Re: [FairfieldLife] Re: Machinelike or Random?

2015-02-04 Thread inmadi...@hotmail.com [FairfieldLife]
just say We don't know but the event is analyzable . . . then go home and have 
dinner with the SO.  Instead of calling it 'random' - which is just woo for 
science folks who are afraid the conversation might degrade into talking about 
spirits or the soul. But then, I'm a hard ass  :  )

[FairfieldLife] Re: Machinelike or Random?

2015-02-03 Thread inmadi...@hotmail.com [FairfieldLife]
Claiming some event is random just means the event is too complicated and we 
don't understand it yet.  So there is no calling a thing random, that is only 
being lazy.

[FairfieldLife] Re: Why can’t the world’s greatest minds solve the mystery of consciousness?

2015-01-24 Thread inmadi...@hotmail.com [FairfieldLife]
the article isn't asking "Why?" but "How"  How or from where does consciousness 
arise?  Or, what is the fundamental reality - which might have something to do 
with the "What" we do now/

Re: [FairfieldLife] Re: Origin of the Universe and Species

2015-01-14 Thread inmadi...@hotmail.com [FairfieldLife]
01010011011001110010011100100001

[FairfieldLife] Re: Origin of the Universe and Species

2015-01-14 Thread inmadi...@hotmail.com [FairfieldLife]
A few thoughts that may lead nowhere . . . At least some of the experiences we 
have, for example looking at the moon, are stored somehow in the brain.  We 
know they are stored because we can recall them later.Also, if I first wish 
for a turkey sub but then prefer a veggie burrito, these processes are also 
stored in the brain and in principle can be verified.   IOW, in principle, the 
contents of mind can be verified.OK, so if transcendental c-ness is a possible experience, lets describe 
as 'being aware of being aware', then, how would this experience be stored, 
what would be the contents of the brain that would be retrieved in verifying 
the experience?

[FairfieldLife] Re: Origin of the Universe and Species

2015-01-14 Thread inmadi...@hotmail.com [FairfieldLife]
What sucks for the vacuum cleaner is that it was created from other stuff - and 
it's in a constant state of flux - meaning it's subject to modification, and in 
fact, is falling apart right before your eyes.  Imagine sitting on the edge of 
a wild camp fire where flames and sparks are sporting and popping - certainly 
those sparks exist, but a case could be made that the existence of a spark is 
'borrowed' from the fire, and the existence of the fire is 'borrowed' from the 
wood, and the existence of the wood 'borrowed' from the tree.   Existentially, 
there is no difference between a galaxy, a vacuum cleaner, a spark or a 
neutrino - we may place too heavy an emphasis on life span - but in the case of 
every object, it's existence is borrowed.  IOW, from time to time, existence 
can take the form of an object.

[FairfieldLife] Re: To my atheist friends on FFL

2014-12-19 Thread inmadi...@hotmail.com [FairfieldLife]
We can (and maybe should, that's not for me to say) hold all sorts of beliefs, 
but when the rubber meets the road, are those beliefs reinforced or undermined 
by experience as we live our lives micro second by microsecond?  IOW, I take a 
realist approach to the question re the existence of god: god is whatever is 
placed before you.

Re: [FairfieldLife] How does one decide if a person's testimony is valid?

2014-12-17 Thread inmadi...@hotmail.com [FairfieldLife]
I don't think Niz is making an appeal to truth, especially any truth with a 
capital "T" - - but certainly he's making an appeal to honesty - honesty as to 
what if anything persists and what can one say about the here and now . . . and 
BTW, this is an honesty that no Mother would share with a child, especially at 
a bus stop.

Re: [FairfieldLife] How does one decide if a person's testimony is valid?

2014-12-17 Thread inmadi...@hotmail.com [FairfieldLife]
Words have meanings from dictionaries and various wiki's, and words have 
meanings from convention; but in any case, words are defined by other words . . 
. unless one is lucky enough to get a gesture thrown in as well.  As such, much 
of what goes on here in FFL is semantics.  I could build a case that nearly all 
what is referred to as Philosophy is really semantics, but to build such a case 
is too ironical for a hump day. 

 Now, I think that Edg's plea for a distinction between awareness and states of 
mind is important - the actual words we use far less so.  Everyone knows what 
is meant by states of mind, we've all seen, heard, tasted, touched and smelled 
stuff, we've all felt happy or sad, remembered Grandma's cookies  . . . and 
etc.  And folks know what is meant by awareness, we all know we've got it by 
the mental states listed above.   But most folks will not see a need for the 
distinction between awareness and states of mind - especially the hard core 
materialists (ie those who believe this world alone exists)
 

 IOW, most people will see making the distinction between awareness and states 
of mind as hand-waving - as making a plea for some supernatural force or soul, 
or so called hard problem of consciousness.  Is this really an important 
distinction?
 

 Depends.  Can an individual locate awareness, as in, being aware of being 
aware?  And is this not just another state of mind.This gets to the heart 
of FFL, putting aside any specific issues with Maharishi and the TMO, is there 
a distinction between awareness and states of mind  -and is this distinction 
not merely semantics?


Re: [FairfieldLife] Re: Marco Polo Arrives

2014-12-16 Thread inmadi...@hotmail.com [FairfieldLife]
My first meetings with Maharishi were unplanned and pleasant.   I was on TTC 
Arosa in '75

Being a country-boy from WI and in Arosa in June it was like a second spring 
and I took opportunities to go gallivanting in the Alps.  One time I returned 
from a walk to find Maharishi had flown in on helicopter and was in lobby 
'doing a line', I was lil sweaty and not dressed right and without flowers but 
jumped in at end of line anyways . . . I did the Namaste thing and he gave me 
some flowers and said something very cheerful.

The second time and on another day I was in a bit of a hurry and came around a 
corner and saw the elevator doors closing so ran and squeezed in sideways and 
thinking what a coup to make it in but to my horror I banged into Jerry Jarvis 
who then almost banged into Maharishi.  Jerry did one of his lil laughs and 
Maharishi was quite impressed by my move.   Maharishi was in his announcing of 
Dawn of Age of Enlightenment phase, and he had sites where others were 
experimenting with Sidhis and he was helicoptering all over Switzerland so I 
suspect he was in a good mood.  Anyways, that was my best elevator ride evah!

[FairfieldLife] Re: Ramayan in Human Physiology-with video links

2014-12-11 Thread inmadi...@hotmail.com [FairfieldLife]
I also began by watching the  What is the Self  VDO and two thoughts come to 
mind.   Firstly, Tony is sticking with the Shankara traditional 
presentation/philosophy that Maharishi employed.  Now, whether MMY packaged his 
message in vedic iconery out of compassion, as in, that's what we were looking 
for in the 60's and 70's, that perfect balance of insence/beads and science 
smartness so that's what he gave us, or, that's all MMY knew and we swallowed 
it up - - - that's not for me to say.  Shankara's wisdom beats talking snakes 
but damn it's wordy - - - not only that, but we end up with a seven year 
journey to an intellectual construct when it should have been presented as 
intimate and immediate.

Secondly, Tony is sticking with that waking state mentality that there has to 
be some reality behind our experience for it to have meaning . . . like I just 
can't have me some pure consciousness without pointing to quantum states to 
give it substance . . . quantum states are modern day golden calves.

Re: [FairfieldLife] Re: Live Stream | 30th November

2014-12-01 Thread inmadi...@hotmail.com [FairfieldLife]
I didn't make it all the way thru the video - did Hammond mention the George 
Burns / John Denver project and if it was considered a success or not?

[FairfieldLife] Re: Real names of FFLers?

2014-10-30 Thread inmadi...@hotmail.com [FairfieldLife]
I commented on this last week - I have no idea who 'Barry' or 'Jim' are posting 
under (for example)   It really only matters for folks who are referred to by 
names other than their user/post name.  If I told you my real name it wouldn't 
mean a thang - I didn't make the Most Wanted List.

Re: [FairfieldLife] Re: Belief in God is a form of mental illness

2014-10-23 Thread inmadi...@hotmail.com [FairfieldLife]
You are very good at quoting scripture and contents of text books (and there is 
a value to that), but when you look to the honesty of your moment to moment 
experience - What do you find?   Put aside traditions and ancient wisdom - they 
are not relevant today - today its What are you bringing to the table?   BTW, 
you don't have to tell us . . . 

[FairfieldLife] Re: Consciousness Is The Ultimate Reality, was Belief in God is a form of mental illness

2014-10-22 Thread inmadi...@hotmail.com [FairfieldLife]
This may be above my pay-grade, but if one is a transcendentalist/idealist, 
then belief in classic cause and effect is incompatible with that belief . . . 
or one has to significantly qualify what is meant by cause and effect.   Many 
folks who refer to them selves as transcendentalists/idealists are actually 
dualists, or simply rebranded materialists (I am not suggesting you are)

Regarding the 'illusion' - when you pick up an object, like an apple for 
example, what does your experience tell you?When I pick up an apple, I see 
it's color and shape, I feel the texture and if pressed with a fingernail - I 
can sense the sticky juice, I taste the tart sweetness . . . and I remember 
apple pies and so forth.  My experience of the apple is passionate and lively - 
Where is the illusion?  Toss in more awareness and all you get is more passion 
- there is no illusion.  'Illusion' is just India of old - we don't need no 
stinking illusion in the 21st century.

[FairfieldLife] Re: Belief in God is a form of mental illness

2014-10-22 Thread inmadi...@hotmail.com [FairfieldLife]
I've been around FFL a while, but don't post often as conversations quickly 
become too personal (I don't know folks by their given names)  - and although I 
can wade thru muck and mire, way too much bandwidth is used up on folks dealing 
with their own emotions.

and I can't figure out the forum software, an awkward and inefficient interface 
in my opinion.The older forum made more sense.

[FairfieldLife] Re: Belief in God is a form of mental illness

2014-10-21 Thread inmadi...@hotmail.com [FairfieldLife]
Yes you got the spirit of my thoughts, and thanks for chiming in.The heart 
of it was this sentence:  ' I include anything that is physical/material, or 
anything that interacts with the physical/material.'

especially the   . . . "and anything that interacts with the physical/material"

because believing in anything that does not interact with the physical seems 
foolish no matter how one slices it . . . . and if it interacts with the 
physical, then it should be within the prevalence of science.

So, to pull off an honest belief in God - - - to be a believer in the 
nonphysical (spiritual), it sure looks to me like you got to believe there is 
no matter/physicality, its all mind or consciousness, and believing this is 
some hard task, especially since we get countless reminders every day how hard 
and edgy the world is.

So it's best to skip the believing part and go straight to the knowing of it, 
it's one's only chance.   Pretty much all of us here in FFL gave it a decent 
shot . . . and whether or not we felt any progress or not, we either gave it up 
or kept going (with TM or anything).I am keeping on but careful not to 
ascribe any meaning to anything I discover(therefore I am an atheist).

Re: [FairfieldLife] Re: Belief in God is a form of mental illness

2014-10-21 Thread inmadi...@hotmail.com [FairfieldLife]
there seem to be 2 questions running through this thread:  1) is a belief in 
God a mental illness and 2) is a belief in God justifiable.

the first question is too cumbersome for me - having the notion of mental 
illness imbedded in the question . . . and I can't speak as to what a mental 
illness is, but the question  is believing in the efficacy of trickle-down 
economics a mental illness could be fun  : )

Re the 2nd question, I'm skipping is there a proof for the existence of God 
since it's pretty clear no such proof exists - and I'm suggesting:   is a 
belief in God justifiable?

We may believe in many things where there is no direct evidence, or no proof, 
but yet that belief is justifiable.  For example, we may believe someone lied 
to us, even though we have no proof.

[BTW - I am very much an amateur philosopher] I am going to restate the 2nd 
question as:Is a believe in the existence of component or realm beyond the 
physical/material justified?  When I use the expression 'physical/material' I 
include anything that is physical/material, or anything that interacts with the 
physical/material.

An individual who did not believe a belief in God was justified, would believe 
that the material/physical world was sufficient to explain all observable 
phenomenon, including the existence of the of the physical/material world 
itself.

For me, I think the question is a bit of a red herring, but I admit to having  
read and heard nuanced and elegant expressions regarding the need for the 
nonphysical (spiritual) to explain stuff like value, and the moment by moment 
appreciation of an otherwise brutish world.

[FairfieldLife] Re: Could astrology be correct? The season in which you were born may affect your personality, scientists claim

2014-10-20 Thread inmadi...@hotmail.com [FairfieldLife]
these studies, should they be valid claims - - - how are these 'astrology'?   
How are these claims tying planetary and lunar movements as cause and effect to 
events on earth?For example, we don't need Astrology to explain the seasons.

Re: [FairfieldLife] A Charlie Lutes audio 'The Highest Teaching'

2014-10-04 Thread inmadi...@hotmail.com [FairfieldLife]
Buck thanks for observation - I've been thinking similar recently that it's not 
about the sutras or powers but the locating of awareness between - so I mix up 
the order of sutras and make up a few of my own because as Hillary would say 
what difference does it make?   It's easier and more clear to do eyes open 
(mindfulness?). . . locate awareness and look at what's in front of me.

Re: [FairfieldLife] Re: Link to the invitation for Nov 30th

2014-09-30 Thread inmadi...@hotmail.com [FairfieldLife]
Has anyone commented on this  George Hammond? Anyone know him?   I'm from 
Madison WI and I think he hails from the vaulted Hammond family in these parts.

[FairfieldLife] Re: Hawking: 'There is no God'

2014-09-30 Thread inmadi...@hotmail.com [FairfieldLife]
It comes down to this:  When we get 'to the bottom of this' what do we find . . 
. a brute fact, an inert material process, or, will we find value, a nature, an 
innate disposition . . .

[FairfieldLife] Re: Hawking: 'There is no God'

2014-09-27 Thread inmadi...@hotmail.com [FairfieldLife]
In order to make the statement that mind is an emergence of physical 
matter/energy - one has to make the inference there is physical matter/energy - 
and this is an inference that can not be proven . . . thus, why the notion mind 
is an emergence of matter/energy is 'dogmatic'.  Perhaps its a reasonable POV - 
but dogmatic none the less.

[FairfieldLife] Re: Adi Shankara

2014-09-25 Thread inmadi...@hotmail.com [FairfieldLife]
Kali Yuga?We've been in the Age of Enlightenment since 1975.

[FairfieldLife] Re: Jerry Jarvis' Birthday

2014-06-30 Thread inmadi...@hotmail.com [FairfieldLife]
A few years back they were looking for a volunteer to drive Bevan from 
Milwaukee or Madison or vice verse and I sure was tempted to sign up and get up 
to speed, lock the doors and get the grillin' on but then I realized that could 
back fire and get stuck with 2 hours of cookie-dough conversation and I didn't 
know if I had the guts to bounce him out at Oconomowoc.

[FairfieldLife] Re: The Ultimate Heresy

2014-05-21 Thread inmadi...@hotmail.com [FairfieldLife]
A long winded stawman argument . . . that others are idolizing one state of 
attention over another state is in your own head.   For example, if you go to 
the doctor 50 lbs over weight and a smoker, your doctor may recommend 'a 
different state of attention', whether you want to make a change or not is up 
to you.