This goes back to the debate between subject and object. Does the external world really exist? Is it really all a projection of consciousness?
If you dive into the "external world", and believe in realism/materialism, you'll be convinced that it is the truth, unless of course there is some sort of soul-perturbing activity occuring when you believe in such a world (the "this can't be real" intuitive awareness). On the other hand, meditate inwards and you'll feel that all of the world is a projection of consciousness. In terms of empirical evidence, we can never know which metaphysics is true. Quantum physics may have come close to mysticism, but only in terms of interpretation. The whole concept of what is true needs to be analysed, especially since in scientific discussion what is meant by "truth" is simply unfailing empirical verification, which is not entirely accurate because relying on such notions of truth cannot lead us to eudaimonia, simply because it leaves doubts in the mind that can only be resolved by introducing assumptions, and quite big assumptions at that (such as the belief in an external world). Some versions of mysticism say that what is experienced in normal life is only relatively real, instead of completely abandoning it by claiming it completely unreal. I think, according to my current frame of thought, that the answer only seems to be solvable by focusing on a foundation in ethics. This is what Pirsig does and that is one of the most important reasons that I have regard for him, although I can say that Pirsig does not do a good job with the metaphysics itself, being right only little more than having identified the need for an ethical foundation for metaphysics. In regards to pure metaphysics, Eastern mysticism, being rooted in Indian thought, does the best job possible. Some scientists even proposed a God Gene, implying that theology is after all a mere chemical. Priests will be in complete opposition to that, simply because they value their inner consciousness more than empirical accounts (which, if you analyse the history of science, have turned out to be inaccurately interpreted most of the time, hence the possibility of progress in science). Will I die or is it all a projection of my eternal consciousness? Only time will tell. Akshay On 22/10/2007, [EMAIL PROTECTED] <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > Looking for an interesting take on the nature of consciousness and what is > going on in meditation and "mystical" states? Check out: > > > http://www.sciammind.com/article.cfm?articleID=434D7C62-E7F2-99DF-37CC981453 > 3B90D7 > > I await the tap dancing and "yeahbuts"... > > Krimel > > > Moq_Discuss mailing list > Listinfo, Unsubscribing etc. > http://lists.moqtalk.org/listinfo.cgi/moq_discuss-moqtalk.org > Archives: > http://lists.moqtalk.org/pipermail/moq_discuss-moqtalk.org/ > http://moq.org.uk/pipermail/moq_discuss_archive/ > Moq_Discuss mailing list Listinfo, Unsubscribing etc. http://lists.moqtalk.org/listinfo.cgi/moq_discuss-moqtalk.org Archives: http://lists.moqtalk.org/pipermail/moq_discuss-moqtalk.org/ http://moq.org.uk/pipermail/moq_discuss_archive/
