The Processes and Regions of Discovery - 1. The Self

BEAUTIFUL DARTMOOR

The processes of discovery require a sense of personal awareness that we might not realize. We discover things in many ways at many times. Often, we don't realize that we have made a discovery. Then, suddenly our brain kicks in and says, "Wake Up! You have discovered something new. Be aware! Be conscious of what it is that you are perceiving!"

I often meet people who say that they never read fiction, that they are grounded in the real world and don't need the rubbish of imagination to cope with the real world. This is, in my opinion, the gravest of mistakes. It is like saying I do not believe that humour is good for me. Humour is the operation of the imaginary component, when we see logical constructs come in conflict with each other, and we make a discovery about the truth of our reality. It is that we are not real, and we are not part of a real world. We need to understand this fact before we can make any progress in the world of invention and innovation.

I have determined four broad areas or types of personal discovery, which can actually include scientific discovery and invention. I would recommend that you develop your skills in each of these groups moving to the next level as you progress. Unlike the discovery process in some teachings, I see the discovery of the world as the last stage and do not put primacy on self discovery as the end of the process. But, I do see self discovery as essential before world discovery.

1. The Self
2. The Group
3. The Roots of Being
4. The World

The greatest discovery region is that of world discovery. That is why you exist, not self discovery. Self discovery is only a pre-condition for finding and then be enabled to make true discoveries about the world, to invent new technologies and understandings. Ever wonder why those who are too religious or self centered don't invent useful things for the world, don't make things that enable real progress in the world! They are too wrapped up in themselves.

Most people get the sequence of discovery wrong and end the processes of discovery within themselves. This is not correct. Discover yourself first then the world. You will find that as you enter the last process and make discoveries about your world, you will be strengthening the processes of self discovery automatically without effort, but initially you need to engage in self discovery:

These types of discovery are related to how we process information that forms the basis of our discoveries. They do not tell us what we discover, but direct us towards the processing that goes on and the motivation behind discovery. What we don't often realize is that we discover things about ourselves and our world because our psychology enables us to or we don't discover things because our psychology disables us from discovery.

Discovery associated with yourself or the self

What you need to discover in the self-discovery process is what your brain is willing to let you discover. You brain is a very fast component of your being so you may not be aware that it is even an enabler or dis-abler of your desire and directions of discovery. You may not even be aware that you need to tune into what your brain is actually doing. If you don't you are captive to your brain and all the limitations that it places on you to keep you from discovering yourself.

Some people go to the point of disabling the brain through drugs. But while these methods may work for a time they are addictive in that they are very unreliable after repeat attempts and more of the drug is required. No! Don't use drugs to discover yourself. They are very bad. Use your own will to discover yourself.

Better still there are some writers that help in the self discovery enabling process. Authors such as Norman Vincent Peale very quickly draw you into methods that target your inner self discovery mechanisms. Alternative, you will find that some fiction writers are very strong stimulants of inner self discovery mechanisms. Tolkien, in particular, is extremely helpful. I am not referring to the films that were based on his books, which fall into the group discovery process, but on your reading the books of Tolkien alone and seeking to comprehend what he is saying to you about how you can discover who you are.

Read the Hobbit and then the Lord of the Rings. When you have finished these books you will have discovered yourself, I assure you. But, you must read the books. It is not the visual presentation of Tolkien's ideas from outside that will help you discover yourself, but your own mental images of the what he writes, which will trigger mechanisms within your mind that will enable your to begin to discover yourself, perhaps deeply, for the first time.

Another writer that I can recommend for self discovery is Mark Twain. His books about Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn are particularly good at helping one to discover oneself. The thing is though that you must read the books for yourself quietly and privately.

When you read, find a comfortable place that is very quiet. Turn off the radio, music, turn the light down to soft, have something to drink beside you and a few treats to munch as you read. Prepare yourself for a long trip into the worlds these authors create. As you enter these worlds you will discover many things about yourself.

Think about what Tolkien or Twain are saying. Try to get inside the characters and build mental images of the worlds in which the characters live. As you do, you will develop skills needed to discover yourself, awareness's that you will find valuable in your self discovery process.