23 Dec The map is not the territory
In a previous blog we touched on how the sheer complexity of reality forces us to create a simplified version of reality in our minds to help us negotiate our way through life, a map if you will.
As a well known quote from the field of Psychology says “the map is not the territory”. This is because maps, no matter how important or essential a tool, are never fully true. They reflect the culture, society and politics of the map maker. We have to make necessary simplifications and choices to create maps.
These choices reflect our cultural and political biases. This means when we look at a map it not only tells us about the territory it describes but also about the person or people who made the map.
Here in the UK the map of the world has the British Isles top and centre. I am told if I bought a map of the world in Australia it would have Australia top and centre. Our mental maps of reality are the same. We are at the centre and our maps reflect our fears and desires. Most of us played little or no conscious part in drawing up our map and yet our map determines the direction we take in life.
Unfortunately many of us refuse to believe the maps in our head are subjective. We insist they are true and cling to them and even fight wars over them. We try to shape the world to fit our map instead of the other way round.
By meditating we can look inside our minds and learn how to draw maps that allow us to adapt to and function better in the world to reach our chosen destination rather then maps that seek to justify, support and glorify our ego at the expense of our long term happiness.
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