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We probed into the nature of space and time, and of the universal, both with regard to external nature and with regard to mind. But then, we went on to consider the general disorder and confusion that pervades the consciousness of mankind. It is here that I encountered what I feel to be Krishnamurti's major discovery. What he was seriously proposing is that all this disorder, which is the root cause of such widespread sorrow and misery, and which prevents human beings from properly working together, has its root in the fact that we are ignorant of the general nature of our own processes of thought. Or to put it differently it may be said that we do not see what is actually happening, when we are engaged in the activity of thinking.

David Bohm#5

ThinkingPsychologyConsciousnessMindSelf awareness

About this quote

What does it mean?
Human disorder stems from ignorance of our own thought processes. We fail to see what happens during thinking.
In plain terms
We don't understand how we think, which causes confusion and sorrow.
What can you take from it?
Understand your thought processes to reduce mental disorder.

Where it applies

  • personal reflection
  • therapy
  • philosophical study

Putting it to work

  • observe your thinking
  • question assumptions
  • study cognition

Questions to consider

  • What am I unaware of in my own thinking?
  • How does my thought process affect my mood?

Another view

Self-knowledge alone may not solve external societal issues.

More from David Bohm

  1. Dialogue is really aimed at going into the whole thought process and changing the way the thought process occurs collectively. We havent really paid much atten…

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  2. I would say that in my scientific and philosophical work, my main concern has been with understanding the nature of reality in general and of consciousness in …

    Permalink to quote #6
  3. During the past few decades, modern technology, with radio, TV, air travel, and satellites, has woven a network of communication which puts each part of the wo…

    Permalink to quote #3

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