Object cognition is when we link appropriate concepts to an object through our thinking and experience and then as a consequence we understand the object. An example of this would be taking a nail, looking at the object of the nail, connecting relevant concepts, or concepts that are connected with the nail, to the nail, and thereby understanding it.

These concepts are for example:
• that the materials making up the nail need to be relatively hard rather than too malleable,
• the one end needs to be sharp,
• the other needs a flat head to receive the full force of the hammer,
• the surface of the shaft of the nail must be smooth in the main,
• the head must be firmly connected to the shaft of the nail so that the force that strikes the nail’s head is transmitted through the shaft of the nail to the point,
• the length of the shaft has a relation to the diameter and the hardness,
• and so on.

In this way, we understand the nail and can reject quite comfortably the concepts that don’t apply to the nail (such as aroma, elasticity, etc.) but might apply to other objects. This gives us a clear understanding of the world of objects and in fact the material world as a whole.

This object cognition is however insufficient when there is a desire to understand the spiritual nature of the human being. In order to understand the spiritual nature of the human being, additional concepts are required. Just like the concepts contained in mathematics are required to understand the objects and their relationships to each other, so too are spiritual concepts required to understand the spiritual nature of Man. These spiritual concepts give us the ability to understand a whole lot more about the human being than concepts that are only relevant to the world of objects. Modern medicine has for example ignored the spiritual nature of Man, has not sought to find them, and hence treats illness almost exclusively with object concepts. The concept of psychosomatic illness is a first baby step in discovering the concepts that relate to the spirit in Man. The above could not have been thought and then written without a certain clarity of the conceptual world and the relevance of the split between object concepts and spiritual concepts. This is an example of the practical value of adding spiritual concepts to ones’ ability to understand the world. Object cognition is limited to material understanding of the world. If we refuse to open ourselves up to the concepts relevant to the spiritual nature of Man, we will only be able to see the human being as an object.

Below follow a few more examples.

From this, one can work out that two identical forklifts will only operate the same way when they are operated by the same person. The exact force that the operator uses, and at which moments they are applied, can be measured in object cognition. Why these forces arise within the hands and feet of the person at the specific moments that they do, cannot be explained by object cognition. To understand these reasons, one has to go to the inner motivations, fears, desires and understandings of the operator. Here one requires spiritual concepts. Selecting the right people to operate forklifts and their further training cannot seriously be considered on the basis of how many fingers they have or the measurement of their leg length. They would be far more effectively measured on other attributes like:
• their inherent understanding of balance and cantilevers,
• their inner relationship to patience above haste,
• and their inner capacity to draw straight lines without a ruler.
How does one give another person the capacity to draw straight lines? No suggestion would involve reassembly or manual manipulation of their physical arm assuming the arm is normal in the first place. This would be laughable. We all know this, and yet we are too impatient to recognise that other concepts are required to understand the source of movement of the arm which is what lives inwardly as a spiritual reality within the spiritual elements that are related to the physical bodies of people. In this example we can see that understanding the physical workings of a human body are only a small part of the overall understanding that is possible. What initiates the movement in the first place is of course key. We need additional concepts to grasp this.

Are Formula One drivers in haste?

Before continuing to read take a moment to consider this question for yourself. If F1 drivers allowed themselves to be in haste, where will they end up? What is haste then? Is it the fast and controlled movement of arms and legs, or is it more the uncontrolled inner illusion and fear of the driver’s soul? It must be the latter. An objective and courageous soul also has the ability for quick movements, but they are much more likely to do the movements at the right time and in the right direction. They will stay on track longer. Patience, courage, objectivity and so on are qualities that anyone can acquire but only if they choose them and build them into their inner being out of themselves. There is no shop for these qualities. They are freely available. People annex land and demand payment for its use, but nobody can control the use of these spiritual qualities if anyone wants them as part of their spiritual makeup.

Meetings of people within organisations today often lead nowhere. The simple reason being that the participants are not aware that there is object cognition and there is cognition related to the role and nature of the human being. They are both required and need to be understood and separated from each other. Object cognition cannot be applied to the human being as the only means of understanding. So why not learn a bit about the concepts related to being Human? Those that are familiar with some of these, could perhaps be acknowledging that having these is an unfair advantage.

People that have access to and experience of spiritual concepts, must surely see their relevance and advantage in their daily lives! From the above examples, the following could be seen as real value in daily life, an ‘unfair’ advantage and something that other healthy people should surely aspire to:

1. Object cognition deals with all aspects of a forklift, except how it actually moves. Understanding of the human being in the driver’s seat becomes critical; and
2. Just being able to know that there are concepts that relate only to dead objects, and others to the human being is key to finding a way forward from where society finds itself in conceptual stagnation; and
3. The development of an understanding of the basic spiritual concepts and what they are, where to find them, and how to bring them into each individual is what is going to determine not only how your forklift is operated, but also how constructive your communication amongst each other is. (Refer Human Qualities, Lens concept and Communication)

We need to add these spiritual concepts to our consciousness if we want to understand life and the world correctly. Without these spiritual concepts, paradigm shifts that can bring about healthy, sustainable change in society will remain a dream. There is no requirement to let go of or undo object cognition in the process, but rather that the addition of spiritual concepts adds morality to the process.