No, but i fail to understand what point you are trying to make.James Tan wrote: ↑Sat May 19, 2018 6:10 pm Can we take an example ,
Take a look at this , 经验 ,
can the brain know what is it ?
What is it that you experience ?
There is an image with strokes appear in your seeing , other than that probably "don't know" .
Even don't know doesn't occur to you because that is comparing to something you know , what if you don't have any kind of knowledge at all, would you still be able to come up with any conclusion ?
If mind = brain
Re: If mind = brain
And the Blessed One addressed the bhikkhus, saying: "Behold now, bhikkhus, I exhort you: All compounded things are subject to vanish. Strive with earnestness!"
This was the last word of the Tathagata.
This was the last word of the Tathagata.
Re: If mind = brain
Yes exactly. You can observe a person losing half his brain and, through the way he is behaving (which can be radically different), one can conclude that experiences arising are different than before.Bundokji wrote: ↑Sat May 19, 2018 4:00 pmYou cannot know this first hand. You might have seen people with brain injury and they reported or appeared to be experiencing the world differently, and out of this, it is concluded that experience is dependent on the brain.
Any conclusion is not original, it is the outcome of comparing two states.
What is wrong with this ? Are you trying to argue that a person who can't even eat anymore by himself or maybe can't even move has the same experiences as before losing half his brain ?
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Re: If mind = brain
What do you experience, then? You experience brain function. That is what we are. I've no idea what you are trying to say at this point.Bundokji wrote: ↑Sat May 19, 2018 12:13 pmWe don't experience our brain, hence any talking about it includes belief/speculation. From that point of view, it is dogmatic.Saengnapha wrote: ↑Sat May 19, 2018 11:35 am I'm not sure how we talk about the brain from any other point of view except the experiential. If we are talking factually, there is no problem.
I do get what you are talking about when you describe your descriptions.
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Re: If mind = brain
Do you have a way of 'not' comparing two states? This is all that is going on. This is what the brain is doing all the time. If the brain becomes quiet, what happens to the comparative mind?Bundokji wrote: ↑Sat May 19, 2018 4:00 pmYou cannot know this first hand. You might have seen people with brain injury and they reported or appeared to be experiencing the world differently, and out of this, it is concluded that experience is dependent on the brain.
Any conclusion is not original, it is the outcome of comparing two states.
Re: If mind = brain
The idea of change is dependent on the idea of sameness (self). Experience itself tells us nothing about change. Experience is always what is taking place. The idea of change (which arises as an experience) is the outcome of comparing two states.Circle5 wrote: ↑Sun May 20, 2018 12:10 am Yes exactly. You can observe a person losing half his brain and, through the way he is behaving (which can be radically different), one can conclude that experiences arising are different than before.
What is wrong with this ? Are you trying to argue that a person who can't even eat anymore by himself or maybe can't even move has the same experiences as before losing half his brain ?
What is it that makes the two states related/connected/comparable? the idea of a self (the agent who experience and who witnessed/got affected by the change).
A thicket of views.
And the Blessed One addressed the bhikkhus, saying: "Behold now, bhikkhus, I exhort you: All compounded things are subject to vanish. Strive with earnestness!"
This was the last word of the Tathagata.
This was the last word of the Tathagata.
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Re: If mind = brain
It can be said in many ways, but essentially I agree with you.Bundokji wrote: ↑Sun May 20, 2018 6:50 amThe idea of change is dependent on the idea of sameness (self). Experience itself tells us nothing about change. Experience is always what is taking place. The idea of change (which arises as an experience) is the outcome of comparing two states.Circle5 wrote: ↑Sun May 20, 2018 12:10 am Yes exactly. You can observe a person losing half his brain and, through the way he is behaving (which can be radically different), one can conclude that experiences arising are different than before.
What is wrong with this ? Are you trying to argue that a person who can't even eat anymore by himself or maybe can't even move has the same experiences as before losing half his brain ?
What is it that makes the two states related/connected/comparable? the idea of a self (the agent who experience and who witnessed/got affected by the change).
A thicket of views.
Re: If mind = brain
I do not read Theravada teachings in any systematic way. In my opinion, once the practitioner is familiar with the basics of the teachings, the rest of the practice should be reflecting on them.Saengnapha wrote: ↑Sun May 20, 2018 9:42 am Then how can you read any Theravada teachings? This is exactly what is being put forth in any tradition or any teaching. Prevention of this should not be based on refusal to read or observe things. Isn't this what we are really talking about, how our brains work? There's no one inside it.
Also avoiding harm and knowing ones limitations is not a bad thing.
And the Blessed One addressed the bhikkhus, saying: "Behold now, bhikkhus, I exhort you: All compounded things are subject to vanish. Strive with earnestness!"
This was the last word of the Tathagata.
This was the last word of the Tathagata.
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Re: If mind = brain
I think experience is just what we notice. We can choose to notice different aspects of experience.
Buddha save me from new-agers!
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Re: If mind = brain
Are you saying that with no self-view there is no experience of change?
Buddha save me from new-agers!
Re: If mind = brain
I agree with the first part of your statement, but the second part is hypothetical.
When i say hypothetical, i don't mean its right or wrong or whether it exists or does not exist. It has a function, it plays an important role in conventional reality.
The usual debate we encounter on whether free will (or choice) is real or delusion is missing the point in my opinion.
And the Blessed One addressed the bhikkhus, saying: "Behold now, bhikkhus, I exhort you: All compounded things are subject to vanish. Strive with earnestness!"
This was the last word of the Tathagata.
This was the last word of the Tathagata.
Re: If mind = brain
Logically, there can't be
And the Blessed One addressed the bhikkhus, saying: "Behold now, bhikkhus, I exhort you: All compounded things are subject to vanish. Strive with earnestness!"
This was the last word of the Tathagata.
This was the last word of the Tathagata.
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Re: If mind = brain
Satipatthana practice involves making such choices. We choose to pay attention to particular aspects of experience.Bundokji wrote: ↑Sun May 20, 2018 10:35 amI agree with the first part of your statement, but the second part is hypothetical.
When i say hypothetical, i don't mean its right or wrong or whether it exists or does not exist. It has a function, it plays an important role in conventional reality.
The usual debate we encounter on whether free will (or choice) is real or delusion is missing the point in my opinion.
There is also the role of appropriate attention: https://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitak ... .than.html
Actually in Theravada "experience" is represented by the five aggregates, the whole process. You have been focussing on the role of sanna ( perception/recognition )
Last edited by Spiny Norman on Sun May 20, 2018 11:24 am, edited 1 time in total.
Buddha save me from new-agers!
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Re: If mind = brain
So how does this relate to Buddhist practice? How does it relate to teachings on anicca and anatta?
Buddha save me from new-agers!
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Re: If mind = brain
Now that seems more to the point than reading teachings.Bundokji wrote: ↑Sun May 20, 2018 9:59 amI do not read Theravada teachings in any systematic way. In my opinion, once the practitioner is familiar with the basics of the teachings, the rest of the practice should be reflecting on them.Saengnapha wrote: ↑Sun May 20, 2018 9:42 am Then how can you read any Theravada teachings? This is exactly what is being put forth in any tradition or any teaching. Prevention of this should not be based on refusal to read or observe things. Isn't this what we are really talking about, how our brains work? There's no one inside it.
Also avoiding harm and knowing ones limitations is not a bad thing.
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