Friday, 3 January 2025
Thursday, 2 January 2025
8 steps of A seeker
Advaita Vedanta is a non-dualistic philosophy rooted in the Upanishads and expounded by sages like Adi Shankaracharya. The journey of a seeker in Advaita typically follows eight key steps or stages, though the exact process may vary based on individual interpretations and traditions. Here is a broad outline:
1. Viveka (Discernment)
• Developing the ability to discern between the eternal (Brahman) and the transient (Maya or the world).
• Understanding that the ultimate reality is unchanging, while the material world is impermanent and illusory.
2. Vairagya (Detachment)
• Cultivating dispassion and detachment from worldly pleasures and possessions.
• Recognizing that material desires and attachments lead to bondage and suffering.
3. Shat-Sampat (Six Virtues)
• Developing six qualities essential for spiritual growth:
1. Shama (calmness or control of the mind).
2. Dama (control of the senses).
3. Uparati (withdrawal from worldly distractions).
4. Titiksha (forbearance or endurance of difficulties).
5. Shraddha (faith in scriptures and the guru).
6. Samadhana (focused concentration on the Self).
4. Mumukshutva (Intense Desire for Liberation)
• Cultivating a deep, unwavering longing for liberation (Moksha) from the cycle of birth and death (Samsara).
5. Shravana (Listening)
• Studying and listening to the teachings of Advaita Vedanta under a qualified guru.
• Understanding the non-dual nature of Brahman through scriptural study and reflection.
6. Manana (Contemplation)
• Reflecting deeply on the teachings of Advaita to resolve doubts and strengthen conviction.
• Engaging in rational inquiry to internalize the philosophy.
7. Nididhyasana (Meditation)
• Meditating on the truth of non-duality to experience direct realization of the Self.
• Dissolving the ego and mental distractions through sustained self-inquiry (Atma Vichara).
8. Jnana (Self-Realization)
• Attaining self-knowledge (Jnana) and realizing one’s identity with Brahman.
• Experiencing liberation (Moksha) by transcending duality and understanding that the individual self (Atman) is not separate from the ultimate reality (Brahman).
Each of these steps is interdependent, and progress is often gradual, requiring guidance, patience, and consistent practice.
Bentham. POP
Wednesday, 1 January 2025
SABOD X DTH ETERNL OBLIVION
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I'm still of the firm belief, all we face after death is eternal oblivion, so if I'm shown there really is an afterlife, I'll know I'm mistaken, but I very much doubt it…. I know the thought of eternal non-existence after death is something we fear, so we have to believe that death isn't the end as it brings comfort, but as I see it, death is game over….The Brain is little understood, and for that reason, cannot comprehend, consciousness/self awareness comes about due to the highly complex intercommunication of billions of neurons and over a trillion synapses, a biological super computer if you will…. To this day, new structures within the Brain are being discovered, and once Brain death occurs, everything we were in life is extinguished forever….. Something we all must face up to..
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SATISFIED LYF A satisfied life is better than a successful life. Because our success is measured by others, but our satisfaction is measured by our own soul, mind, and heart.”
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A satisfied life is better than a successful life. Because our success is measured by others, but our satisfaction is measured by our own soul, mind, and heart.”
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God conducts Orch OR
The Orch-OR (Orchestrated Objective Reduction) theory of consciousness, proposed by physicist Roger Penrose and anesthesiologist Stuart Hameroff, suggests that consciousness arises from quantum processes within the brain. This theory is an attempt to bridge neuroscience and quantum mechanics to explain the enigmatic nature of consciousness. Here’s a breakdown of its main points:
Core Concepts of Orch-OR Theory
1. Quantum Computation in Microtubules:
The theory posits that microtubules, cylindrical protein structures in neurons, act as sites for quantum processing. Microtubules, according to Hameroff, may have the structure necessary for quantum states to influence neural activity.
2. Objective Reduction (OR):
Penrose introduced the concept of objective reduction, where quantum superpositions collapse not due to observation but due to an inherent instability related to gravity. This collapse is proposed to be a non-computable process and fundamental to the universe.
3. Orchestrated Process:
The “orchestrated” part refers to the idea that neuronal activity organizes or orchestrates quantum computations in microtubules. These computations, when reduced (collapsed), generate moments of conscious awareness.
4. Non-Computable Consciousness:
Penrose argues that consciousness involves non-computable elements, meaning it cannot be fully explained by classical computational algorithms, and requires quantum phenomena to account for its uniqueness.
Key Features of the Theory
• Bridge Between Physics and Mind:
Orch-OR aims to explain how subjective experiences (qualia) emerge from physical processes.
• Quantum Coherence and Decoherence:
It assumes that quantum states in microtubules can maintain coherence for long enough to affect neuronal processes before decohering (collapsing).
• Testable Hypotheses:
The theory has inspired experimental work, such as studies on anesthesia and microtubule vibrations, to investigate whether quantum effects play a role in consciousness.
Criticism of Orch-OR
1. Biological Feasibility:
Critics argue that the warm, wet environment of the brain is inhospitable to quantum coherence, as decoherence would occur too quickly.
2. Lack of Empirical Evidence:
While intriguing, the theory lacks direct experimental evidence supporting quantum computation in microtubules.
3. Alternative Explanations:
Many neuroscientists believe that classical neural networks and computational theories of the brain are sufficient to explain consciousness without invoking quantum mechanics.
Recent Developments
Ongoing research explores quantum effects in biology (e.g., in photosynthesis, bird navigation) that might support some ideas underlying Orch-OR. However, a definitive link between quantum processes and consciousness remains elusive.
Would you like to explore this theory further or examine its implications in specific areas?