The most-valuable idea I have got from this book so far is that #consciousness could be an #emergent #property of #matter in the same way magnetic fields, for example, are an emergent property. I tend to lean toward #Idealism, in terms of what I would \*like to believe\*, but as a #dhamma practitioner I also appreciate the teachings of #dependent #origination, which says that mind and matter (namarupa) arise in dependence on each other and other phenomena. 1/2

https://bookwyrm.social/book/198456/s/waking-dreaming-being

Waking, Dreaming, Being - BookWyrm

A renowned philosopher of the mind, also known for his groundbreaking work on Buddhism and cognitive science, Evan Thompson combines the latest neuroscience research on sleep, dreaming, and meditation with Indian and Western philosophy of mind, casting new light on the self and its relation to the brain. Thompson shows how the self is a changing process, not a static thing. When we are awake we identify with our body, but if we let our mind wander or daydream, we project a mentally imagined self into the remembered past or anticipated future. As we fall asleep, the impression of being a bounded self distinct from the world dissolves, but the self reappears in the dream state. If we have a lucid dream, we no longer identify only with the self within the dream. Our sense of self now includes our dreaming self, the "I" as dreamer. Finally, as we meditate-either in the waking state or in a lucid dream-we can observe whatever images or thoughts arise and how we tend to identify with them as "me." We can also experience sheer awareness itself, distinct from the changing contents that make up our image of the self. Contemplative traditions say that we can learn to let go of the self, so that when we die we can witness its dissolution with equanimity. Thompson weaves together neuroscience, philosophy, and personal narrative to depict these transformations, adding uncommon depth to life's profound questions. Contemplative experience comes to illuminate scientific findings, and scientific evidence enriches the vast knowledge acquired by contemplatives.

RE: https://kamu.social/@JankaWessman/116289334527608757

And I appreciate the existential argument for #naivety and #idealism here. I choose #optimism and #hope because I choose to believe in a #Buddhist worldview and cosmology that gives me agency in the pursuit of genuine happiness and service. And I get tired of cringing at my own earnestness and enthusiasm about the future when despair is so popular, but this post helped me to leaven my concerns around that a bit, thanks @JankaWessman 🙏🦋

An idealist is one who, on noticing that a rose smells better than a cabbage, concludes that it will make better soup.
-- H. L. Mencken

#Wisdom #Quotes #HLMencken #Idealism

#Photography #Panorama #Palms #Florida

A quotation from C. C. Colton

He that studies books alone, will know how things ought to be; and he that studies men will know how things are.

Charles Caleb "C. C." Colton (1780-1832) English cleric, writer, aphorist
Lacon: Or, Many Things in Few Words, Vol. 1, Preface (1820)

More about this quote: wist.info/colton-charles-caleb…

#quote #quotes #quotation #qotd #cccolton #books #humanism #humanities #idealism #ideals #pragmatism #realism #realworld #humannature #humancondition

Colton, Charles Caleb - Lacon: Or, Many Things in Few Words, Vol. 1, Preface (1820) | WIST Quotations

He that studies books alone, will know how things ought to be; and he that studies men will know how things are.

WIST Quotations
平和|ポイズン雷花

理想で戦争を回避出来ると云うのは臆病神の戯言に過ぎん! 平和外交平和外交て口煩く云ってる奴は現実に目を向け、 真正面から向き合う事の出来ぬ困った臆病神でしか有りませぬ。 だからこそう平和外校と云う名の夢物語にしがみ付くしか生きる術を見出せぬ! 憲法改正反対と云ってる連中もそう、平和憲法と云う夢から覚める勇気を持てぬ臆病神。 歴史は今まで幾度も無く証明してる。理想論と夢物語で平和を得、維持するのは不可能! もっと云うのならば、神話に過ぎぬ。それがこの世界の現実。 此処で妾が問う。平和国家をうたう日本が平和を守る為今するべき事は何? 今現在刻々と、確実に差し迫って来てる脅威を抑止、除去する

note(ノート)

мир
Сказати, що війни можна уникнути за допомогою ідеалів, — не що інше, як нісенітниця боягузливого бога!

https://note.com/poison_raika/n/n5595018da1fc

<>

#japan #live #peace #story #dream #reality #history #god #order #diplomacy #peaceful #courage #only #nation #impossible #nonsense #protect #idealism #eliminate #proven #optain #constitutional #ideals #cowardly

мир|ポイズン雷花

Сказати, що війни можна уникнути за допомогою ідеалів, — не що інше, як нісенітниця боягузливого бога! Дипломатія миру Ті, хто говорять про дипломатію миру, повинні дивитися на реальність. Він не що інше, як неспокійний і боягузливий бог, який не може протистояти йому лобом. Ось чому я можу знай

note(ノート)

An idealist is one who, on noticing that a rose smells better than a cabbage, concludes that it will make better soup.
-- H. L. Mencken

#Wisdom #Quotes #HLMencken #Idealism

#Photography #Panorama #Sunrise #LakeSantaFe #Florida

#平和 #臆病神 平和 - ポイズン雷花の小説 - pixiv

理想で戦争を回避出来ると云うのは臆病神の戯言に過ぎん! 平和外交平和外交て口煩く云ってる奴は現実に目を向け、 真正面から向き合う事の出来ぬ困った臆病神でしか有りませぬ。 だからこそう平和外校と云う名の夢物語にしがみ付くしか生きる術を見出せぬ! 憲法改正反対と云ってる連中もそう、平

pixiv
#peace #Diplomacy Peace - ポイズン雷花の小説 - pixiv

To say that war can be avoided with ideals is nothing more than the nonsense of a cowardly god! Peace DiplomacyThose who talk about peace di

pixiv

Haha sorry for the pretentious poetic title! 😂

I just realised that aside from the manic-depressed-paranoid pendulum, a similar pattern holds true for another one: Goals.

When I was still living in circumstances that weren't just shitty, but actively traumatising, I would swing wildly between having the highest of aspirations (saving the world, always) and feeling hopeless. And more significantly, I would pour so much intensity into my hopes and dreams and goals, into just formulating them and broadcasting them. You probably saw this on this very blog. I think it was important for me to do that because it was my way of keeping the dreams alive.

I still have high hopes and aspirations. I still want to save the world!

But things feel different now. Not because I became wiser or learned something or thought cleverer thoughts, but as a result of living a more stable life.

I have stepping stones within reach now. I don't have to cling to the stars themselves anymore, I can put my feet in front of me, plant them firmly on the ground, on real, concrete stepping stones, and go one step at a time while occasionally LOOKING up and dreaming up my guiding lights and checking if I'm still in alignment.

I am being more grounded and more realistic, but I'm not a realist in the sense that I limit myself to what others have decreed to be "realistic" (ie don't think outside the box, don't rock the boat, don't try to hold those in power accountable).

It's still very new to me and feels a bit icky tbh. Almost as though what counted weren't the qualities of my dreams and ideals, but the fact that they were so unattainable. As though the very act of getting closer to being able to do concrete steps towards them made me a mere "realo" rather than a lofty idealist. As though I was less radical now, because I feel less like a proletarian. Or something.

(Of course the real irony is that I'm not even in any way financially stable yet, I don't have a job (objectively speaking) and me and Dion are still very disabled and all those things. But even though it's still technically precarious, we DO have a liveable apartment now and we have reasons for optimism.)

#MentalHealth #goals #idealism