Jesus Unpalatable Truth About Our Human Behavior?

 

Therefore speak I to them in parables, because seeing, they see not, 

and hearing, they hear not, neither do they understand, (Matthew 13:13).

This post continues the theme of: The Felt & Unfelt Reality of Our Human Existence? By suggesting that the story of Jesus known today, is based on a far older understanding of the maturity challenge of our human species. As the clearly evident challenge to become a fully mature sentient species, that we see in the world today. And clearly evident in Jesus' concise statement about why he taught parables. Awakening parables about the unpalatable truth of our human behavior? As explored in the post: Balanced Consciousness & Ancient Prophecy Words?

About the simple truth fact that all our consensus reality words, are not the reality of the world. And how the subconsciously orchestrated and functionally automatic nature of our adult behaviors collude with the recursive nature of language. To make us feel like we are more conscious of the nature of reality, than we actually are. Which this post argues is the oldest most unpalatable truth known to our species, and is paradoxically denied by the subconscious orchestration of our adult behavior.

Yet proven by the undeniable fact that no human being can explain the unseen & largely unfelt reality of how we think, talk, & walk, as a sentient species. As the subconsciously orchestrated nature of our behavior, sees us unwittingly conflate the reality of communication, with reality comprehension. Which can be deconstructed, to use a term popular in spiritual but not religious circles, of online communications and website manifestations. To differentiate our intellectual form of reality comprehension from our embodied form of reality comprehension.

To prove to ourselves, the simple truth of Jesus' clearly stated reason for teaching parables of awakening. And to understand, in an embodied way, what he actually meant by the words; "because seeing, they see not, and hearing, they hear not, neither do they understand." 

Our Mind's Abstracted Reality Expectations?

This subheading seeks to deconstruct the meaning of the word comprehension. And if you click on this link comprehension you will see the 3-part explanation:  1. the act or action of grasping with the intellect. 2. knowledge gained by comprehending. 3. the capacity for understanding fully. With all three explanations based on the nature of human languages, as an abstracted form of reality. Please consider:

Human languages are a highly abstracted form of reality. They do not transmit the exact physical world directly; instead, they function as a mapping system that uses symbols to categorize, simplify, and represent our subjective experiences. A Google AI Overview

And please contemplate Jesus' stated reason for teaching parables of awakening? As a species-specific problem with the subconsciously orchestrated and functionally automatic way we behave "as-if" our consensus-reality words about the world, are the reality of the world? Or our mind's abstracted reality, perceptual expectation? Like when I look out my window and automatically interpret what I see with thought-words, and contemplate how Jesus' statement is perfectly true.

As I focus on feeling the surface-level impressions of reality being received by the biological reality of my eyes. And the sound of reality being received by the biological reality of my ears, as the biologically conceived creature that I am. And try to realize and be mindful that I am not really understanding the true nature of reality. As I automatically think of words of interpretation, for this overwhelmingly biological experience of being human. 

And against the conditioned and resistant nature of my Ego, I have to admit that my thought-word "grasping with the intellect." Is only a partial understanding of reality. And that my "the capacity for understanding fully" involves "knowledge gained by comprehending" the abstracted form of reality we call language.

As I try to swallow Jesus' unpalatable truth about our human behavior. And that truth be told, I can describe whatever I see and hear with any descriptive words I care to imagine, without changing the reality of whatever I see and hear. Which for me at least, is the truth of the natural philosopher Jesus of Nazareth's clearly stated reason for teaching parables of awakening.

Not awakening from the waking dream of our language determined consensus-reality. But awakening to the realization that language as an abstracted form of reality. As I practice balancing my biologically receptive and psychologically projective form of consciousness. Contemplating the word enlightenment and Jesus' sayings about being the light of the world. Please consider:

Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. 

Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life,” (John 8:12).

This one of those Jesus' sayings that feels more like a "riddle-me-this" question about the experience of being human, than the God-man reality of a supernatural being. The words of a natural philosopher who is also reported to have said: "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me," (Luke 9:23). And in the context of his clearly stated reason for teaching parables, because we seeing, see not, and hearing, we hear not, nor do we understand, do these words challenge us to self-cross-examine the reality of our behavior? 

Like when looking our my window in the video above, and self-cross-examining my conscious awareness of reality. By questioning how much the sounds & symbols nature of language reveals or conceals the substance nature of reality? And whether I confuse symbol as substance in my thinking behavior? And upon self-cross-examination, I realize that I don't know the substance nature of what I am seeing, nor do I know the substance nature of my thought-words. 

As I differentiate my intellectual form of reality comprehension from my embodied form of reality comprehension. By feeling the pressure of cerebral blood flow within my brain while thinking, and being mindful that the substance nature of my thought-words, is electro-chemical signals traveling between networks of neurons within the biological brain of the biologically conceived creature that I am. As I try to understand Jesus' words, in the context of him being a natural philosopher, rather than a supernatural God-man. 

Please consider the possibility that the words of another natural philosopher may have influenced the words of Jesus and the words written about Jesus. Especially in the context of our human mind's abstracted reality; expectations.

True wisdom comes to each of us when we realize how little we understand

about life, ourselves, and the world around us. — Socrates

And in the context of understanding my own mind's abstracted reality expectations of what I can see outside my window. While contemplating Jesus' unpalatable truth about my human behavior. I consult the latest manifestation of our sentient species journey towards full maturity. By asking a large language model AI about the substance nature of the thought-words I use to describe what I am seeing outside my window. Please consider:

(Thoughts and word representations within the brain are not composed of a single physical "substance" like bone or tissue. Instead, they are dynamic patterns of electrochemical energy circulating through billions of interconnected neurons.

The brain creates thought and internal dialogue through this specific physical and chemical process:

Electrical Firing: Neurons communicate via electrical impulses (action potentials). When you think of a word, a highly specific network of neurons activates in a synchronized pattern.

Chemical Messengers: These electrical signals trigger the release of chemicals called neurotransmitters (e.g., dopamine, serotonin) across microscopic gaps (synapses) to pass messages to neighboring neurons.

Brain Networks: The "substance" of your thought is the activation of these pathways across specialized language and auditory regions. For instance, the posterior-superior temporal gyrus builds the structure of language, while the anterior cingulate cortex and thalamus process the emotional tone of the words you are "hearing".

Ultimately, the substance of thought is information in motion—a complex, spatiotemporal choreography of matter and energy that our brains interpret as a conscious voice or idea.

You can learn more about how electrochemistry translates into human language by exploring the MIT McGovern Institute for Brain Research or by reading overviews on the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy regarding the neural correlates of conscious thought.) A Google AI Overview

While in the historical context of two natural philosophers like Jesus and Socrates. I ask an LLM AI about the substance nature of a tree, to see if true wisdom involves realizing how little I truly understand about life, myself, and the world around me. Trying to verify the accuracy of Jesus' parables of awakening statement: "Therefore speak I to them in parables, because seeing, they see not, and hearing, they hear not, neither do they understand." Please consider:

(At a fundamental level, a tree is a solid, living, perennial plant. Chemically, it is essentially a highly structured collection of hydrocarbons built from air and water.

The substance nature of a tree can be broken down into its chemical composition and its living physical anatomy:

1. Chemical Composition: Air and Water

It is a common misconception that trees get most of their "substance" (mass) from the soil. In reality, up to 95% of a tree's dry weight is derived directly from the atmosphere and water through photosynthesis:

Carbon: Captured from atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO₂), this makes up the basic structural framework of the tree.

Hydrogen & Oxygen: Derived primarily from water (H₂O) absorbed by the roots.

Trace Minerals: Around 1-5% of the tree's mass comes from soil minerals like nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium.

2. Biological Components: Wood and Cells

At a cellular level, these elements are transformed into three primary natural polymers, which give wood its strength and flexibility:

Cellulose: Long, rigid chains of sugar molecules that form the main scaffolding of the plant cells.

Hemicellulose: A binding agent that supports the cellulose framework.

Lignin: A complex chemical adhesive that binds cellulose fibers together, providing immense rigidity and strength.) A Google AI Overview

Explanations about just how much I don't understand my own reality and the reality of the world around me, that make me wonder if the Christian Bible is about a supernatural reality or the natural philosophy of the reality-wise? As the historical reason for its many paradoxical sayings and stories, about the personal nature of salvation. And especially Jesus' unpalatable truth about human behavior and linguistic confusion about the true nature reality?

And as I finish this post, continuing this series theme of good news that can be preached to the whole world. About the cryptically wise meaning of the words "and then the end will come?" Through a conscious realization about the deceiving power of the word. That enables an increasingly urgent need to balance our biologically receptive & psychologically projective, experience of consciousness.

I can only hope that I've provided some useful food for thought about the universal reality of being human. And why historical figures like Buddha & Jesus, are also known as enlightened, realized beings? Please let me know what you feel and think about this blog post, in the historical context of truth, goodness, & beauty.

Best wishes,

David Bates.