It doesn’t lie in fields like deep space, advanced medicine, artificial intelligence, or quantum physics. It lies within the mind. And, the world will ultimately realise this truth.
It is ironical that while people look to conquer space, we have very little understanding of the vastness that lies inside of our minds. Compared to the dark recesses of the mind, the world outside is relatively easy to see and navigate. So, we will reflexively look for things to do out there. We cannot clearly see what is inside the mind (its workings), so we do not try to explore within… no matter how promising the riches. And it is that lack of visibility within that will probably make sure that humanity will first muddle around in the visible barrenness of the outside world before turning to the treasures within.
To be sure, exploration of the outside world has its benefits. Advancement across technological and other fields have improved the physical human condition, even though this has come with significant “side-effects” like global warming and extinction of a large number of species. Many of us would not be alive had it not been for modern medicine. And, it can be argued that none of our scientific and technological achievements would have come through if people had not explored the world outside.
The problem is that enduring happiness and the mental peace that it is founded upon lie within, and not outside. It is inside the mind that we react to what we perceive outside.1 And we implicitly do realise that what we keep looking for is a permanent state of internal happiness. But we make a serious mistake when we assume that such a happy condition requires the world outside to be in a particular state. Even when we are not looking for perfection, we implicitly set conditions for the world to meet before we will allow ourselves some level of happiness.
So, the final frontier within could be reached if we build the mental skills to remain actively happy regardless of the conditions of the world outside.2 Admittedly, a person facing very severe challenges (e.g. physical pain, abject hunger, or many other similar issues) would find it very difficult to be happy. But, fortunately, many of us do not face such a predicament. Even when we have more than what we need, we remain very good at finding reasons to not be happy.3 Overcoming these internal barriers to happiness offers the prospect of the final frontier. This is what we have been searching all along – we may just not realise it. So, it never ceases to amaze me as to how little importance is given to understanding the mind, compared to other domains that appear to offer the promise of “the final frontier”.
In my past articles, I have shared my thoughts on how such a level of control over the mind may be exercised. A good place to start would be with this article.
Recommended reading
The Advanced Meditation Exercise (TAME) : This meditation technique is an incredibly powerful way to keep the mind peaceful. It is prescribed in Bhagwad Gita, the primary book of Indian spiritual heritage. It derives its power by activating three key things in us: detachment, stillness, and transformation.
Use Meditation to counter depression and stress: Modern approaches towards depression and stress are not working as they do not understand the mind that creates them. It’s time to rethink our approach.
The world has no clue: the truth is hidden from our eyes. It is verifiable. And yet, the world is clueless about it.
Footnotes
1: See my earlier article on happiness.
2: See earlier article.
3: Or, we just remain neutral in a holding pattern when we could just as well have been happy. Many may see this has their normal state of being.
