Fruit of the Contemplative Life

Fruit of the contemplative life: => Ecstatic Buddhism => : Cybermonk January 21, 2013, 07:18:18 PM

: Looking closely at Consciosness
: Cybermonk January 21, 2013, 07:18:18 PM
Hi Cybermonks,

This is not the latest data on how it works, but there's links and ideas
to follow in the discussion about the state of awareness.

Why bother?

When you drive your auto, perhaps you don't care how the machine works,
but perhaps you want to improve on the fuel system, so you can use a more
cost effective fuel. Then it'll pay to check out what under the hood.

Likewise let's consider the state known as, "the still mind". Why not look
under the hood? Here's a starting point.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15165411
http://www.quantum-mind.co.uk/photons-as-carriers-of-consciousness-c430.html

Have fun,
Kimo
: Re: Looking closely at Consciosness
: Luke Avedon January 21, 2013, 08:28:35 PM
Very interesting Cybermonk.

Romijn points out that synaptic transmissions are probabilistic. When an action potential reaches a synapse, there is no certainty that the synapse will fire. There is only a probability, of between 30% and 80%, depending on the type  of synapse, that it will fire.

I just read Dean Radin's book "Entangled Minds".  It would be right up your alley.

Dr. Radin speculates a similar theory about consciousness.  But... all this stuff is still just a model, which at best is trying to explain something that will never be completely modeled.   Similar to Rupert Sheldrake's "Morphic Field Theory".

: Re: Looking closely at Consciosness
: Cybermonk January 23, 2013, 07:01:18 AM
Hi Luke,

I'll cruise Radins work. Sheldrake's too. I enjoy a good speculation.
I've found critical thinkers are usually pushing the limits of
credibility, makes for good science fiction. Startreks   gadgets
are still showing up in reality.

Lately I've been studying each of the Jhana's individual characteristics,
just curious as to what's happening, or perhaps speculating to come
up with some far fetched, illogical, total fantasy.   

Kimo