Fixed Concepts
I am probably like many of you who grew up in the western world with fixed concepts of our reality. History, geography, health and science classes in school taught that our bodies, our world, and our universe are fixed realities composed only of solid matter. Many of us were not really taught how to think and consider possibilities beyond what information was in our textbooks, the mode of instruction was to memorize the “facts” so that good grades could be achieved.
I remember the first discussion group to consider possibilities in junior college where one of the “thinkers” who had obviously been thinking far deeper than I, and most everyone else who was present as well, who posed this question to the rest of us, “how do you really know that you actually do exist?” That was followed by laughter and a lot of opinions to be sure.
I remember at the time that I thought the guy was really weird, rather delusional and would in time certainly be sent away somewhere to keep him safe from himself. I don’t even remember his name, and very possibly he went on to become a scientist and/or a discoverer, or at least, a participant in progressive scientific endeavors.
Whatever happened to him, I do not know, but I now look back with some admiration for a young man who seemed normal in every other respect, and who was willing to openly question some of the very basic concepts and thoughts of humanity and consider the possibilities. He came out of the same generation and school system as I did, but his type of courage and inquisitiveness into self discovery is what makes it possible for the human mind to continually explore new frontiers.
I am very grateful for the courage of people with open and questioning minds who have stepped forward and shined their lights of questioning and new thoughts on science, human history and paranormal events of all kinds to consider the possibilities.
In spite of the enormous knowledge, experiences, and studies that have brought forth baffling questions, their are still “materialists” and those who yet focus on fixed concepts only.
Our news broadcasts give such tiny tiny reports, and it seems that many people are satisfied with these little tidbits of information to feed our knowledge bank as we go about the business of living our daily lives. And yet, where does this information come from, what are their motives in generating their reports, and are these reports accurate? It truly behooves each one of us to wonder, to question, to be open and determine if those findings resonate with our own experiences.
“Who are you going to believe, me or your own eyes?” — Chico Marx, “Duck Soup” (1933)