Balance

Balance

A word from Phen Theory’s founder on -

The best time & methods for brainstorming - Meditation & Generation

My observations on my work on Phen & other aspects of my life have revealed that one of the best times for ideas & brainstorming is right on the verge of waking up in the morning. It’s when you can reach for a pad & pen or phone or other note-taking device before your mind has had time to orient itself in the universe with all its sensory attachments & distractions.

We can (if our objective is to generate insight) replicate that throughout the day by finding environments that provide our basic needs & nothing else. It depends on the person. That could be an empty room with a comfortable chair & perfect climate control & several ready-to-go cups of chai tea, or it could be a stroll in the forest with a backpack, some sunscreen, a sandwich & some bug spray.

But what is needed is 1 focus point. The core of what you are trying to generate ideas from.

For me, with Phen Theory, as an artist & because I have knowledge in colour theory, I use the Universal Colour Theory version of the maps, as I can easily visualise the colours & their positioning. I even like to have a poster or a screen with a picture of it for when I need to do more complex mapping of phenomena.

But for others, it may be either one of Phen’s Universal Maps like the flavour map. Or it might be meditating on a loved one or a problem, etc.

This process of calm + being mindful (of environment, body, mind, reality), plus trying to generate ideas based on them (structured thought or insight — inner sight) is not only my way & the Phen way but also the Buddhist way.

But we can’t remain in a vacuum. Everything about Phen Theory shows that to achieve ternary balance & remain 1, we need to have moments where we let all the world in. We need to constructively indulge the senses with experience & information — to use all that our senses have to offer.

These periods may seem to people as manic polars, but they are about balance. Just part of the process. But to remain balanced, we need to indulge in both EQUALLY & not attach to either part of the process — making sure to alternate between the two.

As for how long to indulge in each side of information gathering & information generating — well, that’s when you need to listen to the mind, just like listening with your ears or seeing with your eyes or feeling with your skin. Your mind will tell you that it’s running out of ideas, so you need to feed it information. Then the other way — when feeding yourself with information & experiences, etc. — if you listen to your mind, you will start to feel you are not generating ideas.

Projecting takes more effort than ingesting, so don’t fall into the trap of just unwittingly consuming information & experiences. This will lead to attachments, addictions, desire & a lack of ideas or inspiration.

This process can only be done when we are conscious & alive & being mindful. So use it wisely. Because if we all do this, then we can produce amazing ideas that can massively reduce suffering in ourselves & others.

& if you are someone that makes a living from tipping this balance — by encouraging or forcing people to ingest & consume more, or output & produce more — without respect for the suffering this lack of balance causes, then I strongly urge you to be mindful of the error of your ways & to make a change towards rightful living. Don’t be tempted by the profits you can gain at others’ expense. This input & output is in abundance, but it needs to be exchanged freely, without coercion, & in balance with each individual’s needs.

May you be happy, may you be healthy & free from harm,

May you be peaceful & at ease,

May you find balance & harmony,

May you be filled with loving-kindness.

Funky Love Bunny