There exists a concept in Mathematics and Computer Science called a Higher Order Function. This is a function that takes:
One or more function arguments
Returns a function as its result
It is useful because they allow you to treat actions and logic as data enabling you to write abstract, reusable and expressive code.
Now I have a thing that I call Higher Order Thinking.
Higher Order Thinking for me is where my mind is calm, tranquil and has space to think at a higher level. Generally, this cannot be done when you are at a busy point in life, it cannot be done when you are stressed. It requires calm, quiet, free space.
To me Higher Order Thinking is where new ideas and associations enter my thoughts. They are composites of other information that I know. It is a time where you draw analogies and associations between information that you know. You may group together information into new ideas as inputs like the Higher Order Function.
But again, this requires, calm, tranquility and the space to think without other thoughts crowding your mind.
Higher Order Thinking is where you have a vacuum in your mind. Perfect Emptiness that nothing occupies. A perfect vacuum is the condition where things are drawn in at immense force due to the lack of anything being present.
Spirituality
A forever learner - I love learning and when my occupation (occupied) and life aren’t stealing my thoughts, I love to expand my knowledge.
In recent years my search for knowledge has led to the doors of Religion, Stoicism and the wider world of Esoterecism, Mysticism, Occult.
As a child, I remember standing in a hall near our exit to our house and having the strongest wave of “doubt of reality” that you can imagine. A hot wave of being aware that my body and my mind were two independent things. Obvious, separate. It felt so weird and to do this day I remember that feeling.
I think that feeling of mind and body as one is something people take for granted as in we are a sealed unit, one piece. But from that experience I had as a kid - I’ve always been acutely wary of this split.
The Self in Threes
I love being an educator - albeit to a small physical audience of my 2 children.
I do find that I have a knack for transposing complex topics to “explain it like I’m 5 syntax”.
When explaining behavior and actions to my kids i donned a three way explanation for things.
“Body, Brain, <Child’s Name>. Your Brain controls your Body. And <Child’s Name> controls your Brian.”
I’ve always intuitively explained behavior to my children in three parts. Their body (physical), their brain (thoughts) and then them - their character/self/essence.
The reason why is sometimes you think bad thoughts. But that is all they are transient fleeting thoughts. They aren’t you - that is a higher level on top. You get to control what thoughts you take. Just because you have thoughts doesn’t mean that’s you.
This natural onion skin layering has always been an intuitive way of explaining thought, behavior and self. All distinct.
Spirit
I’m too early into my study and thinking as to whether this thing that is me, that sits outside of my thoughts is Spirit. I don’t know enough about anything to say yes or no to it.
However this trio I do think holds up.
I’m too uneducated at this point to know whether Spirit is a word that crept in through religion or whether it is a universally accepted placeholder for the stuff we can’t bucket elsewhere.
Filling the Void
I do feel that Meditation, a clear mind, Higher Order Thinking is the time when that void can be dunked with new, fresh ideas from out in the ether.
The second layer (mind) receiving information from upstream.
To me this point that gets dunked and filled is the moment before I wake up.
When transitioning from sleep state to waking state, if I am deeply calm and collected this is where I will receive new information. Almost like it being deposited from the Universe.
The second best time is my morning time where I have quiet time to sit, think and contemplate. Sometimes it occurs here but not as impactful.
I thoroughly enjoy receiving new ideas, that’s why I aim to do it every morning, when I can.
But the preparation must be done, a clear mind with no clutter and unaddressed issues. Meditation and Attention are both great for clearing out that space to be open and ready to the outside world.