(September 12, 2016 at 1:23 am)bennyboy Wrote: In talking about mind, it's usually materialism vs idealism, or dualism vs. monism, determinism vs free-will, etc. But while those are all nice ideas to talk about, it's also important to learn how to use the mind, or to have interesting mental experiences.
Would anyone else accept the thesis that meditators, spiritualists, etc. who are sincere in following set rules, making observations, drawing and testing hypotheses about things they might be able to get the mind to do, are actually engaged in a "subjective science" of mind? Or is it just woo?
Absolutely. Well, whether you would call it a science would be contentious. I would disagree with that. I think it's possible to learn stuff about the mind from contemplative practice, just not with the degree of justification we get from science.
Quote:Also, is anyone into any process which involves nifty experiences, like lucid dreaming, transcendental meditation, or even just things like developing memory abilities or practicing the imagination?
I'd like to talk more about mind from the side of the experience-- what can we DO with our minds?
I tend to have lucid dreams spontaneously. Some have been hella cool, some horrifying.
I much prefer Vipassana meditation, though. No horror so far.
A Gemma is forever.