The Vessel And The Filter

"Wahrnehmung" is a German word that fascinates me a lot. It is translated as "perception". However, if we look at its etymology, "Wahr" means truth or reality. Whereas "Nehmung" comes from the verb "nehmen" which means "to take". A regional variation of Wahrnehmung is "Warhholen". "Holen" means "to get". To take or to get the truth or reality. This indicates and implies the subjective involvement of each of us, whenever we perceive reality. And our perception is biased by our individual backgrounds, educational background, cultural upbringing and peer influences. The vessel as a repository of our perceived realities is very descriptive. It shows the limitations and our involvement in getting or taking out of the truths and stories that we narrate about ourselves, as well as how we perceive others and the world around us. How many times have I postulated and worried about troubles that later proved to be, nothing but figments of my imagination? I could not sleep due to stress resulting from such ruminations of worst case scenarios. And I tell you, my mind is more then capable of conjuring how, in many different ways, things could get worse than now. Being unemployed at the moment is a perfect situation to explain my point. What comes to your mind, when you learn that someone is unemployed? That's bad. No job. Workless. No going up the career ladder. No income. How am I to pay my bills? How will I live without money? Luckily, I happen to reside in one of those so called welfare states. So I went to the unemployment agency and told the lady assigned to my case my story. I told her of my voluntary community involvements such as teaching seniors how to move in the digital world. We show them how to use smartphones, tablets or laptops and desktop PCs. I also mentioned the concept of GraDiDo. gradido.net And then I told her about my encounter with the servicespace.org. My first pod was the New Story. I gave my proposal. I will study Full Stack Web Developer online for a year. Starting on the 23rd of October this year. I said I would like to start a small expression of gratitude to the people in Mt. Banahaw. So I requested for a 5-week leave of absence which was immediately approved. What's been happening the last 19 days is practically one big adventurous story of serendipity after another! I can be amazed at so many simple things in life again and be awed in wonder like a child! Experiencing the flow of life and riding its waves of ups and downs. Not allowing temporary setbacks and difficulties to pull me down is still a challenge. And yet, I fill satisfied. I fill supported by the community here in service space. I thank you all for letting me join and participate in this portal. Shalom and godspeed! Hide full comment

" The more raw data we take in, and the less we shape it, the closer we get to nature." I think the last line says it all. I have been listening to J. Krishnamurti ( Indian Philosopher) and he, very wisely, points out that any thought, any judgment, or any feeling we have is a product of the PAST. This is what this passage is saying too Our thoughts and feelings are shaped by the vast amount of data we have been collecting ( consciously or unconsciously). So, when we make a decision or judgment it is the past conditioning from the Data received. The only way we can make a change for the future is to change the present by constantly being aware of our tendency to rely on the past. Instead, we need to hold the present with a gentle touch and open mind, then only the future will change. Every moment we have to cultivate observation with curiosity and wonder and not judge by the past conditioning. If we just live in the past then the future will also be just the past. All great inventions and discoveries happened when someone wondered and curiously inquired, Hide full comment

Each one of us has our uinque vessel or container, mind which gets filled with our thoughts, feelings, and emotions, and dreams and aspirations. The conent in the container-in the mind- changes as we grow. Sometimes we hold on to the contents in the container and restrict our freedom to grow. We may be bound by the past contents and hold on to the worn out impressions. The challeng for us is to let go of the past impressions and keep our mind free, flexible, and open. It is up to us to be teethered for survival and utility or let go of our self-created bondage and expand our consciousness. As far as my self is concerened, I have gone through understanding my self, my world, and undesrtanding and relating to other's view points by learning from myself and learning from others whom I trust and admire. They were my role models. As I grew up I expanded the window of my world view and the viewes of other people with an open mind and open heart and learned how to discriminate between right, wronng and in-between. I get rid of either- or- mindset like either you are with me or not with me. Living this way has expanded and enriched my life. As I mentioned before role models like my father and mother, reading books authored by writers like Rabindranath Tagore, Mahatma Gandhi, Thich Naht Hanh, Leo Tolstoy and the Bhagavad Gita and many spiritual books have helped me to deepen and expand my world view. Living what I learn is very crucial for my menatl, emotional, social and spiritual developpment. I deeply value the gift of Meditation whichI received from my father and some great teachers of Mindfulness Meditation. I am very grateful to them. Namaste! Jagdish P Dave Hide full comment