[FRIAM] mysticism

[Frank Wimberly]

How are you doing, Nick?  Any flooding?

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Frank C. Wimberly
140 Calle Ojo Feliz,
Santa Fe, NM 87505

505 670-9918
Santa Fe, NM

On Sun, Aug 22, 2021, 12:08 PM <thompnickson2 at gmail.com> wrote:

> DAVE,
>
>
>
> Consider the request made.  We monists have to stick together.
>
>
>
> Does anybody know where Roger is?   I hope he’s not in Narragansett Bay.
>
>
>
> N
>
>
>
> Nick Thompson
>
> ThompNickSon2 at gmail.com
>
> https://wordpress.clarku.edu/nthompson/
>
>
>
> *From:* Friam <friam-bounces at redfish.com> *On Behalf Of *Prof David West
> *Sent:* Sunday, August 22, 2021 11:37 AM
> *To:* friam at redfish.com
> *Subject:* [FRIAM] mysticism
>
>
>
> RE: Mysticism. Peradventure (archaic sense of the word) the following,
> paraphrased from an honors class I used to teach at St. Thomas, would be of
> interest to this group. (Sorry if disjointed — artifact of semester class
> to single post.)
>
>
>
> Everyone is aware how our perceptions, our knowledge, and our
> understanding of the universe was altered with successive inventions like
> the lens (telescope), radio astronomy, and the ability to detect multiple
> spectra from infrared to X-ray.
>
>
>
> For the sake of this discussion, grant an assumption of an individual mind
> embedded in, perceiving (experiencing), and interacting with a pervasive
> *Reality*. (An analog of an individual stargazer/astronomer.)
>
>
>
> If we imagine "*Reality Apprehension* *Technology;*" is it unreasonable
> to assume that our perceptions, knowledge, and understanding, of *Reality*
> would be altered in some manner analogous to our enhanced scientific
> comprehension of the universe?
>
>
>
> The Mystic would assert, "of course."
>
>
>
> And, predictably, there are numerous advocates of various "technologies':
> ranging from meditations to exercises to drugs. But the most ancient
> traditions, pretty much universally, assert that no "technology" needs to
> be added at all. Innate to every organism, including humans, is a complete
> "Reality Apprehension System."
>
>
>
> The near opposite of what was required to enhance our understanding of
> astronomy is required to enhance our understanding of Reality. Instead to
> "adding" something, we must "eliminate" something.
>
>
>
> That which is to be eliminated, is a host of "brain accretions" that put
> artificial barriers between our 'apparent mind' and "it's" apprehension of
> Reality. (My dualism is temporary and for the purpose of explanation only.)
>
>
>
> An example of an "accretion:" consider a person in a jungle. Imagine the
> totality of sensory inputs (and not just the traditional 5) constantly
> bombarding that person. Now imagine the survival potential that a person
> whose brain had developed filtering shortcuts like edge detection, or
> part-whole generalization, over one who had to evaluate and analyze the
> entirety of the sensory input volume before concluding: "Tiger! Run."
>
>
>
> Another: the attenuation of our awareness to "background" noise, simply
> because it is constant. We are not unaware of that noise — if someone
> across the room mentions our name we are immediately tuned into it — but it
> is below the threshold of conscious awareness.
>
>
>
> Culture is another accretion, as is "rationality" (the ascendance of the
> left brain). (Science is a manifestation of the latter accretion, or rather
> what can be accomplished when we employ it.)
>
>
>
> The net effect of all these accretions is to 'reduce' our Apprehension of
> Reality and restrict it to a small subset of stimuli that evolution, or
> habit or predilection, has deemed "important" or worth paying attention to.
>
>
>
> And, of course, the Illusion of Maya is taking the 'VGA image' of Reality
> and accepting that it is the only thing "Real."
>
>
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> The full "Reality Apprehension System" of every organism continues to
> operate, even when we are foundering in the Illusion. What is lacking is
> awareness of that System and its products (knowledge, understanding,
> perception). We regain awareness by circumventing/eliminating all those
> pesky 'accretions'.
>
>
>
> The famous Zen parable of a pond filled with ripples and waves; making it
> impossible to see a clear and accurate depiction of the Moon on the surface
> of the pond. Only when you have 'stilled' the multiple disturbances will
> the moon be reflected in all its glory upon the still surface.
>
>
>
>   *  *  *  *
>
>
>
> From this small thought kernel it is possible to develop a semester worth
> of lectures and the various aspects of Mysticism and its challenges and
> arguments against, etc.
>
>
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> Not addressed: what is the "value" or what is to be "gained" if one is
> successful in regaining awareness of the "Reality Apprehension System" and
> its products?
>
>
>
> Another time, I will eliminate the dualism, the illusion of an "I" apart
> from Reality, but only upon request.
>
>
>
> davew
>
>
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