praxis

I mentioned earlier in the discussion that I just finished reading a book that explores the topic. The subject is fascinating and I highly recommend: ...

To put it in scientific or pragmatic terms, Buddhists and psychedelic mystics both share at least one particular goal, which is to deactivate the neur...

Not like Timothy Leary, if that's what you're thinking. But yeah, the history seems to show that after the ego is temporarily dissolved via psychedeli...

You seem to promote the virtues of both pills in the same breath. That a Masterwork matrix will someday be developed, representing the blue pill. And ...

Could be the powers that be are desperate enough to allow psychedelic research to continue, with the ineffectiveness of current treatments for anxiety...

Being miserable in the domain of the real is a narrative of the matrix. An advantage of transcending the matrix is not being a slave to such narrative...

I remembered this and wanted to report back. It's been over thirty days and I definitely feel more relaxed and confident in social situations. Even wi...

In the story, Neo could fly in the matrix. He even transcended death in the matrix. Flying and no fear of death would not appeal to a rational hedonis...

A rational hedonist who, if we're going along with psychedelics metaphor, denies themselves the rapture of transcendence. Does that make sense? Perhap...

I didn't grow up in the sixties but, coincidentally, I just finished reading How to Change Your Mind: What The New Science Of Psychedelics Teaches Us ...

True. Thing is that no matter what world we live in it is still a construct of some kind. That being the case, what really matters? Does the pursuit o...

The answer to this is in the story. The characters who woke up could do things that no sleeper could do. Neo could literally fly in the matrix. Outsid...

Why would anyone consciously choose to limit themselves? Because within the boundaries of a known and predictable matrix it's relatively comfortable, ...

Cypher chose the known, predictable, and limited world of the matrix, out of the mere comfort of familiarity and habit, I guess.

This is backward. Misery is encoded into the matrix. One of the agents even points this out explicitly at one point in the movie. https://www.youtube....

They may or may not. Art is just a concept, and as such it can be applied to practically anything. Framing something as art is like an invitation to v...

In a word: aesthetics.

I see now that Harman doesn't claim that art is not paraphrasable. He merely says that art may be created that "no paraphrase ever does justice."

Generally speaking, Buddhist practice tends to enhance emotions (including the sad varieties) and empathy, because there's less discursive thoughts wh...

If this is your understanding, Cavacava, can you explain why art is not paraphrasable? To communicate feeling/value/meaning. As much a something as an...

Having watched the movie the other night, I can say that I love the styles of clothing, and a lot of the design in general. Comic book enthusiasts, ma...

I stand corrected. :sad:

I don't think a Buddhist would consider handing out free candy a charitable or selfless act. The body processes it as a toxin.

For possible Trump (dictator wannabe) insights, I recommend adding The Dictators Handbook to your reading list. It explores the selectorate theory of ...

This book helped me in trying to understand them.

Off topic so I'll be brief. They feel left behind certainly, and Trump is manipulating that feeling to his advantage. That's why they're sneer worthy,...

The period, of course. Signifying, as the French would say, la fin, and pointing us to the truth: the transitory nature of all things. Could there be ...

Because the Trump administration will benefit this demographic? Deregulation will effect their health and well-being negativity, and will probably pro...

I recall a recent study about middle age white men that may have relevance. https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2015/11/boomers-deaths-pnas/413...

I guess that I didn't understand your phrasing. Fear is an emotion, so it's redundant to say "emotionally afraid." That being the case, I though you w...

Ah, the noble comma. Let us not take its great worth for granted. Or perhaps you are signaling the structure of our words, and by extension the struct...

Because people like you are socially consequential? Men who are emotionally... let's say underdeveloped, must have problems when dealing with all emot...

They may be valid for others that are like you. It's great that you're working things out for yourself. Assuming you're not joking, do you think this ...

It may be fair to say that women generally tend to be more nurturing and cooperative, most likely due to their biological role in childbearing, but I ...

Funny you should mention that, just this week I started a regiment of probiotics as a treatment for social anxiety. I’ve planned to try it for at leas...

Is it getting 'good habits' or is it discontinuing the bad habits (sugar, caffeine, processed food, sedentary and stressful lifestyle, etc.) that were...

I'm no psychologist but OCD is apparently classified as an anxiety disorder, and indeed CBT for OCD utilizes exposure therapy. Being anxiety based, in...

And you believe that's what the Emerson essay is about?

OCD is based in fear, I understand, the compulsions designed to basically control life which is really all but out of our control, and reason such as ...

Applying the Emerson quote, you’re essentially claiming that your list expresses self-reliance. How does it do this?

There is nothing unconventional about showing your favorite food or whatever. Social media is replete with stuff like this. There's nothing the least ...

I've envisioned your list as a field of dots on a canvas (cuz you've framed it as art). I can connect the dots with lines and make a shape. Will the c...

Bored at work and distraction seeking, I've come back to this, TClark. Incidentally, I noticed your participation in the 'games people play' topic so ...

I saw it and considered including it somehow in my cautionary note, which was intended for a general audience.

We should probably bear in mind what Sloterdijk said about how deeply embedded our identity is. It's one thing to conceptualize this nobodiness, it's ...

You may not be a Pinker fan, don’t know if I am yet as I only just started this book, but enlightenment values are explored in this work. https://imag...

You didn't really try, right? That's fine, your choice. I have suspicions but I don't know why that is. I'm actually sorry for bothering you.

Rather, for whatever reason some don't try. I don't know what that reason is and it's not important. Sorry to bother you.

Okay, forget it. We may not know the meaning till it's over.

What exactly don't you buy? I'm afraid the Emerson quote doesn't help me understand your frugality. I would like to understand. An aesthetic expressio...