Search found 3416 matches

by Wayfarer
Wed Apr 16, 2014 10:50 am
Forum: Lounge
Topic: A Physicalist Theory of Mind
Replies: 254
Views: 50692

Re: A Physicalist Theory of Mind

LastLegend wrote:Can you point to text or source that says it?
Not really, but see if you can find an agreed definition of the meaning of the term 'mind' according to the discipline of psychology.
by Wayfarer
Wed Apr 16, 2014 9:59 am
Forum: East Asian Buddhism
Topic: Astrology in East Asian Buddhism
Replies: 39
Views: 11844

Re: Astrology in East Asian Buddhism

I would have thought that what we call 'astronomy', along with a considerable portion of science generally, and quite a bit of mathematics, started off with what we would now regard as 'astrology'. Obviously from well before history, ancient man would have to be familiar with the risings and setting...
by Wayfarer
Wed Apr 16, 2014 9:54 am
Forum: Lounge
Topic: A Physicalist Theory of Mind
Replies: 254
Views: 50692

Re: A Physicalist Theory of Mind

Me thinks we're doing science here: argue about things and their properties. Me also thinks Dharma was something to take refuge in, not argue about. One can endlessly argue about words by shifting, expanding or narrowing their scope and relationships. And one can argue even longer when one mistakes...
by Wayfarer
Wed Apr 16, 2014 3:32 am
Forum: Mahamudra
Topic: Mahamudra meditation problem: locating the mind
Replies: 476
Views: 95281

Re: Mahamudra meditation problem: locating the mind

My belief about the idea that beings karma literally 'creates the Universe' is that it comes from the necessity of denying 'the creator God' which is doctrinally forbidden to Buddhists for obvious reasons. But I still think that the Buddha, at least as he is represented in the early texts, didn't ha...
by Wayfarer
Tue Apr 15, 2014 11:59 pm
Forum: Lounge
Topic: A Physicalist Theory of Mind
Replies: 254
Views: 50692

Re: A Physicalist Theory of Mind

I take your point. Actually the view I am developing is that dualism is like a working model. It is impossible, in the end, to completely define either mind or matter - defining the latter has been the task of the above-mentioned LHC, and as everyone now acknowledges, it has been devilishly hard. De...
by Wayfarer
Tue Apr 15, 2014 11:30 pm
Forum: Lounge
Topic: A Physicalist Theory of Mind
Replies: 254
Views: 50692

Re: A Physicalist Theory of Mind

I have noticed that you frequently encounter passages which explicitly state the difference between 'insentient matter' - the aggregates - and 'formless mind'. It is a conventional distinction (and a hard distinction drawn in Abhidharma and so on) that is gradually abandoned in later Indian Mahāyān...
by Wayfarer
Tue Apr 15, 2014 11:28 pm
Forum: Lounge
Topic: A Physicalist Theory of Mind
Replies: 254
Views: 50692

Re: A Physicalist Theory of Mind

scientific development on the materialist model is reaching its financial limits. The cost of new discoveries are increasingly expensive to the point it costs billions upon billions to discover new things which may hold no practical application. I think in due time there might be reconsideration of...
by Wayfarer
Tue Apr 15, 2014 10:53 pm
Forum: Lounge
Topic: A Physicalist Theory of Mind
Replies: 254
Views: 50692

Re: A Physicalist Theory of Mind

I have noticed that you frequently encounter passages which explicitly state the difference between 'insentient matter' - the aggregates - and 'formless mind'. The distinction seems especially pronounced in Seon: Why can we not see this Buddha‐nature now? Question: If you say that the Buddha‐nature ...
by Wayfarer
Tue Apr 15, 2014 12:10 pm
Forum: Meditation
Topic: Intention
Replies: 84
Views: 17161

Re: Intention

Welcome to the Forum, Moron.

As you say you are not a native English speaker, you might consider looking up the user name you have chosen before making a lot more posts.

It might convey a negative impression.
by Wayfarer
Tue Apr 15, 2014 7:24 am
Forum: Lounge
Topic: A Physicalist Theory of Mind
Replies: 254
Views: 50692

Re: A Physicalist Theory of Mind

I can't disagree with Buddhism being about wisdom, or about the importance of non-fixation. But 'wisdom' has quite a definite definition in Buddhist teaching. Basically it always related to the 'chain of dependent origination' which is quite a difficult principle to understand, consisting as it does...
by Wayfarer
Tue Apr 15, 2014 6:36 am
Forum: Lounge
Topic: A Physicalist Theory of Mind
Replies: 254
Views: 50692

Re: A Physicalist Theory of Mind

Well, I don't know that much about this, but having a look through "Early Buddhist Metaphysics" by Ronkin I find this: According to this Sautrantika explanation, infinitesimal atoms and moments of consciousness alone are real. That is true, but Buddhist atomism was based on the idea that ...
by Wayfarer
Tue Apr 15, 2014 5:44 am
Forum: Lounge
Topic: A Physicalist Theory of Mind
Replies: 254
Views: 50692

Re: A Physicalist Theory of Mind

If you look to see how the natural world is (rather than look at it through any philosophical lens including Buddhism) then there are many characteristics of the natural world that lead to a reduction of suffering. The Buddhist view is not that the cause of suffering, and, therefore, its ending, is...
by Wayfarer
Tue Apr 15, 2014 3:48 am
Forum: Lounge
Topic: A Physicalist Theory of Mind
Replies: 254
Views: 50692

Re: A Physicalist Theory of Mind

But the key difference is that the Buddhist atom is momentary or durationless, rather than an imperishable material point-particle that has indefinite duration in time: Movement consists for them of moments, it is a staccato movement, momentary flashes of a stream of energy... "Everything is ev...
by Wayfarer
Tue Apr 15, 2014 12:44 am
Forum: Lounge
Topic: A Physicalist Theory of Mind
Replies: 254
Views: 50692

Re: A Physicalist Theory of Mind

If Buddhist system holds that consciousness is one of the six substances that make up everything in the universe, then you are saying that everything in the universe is reducible only to these six and therefore these six are not reducible to each other and are therefore fundamental substances. I am...
by Wayfarer
Mon Apr 14, 2014 11:17 pm
Forum: Lounge
Topic: A Physicalist Theory of Mind
Replies: 254
Views: 50692

Re: A Physicalist Theory of Mind

Am I reading this new work reductively, or does it seem that it represents the same old wine in newly-labelled bottles? I think you're exactly correct. The truths that science uncovers are relevant for everyone. They are the same for everyone. Mind and soul are so subjective that science can't say ...
by Wayfarer
Mon Apr 14, 2014 12:43 pm
Forum: Lounge
Topic: A Physicalist Theory of Mind
Replies: 254
Views: 50692

Re: A Physicalist Theory of Mind

Thanks, Gwenn Dana, an interesting essay.

Needless to say Ven. Indrajala, I am in complete agreement. I would sometimes try and make a similar point on Philosophy Forum, but it seemed lost on those for whom it was intended.

:namaste:
by Wayfarer
Mon Apr 14, 2014 12:40 pm
Forum: Academic Discussion
Topic: Dharma Realm Buddhist University onthe road to accreditation
Replies: 4
Views: 3135

Re: Dharma Realm Buddhist University onthe road to accredita

Good question! To tell you the truth, I don't know, but I cited one of the essays in one of mine, and there were no adverse consequences.

This is the editorial board who seem eminently credentialled as far as I can discern.
by Wayfarer
Mon Apr 14, 2014 7:22 am
Forum: Academic Discussion
Topic: Dharma Realm Buddhist University onthe road to accreditation
Replies: 4
Views: 3135

Re: Dharma Realm Buddhist University onthe road to accredita

Seems like an amazing place, that University. I just referenced one of the essays from their excellently-produced online journal in another thread. For anyone interested, it is at http://www.drbu.org/iwr/rew
by Wayfarer
Mon Apr 14, 2014 7:20 am
Forum: Engaged Buddhism
Topic: Climate Change: We're Doomed
Replies: 871
Views: 174053

Re: Climate Change: We're Doomed

Your faith in the Invisible Hand is touching, but I don't share it.
by Wayfarer
Mon Apr 14, 2014 7:00 am
Forum: Lounge
Topic: A Physicalist Theory of Mind
Replies: 254
Views: 50692

Re: A Physicalist Theory of Mind

Here is one of the better essays on Buddhism and Science: Probing the Boundaries of Faith and Reason Martin J. Voerhoeven, Dharma Realm Buddhist University.

Go to advanced search