by henkt » Sun Jan 03, 2010 12:32 pm
Hi
A very interesting discussion, and very near to todays West-East controversy
The article invites reaction, but I puzzle how.
Maybe the best reaction is quote-response. I'll try
"the whole world is an illusion"
This statement supposes 'understanding', o be able to categorize sensations as illusion.
To divide sensing by our body and judging by an immaterial mind is inherently supposing
a mind-body split, or supposing that 'mind' exists.
Exactly the schism between Western World and Eastern World
Allow me not to go further into this now.
"there seems to be a “me” to experience it.'"
Somewhere in evolution man started to recognize itself, and to start using this property in the struggle for survival. Take care, interpreting moods as caused by oneself, is totally different from the Enlightenment myth 'understanding'. Running hard results in feeling wind, that means that VERY LOCALLY you as running individual cause and observe different weather.
Understanding is consistently using trained skill for other purposes
"The world as we know it can not actually be perceived. The ONLY thing that is ACTUALLY being experienced is the electrical signals stimulating the appropriate areas of the brain."
For our brain reality is sensed through sensations. The sensations for that brain are the world
"The physical world may seem more real because it comes through our eyes, but that doesn’t mean that we can actually see a real physical world. We can ONLY see the brain’s perception of it."
What the brains sense IS the physical reality. Of course filtered reality but any living entity filters reality.
And this filtered reality can be very different for different being.
A human senses reality differently from bats. And 'god's warriors' sense reality different from 'terrorist'
"We can NEVER actually interact with the world itself through our minds"
This is presuming that 'mind' exists. 'Mind' was introduced by the french thinker Descartes.
In the Western World 'mind' became an 'a priori'.
"In the video, they called this observer the soul. It can also be called awareness, spirit, the witness, or even God. "
soul, spirit etc. are 'a priori' in catholicism since the council of Chalcedon (451ac)
Forcing a schism between Western World (Rome and Byzantine) and the Eastern World (Africa, Middle East and Asia). Considering Jesus as a politically innocent god in human body 'Christ', or considering Jesus as a peaceful human freedom fighter with godlike talents. Who was executed by the Roman Empire
"The soul " is watching the show.
Presuming 'soul'
"Is the one who experiences the dream and interacts with it the same as the one who witnesses the dream happening?"
Talking about 'dream' supposes a mind-body split. There is only one reality, and every body is part of it.
Humans are not outside reality, and like gods 'understanding'.
"Is the experiencer the same as the awareness"
Presuming 'awareness' or 'consciousness.
"the observing soul"
....
Feel free to react
All the best
