"Grok means to understand so thoroughly the observer becomes a part of the observed. It means almost everything we mean by religion, philosophy, and science — and it means as little to us (because of our Earthly assumptions) as color means to a blind man." Robert A. Heinlein, Stranger in a Strange Land.
Michael, the hero of Stranger in a Strange Land, was born on Mars, where grokking was taken for granted. So he was unencumbered by the
barriers to intuition many humans encounter. As an example, he grokked
grass before walking on it to ensure he was not causing another creature harm.
Grokking seems such a natural concept and, though one can't logically explain exactly how to do it, I think we're all capable of a connection so deep we're both one and all.
I've always considered the Vulcan mind meld to be a form of grokking. Again, we must leave the Earth to find beings for whom such a deep connection comes naturally. So I was delighted to find there's still a craze for "I Grok Spock" t-shirts. Why is that, I wonder? Possibly because we're the strangers in our own land, longing to be able to grok.
What a combination. A deep mental understanding (which also requires physical contact) aligned with a complete emotional-intuitive awareness of another: body, mind and heart attuned.
Imagine!
Grokking seems such a natural concept and, though one can't logically explain exactly how to do it, I think we're all capable of a connection so deep we're both one and all.
I've always considered the Vulcan mind meld to be a form of grokking. Again, we must leave the Earth to find beings for whom such a deep connection comes naturally. So I was delighted to find there's still a craze for "I Grok Spock" t-shirts. Why is that, I wonder? Possibly because we're the strangers in our own land, longing to be able to grok.
What a combination. A deep mental understanding (which also requires physical contact) aligned with a complete emotional-intuitive awareness of another: body, mind and heart attuned.
Imagine!
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