You had me at “Damn Kert, Who Are You!” LOL!!! First, never self-edit yourself, at least when responding to me. So allow comments and DM’s to be as long as they need. It is obvious I could learn a LOT from you—I’ve been fascinated by the brain and mind since my undergrad days (BS in Biology and science ed and then taught for my entire career having done graduate work at the U.W. In Washington state). As I got further into meditation, I grew fascinated with neurology and brainwaves and for the past few years have really begun to dig deep into consciousness (as a matter of fact, I just received in the mail a book by Anil Seth called “Being You: The New Science of Consciousness.” One of my guru teachers is Ram Dass so I’ve been psilocybin-curious but have never yet taken drugs to expand consciousness—now that they are having a bit of a renaissance, I’m not ruling them out as a way to experience something new. I’m also very passionate about Indigenous/Tribal/Shaman wisdom, Taois, and Zen. From all you’ve written, and the Notes and comments you’ve left that I have seen, I know we’d have some great conversations. Heck, we’re having them now. Unless you tell me differently, Imma gonna call you CHA because I do not know your name—only your blog’s title. You could DM me anytime to expand a more private and deep conversation around our shared interests. I’m sure we’ll be discovering more too. Thanks for this comment today—you made my day!
One of your best, Kert, at least from "my perspective" and in MNSHO. (My Not So Humble Opinion).
If a man is in the forest alone and he speaks, is he still wrong? Notice it's a man in the forest, not a woman. I am making some progress with "Hospicing Modernity" and liking and not liking it. My take at this point is that Renée Bergland provides a lot of "grist for the mill." So I am grinding away, hoping to realize the benefits and letting go of that which doesn't provide more food.
Sorry, Kert. I got my authors crossed. René Bergland wrote "Natural Magic: Emily Dickinson, Charles Darwin and the Dawn of Modern Science." I finished that a couple of weeks ago and now, into "Hospicing Modernity: Parting With Harmful Ways of Living" the author of which is Vanessa Machado de Oliveira
Hi Kert, I accept everything you wrote and the mysterious truth of it. Your rendering of it and how you got there is beautiful and unique. I enjoy your noting of quantum physics contribution to the truths you have described. As I read Substack I feel a number of sensitive and thoughtful writers making their own discoveries in this area. Everyone on their unique path. This thinking has been a preoccupation of mine as well. It changes everything which frightens many people. I find Buddhism and the Hindu philosophy of Advaita Vedanta helpful with their thousands of years experience with this awareness. Advaita Vedanta says there is only consciousness and we join all others in the primary function: witnessing it all.. Becoming aware of there being only consciousness can lead to our true understanding of Existence, Consciousness
And the Bliss it is. Namaste, with a deep bow to your beautifully described awareness. Daniel
We have much to learn from Eastern philosophies, mystics, and spiritual traditions (and also Native, Indigenous wisdom for that matter). Problem is, we Westerners are so arrogant and paternalistic. Christian Nationalism my tuckuss.
“If every 8 year old were taught meditation, we’d eliminate all violence from the world within one generation.” ~ The XIV Dalai Lama.
Despite the fact that we are all waves (including our thoughts, dreams, memories, and relationships) spiraling through the aether of Dark Matter and Dark Energy, we must cling to our common humanity. If there is one thought that I will take to my grave it is this: Every sane person's mouth waters when biting into excellent sourdough bread. This is the commonality that will save us.
Interesting Kert. Me likey. When I read this kind of thing I’m always a little afraid that if I embrace the notion that “nothing exists” I’ll be left hopeless. I want the world to exist. Other trees, plants and the mycelium experience the vibrations of the falling tree, in their way of hearing.
Maybe there’s a difference between realms at the atomic level and our level. Maybe a rock is a hard rock at our level even though it’s a bunch of energy at the atomic level?
Einstein says energy and mass are the same and somehow the speed of light squared is involved.
Or maybe it’s all just energy but that is sensed and registered by consciousness. And maybe consciousness is the one real thing?
Detweiler’s comment says that’s the Buddhist idea.
I like to add I think consciousnesses in relationship with each other seems to be a core somehow too…so not just consciousness but relational networks of consciousness.
This is why I didn’t major in quantum physics, I just like dabbling in it here and now in the later stages of life.
Loved “The Dancing Wu Li Masters!” Speaks exactly to what you are writing here Jeffrey. “Relational networks of consciousness.” YES! I think that is why we relate, in various ways, to all other beings—of the non-human kind especially. We are nothing (no thing) without relationships—even the electromagnetic spectrum, pure energy, can only be called a spectrum due to the totality of wavelengths in relational connection with other nearby wavelengths.
If I were you, I’d write more on that! I’d be an interested reader.
I'll check into that...this makes me warm more to Buddhist theology...I'd already appreciated the practices, but had been a little aloof to the theology because I don't like the idea of emptying the mind...I feel the mind is supposed to be full and overflowing to others...and obviously full of good stuff...but I've spent my life thinking and filling my mind with reading and experiences, my own past Christian meditation was based in connecting to God, or mentally focusing on a word or scripture, etc. So I've never quite figured out how the Buddhist emptying goes anywhere I want to go...even just years of experience as a Buddhist in reading, learning and practicing of meditation is all filling yourself with knowledge and experience...the very best "emptiers" have had to journey a long way to get there...so I just don't get it, it seems contradictory, but I'm very curious to learn what I'm not seeing. If this thing we're talking about that the emptying is of everything but consciousness, then that sounds better...but even then your consciousness is full of all you've ever known or experienced, so I still don't get it, help me out bro.
It can certainly feel like one’s chasing one’s tail, eh? I’ve studied this philosophy for about 15 years now after having been born into the Catholic faith. As I’m learning, I think you are circling around exactly the essence of Eastern spirituality—“this” is about consciousness and the non-judging, not-knowing, no attachment mind. The mind will always do its thing—which is to think. As I’m coming to realize, the spiritual practice is to not stop thinking altogether, but rather to not get attached to any thought. This does not mean one does not trust either innate wisdom or lived experience. In fact, my Zen teachers would say exactly that—“if you see the Buddha, kill the Buddha.” Don’t rely upon dogma or what any one so-called master/teacher says. Trust your own lived experience that is stripped down to its essence—pure consciousness, true reality with no judgment, and no mind. I think this is why zen masters have us practice with koans—logical and rational answers to these mystical questions never work. One has to get past or cut through form in order to approach true nature, or emptiness. I’m still such a novice at this so you honor me with your questions in thinking I might be able to “point you to the moon.” That being said, there are some very accessible teachers that I learn from—YouTube has some very accessible podcast sessions from teachers like Michael Singer, Ram Dass, Alan Watts and then even Wayne Dyer. Right now, I’m heavy into both Singer and Ram Dass—Singer has a more secular approach while Ram Dass’ reliance upon Hinduism is prevalent (though easy to get past). I started a meditation practice because I had a hard time letting go of my work day—stress and anxiety with a constant and judgmental, self-critical inner dialogue. It landed me ultimately in the cardiac ward of our local hospital for a night. With this practice, I am learning how to truly be “in the now,” to BE HERE NOW. At least I know what those words mean now. And when I can realize them, which isn’t all the time (but I’m getting better at it), I have gained great benefit.
Thank you my friend. As I said, you have honored me. All this is just my opinion and perspective. I remain a novice student at it all.
More food for thought! I appreciate the time you put into this post - some makes sense completely from my perspective and some I'll need some time to wrap my head around. Thanks, Kert!
You had me at “Damn Kert, Who Are You!” LOL!!! First, never self-edit yourself, at least when responding to me. So allow comments and DM’s to be as long as they need. It is obvious I could learn a LOT from you—I’ve been fascinated by the brain and mind since my undergrad days (BS in Biology and science ed and then taught for my entire career having done graduate work at the U.W. In Washington state). As I got further into meditation, I grew fascinated with neurology and brainwaves and for the past few years have really begun to dig deep into consciousness (as a matter of fact, I just received in the mail a book by Anil Seth called “Being You: The New Science of Consciousness.” One of my guru teachers is Ram Dass so I’ve been psilocybin-curious but have never yet taken drugs to expand consciousness—now that they are having a bit of a renaissance, I’m not ruling them out as a way to experience something new. I’m also very passionate about Indigenous/Tribal/Shaman wisdom, Taois, and Zen. From all you’ve written, and the Notes and comments you’ve left that I have seen, I know we’d have some great conversations. Heck, we’re having them now. Unless you tell me differently, Imma gonna call you CHA because I do not know your name—only your blog’s title. You could DM me anytime to expand a more private and deep conversation around our shared interests. I’m sure we’ll be discovering more too. Thanks for this comment today—you made my day!
One of your best, Kert, at least from "my perspective" and in MNSHO. (My Not So Humble Opinion).
If a man is in the forest alone and he speaks, is he still wrong? Notice it's a man in the forest, not a woman. I am making some progress with "Hospicing Modernity" and liking and not liking it. My take at this point is that Renée Bergland provides a lot of "grist for the mill." So I am grinding away, hoping to realize the benefits and letting go of that which doesn't provide more food.
Sorry, Kert. I got my authors crossed. René Bergland wrote "Natural Magic: Emily Dickinson, Charles Darwin and the Dawn of Modern Science." I finished that a couple of weeks ago and now, into "Hospicing Modernity: Parting With Harmful Ways of Living" the author of which is Vanessa Machado de Oliveira
Hi Kert, I accept everything you wrote and the mysterious truth of it. Your rendering of it and how you got there is beautiful and unique. I enjoy your noting of quantum physics contribution to the truths you have described. As I read Substack I feel a number of sensitive and thoughtful writers making their own discoveries in this area. Everyone on their unique path. This thinking has been a preoccupation of mine as well. It changes everything which frightens many people. I find Buddhism and the Hindu philosophy of Advaita Vedanta helpful with their thousands of years experience with this awareness. Advaita Vedanta says there is only consciousness and we join all others in the primary function: witnessing it all.. Becoming aware of there being only consciousness can lead to our true understanding of Existence, Consciousness
And the Bliss it is. Namaste, with a deep bow to your beautifully described awareness. Daniel
We have much to learn from Eastern philosophies, mystics, and spiritual traditions (and also Native, Indigenous wisdom for that matter). Problem is, we Westerners are so arrogant and paternalistic. Christian Nationalism my tuckuss.
“If every 8 year old were taught meditation, we’d eliminate all violence from the world within one generation.” ~ The XIV Dalai Lama.
Tru dat!
Despite the fact that we are all waves (including our thoughts, dreams, memories, and relationships) spiraling through the aether of Dark Matter and Dark Energy, we must cling to our common humanity. If there is one thought that I will take to my grave it is this: Every sane person's mouth waters when biting into excellent sourdough bread. This is the commonality that will save us.
Got THAT right!!! And you’ve just reminded me I have to feed my starter!
Interesting Kert. Me likey. When I read this kind of thing I’m always a little afraid that if I embrace the notion that “nothing exists” I’ll be left hopeless. I want the world to exist. Other trees, plants and the mycelium experience the vibrations of the falling tree, in their way of hearing.
Maybe there’s a difference between realms at the atomic level and our level. Maybe a rock is a hard rock at our level even though it’s a bunch of energy at the atomic level?
Einstein says energy and mass are the same and somehow the speed of light squared is involved.
Or maybe it’s all just energy but that is sensed and registered by consciousness. And maybe consciousness is the one real thing?
Detweiler’s comment says that’s the Buddhist idea.
I like to add I think consciousnesses in relationship with each other seems to be a core somehow too…so not just consciousness but relational networks of consciousness.
Nice tree.
This is why I didn’t major in quantum physics, I just like dabbling in it here and now in the later stages of life.
Loved “The Dancing Wu Li Masters!” Speaks exactly to what you are writing here Jeffrey. “Relational networks of consciousness.” YES! I think that is why we relate, in various ways, to all other beings—of the non-human kind especially. We are nothing (no thing) without relationships—even the electromagnetic spectrum, pure energy, can only be called a spectrum due to the totality of wavelengths in relational connection with other nearby wavelengths.
If I were you, I’d write more on that! I’d be an interested reader.
I'll check into that...this makes me warm more to Buddhist theology...I'd already appreciated the practices, but had been a little aloof to the theology because I don't like the idea of emptying the mind...I feel the mind is supposed to be full and overflowing to others...and obviously full of good stuff...but I've spent my life thinking and filling my mind with reading and experiences, my own past Christian meditation was based in connecting to God, or mentally focusing on a word or scripture, etc. So I've never quite figured out how the Buddhist emptying goes anywhere I want to go...even just years of experience as a Buddhist in reading, learning and practicing of meditation is all filling yourself with knowledge and experience...the very best "emptiers" have had to journey a long way to get there...so I just don't get it, it seems contradictory, but I'm very curious to learn what I'm not seeing. If this thing we're talking about that the emptying is of everything but consciousness, then that sounds better...but even then your consciousness is full of all you've ever known or experienced, so I still don't get it, help me out bro.
It can certainly feel like one’s chasing one’s tail, eh? I’ve studied this philosophy for about 15 years now after having been born into the Catholic faith. As I’m learning, I think you are circling around exactly the essence of Eastern spirituality—“this” is about consciousness and the non-judging, not-knowing, no attachment mind. The mind will always do its thing—which is to think. As I’m coming to realize, the spiritual practice is to not stop thinking altogether, but rather to not get attached to any thought. This does not mean one does not trust either innate wisdom or lived experience. In fact, my Zen teachers would say exactly that—“if you see the Buddha, kill the Buddha.” Don’t rely upon dogma or what any one so-called master/teacher says. Trust your own lived experience that is stripped down to its essence—pure consciousness, true reality with no judgment, and no mind. I think this is why zen masters have us practice with koans—logical and rational answers to these mystical questions never work. One has to get past or cut through form in order to approach true nature, or emptiness. I’m still such a novice at this so you honor me with your questions in thinking I might be able to “point you to the moon.” That being said, there are some very accessible teachers that I learn from—YouTube has some very accessible podcast sessions from teachers like Michael Singer, Ram Dass, Alan Watts and then even Wayne Dyer. Right now, I’m heavy into both Singer and Ram Dass—Singer has a more secular approach while Ram Dass’ reliance upon Hinduism is prevalent (though easy to get past). I started a meditation practice because I had a hard time letting go of my work day—stress and anxiety with a constant and judgmental, self-critical inner dialogue. It landed me ultimately in the cardiac ward of our local hospital for a night. With this practice, I am learning how to truly be “in the now,” to BE HERE NOW. At least I know what those words mean now. And when I can realize them, which isn’t all the time (but I’m getting better at it), I have gained great benefit.
Thank you my friend. As I said, you have honored me. All this is just my opinion and perspective. I remain a novice student at it all.
More food for thought! I appreciate the time you put into this post - some makes sense completely from my perspective and some I'll need some time to wrap my head around. Thanks, Kert!
I’m still trying to wrap my head around it all—so looks like I’m in great company!
😀 Ditto!