Thinking of my own personal experiences, three, possibly four over the last 70 years ... I particularly liked the following passage ...
"Cosmic consciousness is, by definition, a state of vastly expanded awareness in which every aspect of reality is apprehended in detail all at once. These experiences never last for a lifetime, although their aftereffects usually do."
The reason I resonated with that is because I remembered how little I could share of those brief experiences (for me, minutes at most), and with so few (if any) ... and because it put a quote I have often read into a good perspective ... 'If you meet a Buddha along the road, kill him.'
Even that simple quote can have several possible metaphorical meanings, but one that you reminded me of is that those moments of transcendental awareness are not an infinitely sustainable state of mind ... and anyone who claims it is, is either a charlatan or a bureaucratic functionary playing a role. Or both.
I would much rather trust an indigenous 'witch doctor' who is aware of the time, place, social dynamics (and possible 'herb') to help reach those moments than the long line of Elmer Gantry types that have performed their roles behind a mere mask of the infinite.
Interesting perspective on the old "kill the Buddha" koan. Incidentally, Kill the Buddha would make a pretty good name for an action movie.
I suspect that part of the reason these experiences do not stay with us in detail, beyond the inability of the brain to contain them, is that we are intended to commit to the virtual-reality role-playing game that we call life. We can only commit if we don't look too closely at the source code and see that the whole thing is "an elaborate hoax," as film critic Roger Ebert called it shortly before he died.
I hear you. 'Intention' is a tough call. Brings back memories of when I was just beginning to dip my toes into the philosophy of science ... Schopenhauer trying to navigate the teleological mechanisms (intentional purpose / design?) of evolution. Soon gets deep into theological weeds, but yeah, overthinking the game is a thing.
Well done.
Thinking of my own personal experiences, three, possibly four over the last 70 years ... I particularly liked the following passage ...
"Cosmic consciousness is, by definition, a state of vastly expanded awareness in which every aspect of reality is apprehended in detail all at once. These experiences never last for a lifetime, although their aftereffects usually do."
The reason I resonated with that is because I remembered how little I could share of those brief experiences (for me, minutes at most), and with so few (if any) ... and because it put a quote I have often read into a good perspective ... 'If you meet a Buddha along the road, kill him.'
Even that simple quote can have several possible metaphorical meanings, but one that you reminded me of is that those moments of transcendental awareness are not an infinitely sustainable state of mind ... and anyone who claims it is, is either a charlatan or a bureaucratic functionary playing a role. Or both.
I would much rather trust an indigenous 'witch doctor' who is aware of the time, place, social dynamics (and possible 'herb') to help reach those moments than the long line of Elmer Gantry types that have performed their roles behind a mere mask of the infinite.
Interesting perspective on the old "kill the Buddha" koan. Incidentally, Kill the Buddha would make a pretty good name for an action movie.
I suspect that part of the reason these experiences do not stay with us in detail, beyond the inability of the brain to contain them, is that we are intended to commit to the virtual-reality role-playing game that we call life. We can only commit if we don't look too closely at the source code and see that the whole thing is "an elaborate hoax," as film critic Roger Ebert called it shortly before he died.
Hi Michael.
I hear you. 'Intention' is a tough call. Brings back memories of when I was just beginning to dip my toes into the philosophy of science ... Schopenhauer trying to navigate the teleological mechanisms (intentional purpose / design?) of evolution. Soon gets deep into theological weeds, but yeah, overthinking the game is a thing.
Cheers.