For hundreds of years, philosophers have wrestled with "the hard problem of consciousness." Can the psychedelic experience teach us anything new about it and about reality itself?
wonderful reflections - but I wonder if the so called hard problem of consciousness is the result of a certain kind of outward looking, extroverted thinking initiated (or at least, more widespread) at the outset of the scientific revolution?
As Orthodox theologian David Bentley Hart observes, what we know with no possibility of any doubt is a world in consciousness. The one thing we not only do not know, but can never know, never even have one scintilla of evidence for is the existence of pure physical or material stuff, existing utterly independent of any kind of consciousness.
What we have had, then, since the days of Diderot, Bacon, Newton and Galileo, is a hard problem of matter, and it was David Chalmers’ formulation that has begun to allow more and more people to glimpse this
As far as using a material substance (psychedelics) to learn anything, why not try this several thousand year old practice:
When you lie down to sleep tonight, notice somewhere between stage 1 and 2 sleep, as dream images and sounds begin to emerge. This is the stage of hypnagogia, in between sleep and dreaming. It will likely begin with vague constantly changing lights, perhaps simply light and dark, and vague somewhat sustained sounds.
As this progresses - assuming you remain aware - the sounds and sights will become 3D immersive dreams. Now stay aware without getting lost in the dream scene, and as the dream dissolves, rather than waking up, simply remain aware as the mind goes into delta wave stage 3 sleep.
Now, as the body and mind wake up in the morning - look carefully (you can do this now):
Is there a clear boundary between thoughts, sounds, etc that appear in what we conceptualize as “in here” (in the mind) and “out there” (in the so called “external” environment)
If you look closely enough, you’ll see there is not, and there never was. The individuated wave that you actually are in the ocean of existence has never been utterly separate. Knowing this is knowing the ultimate truth of the universe - of this and all possible universes.
It was not a mere poetic fancy that led the 3rd century BC poet who St Paul quoted to say that that Infinite Reality is one “in whom we live and move and have our being.”
For me, consciousness and its origins has never been a "problem"--an intriguing mystery perhaps. I just accept it. I never took psychedelic drugs because i did not want to experiment with my delicate mind. There are too many risks involved. I have, however, had numerous transcendent experiences wherein I merged with the universe and time stopped. I've experienced beautiful esthetic and synesthetic things. There are much safer ways to have these experiences, such as prayer, mediation, art, music, nature, and more. I agree with Spinoza that it is all part of our oneness and love it.
wonderful reflections - but I wonder if the so called hard problem of consciousness is the result of a certain kind of outward looking, extroverted thinking initiated (or at least, more widespread) at the outset of the scientific revolution?
As Orthodox theologian David Bentley Hart observes, what we know with no possibility of any doubt is a world in consciousness. The one thing we not only do not know, but can never know, never even have one scintilla of evidence for is the existence of pure physical or material stuff, existing utterly independent of any kind of consciousness.
What we have had, then, since the days of Diderot, Bacon, Newton and Galileo, is a hard problem of matter, and it was David Chalmers’ formulation that has begun to allow more and more people to glimpse this
As far as using a material substance (psychedelics) to learn anything, why not try this several thousand year old practice:
When you lie down to sleep tonight, notice somewhere between stage 1 and 2 sleep, as dream images and sounds begin to emerge. This is the stage of hypnagogia, in between sleep and dreaming. It will likely begin with vague constantly changing lights, perhaps simply light and dark, and vague somewhat sustained sounds.
As this progresses - assuming you remain aware - the sounds and sights will become 3D immersive dreams. Now stay aware without getting lost in the dream scene, and as the dream dissolves, rather than waking up, simply remain aware as the mind goes into delta wave stage 3 sleep.
Now, as the body and mind wake up in the morning - look carefully (you can do this now):
Is there a clear boundary between thoughts, sounds, etc that appear in what we conceptualize as “in here” (in the mind) and “out there” (in the so called “external” environment)
If you look closely enough, you’ll see there is not, and there never was. The individuated wave that you actually are in the ocean of existence has never been utterly separate. Knowing this is knowing the ultimate truth of the universe - of this and all possible universes.
It was not a mere poetic fancy that led the 3rd century BC poet who St Paul quoted to say that that Infinite Reality is one “in whom we live and move and have our being.”
For me, consciousness and its origins has never been a "problem"--an intriguing mystery perhaps. I just accept it. I never took psychedelic drugs because i did not want to experiment with my delicate mind. There are too many risks involved. I have, however, had numerous transcendent experiences wherein I merged with the universe and time stopped. I've experienced beautiful esthetic and synesthetic things. There are much safer ways to have these experiences, such as prayer, mediation, art, music, nature, and more. I agree with Spinoza that it is all part of our oneness and love it.