Dysfunctional Humans

It is a question that has come up a variety of times over the last few years for a variety of reasons. Most come from my continued studies which speak to the workings of the human, the human mind and the human brain. A lot is geared toward nature's survival instincts which seem to still govern our lives even tho survival is no longer a matter of life or death - metaphorically speaking.

Dysfunction speaks of an impairment, a failing and of not operating properly. Dysfunction tends to consist of a psychological, physical and societal influences or purview.

I am thinking along the lines that human dysfunctions come from modern industrial influences with emphasis today on fast moving instant gratifying technologies, i.e. cell phones, computers and social techno interfacing through electronic means. I ask myself, would humans even have to endure the perception of dysfunctions if we still lived where survival meant being a member of a tribe, hunting for sustenance and maintaing solidarity to survive incursions by both animal and humans.

In that light anyone who may have a debilitating dysfunction simply means they are not strong enough to contribute to the survival of the tribe. I was led to believe that in those instances the child never got past a few days old. If you don't function normally, who's idea of normal is that anyway? I feel I am pretty much a normal human who tries to live according to nature's plans with adjustments for industrial/techno living. I believe my dysfunctions arise only when I encounter others who perceive me as not adhering to their belief system and their way of life, doing things and their views, etc.

If we still lived in the boundaries set by nature would we be encountering that many humans that much different from us. Would I as a European born tribal member living within natures specified area and time and culture ever encounter a person from an Asian continent with totally different beliefs, culture, language, and ways? Hmmm, are we actually multiplying and moving out beyond natures intended boundaries creating more friction and dysfunctions leading to conflicts?

My studies indicate so far, my view, that we are living far beyond our current evolutionary state. Why? Our minds, our brains and our ability to think, reason and create. Not to lessen our ability to discover ways to enhance our limitations as humans, i.e. flying without natures wings of a bird but mechanically.

Our brains, minds and bodies have not evolved fast enough for the environmental evolution that we are pushing on ourselves, our Earth and our Nature. The argument would say our industrial/techno advancement has meant the discovery of great things but I say at what cost. Life must have balance, life must remain somewhat in equilibrium with nature, all things of nature and all things of the Universe.

Techo advancements have outdistanced our humanity. Is this why we are experiencing dysfunctions? When did this word even come into use? I doubt that our ancient fathers and mothers used the word to describe things that humans did, do and are doing both now and historically.

Look at it this way, we have to create through technological means food enough to sustain humans. The natural ability of the Earth to provide food has limits and we have exceeded those so the need to enhance food was created, just to feed us.

How does this equate to martial arts. Well, we tend to speed past the natural order of the discipline in order to reach more enhanced aspects that are cool, spiffy and ego gratifying. We have folks with multiple black belts, multiple claims to expertise in multiple systems and we have created many human enhancements in the name of instant gratification, physical ability  and greater notoriety. At what price? Are we actually, still, practicing the art of karate? Has our efforts to move beyond the natural boundaries of practice and training caused a loss of the true transmission of karate-jutsu-do as the ancient masters intended? Has the change to technology resulted in a lost art?

Questions, questions, questions! Maybe if humanity were still facing lions, tigers and bears the stuff that results in a dysfunctional person would be "less" of s dysfunction.

CAVEAT: These are my thoughts, my idea's and not meant to influence, sway or propose any expertise in this most difficult area - that is what they have therapists for .... oh, and my views, etc have absolutely no basis in research, facts or other such data of note. Just my thinking .....

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