A Himalayan Trekker's Journey of Self-Discovery, Self-Knowledge and Consciousness through Dialogue towards Embodied Communication within the Phenomenological Framework

Abstract

Self-discovery, self-knowledge and awareness, alertness and consciousness (in a state of Mindfulness) are keys to experiencing the fullness and exuberance of daily living, the very essence of human life and existence. It is through the quality (or non-quality) of human experiences of everyday living are derived or defined, or refined, our respective meanings and purposes in life. The Question of – what brings quality to daily life or our entire lives depends on the answers one provides which concerns fundamentally – how one experiences life on a day-to-day basis, which becomes weeks to months, then into years. The writer is curious as to how this may be explored, that is, to attaining that “quality of life” and “integrating that quality to everyday”, hence the importance of the topic of interest. Fortunately, the discovery of trekking the Himalayas presented itself, as though an answered prayer to pressing questions of the human heart and mind.

To problematize such a dilemma, the study sought answers to the following research questions.

I. What are the trekking experiences that evolved my perspectives and interpretations of my lived worlds? II. How do such interpretations communicate its expressions that influence my narratives of self-knowledge and consciousness? III. Why is it important to me to recognize the dialogues of such expressions of the self to the self in relation to the interpretations of my lived experiences of trekking?

To cast order into such an ambitious inquiry, the research framework consisted of grounding theories such as Phenomenology as a tradition of communication etc. and thematic dimensions which specifically addresses the integration of the five human senses to the lived experiences of the researcher during trekking – which awakened the “intelligence for communication” within the being, thereby improving attention, focus and consciousness (in a state of mindfulness) resulting to meaningful experiences of the self-being and the realities of the outside perceived worlds.

The tradition of Qualitative Research was used in the study, particularly the Phenomenological research approach. It provided the techniques to derive or construct a shared meaning of the experiences in trekking, a richer and fuller understanding of the phenomenon of “communication” where it manifested “the whole” (i.e. understanding the meanings of the experiences as it happens through communication within and with others, including the commune with Nature etc). while consisting of consistent assumptions of human nature and society (Evelyn Jacob).

The results of the study provided answers to the research questions, as summarized below:

1. The trekking experiences was the game changer - it challenged the body, mind and psychological tenacity – the rough terrain, extreme weather conditions and temperature, high altitudes and eminent dangers of landslides, avalanches and unstable edges of the trail hanging over a cliff etc. It awakened the five human senses and the being within (ie. that which who speaks and truly communicates). It makes the mind to re-examine life and death scenarios, what is truly important in life and the changes that are needed to make life meaningful, and even worthwhile, given that it is indeed short, and for that, it can be taken in any point in time (ie. anywhere, not necessarily in the mountains etc.)

2. The seeking for answers to the dilemma of “what is the quality of life?” impresses the need to understand, which existed in the possibility of communication. In other words, essences of the meaning of life and as to how to improve everyday experiencing in general, were communicated through thoughts, feelings and emotions of the being within – thus the perceptions. Little or no recognition is given to such a happening, a happening of communication, rather to misconstrued illusions by the unconscious mind that over romanticizes the influx of external misgivings of unnecessary information and entertainment of a dulled mind and muted being.

3. It cannot be overemphasized here in the study, the importance of self-knowledge, self-awareness and consciousness (a state of mindfulness) – as it is the key to self-resiliency in many aspects of human everyday life.

As a collective, the study is also relevant to Organizational Management level, where it improves the quality of leadership, comradery and communities of practice etc., hence raising the quality of organizational performance, profitability and human resources development. Applicable to the Public & Private Sector organizations, the Development Sector, the Academe etc.

The contribution of the above answers to the Communication field is that - attaining self-knowledge, enlightenment (ie. in the context of logical reasoning) and resiliency of human beings - where life could possibly be fully expressed and experienced into existence.

Into existence of the experience, manifest the materiality of the lived worlds which can only be experienced in the constituted world of communication. Hence, the study argues that existence can only be experienced through existing in communication – in one’s experience. Thus, the study supports and dares to contribute to the affirmation of other existing literature that - Communication theory as a field, is that of coherence as it exists in all multidisciplinary fields, for without the dialogical-dialectical constitutive nature of communication, no one can know the existence of anything that exists.