Built in to human consciousness is a marked disinclination to view things simply. Men are inclined to dismiss the idea that man is just a special kind of animal. But the only real difference between man and animals is man's technological accomplishments and his cultural world. Up to a certain point, the mind is for the purpose of simplifying life, which generates more free time. At that point however, what happens? The mind begins to complicate life!
The mind is for two things only: information and entertainment. Information for purposes of simplifying life, easing the challenge of survival; entertainment however, introduces complication. Any complexity of life is based on consciousness. The mind cannot distinguish between information and entertainment: it takes entertainment to be information. But information simplifies while entertainment/culture complicates.
The mind cannot see that its culture is really entertainment, not an informing agency, because it must take culture seriously—as important and necessary. Thus does the mind, when in entertainment mode, complicate without realizing it. Only a true originality of thought can see this since all ordinary thinking is derivative, because culturally determined.
The pursuit of enlightenment is the attempt to simplify life: to see life just as it is; culture interferes with this.
Synopsis of a talk given by Jan Cox, Dec. 12, 2003
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