Meditation (research)
bassos
There is a growing body of research linking meditation (mostly buddhist) to
altered brainpatterns.
Davidson:
http://psyphz.psych.wisc.edu/web/pubs.html
Broaden and build; Frederiksen:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1693418/pdf/15347528.pdf
(youtube bit : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ds_9Df6dK7c )
Some french dude turned monk who participated in fmri research on living
kindness and ze brainz
http://www.ted.com/talks/matthieu_ricard_on_the_habits_of_happiness.html
(his presented idea about meditation is pretty good)
So keep up that thingy about
Enchant long, divine short.
It takes 10.000 hours of practise to become an expert.
(roughly ten years)
Alrah
> So keep up that thingy about
> Enchant long, divine short.
I've haven't heard this phrase before... what's it mean Bassos?
Tom
> Ola,
>
> There is a growing body of research linking meditation (mostly buddhist) to
> altered brainpatterns.
>
> Davidson:http://psyphz.psych.wisc.edu/web/pubs.html
>
> Broaden and build; Frederiksen:http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1693418/pdf/15347528.pdf
> (youtube bit :http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ds_9Df6dK7c)
>
> Some french dude turned monk who participated in fmri research on living
> (his presented idea about meditation is pretty good)
>
> So keep up that thingy about
> Enchant long, divine short.
>
> It takes 10.000 hours of practise to become an expert.
> (roughly ten years)
The latest issue of Scientific American Mind has an article on this
subject, mentioning the research of Richard Davidson with long-term
meditators specifically. What Davidson found was that long-term
meditators practicing open-monitoring meditation (the kind I mention
fairly often when talking about ego-transcendent states) were able to
generate sustained, synchronized, high-speed brainwaves called "gamma
waves". Ordinarily, without meditation training, people are only able
to generate these gamma waves in short bursts, usually during REM
sleep but rarely while awake.
Now two other researchers, one at MIT and the other at Stanford, have
published separate studies that the gamma waves are generated by fast-
spiking interneurons within the cerebral cortex (the seat of higher
cognition in humans). They found that sustained gamma wave production
can be induced by stimulating these interneurons directly. The
technique they use is probably not going to catch on as a meditative
practice, since it involves introducing a tailored virus that alters
the DNA of the interneurons so that they become light sensitive and
then inserting a fiber optic cable into the brain to shine light on
them. Seems a bit drastic as a way to achieve "enlightenment".
However, the mere fact that it is possible to induce gamma wave
generation without having to spend many years of training has enormous
potential. The Dalai Lama, speaking at the annual meeting of the
Society for Neuroscience in 2005, said that if neurologists could find
a way to put electrodes into his brain to duplicate the effects that
he gets from four hours of daily meditation practice, he'd be an eager
volunteer.
bassos
"Alrah" <alrah-...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:36fe57c8-3028-4519...@b2g2000yqi.googlegroups.com...
i think i read it as relating to assumption of god-forms (enchant) and well,
divine is divination.
Practise assumption of godforms till ya puke.
(so they can become so alive as to be indistinguishable from really alive)
When doing a divination, get the message and go.
(so as to distort said divination as little as possible)
bassos
"Tom" <dant...@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:45efa3e2-b5e5-4ed2...@k13g2000prh.googlegroups.com...
On Oct 31, 11:55 pm, "bassos" <zebazz_nope at zonnet.nl> wrote:
> Ola,
>
> There is a growing body of research linking meditation (mostly buddhist)
> to
> altered brainpatterns.
>
> Davidson:http://psyphz.psych.wisc.edu/web/pubs.html
>
> Broaden and build;
> Frederiksen:http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1693418/pdf/15347528.pdf
> (youtube bit :http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ds_9Df6dK7c)
>
> Some french dude turned monk who participated in fmri research on living
> kindness and ze brainz
> http://www.ted.com/talks/matthieu_ricard_on_the_habits_of_happiness.html
> (his presented idea about meditation is pretty good)
>
> So keep up that thingy about
> Enchant long, divine short.
>
> It takes 10.000 hours of practise to become an expert.
> (roughly ten years)
**
The latest issue of Scientific American Mind has an article on this
subject, mentioning the research of Richard Davidson with long-term
meditators specifically. What Davidson found was that long-term
meditators practicing open-monitoring meditation (the kind I mention
fairly often when talking about ego-transcendent states) were able to
generate sustained, synchronized, high-speed brainwaves called "gamma
waves". Ordinarily, without meditation training, people are only able
to generate these gamma waves in short bursts, usually during REM
sleep but rarely while awake.
**
http://psyphz.psych.wisc.edu/web/pubs/2004/Long-term_meditators.pdf
(2004)
I referenced
http://psyphz.psych.wisc.edu/web/pubs/2008/LutzRegulationPLoSONE.pdf
(2008)
**
Now two other researchers, one at MIT and the other at Stanford, have
published separate studies that the gamma waves are generated by fast-
spiking interneurons within the cerebral cortex (the seat of higher
cognition in humans). They found that sustained gamma wave production
can be induced by stimulating these interneurons directly.
**
Got me a link or names of those researchers ?
**
The technique they use is probably not going to catch on as a meditative
practice, since it involves introducing a tailored virus that alters
the DNA of the interneurons so that they become light sensitive and
then inserting a fiber optic cable into the brain to shine light on
them. Seems a bit drastic as a way to achieve "enlightenment".
**
Heh.
Well, to manage symptoms of epilepsy people can get electrodes stuck
continuously in their brain.
The possibility to generate gamma would then be probably also possible to
generate with electrodes.
http://ojensen.ruhosting.nl/
(he talks about oscillations and what research suggests they may mean. From
the link on the left; Oscillatory Brain Dynamics is interesting)
**
However, the mere fact that it is possible to induce gamma wave
generation without having to spend many years of training has enormous
potential. The Dalai Lama, speaking at the annual meeting of the
Society for Neuroscience in 2005, said that if neurologists could find
a way to put electrodes into his brain to duplicate the effects that
he gets from four hours of daily meditation practice, he'd be an eager
volunteer.
**
Yeah, the dalai lama is a quite active supporter of brain-research.
Tom
> "Tom" <danto...@comcast.net> wrote in message
>
> **
> Now two other researchers, one at MIT and the other at Stanford, have
> published separate studies that the gamma waves are generated by fast-
> spiking interneurons within the cerebral cortex (the seat of higher
> cognition in humans). They found that sustained gamma wave production
> can be induced by stimulating these interneurons directly.
> **
>
> Got me a link or names of those researchers ?
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19396156
http://www.stanford.edu/group/dlab/papers/Sohal%20Nature%202009.pdf
Tom
>
> Practise assumption of godforms till ya puke.
> (so they can become so alive as to be indistinguishable from really alive)
http://web.mit.edu/stclair/www/meditationsutra.html
Something similar is done in the fashioning of a tulpa, or thought-
form, an image that is so vividly imagined as to take on a life of its
own within one's mind. The tulpa, however, can be anything. It need
not be a god-form. It could be the form of an animal or a person, or
even a doppelganger of oneself. The potential of this technique for
inducing some seriously screwed up delusions is quite high.
Like evocation to visible appearance, the creation of a tulpa is a
very flashy and impressive process, when it works at all, but it
generally leads only to self-flattery and delusions of grandeur and
persecution and is ultimately pointless.
Tehiru
tulpa being initially a rather fat and jolly monk that many people
saw. As is often the case with a created thoughtform, it eventually
went rogue, assuming a leaner and distinctly menacing cast and was
disassembled in the reverse of the manner it was created.
www.tulpa.com/explain/alexandra.html
bassos
On Nov 2, 6:00 am, "bassos" <zebazz_nope at zonnet.nl> wrote:
>
> Practise assumption of godforms till ya puke.
> (so they can become so alive as to be indistinguishable from really alive)
http://web.mit.edu/stclair/www/meditationsutra.html
**
Impressive imagery.
**
Something similar is done in the fashioning of a tulpa, or thought-
form, an image that is so vividly imagined as to take on a life of its
own within one's mind. The tulpa, however, can be anything. It need
not be a god-form. It could be the form of an animal or a person, or
even a doppelganger of oneself. The potential of this technique for
inducing some seriously screwed up delusions is quite high.
Like evocation to visible appearance, the creation of a tulpa is a
very flashy and impressive process, when it works at all, but it
generally leads only to self-flattery and delusions of grandeur and
persecution and is ultimately pointless.
**
That's why enchant long.
After 10000 hours, even the flashiest process is not at all so impressive.
Tom
> I read an account of the creation of a tulpa once over the years, the
> tulpa being initially a rather fat and jolly monk that many people
> saw. As is often the case with a created thoughtform, it eventually
> went rogue, assuming a leaner and distinctly menacing cast and was
> disassembled in the reverse of the manner it was created.
At least, that's his story. There's not much reason to challenge it,
though. There's never much of a reason to challenge anecdotal
evidence. It is, after all, about the weakest form of evidence there
is.
It does illustrate my observation, however. The creation of a tulpa
is pointless, even when it seems to work, much like evocation to
visible appearance.
I guess the question really boils down to what you're doing magick
for. If it's to impress yourself or others, then flashy activities
like this are pretty useful for drawing in the rubes or shoring up a
sense of personal inadequacy. However, if it's to reveal the
difference between fantasy and reality, to pierce the illusions of the
mind which have become superimposed on one's perceptions of the world,
then it's counterproductive.
Tehiru
> I guess the question really boils down to what you're doing magick
> for. If it's to impress yourself or others, then flashy activities
> like this are pretty useful for drawing in the rubes or shoring up a
> sense of personal inadequacy. However, if it's to reveal the
> difference between fantasy and reality, to pierce the illusions of the
> mind which have become superimposed on one's perceptions of the world,
> then it's counterproductive.
Not at all. It doesn't work against something else in motion. It's
simply unnecessary. If you want to assume or create these vehicles
that is fine, but what need is really being served by going visible?
In most cases, I would agree that the need being served is some
version of inadequacy.
Tehiru
pride yourself on being the voice of reason, critical thinking and
logic. I can appreciate that. However, do you have any personal
leanings toward mysticism? I haven't seen any postings that reflect
some yearning toward the mystical, that presupposed goal of
enlightenment that I must reasonably assume that the majority of those
on this thread possess. I am not referring to specifics of magickal
practice per se, but I was wondering if you could illuminate me on
this.
Evergreen
> Ola,
>
> There is a growing body of research linking meditation (mostly
> buddhist) to altered brainpatterns.
Meditation can do many things. Altering brain patterns is
irrelevant compared to its real benefits that it isn't
even worth mentioning.
>
> Davidson: http://psyphz.psych.wisc.edu/web/pubs.html
>
> Broaden and build; Frederiksen:
> http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1693418/pdf/1534752
> 8.pdf (youtube bit : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ds_9Df6dK7c
> )
>
> Some french dude turned monk who participated in
> fmri research on living kindness and ze brainz
> http://www.ted.com/talks/matthieu_ricard_on_the_habits_of_happi
> ness.html (his presented idea about meditation is pretty good)
>
> So keep up that thingy about Enchant long, divine short.
>
> It takes 10.000 hours of practise to become an expert. (roughly
> ten years)
>
One can derive great benefits from meditation in one day after
5 minutes of instruction.
It is foolish to go to physical scientists for useful information
on subjects that their basic beliefs keep them from remotely
comprehending.
Asking someone who doesn't believe magick is real to ecplain
magick is idiotic.
There are numrous ways to meditate, all of them accomplishing
quite different things when one takes them to the limit.
The term simply means to look within, and inner space is
much vaster than outer space.
Sid
--
Sidney Lambe
Wiccan Priest and Apprentice Magician
http://tinyurl.com/7vs9zb
usenet4444 (at) gmail (dot) com
bassos
"Evergreen" <sidne...@nospam.invalid> wrote in message
news:slrnhevoaa.uv...@evergreen.net...
> On alt.magick, bassos <zebazz_nope> wrote:
>
>> Ola,
>>
>> There is a growing body of research linking meditation (mostly
>> buddhist) to altered brainpatterns.
>
> Meditation can do many things. Altering brain patterns is
> irrelevant compared to its real benefits that it isn't
> even worth mentioning.
You missed the word 'so' in there.
And no, it is worth mentioning.
It is what is known as evidence.
>> Davidson: http://psyphz.psych.wisc.edu/web/pubs.html
>>
>> Broaden and build; Frederiksen:
>> http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1693418/pdf/1534752
>> 8.pdf (youtube bit : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ds_9Df6dK7c
>> )
>>
>> Some french dude turned monk who participated in
>> fmri research on living kindness and ze brainz
>> http://www.ted.com/talks/matthieu_ricard_on_the_habits_of_happi
>> ness.html (his presented idea about meditation is pretty good)
>>
>> So keep up that thingy about Enchant long, divine short.
>>
>> It takes 10.000 hours of practise to become an expert. (roughly
>> ten years)
>
> One can derive great benefits from meditation in one day after
> 5 minutes of instruction.
Yep.
With 5 minutes a day it will just take a lot longer to become an expert.
To be a master-meditator (uche) means always meditating. every single
moment.
(as ofcourse we all do all the time, most of it being a meditation about the
past and the future)
> It is foolish to go to physical scientists for useful information
> on subjects that their basic beliefs keep them from remotely
> comprehending.
<foregoing the reference to imaginary scientists>
Just cos some scientist may hold a belief that something is
bullshit/irrelevant/whatever;
The data speaks for itself.
> Asking someone who doesn't believe magick is real to ecplain
> magick is idiotic.
I do not ask them to explain magick.
(nor ecplain)
I look at what they find.
> There are numrous ways to meditate, all of them accomplishing
> quite different things when one takes them to the limit.
There is a limit ?
> The term simply means to look within, and inner space is
> much vaster than outer space.
They are actually the same thing from different perspectives.
Alrah
> "Alrah" <alrah-pub...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
Ah! Thanks. Makes sense. Cheers. :-)
bassos
I still think you are ludvig.
Tehiru
> Meditation can do many things. Altering brain patterns is
> irrelevant compared to its real benefits that it isn't
> even worth mentioning.
It can do things, like what? Be specific. Yes, meditation can allow
you to alter brain patterns, but have you considered that the
alteration of brain patterns is a manifestation of the "other things"
you mentioned? I am somewhat amazed that you are so casually willing
to dismiss the alteration of brainwave patterns when it is the prime
measurable indicator of those other benefits.
> It is foolish to go to physical scientists for useful information
> on subjects that their basic beliefs keep them from remotely
> comprehending.
>
> Asking someone who doesn't believe magick is real to ecplain
> magick is idiotic.
While I am not as hard-core as Tom about measurable evidence, what you
are essentially advising us is that we should never attempt to seek
any sort of verification for our work. So if Tom pronounces himself an
Ipsissimus this afternoon and declares he has the siddi of being able
to walk through walls, I should accept that at face value. Those
scientists are out to collect information. If people in a samadhi
state have a characteristic brain pattern, we can use this as a
yardstick for others.
> There are numrous ways to meditate, all of them accomplishing
> quite different things when one takes them to the limit.
Really? Like what?
Tehiru
advance, cultivating different outlooks and writing styles. And just
to attempt (unsuccessfully) to deceive Bassos?
HG
> bassos wrote:
> > I still think you are ludvig.
>
> Interesting. Ludwig must have created the Alrah sockpuppet years in
> advance, cultivating different outlooks and writing styles. And just
> to attempt (unsuccessfully) to deceive Bassos?
It's like I created the Mika sock puppet years before I started posting here,
complete with a well-estabilished identity, a career and lots of friends,
just to try to decieve Voyd. It's a time honored alt.magick tradition.
HG
Tehiru
sockpuppet. And of course the charming Patrick Schaaf sockpuppet.
Really, I know you are the only other person on this board.
HG
> HG wrote:
> > Tehiru <tehiru...@gmail.com> writes:
> >
> > > bassos wrote:
> > > > I still think you are ludvig.
> > >
> > > Interesting. Ludwig must have created the Alrah sockpuppet years in
> > > advance, cultivating different outlooks and writing styles. And just to
> > > attempt (unsuccessfully) to deceive Bassos?
> >
> >
> > It's like I created the Mika sock puppet years before I started posting
> > here, complete with a well-estabilished identity, a career and lots of
> > friends, just to try to decieve Voyd. It's a time honored alt.magick
> > tradition.
> >
> Well yes, but you actually did create the Mika sockpuppet. And the Tom
> sockpuppet. And of course the charming Patrick Schaaf sockpuppet.
> Really, I know you are the only other person on this board.
Damn, the jig is up.
How do you like my sunsets, by the way?
HG
Tehiru
Evergreen
>
> "Evergreen" <sidne...@nospam.invalid> wrote in message
> news:slrnhevoaa.uv...@evergreen.net...
>> On alt.magick, bassos <zebazz_nope> wrote:
>>
>>> Ola,
>>>
>>> There is a growing body of research linking meditation (mostly
>>> buddhist) to altered brainpatterns.
>>
>> Meditation can do many things. Altering brain patterns is
>> irrelevant compared to its real benefits that it isn't
>> even worth mentioning.
>
> You missed the word 'so' in there.
>
> And no, it is worth mentioning.
> It is what is known as evidence.
That kind of evidence is worthless to anyone but clueless
geeks who think that the only reality is the one perceived
by the physical senses.
They'd be a thousand times better off if they'd put down
their silly hi-tech toys and learn to meditate.
The priests of physical science and their followers, like
you, just don't get it: We who have embraced magickal science,
which is the only true science, just don't care what you
ignorant and superstitious primitives think or do.
We find you to be both amusing and pathetic.
A person can learn all the secrets of the universe by
meditating. They can journey to alternate realities
and then ends of this universe. Just for starters.
And you think you've accomplished something by making
a machine that will produce squiggly lines on a readout
in response to the brain's electrical activity.
Evergreen
> On Nov 2, 11:54=A0pm, Evergreen <sidneyla...@nospam.invalid> wrote:
>> Meditation can do many things. Altering brain patterns is
>> irrelevant compared to its real benefits that it isn't
>> even worth mentioning.
>
> It can do things, like what? Be specific. Yes, meditation can allow
> you to alter brain patterns, but have you considered that the
> alteration of brain patterns is a manifestation of the "other things"
> you mentioned? I am somewhat amazed that you are so casually willing
> to dismiss the alteration of brainwave patterns when it is the prime
> measurable indicator of those other benefits.
Do yourself a big favor. Learn to meditate. Work at it a while.
Then get back to me.
You will laugh at the ignorance you displayed in the paragraph
above.
[delete]
mika
Thanks for giving me such big boobs too. It was very thoughtful of
you.
Alrah
> "Alrah" <alrah-pub...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
>
> news:f72a9432-51a8-4887...@l13g2000yqb.googlegroups.com...
>
>
>
>
>
> > On 2 Nov, 14:00, "bassos" <zebazz_nope at zonnet.nl> wrote:
> >> "Alrah" <alrah-pub...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
>
> >>news:36fe57c8-3028-4519...@b2g2000yqi.googlegroups.com...
>
> >> > On 1 Nov, 07:55, "bassos" <zebazz_nope at zonnet.nl> wrote:
>
> >> >> So keep up that thingy about
> >> >> Enchant long, divine short.
>
> >> > I've haven't heard this phrase before... what's it mean Bassos?
>
> >> i think i read it as relating to assumption of god-forms (enchant) and
> >> well,
> >> divine is divination.
>
> >> Practise assumption of godforms till ya puke.
> >> (so they can become so alive as to be indistinguishable from really
> >> alive)
>
> >> When doing a divination, get the message and go.
> >> (so as to distort said divination as little as possible)
>
> > Ah! Thanks. Makes sense. Cheers. :-)
>
>
> - Show quoted text -
*shakes head*
I am not. I was the speaking clock in the past, and various others in
the dim past. I will identify them all if you wish. I have never
taken on a male persona.
Alrah
lmao! Since I've been celibate (unlike the real Mika) I've decline to
adhere to the size 10 diet (12 now) and my tit's are gargantuan, and
this is the real life Mika! ;P All I can say is that it runs in the
family (very true).
Tehiru
> Do yourself a big favor. Learn to meditate. Work at it a while.
> Then get back to me.
>
> You will laugh at the ignorance you displayed in the paragraph
> above.
Have you ever noticed that when someone with massive insecurity issues
doesn't have an answer, they attempt to divert attention?
Tom
> On Nov 2, 7:34 pm, Tom <danto...@comcast.net> wrote:
>
> > I guess the question really boils down to what you're doing magick
> > for. If it's to impress yourself or others, then flashy activities
> > like this are pretty useful for drawing in the rubes or shoring up a
> > sense of personal inadequacy. However, if it's to reveal the
> > difference between fantasy and reality, to pierce the illusions of the
> > mind which have become superimposed on one's perceptions of the world,
> > then it's counterproductive.
>
> Not at all. It doesn't work against something else in motion.
If what you do creates even more illusions, then you're not piercing
illusions.
> It's simply unnecessary.
Then we agree in at least a practical sense.
Tom
I'm not sure we understand the same thing when we each use the term
"mysticism". The world is filled with mysteries. It'd be pretty
difficult not to acknowledge that or to be curious about at least some
of them.
The same thing applies to the term "enlightenment". There seem to be
too many meanings of this term for me to answer any question regarding
my presuppositions about it.
As for magick...
"Magic is the Highest, most Absolute, and most Divine Knowledge of
Natural Philosophy, advanced in its works and wonderful operations by
a right understanding of the inward and occult virtue of things; so
that true Agents being applied to proper Patients, strange and
admirable effects will thereby be produced. Whence magicians are
profound and diligent searchers into Nature; they, because of their
skill, know how to anticipate an effect, the which to the vulgar shall
seem to be a miracle." -- The Lemegeton
Tom
You're welcome.
Tehiru
> I'm not sure we understand the same thing when we each use the term
> "mysticism". The world is filled with mysteries. It'd be pretty
> difficult not to acknowledge that or to be curious about at least some
> of them.
>
> The same thing applies to the term "enlightenment". There seem to be
> too many meanings of this term for me to answer any question regarding
> my presuppositions about it.
Go ahead and use your own definitions.
Evergreen
No. But I have noticed that religious fanatics who encounter
people who dismiss their wackjob belief systems out-of-hand get
very upset and try to convince themselves that the person doing
the dismissing is mentally incompetent.
Christians, Scientologists, Physical Scientists... they are all
the same. They all believe that their beliefs are facts and
freak out when someone suggests that they might be fundamentally
nonsense.
I feel especially sorry for the poor fools who believe that the
only reason they exist is because million of years ago some
microbes accidentally mutated.
It is amusing to ask them to present evidence supporting that
absurd belief, because there isn't any.
Tehiru
> I feel especially sorry for the poor fools who believe that the
> only reason they exist is because million of years ago some
> microbes accidentally mutated.
>
> It is amusing to ask them to present evidence supporting that
> absurd belief, because there isn't any.
Interesting. Do you know the meaning of a negative proof?
Evergreen
I know you think that you are incredibly clever, but the fact
is that you are boring.
I am just going to ignore your juvenile head games and get back
on-topic.
Meditation, meaning turning off your outer senses and turning
on your inner senses, is the key to magick and magick is the
key to the universe.
It is very simpple to learn and two 20 minute sessions a day
will transform your life and your understanding of the nature
of reality in a relatively short time.
Just find a quiet place where you won't be interrupted and
sit quietly and close your eyes and turn your attention within.
Away from physical reality. In the beginning just try to sense
the energy of your inner being as it is directed towards
creating your experience of Earthly existence.
Don't try to get fancy. Your experiences will become clearer
and more complex and meaningful as time goes on. For now it
is enough to get a good handle on the basics. Learn to
be aware of the part of yourself for which time and space
are just colors on an artist's palate.
Tom
>
> > Have you ever noticed that when someone with massive insecurity issues
> > doesn't have an answer, they attempt to divert attention?
>
> No.
I suppose not. There are quite a few things Sid doesn't notice. This
is quite deliberate on his part. Sid is concerned with the goings-on
in his own head. He doesn't like thinking about a physical world in
which he's not making all the rules up himself. So he doesn't believe
in it. And, since he's decided that it doesn't exist, he deeply
resents the impertinence when it distracts him.
Sid displays a magical operation we might call "willful ignorance".
Observe how it distorts his model of reality. Look at what it
accomplishes and what it fails to accomplish. It's instructive. If
you cannot be a good role model, you can always be a horrible example.
> Christians, Scientologists, Physical Scientists... they are all
> the same.
They are all the same in that they are not Sid. Therefore they don't
exist. Therefore they have no business trying to confuse him with
their conflicting ideas.
> They all believe that their beliefs are facts and
> freak out when someone suggests that they might be fundamentally
> nonsense.
Whereas Sid feels that only *his* beliefs are facts and *justifiably*
freaks out when someone suggests they might be fundamentally nonsense.
> I feel especially sorry for the poor fools who believe that the
> only reason they exist is because million of years ago some
> microbes accidentally mutated.
Sid feels sorry for people who are not Sid.
Tom
>
> Meditation, meaning turning off your outer senses and turning
> on your inner senses, is the key to magick and magick is the
> key to the universe.
This is a very good description of the magical operation of "willful
ignorance". Refuse to accept input from any external source and focus
your entire attention upon your own thoughts and feelings.
If Sid ultimately passes from apprentice to journeyman in this
operation, he will, from our point of view, become entirely
catatonic. He'll be completely inattentive to anything but his own
interior neural processes. He'll be blind, deaf, and in all other
ways insensate, permanently.
I wish him bon voyage.
Tom
Mysticism is the aspiration to apprehend reality at its most
fundamental.
Enlightenment is any apprehension of something that is fundamentally
real.
So enlightenment is the ultimate goal of mysticism.
It is extremely unlikely that the human brain is capable of
apprehending all of reality, so I figure I'll just do the best I can
and not worry myself about attainments.
Tehiru
> Mysticism is the aspiration to apprehend reality at its most
> fundamental.
> Enlightenment is any apprehension of something that is fundamentally
> real.
>
> So enlightenment is the ultimate goal of mysticism.
I'm down with that.
Evergreen
Poor Tom. He just can't deal with the fact that there are people
who reject his physical science religion.