Quote:
Originally Posted by
Scott R. Brown
Hi Shaolin Wookie,
There was a period without brain, not necessarily a period without Mind. There is a difference between the brain and the mind. The mind is something that inhabits the body for a purpose, but inherently exists separate from the body.
While many consider the mind to be a product/quality of the brain, I would assert that the brain is merely part of the perceptive system of the mind. Without a perceptive system the material world cannot be experienced in the same manner. Think of a computer game with more sensory inputs. The more sensory inputs available the greater the quality of the game experience.
There is a large body of research into the experiences of those who have been declared clinically dead and then returned to life, including those who have experienced a cessation of brain function. The reports of these individuals demonstrate a clear pattern to the experience with some variations that may be attributed to the limitations I have previously mentioned.
Just because the brain did not exist 14 billion years ago does not mean mind did not exist. I have asserted that the mind of man is a subset of the Mind of God/Tao. If this is so then it is immaterial whether the mind of man may perceive any phenomenon or not. My original assertion was that phenomena must be perceived, not that they must be perceived by man. All that is required is for phenomena to be perceived by God/Tao which is the essence of Mind.
Since all that exists is from the Mind of God/Tao then it is perceived by God/Tao just as our dreams are created by our mind and perceived by us. Indeed, within my dreams the characters have their own form of perception even though I, the dreamer, originate the dream.
Well said, my friend. :)
Quote:
It is common when considering the principles of Tao, as illustrated by Yin-Yang, to believe that since we have “Fullness” (completely filled) we MUST have the opposite principle of “Emptiness” (absent of all substance). This is a misunderstanding due to the language used to discuss and illustrate the principles. The easiest manner of illustrating the principles of Yin and Yang and their relationship to each other is to use the metaphors of “Full” and “Empty” and other forms of expression that use opposing concepts, however we must remember that words do not accurately describe reality. At best they only illustrate in a partial manner the concept, which must be directly apprehended in order to understand to a greater depth.
In truth there is no requirement for “Full” or “Empty” to exist. These are merely words used to describe a relationship between “Contrasting” principles, NOT “Opposite” principles. Contrasting principles may be “considered” opposite principles when the context is limited to only two items, but in reality there are many phenomena that may be used to contrast with other phenomena. If the only two colors under consideration are Black and Red, they could be considered opposites. There is no requirement for the opposite color to be White. Each principle/phenomena mutually defines the other according to the context, thus they are considered mutually arising and mutually interdependent. Each only requires the other to define it according to the specific context in which they are contrasted.
The Chinese principle of “5 Elements” provides an excellent example of contrasting principles without a requirement for the existence of a specific ‘Opposite”. Wood gives rise to Fire, Fire gives rise to Earth, Earth gives rise to Metal, Metal gives rise to Water, which gives rise to Wood again, etc. The circle of “5 Elements” contains mutually interdependent, mutually arising and mutually contrasting elements without any principle contrasted against a specific opposite principle. Within the context of the “5 Elements” each principle has 4 opposites, that is, 4 contrasting principles that participate in giving rise to it.
This illustrates there is no requirement for “Unperceivable” when defined as “impossible to ever perceive” to oppose/contrast “Perceivable” and neither is there a requirement for “Void” when defined as “without existence” to oppose/contrast “Real”. All that is required is for a principle to contrast with “Perceivable” and “Real”. So there is no requirement or need for “Void” to contrast with “Real”. The only requirement is for the to be something that is “Less Real”; we do not require “Perceivable” to be contrasted with “impossible to ever perceive” only to be contrasted with “not perceived at this time”
Let us say we have three bowls of water. One bowl has 40*F water, the second has 60*F water, and the third has 80*F water. The 60*F bowl is perceived to be warm or cool only in relation to what it is contrasted with. Contrasted with the 40*F water, the 60*F water is “experienced” as warm, contrasted with the 80*F water, the 60*F water is “experienced” as cool. Contrasted with both the 40*F water and the 80*F water, 60*F water is neither warm nor cold. The quality of the experience is determined by what it is contrasted with. Put in simplest terms, when considering “Tall” we do not require “Short”, only something that is not as tall, when considering "Full" we do not require "Empty" only something that is not as full.
In regards to a vacuum:
Vacuum is perceivable, therefore it exists. If it did not exist, it would not be perceivable.
It is assumed that the “Vacuum” is absent of matter, however we do not know whether it is actually absent of matter or not. All we may accurately state is that “Vacuum is absent of any presently measurable form of matter”.
We do know that Vacuum has the quality of dimension, that is, it has space. Since dimension is a measurable quality, dimension demonstrates the presence/existence of Vacuum. We also know that Vacuum has the ability to contain other forms of matter. This too is measurable. Radio waves and light, which is apparently a particle and a wave, moves through a Vacuum, therefore it has the quality of allowing other forms of matter to move through it. This too is measurable. But wait, in order for waves to propagate they must move through a medium. Just as the waves of a pebble tossed into a pond propagate because of the presence of the water, the water transmits the waves, so light, as a wave, and radio waves must propagate through a medium. Since waves propagate through the Vacuum of space we may at least postulate that Vacuum “may” possess a presently un-measurable quality of matter. So we have at least three measurable qualities of Vacuum: dimension, receptivity, and the property of allowing waves to propagate, these qualities are perceivable and allow us to measure the properties of Vacuum helping us to provide a definition of it, therefore Vacuum exists.
With your previous postulation:
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... idea of “spiritual/informational energy or quanta”!
If E=MC^2, then M=E/C^2! This means Mass IS Energy in Motion, so to speak. Different forms of Matter are differentiated by the amount/type/level of motion of their energy.
Humans are composed of matter, humans are sentient; can we therefore say that matter is sentient, or that “some” matter is sentient? From a strictly materialistic point of view we would have to say, Yes! If all things/matter is composed of Tao/God, and Tao/God is sentient then all matter is sentient. Since matter is nothing more than differentiated energy then energy is sentient as well.
I think you have just beautifully expounded the nature of Prajna (wisdom of the void). In fact I believe, if I may boldly say so, you have effectively inspired a whole new perspective on vajra prajna paramita (who says it's not subtle science?). ;)