The Problems a Divided Mind Causes

The Problems a Divided Mind Causes
By
Bill Cottringer

“I have realized that the past and future are real illusions, that they exist in the present, which is what there is and all there is.” ~Alan Watts.

First, I suppose we should clarify what exactly a divided mind is. Somewhere in time, a mysterious development occurred in humankind’s evolution, having two very inter-related parts, which still eludes even the smartest of scientists from rational explanation or even a semblance of irrational understanding. What we are talking about here are the developments of (a) self-awareness, giving us a sense of a personal identity separate from everything else, and (b) language, with which we can think and communicate in words representing the real things we want to talk and write about, like I am doing here. Ironically, these two developments are really both a gift and curse.

These two pivotal developments create all the problems that confront us today, but at the same time, they are the only hope we have in finding solutions to these problems. This is necessary for us to continue our long winding journey from resisting grabbing the simple cures of the low hanging fruits right before us, to have the courage to wade through the murky swamps of complexity , in hopes of finally reaching the truly simple, safe harbor just on the other side of the feared swamp.

Now how in the world did this mystery unravel into the current thinking in which we have no real presence like Alan Watts wisely discovered in his philosophical entertaining? I don’t have a clue and don’t think anyone else does either. But that minor failure doesn’t matter. All we have to do to change something we don’t like, is to get to a different point of view to have a better view. Fortunately, technology is helping this paradigm shift—getting us to forget the useless past and focus more on a faster, better future. Maybe after technology runs its course, we can eventually get to the best perspective of all to see reality as it is and not how we would like it to be with our illusions and distortions—in the present tense, which is really all there is.

Let’s move away from an abstract discussion and start talking specifics. The sense of self-awareness—knowing we are here and other things are out there—creates a separation between mind and body and us and the rest of life. This might be okay, but then the divided mind won’t rest until it finds the right words to divide everything in life into opposite polarities. There is good vs. bad, up vs. down, life vs. death, right vs, wrong, rich vs. poor, beautiful vs. ugly, smart vs, dumb, hot vs. cold, slow vs. fast, pleasure vs. pain (the big one), something vs. nothing, busy vs. bored, and this and that ad infinitum. We have successfully divided the whole universe in half.

When one suddenly realizes that these divisions are man-made inventions and not real experiences, they magically begin to dissolve and the journey to single-mindedness starts. We get gradual enlightenment over-night. But this is a tedious and trying process, because we have to use the same language—words—that created these artificial divisions that we now want to unify with the same words that created the crack in our cosmic egg to begin with. What a conundrum!

The main challenge confronting us now is, “How can we have our ‘cheese’ and eat it too?” I tried to explain how we can do this in an earlier book, but unfortunately no widespread enlightenment came about. So I may have to write a follow-up book, “You Can Have Your Cheese & Eat It Too2.” This time I will have to meta-communicate with better words to expose the real problem here and the only solution.

Here is a brief glimpse into the journey ahead. As children we were told to put away our toys when we were done playing with them. Well, we have played with our thinking and communicating toys (words) long enough, and so it is high time to start putting everything we took apart in our divided minds back together again so we can enjoy a whole sense of single-mindedness with all things and the double happiness that brings with it.

But to do this, we have to stop wasting time thinking about a past we can’t do anything about or a future that really only exists in our imagination. That only leaves the present moment to act. What are you waiting for? Actually you can’t lose, because we invented time just to have a past, present and future, thinking an eternal now moment wasn’t enough. Pretty foolish idea right?

William Cottringer, Ph.D. is Executive Vice-President for Employee Relations for Puget Sound Security, Inc. in Bellevue, WA, and Adjunct Professor of criminal justice at Northwest University, along with his hobbies in being a Sport Psychologist, Business Success Coach, Photographer and Writer living in the peaceful but invigorating mountains and rivers of North Bend. He is author of several business and self-development books, including, “You Can Have Your Cheese & Eat It Too” (Executive Excellence), “The Bow-Wow Secrets” (Wisdom Tree), “Do What Matters Most” and “P” Point Management” (Atlantic Book Publishers), “Reality Repair” (Global Vision Press), Reality Repair Rx (Authorsden), and “If Pictures Could Talk,” coming soon. Bill can be reached for comments or questions at (425) 454-5011 or ckuretdoc@comcast.net