Received: by alpheratz.cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk id LAA21325 (8.6.9/5.3[ref pg@gmsl.co.uk] for cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk from fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk); Fri, 15 Sep 2000 11:26:07 +0100 Message-ID: <2D1C159B783DD211808A006008062D3101745A17@inchna.stir.ac.uk> From: Vincent Campbell <v.p.campbell@stir.ac.uk> To: "'memetics@mmu.ac.uk'" <memetics@mmu.ac.uk> Subject: RE: solipsistic view on memetics Date: Fri, 15 Sep 2000 11:23:41 +0100 X-Mailer: Internet Mail Service (5.5.2650.21) Content-Type: text/plain Sender: fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk Precedence: bulk Reply-To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk
>My first post on this, to which you responded, was a definition of
>mysticism: the elevation of experience over intellectualization.
OK, then define experience. What you're confusing is experience with the
interpretation of that experience- that 's the mystic's basic error. It's
evident in this ridiculous statement you make about breathing-
>Meditation focused on the sensations of breathing sometimes reaches
>a stage where you no longer seem to be breathing, but rather "being
>breathed". Not as if you were air, but as if some agency other
than
>your self was in control. This can lead to insights into the
nature
>of self/other boundaries, and of the self, and into the meaning of
>"control".
Such behaviour leads to delusions to insight, such as those of the
breatharians who believe that you don't need to eat or drink to survive
simply draw in energy from the outside into your body by meditation and
breathing exercises. Needless to say there have been deaths of people trying
to follow this particular 'insight'.
What criteria do you use to judge your experiences? You must use
some in order to make a distinction between rational and mystical responses
to your experiences. Who defines those criteria- each individual? some
great sage? cultural consensus? How are those criteria reached- leaps of
faith? hypotheses and experimental testing?
I notice you avoid my last post's other question in favour of
emotive defensiveness, so I'll ask it again: Do you have any examples where
mysticism is a more appropriate framework than rationalism for understanding
a phenomenon or responding to it?
Vincent
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