(Well, that’s one way to put it.) Emotion clear-cuts the natural diversity of original, unfiltered perception. Certainly, this tendency to blindside ourselves is a built-in survival adaptation. I imagine anything ‘aware’ would need such a way to filter out extraneous sensory data. Extraneous meaning that which has no immediate bearing on survival. Even given our extremely narrow sensory ranges, there’s still an infinite amount of stimuli out there to arouse the nervous system.

So far so good. Now, consider the filtering effects of language on perception. Words and names allow our brain to filter out extraneous sensory data to a fault! These preconceptions (along with emotion) ensue vast pre clear-cut landscapes of consciousness. Oh my, too much of a good thing, eh?

On the up side, we get something in return – treasures and places to put them in! Treasures? Sure,…music, tables, poetry, vehicles, stories, clothes, plays, jewelry, music, beer,… the list is endless. Of course, we need this ‘furniture’ to fill our mind’s clear-cut barren landscape. But, that’s okay. We can’t miss what we don’t know… almost. And even when we begin to feel we are missing out, it can be difficult letting awareness turn back until discernment penetrates the four quarters. Words and names comforts us with a promise of sensory security, which explains why we cling to them so. Alas, everything has a cost. No free rides in Nature.