Hi John,
On Jan 26, 2010, at 7:55 PM, John Carl wrote: > John: > I'm not a religious person either Marsha, but boy what you describe sure > seems like what religious people seek, that annihilation of self, that > feeling of non-cognitive control, the euphoria. > > It seem very similar to an experience people seek in church when they're > "caught up in the spirit" babbling in an unknown tongue, fainting, or > engaging in a charismatic service - a non-verbal, non-cognitive experience > which, without words or concepts confirms in their being a reality they > don't normally experience. > > I never sought it out, I'm too verbal. I like my own train of thought, I'm > attached to cognition and I've often wondered why "solitary confinement" is > considered a punishment. I'd think in prison it'd be nothing but relief to > get away from everybody for a while. Marsha: I once made a ten-second delayed freefall. That was very exciting too, it expanded my experience of time, but I cannot imagine anyone translating my excitement into such a silly religious experience as cited above.. You're as ridiculous as Bo converting my unpatterned experience into unpatterned bliss. You say there are no such experiences as unpatterned experiences, I say there are. Convincing you is not my intention. > >> Marsha: >> I'm not a religious person and have no idea what a religious experience >> would be. >> >> For weeks it felt like something was going to happen, like my mind was >> squinting, or something, and then it happened. It was visual. I was seeing >> but their were no thoughts in my head, but I was aware. It was seeing, but >> not seeing anything. It lasted about 5 minutes, no less, but I don't know >> for sure. I was flabbergasted because it was so obvious. OMG, unpatterned >> experience!!! Or, OMG I was totally aware without thinking. And then I >> began not to believe my own experience, so I did on my own. Naturally, I >> was excited. The next day I did it again of my own volition. I was >> overjoyed, of course. It was wonderful. It was amazing. I tried it again >> about a week later, and made it happen, but I haven't tried it since, which >> is sad. Life interfered, or more probably I'm lazy and ungrateful. But it >> was "real". Yet it's no big deal; it's what naturally happens. I guess. >> Oh, I don't know; I don't know anything. >> >> I do not often enough sit in meditation, but do try to keep a mindfulness >> throughout my day. I think there is a relationship, but I'm guessing. I >> had a very formal meditation practice for a few years and was able to watch >> my thoughts. I have no trouble saying that's watching patterns flicker >> through mind, and that is why I go on about Quality (unpatterned experience >> and patterned experience); both have been experienced. >> > > John: > Well, I guess I'm too metaphysically picky, like I said before. Because I > see what you describe as "differently patterned" experience. "non-normal > patterns of experience" rather than "UNpatterned". But I do understand > better now what you mean by the term, and this helps my understanding. > Thanks. ok > >> Marsha: >> Maybe you'll think I have just described indigestion. Maybe if I hadn't >> had such experiences I'd think the same thing. >> > John: > Nah, I've seen people in the throes of non-cognitive religious ecstasy at > rock concerts and certain worship services, it's way different than > indigestion. I believe you. Marsha: The question might be, what have you imagined for me? Marsha _______________________________________________________________________ Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you'll land among the stars... 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/
