Going Holistic
"So what did you think of The Screaming Skull?" Doc asked."Scary karma," I said."Not bad for a B-flick," Doc laughed, "Knocks in the night and skeletons in the closet...sure makes you think!""Yes it does!" I said, stuffing another spoonful of malted vanilla milkshake into my mouth. As the distinct taste of malt hit my tongue, I began to wonder how such a little thing makes such a big difference...and I thought about Horlick and Byrd...the inventor and the explorer...how a single idea from a single person could spread so far...making the biggest impact in the smallest way."So Doc...what's the title of the book you're beginning?""A Better Understanding Through A Healthy Sampling," Doc mused."A healthy sampling of what?" I asked."Everything," Doc said, "The whole Shebang!""Sounds like history Doc...a lotta' history.""Yes, it is history...and it's art...and it's science too," Doc gleamed, "It's the study of how everything happens through the study of how everything has happened...it is the past and the present...and further, it is the future too...a consideration of what could happen through extrapolation, both fanciful and rational, much like science fiction...it is the process of intelligence...reason...and imagination.""That's a pretty comprehensive subject," I said."Well, you know us dreamers...we're big thinkers," smiled Doc."Yes we are," I laughed, shoving another spoonful of shake into my mouth, once again struck by the cool malt. "So where're you gonna start?""With everything I've written thus far," Doc said matter-of-factly. "What's next then...what's the next part of your book about?""It's about Going Holistic," Doc mused further, "In the next section I'll lay the foundation of a more expanded and refined cosmology...as well as set the cornerstones of a new discipline I call holoergonomics." "What's holoergonomics?" I asked."It's the art and science of holistic design, namely the design of the natural world as we observe, study and understand it."So then what does holistic mean?""We'll begin talking about that in the next section.""Jez Doc, can't ya give me a little hint?""Sure genius, I'll give ya a big hint...as well as a little assignment," Doc said with his all too familiar mischievous grin. "To begin, holistic refers to holism...holism is about connection...how the whole Shebang fits and works together...holism is about dissolving and disintegrating human-contrived barriers and boundaries...seeing through and beyond artificial divisions---especially those promoted by language and promulgated by ignorance---divisions that block a fuller, more complete and accurate understanding of the way of Creation. Holism is about inclusion and reconciliation of seemingly disparate parts and opposites. Holism is about movement and balance...the Many of One and the One of Many."Doc paused as I continued shoving more malted milkshake into my mouth, as if stuffing this orifice might somehow counterbalance the heavy importance of what Doc just heaped upon me. But I asked for it. "So Doc, what's my assignment?""First of all," Doc said in an unusually serious tone, " I'd like you to define Purusha and Prakriti, then discuss their creative co-evolution. Next I'd like you to contemplate why the Taoist says, The Tao that can be spoken of is not the true Tao. As you think about this ancient saying, compare it with Alfred Korzybski's more recent statement, The map is not the territory. Doc paused, and I assumed he was finished."Is that all?" I said, my sarcasm having the opposite of its intended effect."Ok wise-guy," Doc continued. "As you think about that, you can think about this list too: 1. What is Einstein's famous equation, E=mc , most simply and fundamentally saying about the nature of matter?
2. Define and discuss the idea and method behind phenomenology.
3. Is Jung's Collective Unconsciousness the same as Anaxagoras' Nous? Is Nous the same as Purusha?
4. Tell a story of how deep meditation or self-reflection or phenomenological investigation might lead one to the conception/discovery of a Cosmic Mind.
5. Describe the difference between a mechanistic universe and a holistic universe, especially in regards to the holistic principle, which states: The part is in the whole as the whole is in the part.
6. Discuss how the holistic principle gives rise to holoparallelism? Give three examples of holoparallelism.
7. Discuss how the existence of a Cosmic Mind might answer the "observer problem" of quantum mechanics, as well as address the challenge of Bell's Theorem.
"What's Bell's Theorem?" I interrupted.2
"Never mind," smiled Doc, "We'll have to save that for later. A couple more things."8. Be prepared to take a side and debate this question: Do humans create harmony in the world...or do they fall from it?
9. Express in some way---in words or pictures, lyric, song or dance, or any combination thereof---The Great Aboriginal Dream Spiral. Be Creative!
"Ok, I think that's enough." Doc said with a satisfied grin."Good, my head is starting to hurt again. Hey, by the way, you know what movie is playing tonight?""Of course, it's Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein. I'll see ya there. A lot good humor is just what the doctor ordered."Taking the last gulp of my shake, I hurry on my way. Through the door and out the drugstore, I hear that familiar ding of the overhead bell popping on its spring."One more thing," Doc shouted as I made my hasty exit. "Don't forget your extra-credit assignment.""What's that?" I shouted back from the other side of the threshold."Have FUN!""I'll do my best," I smiled back at Doc."That's all I expect genius, nothing more, nothing less." Ding.Along with that familiar overhead ring, I will forever remember Doc's one more thing...my lifelong commitment to his extra-credit assignment.
