[FutureBuddha (Hunches IX)] Hunches about Causes

[Ryumon]

Goff is also very bullish on panpsychism. He wrote about it in his book Galileo’s Error.

Gassho,
Ryūmon (Kirk)
Sat Lah

[Jundo]

Goff is also very bullish on panpsychism. He wrote about it in his book Galileo’s Error.

Gassho,
Ryūmon (Kirk)
Sat Lah

He actually has his own version, which he says is a little different from "panpsychism," or better, is a sub-category. He calls it " Cosmopsychism ."

https://aeon.co/essays/cosmopsychism-explains-why-the-universe-is-fine-tuned-for-life

There are two ways of developing the basic panpsychist position. One is micropsychism, the view that the smallest parts of the physical world have consciousness. ... However, a number of scientists and philosophers of science have recently argued that this kind of ‘bottom-up’ picture of the Universe is outdated, and that contemporary physics suggests that in fact we live in a ‘top-down’ – or ‘holist’ – Universe, in which complex wholes are more fundamental than their parts. According to holism, the table in front of you does not derive its existence from the sub-atomic particles that compose it; rather, those sub-atomic particles derive their existence from the table. Ultimately, everything that exists derives its existence from the ultimate complex system: the Universe as a whole. ... If we combine holism with panpsychism, we get cosmopsychism: the view that the Universe is conscious, and that the consciousness of humans and animals is derived not from the consciousness of fundamental particles, but from the consciousness of the Universe itself. This is the view I ultimately defend in Consciousness and Fundamental Reality.

The cosmopsychist need not think of the conscious Universe as having human-like mental features, such as thought and rationality. Indeed, in my book I suggested that we think of the cosmic consciousness as a kind of ‘mess’ devoid of intellect or reason. However, it now seems to me that reflection on the fine-tuning might give us grounds for thinking that the mental life of the Universe is just a little closer than I had previously thought to the mental life of a human being.

... The theist postulates a supernatural agent while the agentive cosmopsychist postulates a natural agent. The multiverse theorist postulates an enormous number of distinct, unobservable entities: the many universes. The agentive cosmopsychist merely adds to an entity that we already believe in: the physical Universe. And most importantly, agentive cosmopsychism avoids the false predictions of its two rivals. ...

Gassho, J
stlah

[Matt Johnson]

Way back in the day I can remember reading that subject and object were one. This made zero sense at the time. But eventually it did, but It made me feel profoundly loney as it seemed clear I was the only thing in existence. This was a solipsistic hell which persisted until my first sesshin (maybe second!?)

Anyway, I can remember having this feeling like I was the whole universe (I) was so bored so I had to create stuff so as not to be so bored in my eternal solitude. I felt that at best the people I was talking to were light from long dead stars. That if I went insane there was no one who could help me as there was only me. The "cosmic" purpose at that time seemed to be to keep myself entertained. That self referential hell was such a lonely time for me.


_/\_
sat/ah
matt

[Jundo]

Way back in the day I can remember reading that subject and object were one. This made zero sense at the time. But eventually it did, but It made me feel profoundly loney as it seemed clear I was the only thing in existence. This was a solipsistic hell which persisted until my first sesshin (maybe second!?)

Solipsism, basically the belief that the whole of reality is just you, and you are the only thing in (or that is) the universe, is a great mistake, a great pitfall, that is to be rejected in Mahayana and Zen Buddhism.

The Mahayana message is very different.

Yes, the sun and ground, stars, every bug and each worm, the fish and birds, any rusty tin can and the whole universe are just you.

However, one must realize that you and the sun, ground, stars, bugs, fish, birds and rusty can are just the worm. In fact, the whole universe in just the worm.

Likewise, the whole universe, from ground to stars, worm to you, is totally all a rusty tin can.

So, that might cure you from letting this go to your head.

On the other hand, the message is not that you get lowered down to the depth of being just a bug or worm. Nor are you alone raised up to being the stars and whole universe. Rather, everything is somehow sacred in its place, and everything and all things are somehow jewels sitting equally on the throne which is this reality. Everything, from the tiniest atom to any grain of dust to whole stars and galaxies, is a jewel of infinite worth ... and because infinite worth = infinite worth ... every atom is as precious as the whole universe. You too, but not only you.

So, that should cure one of the solipsism blues.
. main-qimg-91835c27a23a6da02ba01752939fd2ff-lq.jpg




Gassho, J
stlah

[Matt Johnson]

Solipsism, basically the belief that the whole of reality is just you, and you are the only thing in (or that is) the universe, is a great mistake, a great pitfall, that is to be rejected in Mahayana and Zen Buddhism.

The Mahayana message is very different.

Yes, the sun and ground, stars, every bug and each worm, the fish and birds, any rusty tin can and the whole universe are just you.

However, one must realize that you and the sun, ground, stars, bugs, fish, birds and rusty can are just the worm. In fact, the whole universe in just the worm.

Likewise, the whole universe, from ground to stars, worm to you, is totally all a rusty tin can.

So, that might cure you from letting this go to your head.

On the other hand, the message is not that you get lowered down to the depth of being just a bug or worm. Nor are you alone raised up to being the stars and whole universe. Rather, everything is somehow sacred in its place, and everything and all things are somehow jewels sitting equally on the throne which is this reality. Everything, from the tiniest atom to any grain of dust to whole stars and galaxies, is a jewel of infinite worth ... and because infinite worth = infinite worth ... every atom is as precious as the whole universe. You too, but not only you.

So, that should cure one of the solipsism blues.
. main-qimg-91835c27a23a6da02ba01752939fd2ff-lq.jpg




Gassho, J
stlah

It was also largely the result of too many philosophy classes and mushrooms...

_/\_
sat/ah
matt