentiate between the physical-biological roots and foundation of the mind and mental existence on the one hand, and our experience of them on the other. We also need to distinguish and differentiate between the physical-biological roots and foundation, and what takes place, what enters and what we do in the mind and mental existence. And we do act in the mind and mental existence, we are conscious and aware of it.

In considering the physical-biological roots and foundation of the mind, mental existence and mental faculties we need to distinguish and differentiate between them in general, and the physical-biological systems and processes, the sense organs and the nervous system, through which we experience and become aware in the mind of the conditions of existence and the world around us. The systems and processes that translate what takes place and what we do in the mind and mental existence in to physical actions, the nervous system and the muscular system. We need to distinguish and differentiate between the neurological roots and foundation of our mental faculties, and the neurological developments that result from developing, exercising and practicing our mental faculties, our natural mental powers and abilities, mental skills and practices, and engaging in the required mental work and effort.

Within this context, limits, due to ailment, illness, malfunction or disease, in sense organs or nervous system may influence or limit sensory inputs or experiential information that enters the mind and awareness. Limits in the physical-biological systems and processes that translate what takes place in the mind and mental existence, mental behaviour and actions into physical actions, the nervous system or muscular system, may limit our ability to act out choices, decisions, aims, goals or objectives, our planning and organizing. Limits in the neurological foundation may limit our mental faculties, our natural mental potential. Limits in neurological development, on the other hand, are the result of failing to develop, exercise and practice our mental faculties, mental powers and abilities, mental skills and practices, whatever their limits may be.

However, limits, whether due to ailment, illness, malfunction, disease or accident, in either the physical-biological foundation, systems or processes do not explain or govern what we do in the mind and mental existence, the mental behaviour and actions in which we engage, and the mental work or effort we invest. They do not explain or govern what, within the physical-biological limits, we do in the mind, whether we develop and exercise our mental faculties to their limits, how and for what purpose we use them. They do not explain or govern the effort we make to develop, exercise and practice our mental faculties, whatever their limits. What we do in the mind and mental existence, the mental behaviour and actions in which we engage, the mental work and effort we invest are defined and governed by the choices and decisions we make.

What Takes Place and What We Do in the Mind and Mental Existence

Although the mind and mental existence are rooted in our physical-biological existence, understanding our physical-biological existence and development, systems and processes is not the same as understanding our experience of the mind and mental existence. It does not give us an understanding of what takes place or what we do in the mind and mental existence, our role and responsibility in them. To understand our experience of the mind and mental existence, what takes place, what enters and what we do in the mind and mental existence we need to understand the mind and mental existence from the inside, as reflected in our experience.

Elements of Mind and Mental Existence

Considering and understanding the mind and mental existence, what takes place and what we do in the mind and mental existence, we need to distinguish and differentiate between the mind, mental existence, mental needs and mental faculties. In considering and understanding what takes place in the mind and mental existence we need to distinguish and differentiate between what enters the mind, and what we do in the mind and mental existence. We need to distinguish between natural mental processes, and our own mental behaviour and actions. We must differentiate between the role of nature, which lies beyond our control, and the role and responsibility in the mind and mental existence that by nature are individually ours to understand and manage.

Mind

The mind is where we consciously exist and act, where we experience, become aware and where we must consider the conditions of existence and the world around us, and how to deal with them. It is where individually we are in charge and in control, where we must actively be engaged and take responsibility for what takes place and what we do. The mind is where we make choices and decisions, where we define aims, goals and objectives, and where we must consider, plan, organize and manage our behaviour and actions. What takes place and what we do in the mind defines and governs how we understand, manage and conduct ourselves individually, how we connect, communicate and cooperate with each other, and how we relate and interact with the world around us, with nature and the natural environment. The mind is where problems and difficulties, limits and shortcomings, errors and mistakes in understanding, behaviour and actions, in what we do and what we engage in have their roots and beginnings and where answers and solutions must start.

Mental Existence

Mental existence consists of what takes place and what we do in the mind. The experience, perceptions, sensations and feelings, thoughts, ideas and recollections that enter the mind and awareness and how we deal with them. The images, pictures and conceptual structures we create in the mind. How we meet our mental needs, and how we develop and use our mental faculties.

Natural Mental Processes versus What We Do in the Mind

We experience and become aware of the conditions of existence, our own mental and physical existence and the world around us through the perceptions, sensations and feelings that enter the mind and awareness via our sense organs and the nervous system. Perceptions, sensations and feelings entering the mind and awareness are natural mental processes that lie beyond our control. How we deal with, respond and adjust to them, the sense we make of them is what we do. It is individually our role and responsibility to consider and make sense of what enters the mind and our awareness. Considering and making sense of the perceptions, sensations and feelings that enter the mind and awareness, the conditions that lie behind them, and how to deal with them.

Experience, Perceptions, Sensations and Feelings

In considering and dealing with what enters the mind and awareness we need to distinguish and differentiate between perceptions of the world around us, sensations of the conditions of our own physical existence and feelings about mental conditions and states of mind. We also need to distinguish and differentiate between perceptions, sensations and feelings per se, and their changing contents. What changes is their contents, not perceptions, sensations and feelings entering the mind and awareness.

Primary and Secondary Experiences

Moreover, we need to distinguish and differentiate between primary and secondary experience. Perceptions about the world around us, sensations about our own physical existence and feelings about the conditions of our mental existence are primary experiences. How we feel about them, our first impressions and instant reactions are secondary experiences. Primary experiences are information about the conditions of existence, our own mental and physical existence and the world around us. Secondary experiences are the experience of our instant response, first impressions, instant thoughts, ideas and reactions regarding the demands primary experiences make on us mentally, the challenge or threat they pose to the established state of mind, the established mental order.

Experience versus Conditions that Lie behind Them

Next, we must distinguish and differentiate between what enters the mind and awareness -- perceptions, sensations, feelings, thoughts and ideas, and the sense we make of them, the conditions that lie behind them and how to deal with them, the mental images, pictures and conceptual structures we establish in the mind about them. The perceptions, sensations and feelings that enter our mind do not on their own form clear and detailed images or pictures in the mind about the conditions that lie behind them. They do not order and arrange themselves in meaningful or constructive ways in the mind and awareness. They do not impress themselves fully in all their details on our awareness. Becoming aware of the details and specifics of our experiences, the perceptions, sensations and feelings that enter the mind is our role and responsibility, requiring individual mental work and effort. It is our role and responsibility to be aware of everything that enters the mind, to bring everything that enters the mind into our awareness. It is also our role and responsibility to make sense of our experience, ordering and arranging them, considering and making sense of them, the conditions that lie behind them and how to deal with them, forming clear images and pictures about them in the mind.

Within this context we need to distinguish and differentiate between accounts of others, the mental pictures and conceptual structures they form about their experience of the conditions of their existence, and our own experiences, the perceptions, sensations and feelings of the conditions of our existence that enter our mind and awareness. The interpretation of others of their experience of the conditions of their existence is not an interpretation or understanding of our experience of the conditions of our existence, our own mental and physical existence and the world around us, or how to deal with them. We can compare and contrast our own experience, perceptions, sensations and feelings, our interpretations and understanding of them with those of others. Identify common ground and differences, and consider the reasons and causes behind differences.
However, we cannot take the interpretation and understanding of others of their experience as an understanding of our experiences of the conditions of our existence and the world around us. Although as human beings we share the same fundamental conditions, demands and challenges of existence, we individually experience them at different times, under different circumstances, posing different demands and challenges, requiring individual, not general or collective understanding.

Mental Needs

The mental needs, which we must meet inside the mind through individual mental work and effort, include the need for a sense of self, the individual human self, a sense of mental order and stability, clarity of mind and understanding, a sense of certainty, security and confidence.In addition, we have a need for recognition and relevance, and a need to interact, connect, communicate and cooperate, mentally and physically with other human beings.

We need a sense of the self, the individual human self, to establish a sense of who and what we are. To distinguish and differentiate ourselves individually from others and the world around us, as well as to understand the role and responsibility in our existence and development, that are individually ours to understand and manage, and what lies beyond our role and responsibility.

We exist in and as part of a constantly unfolding, changing and transforming world. Everything within and around us changes constantly. The conditions, demands and challenges, our experience, perceptions, sensations and feelings constantly change. Moreover, our experience fragments an integrated, connected and interacting world. We experience the conditions of existence and the world around us through separate and disconnected perceptions, sensations and feelings, which do not on their own form comprehensive images or pictures in our mind. It is not possible to make necessary choices and decisions, decide on appropriate aims, goals and objectives, understand the required behaviour and action within constant disorder and instability, doubt and confusion, uncertainty and insecurity. It requires establishing a sense of order and stability, clarity of mind and understanding about the conditions of existence, the world around us, and how to deal with them. In addition, it requires establishing a sense of certainty, security and confidence about our ability to deal with the conditions, demands and challenges, change and changing conditions of existence and the world around us, without knowing before hand what they will be.

We have a need to be recognized by others to confirm for us our understanding of ourselves, who and what we are, and that we are a member of a species of human beings and we do not exist alone by ourselves. We also have a need to be relevant, to play a role and contribute to the life of others to give meaning to our existence beyond just managing our own existence and development. Moreover, we need to connect, communicate and cooperate, mentally and physically with others, because by our nature we depend and must interact with each other to meet some of our basic needs, such as for example the need for recognition and relevance, as well as to procreate and ensure the survival of the species.

Mental Faculties

In considering our mental faculties, we need to distinguish and differentiate between mental powers and abilities, mental skills and practices, mental behaviour and action, and mental work and effort. Mental powers and abilities are our natural mental potential, which we must develop in order to use them. They are the mental powers and abilities that are required to understand, manage and deal with the conditions of existence, our own mental and physical existence and the world around us. Our natural mental powers and abilities we need to translate into necessary and appropriate mental skills and practices. The mental skills and practices necessary to understand and manage our role and responsibility in the mind and mental existence. Mental behaviour and action are how we respond and deal with what takes place in the mind and mental existence and the steps we take. Mental work and effort are the work and effort that are required and in which we must engage to understand and manage our mind and mental existence.

Mental Powers and Abilities

Our natural mental potential, mental powers and abilities include the power and ability to be mentally alert, active and engaged. Paying attention, being aware and considering what takes place and what we do in the mind and awareness. Being mentally alert, active and engaged contrasts with being absent minded and mentally passive, not paying attention and ignoring what takes place, what enters and what we do the mind and awareness. Being preoccupied with doubt, confusion, uncertainty and insecurity, abstractions, fantasies, idle speculation and wishful thinking.

The mental power and ability to direct, focus and concentrate the mind and attention on what enters and what we do in the mind, experience, perceptions, sensations and feelings, thoughts and ideas, how we deal with them and the conditions that lie behind them. The choices and decisions we make and how we make them, the goals and objectives we pursue and how we define them, the behaviour and actions in which we engage and how we plan, organize and manage them. Directing, focusing and concentrating the mind and attention differs from not paying attention, aimlessly drifting through the mind, pursuing whatever comes to mind, losing focus and direction. Jumping from issue to issue, from experience to experience, from thought to thought, getting ahead of oneself, the clarity of one's mind and understanding and jumping to conclusions.

The mental power and ability to exercise mental discipline and mental flexibility, the mental discipline to keep the mind and attention, focus and concentration on what we do and what we are engaged in. The mental flexibility to change focus and concentration on demand, when necessary and required, directing, focusing and concentrating the mind and attention on different issues, experience, jobs, tasks, plans or projects. Mental discipline and mental flexibility contrast with not being able to keep the mind and attention, focus and concentration on a given issue for any length of time, not being able to redirect the mind and attention, focus and concentration when necessary and required. Quickly loosing focus, direction and concentration, getting lost in the mind, heading off on unrelated tangents and jumping to conclusions.

We possess the mental power and ability to visualize, or see, and to form clear and detail images, pictures and conceptual structures in the mind. Visualize, see, and form images and pictures in the mind about what enters the mind and awareness and the conditions that lie behind them. Putting together and connecting the elements, details and specifics of our experience, perceptions, sensations and feelings, what we deduce and conclude from them about the conditions that lie behind them to form clear and detailed images and pictures in the mind. Moreover, connect mental images and pictures to form larger conceptual structures in the mind about the conditions of existence and the world around us. Visualizing, seeing, and creating images, pictures and conceptual structures in the mind differs from considering only information details and specifics that enter the mind and awareness, in a disconnected way. It differs from focusing and concentrating on information details and specifics, and language constructs and expecting them to engage us and create images and pictures in our mind.

The mental power and ability to reason -- deduce and conclude from our experience about what lies beyond our experience. Considering issues and experiences systematically and consistently, step-by-step, with each step arising from the preceding step and leading to the next step. Consider them in ways to always be able at each point to trace back one's steps to the beginning. Deducing and concluding from the given, the self-evident and obvious to uncover the hidden, the less than obvious and self-evident, without loosing contact with the given. To reason contrast with jumping from issue to issue, experience to experience, connecting and relating elements, details and specifics in random and arbitrary ways, with little concern for details and specifics, connections and relations between them.

We also possess the mental power and ability to recall and recollect from memory, recall and recollect what is stored in our memory back into the mind and awareness. Everything that takes place, that enters and we do in the mind and mental existence is stored in memory. It is a natural mental process, which lies beyond our control. We have the mental power and ability to recall, recollect and bring back into the mind and awareness what is store in memory. The degree to which we will be able to recall and recollect what is stored in memory depends on the extent to which we mentally processed what takes place, what enters and what we do in the mind. It depends on the extent to which what enters the mind we bring into our awareness, and considered it. If we consider what takes place, what enters and what we do in the mind, at some length, in depth and detail, we integrated it into a clear mental picture or larger conceptual structure before they slipped into memory it will be easy to recall, recollect and bring them back into mind and awareness. If we fail to pay attention and consider what enters and what we do in the mind, if we allow them to slip unprocessed into memory, it will be more difficult to recall them from memory.

Mental Skills and Practices

The mental skills and practices we need to develop include the skill and practice to consider and make sense of the experience, perceptions, sensations and feelings, thoughts and ideas that enter the mind and awareness, the conditions that lie behind them, and how to deal with them. Consider them at some length, in depth and detail, beginning with the obvious and self-evident to uncover the less than obvious and self-evident. Deduce and conclude from our experience about what lies beyond our experience, natural forces, processes and development. The mental skill and practice to make informed and considered choices and decisions, define necessary aims, goals and objectives, consider, plan, organize and manage required behaviour and actions. Deal with, respond and adjust to change, changing experiences and conditions, in our own mental and physical existence and in the world around us, before they develop into larger problems and difficulties. The mental skill and practice to meet our mental needs in the mind through individual mental work and effort, and develop, exercise and practice our mental faculties. We need to develop the mental skill and practice to engage in a process of continuous conceptual and mental self-development and growth. Constantly reconsidering, updating, correcting and improving the understanding, the mental powers and abilities, mental skills and practices, mental work and effort on which we rely, how we develop and use them in light of change and changing conditions. Reconsider, update, correct and improve the choices and decisions we make and how we make them, the aims, goals and objectives we pursue and how we define them, the behaviour and actions in which we engage and how we plan, organize and manage them.

Mental Behaviour and Actions, Work and Effort

Mental behaviour and action, mental work and effort are how we respond and deal with what takes place, what enters and what we do in the mind and mental existence, the steps we take and the effort we make.

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