CONCRESENCE AS INCLUSION IN EVERY BECOMING MOMENT

by Dr. Arlette Poland

Whitehead coined the term conscresence. It is described variously as the intake and decision making in the becoming event or experience. John Cobb, Jr. describes it as the “process of becoming ‘concrete’.” (Cobb, 2008, 59) The process takes place in time and is experienced in our space/time continuum in such a quick way that most of us do not realize these are processes and experiences that occur at all. However, concrescence, as the process of becoming, includes the fact that all of the information from the past is available in each becoming event. Even as these events exist in the human entity, Whitehead tells us that our “mental operations do not necessarily involve consciousness.” (Whitehead, 1978, 85) Thus, we can know that concrescence is an integral and necessary part of any life coming into existence. However, we can also know that consciousness is not necessary for that instant of becoming.

Concrescence, Whitehead tells us, is somewhat like a series of information matching to desire. (ibid, 84-85) Information is available to the becoming event and that becoming event has a set of desires that allow the incoming information into the successive phases of becoming – or not. If it is possible to be aware of the desires, it would also be possible to be aware of the impact of those desires on the inclusion of information. Now we are close to the point here. All the past presents itself to each becoming event without filters, arguably. The filters are in the becoming experience. What if those filters are fixed or shrunken?

Inclusion is acceptance in action. In Buddhism, as well as in many of the world’s spiritual pathways, there is a component of introspection and/or contemplation. In Judaism, we have not only the Kabbalah but also the Mussar. Both of these are systems within Judaism that encourage contemplation. That translates into contemplation of Adonai, or G_d. In Buddhism, the contemplation is of the present moment. Having experienced both forms of contemplation, I can safely say that where they coordinate is in that illusive now experienced in the breath. In the moments when I felt most connected to the reality of Adonai, It felt like the energy of opportunity. Adonai felt like all the many opportunities for greater care and connection. In Buddhism, the present moment was contemplated using the breath. Each in and out breath exposed the opportunity for greater care and connection. Thus, the experiences felt connected.

So, I posit that concrescence is a door of opportunity for inclusion. The inclusion becomes the action of becoming based on the desires of the entity. Desires to be inclusive can direct our experiences. Contemplative practices can help humans (and maybe non-human animals?) be aware of our desires, which are really thoughts. Since thoughts become things, just as the concrescence is the act of becoming concrete, when our thoughts are focused on opportunities for greater care and connection, the experience of becoming is about G_d – made actual.

 

Bibliography/Works Cited

Cobb, John Jr. (2008) Whitehead Word Book: A Glossary P & F Press

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Whitehead, Alfred North. ed David Ray Griffin & Donald W. Sherbourne (1978) Process and Reality (Corrected Edition) The Free Press, NY