Buddhism makes the same basic observation and gives it a
name: mindlessness. In this usage, the term includes the
absentmindednessthat we mean when we say “mindless,” but
it encompasses more, too — that our awareness is clouded, that
we are spirituallyasleep.
Wise men, poets, storytellers, and philosophers have
echoed this idea throughout the ages. Today, many psycholo-
gists agree with the idea that mindlessness, in the Buddhist
sense, is very common, much more so than we might realize.
Mindlessness conditions us to replace authentic experience
with habitual responses. Think about our state of mind when
we are tired, ill or in pain: we tend to have a short attention
span and little patience. We often react with fear or anger and
regress into old childhood patterns we thought we had out-
grown. In such a low state of awareness, our motives and emo-
tions are most likely to be habitual. It is no wonder that we
often miss important details or react from an unhealthy place.
Though we may not always be tired, ill, or in pain, we
might experience our regular state of awareness as an almost
continuous low-level discontent, nervousness, or boredom.
Think of it as if everything we see, hear, touch, and smell were
our own personal radio station to the world. Our low-level
unease introduces background static that becomes so normal
that we forget it was not always there. Just as with static on the
radio, or some irritating background noise like a dripping
faucet, we usually tune out this static from our direct con-
sciousness. Often, the only time we are aware of it is when it
suddenly stops. And when it does, we are relieved.
Though the idea of trying to cover up background static
with further noise makes little rational sense, many people,
without realizing it, attempt to cover up their low-level unease
by an excess use of alcohol, drugs, sex, food, work, television
or shopping. When they do, that activity soon loses whatever
native joy or pleasure it might have had when used in modera-
tion. Instead, it quickly becomes infected by a compulsive
quality. It becomes an addiction, and whatever ability to cover“Like consciousness itself,
film engages our senses,
intellect, and heart, cap-
turing our attention so
completely that we can
enter the world of self-
perception.”
Marsha Sinetar34 E-Motion Picture Magic