I tend to believe in a massive, massive degree of flexibility in the human brain/nervous system. It seems like with enough effort, you can make it experience the world in almost any way you’d like.
This gets even stronger when social structure and group beliefs are tied in.
This gets even stronger when social structure and group beliefs are tied in.
This is probably the biggest part of my suspicion towards many descriptions of enlightenment.
A lot of it sounds like a braiding two things together:
1- convincing yourself that blue is your favorite color.
2- bricking your computer so it only shows a blue screen.
Except the computer is your whole phenomenological experience.
1- convincing yourself that blue is your favorite color.
2- bricking your computer so it only shows a blue screen.
Except the computer is your whole phenomenological experience.
When I read or hear what some people mean by “enlightened state,” it’s hard to not think that it sounds a bit like they spent years studying the experience of lobotomy patients, convincing themselves that this was the best thing,
And then went and got the lobotomy.
And then went and got the lobotomy.
And then kept a tone of “this is all I’ve ever wanted. In fact, it’s all that *anyone* has ever wanted. You just have to admit to yourself that you want it, and then you can achieve it too.”
And if you doubt them about it? “Well, look at all these groups and historical figures and social beliefs that back me up.”
And if you decide not to go for the lobotomy? “That’s okay. Perhaps in a few lifetimes you’ll have the wisdom to realize that this is the way.”
LATER EDIT:
this has been sitting in my drafts for like a month and a half and still feels too risky to tweet.
Even though this *particular* description of enlightenment isn’t super super common around here, let alone some kind of orthodoxy.
this has been sitting in my drafts for like a month and a half and still feels too risky to tweet.
Even though this *particular* description of enlightenment isn’t super super common around here, let alone some kind of orthodoxy.
EVEN LATER
Found this again, wondering why it feels so risky.
1: I feel like some people will read this as an attack on them specifically, or their traditions specifically. —I don’t mean it that way, it’s just hard to express my intuition on it without it sounding like that.
Found this again, wondering why it feels so risky.
1: I feel like some people will read this as an attack on them specifically, or their traditions specifically. —I don’t mean it that way, it’s just hard to express my intuition on it without it sounding like that.
2- Also seems low-status to say around here. I can already hear some flavors of reply: “oh that’s just your ego talking, learn to let go of it and you’ll see the wisdom like me”
3- I feel like if I’m criticizing the description of enlightenment I see around some places, I should be supplying a description that feels better to me.
I don’t have more than a hazy intuition of one.
I don’t have more than a hazy intuition of one.
EVEN LATER
Kierkegaard’s “Leap of Faith” thing comes to mind, but sits v uncomfortably.
I guess for any tradition, religion, system, etc, you have to “leap” and accept certain ideas/axioms before the rest makes sense or feels right
Kierkegaard’s “Leap of Faith” thing comes to mind, but sits v uncomfortably.
I guess for any tradition, religion, system, etc, you have to “leap” and accept certain ideas/axioms before the rest makes sense or feels right
It’s like any game:
If you start asking during a soccer game WHY they don’t just use their hands or run the ball outside of the lines or sth—
The question doesn’t make sense. You just have to take the leap and accept that the rules of soccer are the rules of soccer,
If you start asking during a soccer game WHY they don’t just use their hands or run the ball outside of the lines or sth—
The question doesn’t make sense. You just have to take the leap and accept that the rules of soccer are the rules of soccer,
And that they exist to help you have a fun and fair game.
Only when you accept that are you free to start honing the specific skills and awarenesses that will make you a good soccer player.
Only when you accept that are you free to start honing the specific skills and awarenesses that will make you a good soccer player.
LATER AGAIN:
I think running across Rob Burbea has largely cleared the above up for me.
I might say more in a quote tweet later, but for now I’ll just finally hit send on all this as a record of a couple? few? months of thought on this.
I think running across Rob Burbea has largely cleared the above up for me.
I might say more in a quote tweet later, but for now I’ll just finally hit send on all this as a record of a couple? few? months of thought on this.
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