Triadic Mindfulness

Faith, reason, and experience have played major parts in the construct of human thought, ideas, and solutions. They have been at the heart of the tension between the freedom of self and the fate of circumstances. Even so, dominating the human landscape are copious examples of confining individualist thinking towering over families, organizations, governments, societies, and cultures at the expense of other rich and varied world views. Inflated egos, lust, anxiety are strong motivators which block individuals and cultures from being thoughtful. Thankfully, the choice can be made to be thoughtful individuals and groups who seek to infuse richness into the mix, so as to churn slow, dull minds into more active, imaginative, environments.

A current example: Today, we Americans (especially, led by the present US Administration) failed by not listening to the Islamic culture before and after the event of 09-11-01; and instead, reacted in anxiety to our “own” interest of economy. We were challenged to resume our lives rather than reflect, and to shop instead of grieve. Our nation continues to live in a multi-leveled quandary stemming from a deficiency of thoughtfulness in the days after 9-11.

We would do well as Westerners to listen to the thought streams of the East and not to forget the epochs of learning from our own West. First came . . .

credo ut intelligum,

I believe in order to understand.

“Faith seeking understanding”

Then followed . . .

cogito ergo sum,

I think, therefore I am.

And now, for our generations, coined by Eugen Rosenstock-Huessy . . .

respondeo etsi mutabor.

I respond, although I shall be changed

Eugen Rosenstock-Huessy commented about the three in their order: truth is divine and has been divinely revealed; truth is pure and can be scientifically stated; but now, "truth is vital and must be socially represented." God spoke first and continues to speak. Life listens, reasons, and responds. One alone is insufficient; all three form a triadic completion.

Holy

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Self / World

When there is a rupture or void in the “reality” of the self/world, the Holy is present to heal, redeem, save. The natural process is seeking, scanning in a most primal form—faith. Thinking—reason makes its way in the deliberations, while the hidden Holy continues to seek a way of entering the space. Unless one (individual, group, society, culture) gets stuck (losses the ability to pursue thoughtfully and hear what the Holy is speaking), the rupture or void is gradually filled with something which gives meaning and energy for which to respond appropriately. The whole process may well be painful and risky, however vital and necessary change is always difficult. Moreover, in the course of time, it becomes verifiably interpreted.