PART I
CHAPTER THREE.
THE FABRIC OF REALITY, SLEIGHT OF MIND: HOW WE CREATE TRUTH.
We do not act directly upon our sensory experience, but upon what we re-present to ourselves. We act not directly upon the world, but upon our model of the world.
"Laws as such do not make people better," said Nasrudin to the King,"They must practice certain things, in order to become attuned to inner truth. This form of truth resembles apparent truth only slightly."
The King decided that he could, and would, make people observe the truth. He could make them practice truthfulness.
His city was entered by a bridge. On this he built a gallows. The following day, when the gates were opened at dawn, the Captain of the Guard was stationed with a squad of troops to examine all who entered. An announcement was made.
"Everyone will be questioned. If he tells the truth, he will be allowed to enter. If he lies, he will be hanged." Nasrudin stepped forward.
"Where are you going?"
"I am on my way," said Nasrudin slowly,"to be hanged."
"We don't believe you!"
"Very well, if I have told a lie, hang me!"
"But if we hang you for lying, we will have made what you said come true?"
"That's right, Now you know what the truth is, YOUR truth!"
(The Exploits of the Incomparable Mulla Nasrudin by Idries Shah)
In order to assist in changing someone's behavior you need to change the way he is representing his experience to himself. We construct models of the world through the process of abstraction (Chap 8). The process of abstraction depends upon processes people use to construct their models of the world. Each of these processes have specific sensory-based indicators that can be detected. By learning to package our communication in ways that cooperate with his models of the world, we can more effectively assist him in changing.
The whole focus of Part II is not just to describe how a person creates a model of the world, but in giving you precise indicators that can be detected and hence, learned. An excellent understanding of the power of this observational ability can be found in the world of fiction. Sherlock Holmes is credited with being one of the most skillful observers in all of literature. Even though he is noted for his impeccable reasoning ability, it is his effective use of his senses, his observation skills, that makes possible his relentless reasoning. In the"Adventure of the Cardboard Box," Mr. Holmes eloquently describes the observation process in an encounter with Dr. Watson!
Finding that Holmes was too absorbed for conversation I had tossed aside the barren paper and leaning back in my chair, I fell into a brown study. Suddenly my companion's voice broke in upon my thoughts.
"You are right, Watson," said he."It does seem a most preposterous way of settling a dispute."
"Most preposterous!" I exclaimed, and then suddenly realizing how he had echoed the innermost thought of my soul, I sat up in my chair and stared at him in blank amazement.
"What is this, Holmes?" I cried."This is beyond anything which I ever could have imagined." He laughed heartily at my perplexity."You remember," said he,"that some little time ago when I read you the passage in one of Poe's sketches in which a close reasoner follows the unspoken thoughts of his companion, you were inclined to treat the matter as a meretour-de-force of the author. On my remarking that I was constantly in the habit of doing the same thing you expressed incredulity."
"Oh,
