Fragmentation is continually being brought about by the almost universal habit of taking the content of our thought for a description of the world as it is… Since our thought is pervaded by differences and distinctions, it follows that such a habit leads us to look on these as real divisions, so that the world is then seen and experienced as actually broken up into fragments.
— Physicist David Bohm, Wholeness and the Implicate Order
Philosophically, this is called Reductivism, an approach that became popular in the 17th century. It is also closely related to Materialism, an orientation that only what we can physically sense and measure is real. Science divided itself from religion and later removed ideas like ether, such as from Maxwell’s equations (for electricity). These worldviews are so ingrained in our worldview that even scientists rarely distinguish their outlook from the scientific method.
Reductivism is an effect of the intellect being identified with an ego which experiences itself as separate and individual. Hence we, and our intellect, see the world this way and are inclined to separate and categorize.
While this can be useful and has led to many scientific advances, when we don’t recognize what our perspective brings to the table, we confuse experience with truth.
This becomes increasing clear as we develop through stages in consciousness. First with Self Realization and the shift out of ego identification. And then with Unity when Self is recognized in all things. At this point, we experience ourselves as everything. The intellect shifts from looking out and seeing separateness and dividing to recognizing what is the same and joining.
This process is the winding down of fragmentation and the flowering of wholeness.
Davidya
Last Updated on September 4, 2016 by Davidya