The Autonomic/Automatic/Mechanical
This is the part which we most often abhor; we don't like the way it looks, resent its sometime mis-workings, and ignore/disregard its incredible capacity. The eyes dilate and moisten according to circumstantial conditions or the light present. The heart and all the related nerve and electric impulses, pumps away circulating life's blood and oxygen through our system. The lungs working in concert with the heart expanding and contracting, filtering oxygen, releasing carbon dioxide just the amount required for optimal function. Our many yards of gut move (again in gorgeous relationship with nerve impulses) through our torso, breaking down food in regular, specific steps, absorbing and distilling what's needed at each step and allowing the waste to move on and out. Our sensitive, under the radar thermostats know when to subtly sweat to cool us down and do so beautifully. Our hearing capacities modulate incoming sound through its interesting internal shape and form, allowing for further interpretation to the rest of us through facile and lightning fast neurotransmission.
Our body's fascia, ligaments and musculature along with the nervous system responds most often accurately and with incredible swiftness to the subtlest of stimulations. These are just some of the miracles of everyday functioning in our bodies, going on almost entirely without any thought or intention on our parts. Purely mechanical. Purely automatic. We almost always have no say in its workings, and even with directed thought, impact it marginally. This autonomic functioning happens every second, every minute and hour of every day we live. If it wasn't healthy, there would be no life, no being in this human form. There would be no possibility of the other aspect of ourselves, the creative consciousness, to be. This other part of us could not exist without this mechanical part working well. Both aspects have to be related to know a full life, to pursue a purpose.
The conscious, spiritual, creative part: the Part with the possibility of Choice.
This is the part we also can (and do) largely ignore. Something in us aches when it's not in play, feels alone, even abandoned when not regularly engaged. It's opaque, almost hidden or its invisible nature is easy to miss, not pay attention to, relinquish for long periods of time when we (or ego) are on autopilot. For those of us who invest considerable time and effort in revealing and nourishing this often mysterious aspect through contemplative practices, we tend to put this amazing part on a pedestal, believing it is the end all. Whereas, the sometimes sublime experience of this in self and in community is compelling and can create a vertical experience in what usually is a linear life, unless one lives in a hermitage on top of a high mountain, trying to live from that place is not realistic and actually not desirable for the daily human experience. It is the actualization through movement between these two parts that make life interesting and provide the large framework from which a meaningful life is possible.
One part has delineated form. The other is without form or measure. Both are essential to an existence. Depending on your indoctrinations, we spend a lifetime struggling with that which is weakest in us or succumbing to that which is well settled in us. We do this repeatedly for decades, often way past the stage of it being static. We spend a lifetime knowing and building up further our strengths, be it the creative life or the logical, way of reason. Rarely do we stand between what we know and what we don't know, without prejudice or reaction, and have that experience. Our incredible human duality.
Back to the questions: How do we reconcile these aspects? Give each aspect its due? Find a relationship, understanding and acceptance between these two vital aspects of our human experience?
It would be so easy to be Cartesian and rely on old adages like, "if you don't have your health, you don't have anything." Health is reliant on each aspect being functional and well. A troubled spirit impacts the body and mind. A troubled body and mind impacts the spirit. We are designed to be in concert in our Whole. Finding one's own deep appreciation, even a love for both the automatic and the conscious creative may be required. With appreciation and respect comes an interest and curiosity and perhaps eventually a tenacious unwillingness not to be in regard of the other. Our life long, well fueled natural propensities may release their grip on us, the enamor not as strong as in earlier decades. Vulnerability fears flatten, don't have the depth or width they used to have, leaving an opening for other more lively questions or findings.
The conscious, spiritual, creative part: the Part with the possibility of Choice.
This is the part we also can (and do) largely ignore. Something in us aches when it's not in play, feels alone, even abandoned when not regularly engaged. It's opaque, almost hidden or its invisible nature is easy to miss, not pay attention to, relinquish for long periods of time when we (or ego) are on autopilot. For those of us who invest considerable time and effort in revealing and nourishing this often mysterious aspect through contemplative practices, we tend to put this amazing part on a pedestal, believing it is the end all. Whereas, the sometimes sublime experience of this in self and in community is compelling and can create a vertical experience in what usually is a linear life, unless one lives in a hermitage on top of a high mountain, trying to live from that place is not realistic and actually not desirable for the daily human experience. It is the actualization through movement between these two parts that make life interesting and provide the large framework from which a meaningful life is possible.
One part has delineated form. The other is without form or measure. Both are essential to an existence. Depending on your indoctrinations, we spend a lifetime struggling with that which is weakest in us or succumbing to that which is well settled in us. We do this repeatedly for decades, often way past the stage of it being static. We spend a lifetime knowing and building up further our strengths, be it the creative life or the logical, way of reason. Rarely do we stand between what we know and what we don't know, without prejudice or reaction, and have that experience. Our incredible human duality.
Back to the questions: How do we reconcile these aspects? Give each aspect its due? Find a relationship, understanding and acceptance between these two vital aspects of our human experience?
