From J. Clements
I was interested to read Peter Halligan and David Oakley’s
(18 November, p 34)
assertion of the subordinate position of the conscious mind. However, this
is hardly an original insight—mystics of the Zen and Sufi traditions
pointed this out long ago. Their teachings draw attention to the shallowness of
the ego (or false self, or Level 1 mind) and how it is an illusion created by a
need to make sense of feelings and actions caused by the unacknowledged (Level
2) parts of the mind. I believe the advertising industry, too, is well aware of
our unconscious “buttons” that they can press even though we consciously deny
that we could ever be manipulated against our will.
Harrogate, North Yorkshire
