| Sep 2 @ 10:18 AM |
Science of the Mind
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16knots
Posts: 3,627
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Many religions fail consistently the sciences of the mind. As we explore the mind in modern science we find old religions loose their grip on our minds.
A few religions consistently transcends mans scientific endeavours towards the mind.
Does this effect anyones religion? What are your "thoughts"?
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| Sep 2 @ 10:25 AM |
Science of the Mind |
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yashaenka
Posts: 4,639
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See my post in the Buddhist thread...Science as related to mind is simply man trying to understand how it works and there simply is no science of the mind.
The only person who can come close to your own mind is simply yourself.
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| Sep 3 @ 12:45 AM |
Science of the Mind
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hammertime
Posts: 14,071
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Yash,
You are right in the sense no one can be us. We can not truly communicate our subjective experiences but this reminds of a movie made in 1983. Natalie Wood's last movie, Brainstorm. They were able to completely record people's experiences. There was one scene that I thought was a whole lot of fun. That was when some guy and his girlfriend had sex. He was recording his experience and gave the tape to a buddy. This buddy got a bit nuts and spliced the tape of the orgasm in an endless loop. It blew his mind and he had to retire from his job.  He kept saying he is now more than what he was.
We don't yet know what creates consciousnesses. Hameroff believes it occurs in the microtubules in the synapse. He believes that is where quantum states are held that bridge the quantum world with this world. Other studies were done by Karl Pribram, Persinger and quantum physicist David Bohm. There are many others doing this work. They are V. S. Ramachandran, Andrew Newberg, and Sam Harris.
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| Sep 3 @ 8:51 AM |
Science of the Mind |
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hammertime
Posts: 14,071
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Neuroscience has long known that certain eastern meditative practices were causing positive changes in health, cognitive functions, mind/body discipine, mental clarity, etc . Andrew Newberg personally leans towards eastern meditation as well as many other scientists.
Science Explores Meditation's Effect on the Brain with audio
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4770779
Here is a PDF file
Studying the Well-Trained Mind
http://www.sciencecafesf.com/wp-content/uploads/2003Science_BuddhismNeuroscience.pdf
From Wiki
Buddhism and psychology
Buddhism and psychology overlap in theory and in practice. Over the last century, three strands of interplay have evolved:
* Descriptive phenomenology: Western and Buddhist scholars have found in Buddhist teachings a detailed introspective phenomenological psychology (particularly in the Abhidhamma).
* Psychotherapeutic meaning: Humanistic psychotherapists have found in Buddhism's non-dualistic approach and enlightenment experiences (such as in Zen kensho) the potential for transformation, healing and finding existential meaning.
* Clinical utility: Contemporary mental-health practitioners increasingly find ancient Buddhist practices (such as the development of mindfulness) of empirically proven therapeutic value.
[Edited on 9/3/2008 8:58 AM]
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| Sep 3 @ 9:02 AM |
Science of the Mind
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yashaenka
Posts: 4,639
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A mediative state is a mediative state. Scientist 2 decades ago did controlled studies of Zen practitioners sitting in Zazen and various religious people in prayer. The results were eye opening both practices activated the same areas of the brain equally.
In fact based partly on this the Catholic church in Asia was authorized to have Zazen mediative sessions right along side of prayer sessions as Zen by the church posed no threat to it.
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| Sep 3 @ 9:11 AM |
Science of the Mind |
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hammertime
Posts: 14,071
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In fact based partly on this the Catholic church in Asia was authorized to have Zazen mediative sessions right along side of prayer sessions as Zen by the church posed no threat to it. You do know about Trappist Monk Thomas Merton then? He and the Daili Lama were good friends and have had many exchanges...Merton was a great admirer of Buddhism and studied meditation.
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| Sep 3 @ 11:18 AM |
Science of the Mind
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yashaenka
Posts: 4,639
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Yes I do and did you know that many Jesuits sit in Zazen to meditate and then pray like monks while they walk?
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| Sep 3 @ 11:26 AM |
Science of the Mind |
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hammertime
Posts: 14,071
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Like this Yash?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x7wc55oXWf8
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| Sep 3 @ 12:14 PM |
Science of the Mind
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yashaenka
Posts: 4,639
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Got me again  Try this.....http://kennedyzen.tripod.com/
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| Sep 3 @ 4:02 PM |
Science of the Mind |
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Thor1960303
Posts: 1,887
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Many religions fail consistently the sciences of the mind. As we explore the mind in modern science we find old religions loose their grip on our minds.
When we understand how the mind works and how emotions play such an important part of our lives and motivations, the mechanics of many traditional religions become so tranparent that their loss of grip, as you put it, becomes inevitable.
A few religions consistently transcends mans scientific endeavours towards the mind.
That's quite right.  I have great respect for Spiritualism and some of the Druidic,Pagan and Wiccan beliefs, as when you sit down to talk to many of these folks, their knowledge of psychology, homeopathic and naturepathic medicines, as well as much common sense life philiosophy can be astounding indeed. I still get put off sometimes with their insistance on ritual and adherance to expressing things in mythic terms. I'm a die hard rationalist/realist and my thought process can be a bit linear.
Does this effect anyones religion? What are your "thoughts"?
It can. The way it effected mine, was that from the get-go, I was pretty much convinced that the religion I grew up with BS as according to them, legitamate medical problems were diagnosed as spiritual/moral problems that the Devil was responsible for. I anxiously look forward to such a belief system going the way of the dinosaur, which, BTW for the benefit of some here did NOT live with man.
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| Sep 3 @ 4:13 PM |
Science of the Mind
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hammertime
Posts: 14,071
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I anxiously look forward to such a belief system going the way of the dinosaur, which, BTW for the benefit of some here did NOT live with man. Well you know, Christians believe man and dinosaur lived together. The dinosaurs are now extinct except for one breed, the Ignoramus Rex. The Ignoramus Rex is a small brain mammal that is impervious to logic, reason and common sense. It eats nothing but scripture and its massive droppings are used to spread dogma. It attracts a lot of flies so they can help spread the word.
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