Belief Systems and the Cuticle

[Guest guest]

Hello-

 

In thinking about belief systems I borrow ideas of Jungian psychology

and structuralism. In that I think of a belief system as a

psychological construct of various elements joined in complex

association to each other. In this way the psychological elements

reference each other in matrix like connections. The elements

themselves at a most basic level are images or sensations which hold

a certain depth of emotional response for the individual

contemplating them. A mind does not hold all the elements at one time

but vacillates between them through the association between them.

This " constellation " within the mind, to use the Jungian term, leads

to a consistent, constant and continuous confirmation of the

structure itself. It is a system as process and the movement of

attention in this psychological motor imparts the sense of inherent

meaning. I would like to note that probably Jung would say that this

system arises organically and has its own laws and rules and that

some systems may function more stable in a greater amount of

individuals.

 

However essential to this structuring is the requirement of having

elements that have been defined as individual and independent so that

there can be relationship between them. So the first belief necessary

is the belief of a positive delineation or discernment of an element

from its environment. This I refer to (in my mind) as the cuticle,

the mental line drawn that allows what is within its circumference to

be held as independent and consistent.

 

This delineation can hold itself very consistent in the mind and this

seems as something natural and organic to the human mind. But this

delineation of course is never so fixed that it cannot be

successfully challenged by analysis or perception. Add to this

ecstatic perception and the cuticle can be so challenged as to

greatly compromise the foundation of any belief system. But there is

no need to even go this far, simple reflection can show this flux of

the consistency of these delineations. And history shows a constant

shift in the territory of these defining lines, a sort of

gerrymandering of belief.

 

So the mind can hold these delineations and therefore the elements in

two ways, as consistent and stable and as in a flux to the point of

nonexistent. Let me add to this that in creating a cuticle there is

also created a duality of that which is within its circumference and

that which is without. What is without is everything else, all the

other elements which a belief system tries to connect to the specific

element. So there is something, whose definition can be perceived as

very dubious, being associated to something else, whose definition

also can be perceived as very dubious.

 

This is a perplexing state of affairs. However, in most individuals

at least, the sense of the cuticle remains inviolably consistent

regardless of the experiential or perceptive evidence contrary. And

perhaps one of the greatest sense of cuticle is the " I " . But the " I "

gives rise to duality as do all delineations, and the " I " is

individual, independent and separate . And perhaps this is a

distressing state of affairs.

 

I believe that the most basic function of a belief system is to

create a connection between the individual and his environment. This

seems very central to most mythologies, where the individual fits in

the cosmic order. It also comes into play in cultural and social

arenas. In fact the artifacts of this attempt to define one's place

in the world shows up regularly.

 

The funny thing is I believe these systems work, even though they

seem to work by of slight of hand. Or maybe the perception of the

flux of delineation itself as an element is somehow included into the

better functioning belief systems. Then it is also someone's job to

come up with these elements, organically of course. (Hmm, who do you

think I am writing too?)

 

I would call contemplation on the consistency of the cuticle an

objective inquiry while a subjective inquiry seems to incorporate

both contemplation on the consistency and the flux of the cuticle.

Any non-duality must also include duality. This is essential to the

one that is two and the two that are one. But it is certainly a

dilemma the friction of which one can begin to feel.

 

As an exercise I wonder if anyone can perceive the functioning of

their belief system, feel the buzzing of the motor? Surely thought

can be experience and the movement of association between thoughts

can be experience as well.

 

BBTY4TB-

 

Bret

 

(no re-read on this one, sorry for mistakes)