There are phenomenological practices about Orn - I guess part of the lack of interest is to do with people lying about what they find and there being no way to check. I sense that much that we do is done in pretence of secrecy and we'd be better off with a narrative of what we are looking at made explicit.
On 18 Mar, 15:01, ornamentalmind <[email protected]> wrote: > Neil, thanks for the recent, albeit rather barbaric study. I have been > sharing this type of information all along. For those who missed my > post with the link to the Santa Barbara Institute, take some time and > read, watch, listen to as many of the internal links there as you can. > The place is run by an old friend of mine, Alan Wallace. He taught me > Tibetan in the mid 80s and I've done 7 day long intensive shamatha > retreat with him.http://www.sbinstitute.com/ > > All the way back to William James the scientific study of mind/ > consciousness has been addressed in western psych. Unfortunately, few > in the west after James followed his recommendation to not only study > behavior and the somatic body, but introspection...mind looking at > mind itself. > > On Mar 18, 5:41 am, archytas <[email protected]> wrote: > > > Electrodes implanted in the brains of people with epilepsy might have > > resolved an ancient question about consciousness. Signals from the > > electrodes seem to show that consciousness arises from the coordinated > > activity of the entire brain. The signals also take us closer to > > finding an objective "consciousness signature" that could be used to > > probe the process in animals and people with brain damage without > > inserting electrodes. Previously it wasn't clear whether a dedicated > > brain area, or "seat of consciousness", was responsible for guiding > > our subjective view of the world, or whether consciousness was the > > result of concerted activity across the whole brain (the pineal gland > > was an old favourite). Probing the process has been a challenge, as > > non-invasive techniques such as magnetic resonance imaging and EEG > > give either spatial or temporal information but not both. The best way > > to get both simultaneously is to implant electrodes deep inside the > > skull, but it is difficult to justify this in healthy people for > > ethical reasons (volunteers being those who fail to take two steps > > backwards). > > > Between the 10 volunteers, the researchers received information from a > > total of 176 electrodes, which covered almost the whole brain. During > > the first 300 milliseconds of the experiment, brain activity during > > both the non-conscious and conscious tasks was very similar, > > indicating that the process of consciousness had not kicked in. But > > after that, there were several types of brain activity that only > > occurred in the individuals who were aware of the words that were > > specially delivered in the experiments. > > > First, there was an increase in the voltage levels of the signals in > > their brains. Second, the frequency and phase of neurons firing in > > different parts of the brain seemed to synchronise. Then some of these > > synchronised signals appeared to be triggering others. For example, > > activity in the occipital lobe seemed to cause activity in the frontal > > lobe. Because this activity only occurred in volunteers when they > > were aware of the words, the research team argue that it constitutes a > > consciousness signature. As much of this activity was spread across > > the brain, they say that consciousness has no single "seat". > > "Consciousness is more a question of dynamics, than of a local > > activity," is the conclusion. > > Journal reference: PLoS Biology, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.1000061 > > > I suspect this may not tell us much more than something about the > > speeds at which consciousness operates, but I do sense we are > > approaching understanding at empirical levels that could inspire an > > Einstein to come up with something we could manipulate conceptually in > > terms of a theory in touch with empirical testing. I do wonder how > > far we might be from being able to wire up distantly separated > > Ornamental monks chanting for peace etc. Sadly the only experiments I > > can afford to do have to be basic and cheap. Getting Molly and Gabby > > to hold hands without destroying the universe might be financially > > feasible, if impossible in reality and people seem to give a damn > > whether the universe continues for them or not (surprising really as > > we burn the planet etc. - though not if your basic view of humanity > > involves the core metaphor 'selfish wankers'). There is a need to > > remember that empiricism does not need to be left in the hands of cold > > bullies, but also that it is not E = MC2 (the easy one that is merely > > a conservation principle example) we do not understand, but how and > > what to observe. We are always thicker than we think and at the same > > time more capable, if only we can start the cycle of welcoming the > > history of mistakes. > > On 17 Mar, 21:53, gabbydott <[email protected]> wrote: > > > > Wherever you are, Molly, you can say you to me. :-) > > > > On 17 Mrz., 21:14, Molly Brogan <[email protected]> wrote: > > > > > Not exclude, embrace - oh the lovely paradox! > > > > > On Mar 17, 1:55 pm, gabbydott <[email protected]> wrote: > > > > > > Hey Molly, these are the kind of scripts the soft porn industry is > > > > > waiting for! Go for it! *laughing* > > > > > > You say: “When we embrace all others as self, all other lives as > > > > > perfect and complete, the soul has fully matured. In writing this, I > > > > > can again experience the sensation.” In our minds eye context I’d have > > > > > to protest, though. My life is neither perfect nor complete, therefore > > > > > you exclude me from your present(ed) we-sensations. > > > > > > On 17 Mrz., 15:32, Molly Brogan <[email protected]> wrote: > > > > > > > Please forgive me for being so unclear as seeming to dismiss > > > > > > rationality. Just as I think the ego is essential to character and > > > > > > important because it allows us to react and in a split second and > > > > > > not > > > > > > have to learn everything over and over again, I know that the > > > > > > rational > > > > > > mind is essential to the development of logic and allows all kinds > > > > > > of > > > > > > necessary organization for individuals and groups. But we don't end > > > > > > there, there is much more. Our first inklings of soul may take us > > > > > > into uncomfortable and unfamiliar territory - karma can be a bitch! > > > > > > Many of us slip back into our rational comfort zones and try to > > > > > > forget > > > > > > the calling of soul. But call it will, louder and louder, until a > > > > > > dark night takes us into that place of nothingness where we are met > > > > > > with our own humility and invited into the connection of gratitude. > > > > > > For the brave, soul searching eventually gets much better than that. > > > > > > By developing our intuition, meditation and contemplation of the > > > > > > beautiful, we continue our soul searching in ways that are our own. > > > > > > > For me, my exploration of karma and soul finally became joyful when > > > > > > I > > > > > > was able to look at multiple past lives simultaneously and recognize > > > > > > patterns of identity and value. At that point, what was good and > > > > > > evil > > > > > > in those lives lost their charge because I could understand the > > > > > > balance in the opposition (sorry for mixing threads here.) I think > > > > > > this is the point where we can let go of our karma - and look at all > > > > > > lives, feeling the inherent sacred nature. Karma and its cause and > > > > > > effect are released and no longer in control. The soul searching > > > > > > became much more joyful from here, and I think its because this > > > > > > turning point allows us a direct line to spirit. When we embrace > > > > > > all > > > > > > others as self, all other lives as perfect and complete, the soul > > > > > > has > > > > > > fully matured. In writing this, I can again experience the > > > > > > sensation. > > > > > > > Just as when the ego matures, it can step aside and allow our higher > > > > > > nature to direct response, at the point mentioned above, the mature > > > > > > soul steps aside to allow that direct experience of spirit. Yet > > > > > > both > > > > > > aspects of self continue to support us, allow us to sense and > > > > > > experience who we are. But here, as you say Slip, we can create our > > > > > > own experience unencumbered by karma, riding the river of spirit as > > > > > > it > > > > > > flows. > > > > > > > I think that there are, and always have been, people that live their > > > > > > lives as heaven on earth. There are, I think, myriad people in just > > > > > > as many stages of development, all moving through experience in a > > > > > > way > > > > > > that provides a congregate harmony. To know and truly feel the > > > > > > perfection in this is heaven on earth. > > > > > > > I won't pretend to be in tune with the infinite every moment. But I > > > > > > have my moments. They can be as painful as saying goodbye to a > > > > > > loved > > > > > > one for the last time, feeling that we are always together. They > > > > > > can > > > > > > be as simple as smelling a rose in my garden on a warm spring day > > > > > > and > > > > > > feeling the joy of that moment in everyone. Or they can be more > > > > > > complex and much more globally triumphant. But that is not > > > > > > necessary. Glamour and world recognition aren't necessary. > > > > > > Integration and connection are. That is my experience so far, > > > > > > anyway. > > > > > > > On Mar 16, 11:12 pm, Slip Disc <[email protected]> wrote: > > > > > > > > Molly; > > > > > > > It does not matter how late you arrive to the affair, as your > > > > > > > presence > > > > > > > is always of pertinence and your contributions appreciated, by, > > > > > > > let's > > > > > > > say, most. > > > > > > > The responses to this thread are insightful and show the true > > > > > > > depth of > > > > > > > Minds Eye thinkers. As for as soul, we shredded the theory, > > > > > > > concept > > > > > > > and belief into finite fragmentation. Your take on soul does > > > > > > > coincide > > > > > > > with mine as being the eternal vessel that holds our identity > > > > > > > from all > > > > > > > lives. I believe the vessel is mostly empty upon initial birth > > > > > > > and > > > > > > > accumulation of knowledge occurs with each lifetime. However, > > > > > > > this > > > > > > > did > > ... > > read more » --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups ""Minds Eye"" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/Minds-Eye?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
