Received: by alpheratz.cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk id UAA22419 (8.6.9/5.3[ref pg@gmsl.co.uk] for cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk from fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk); Mon, 2 Oct 2000 20:00:12 +0100 Message-ID: <39D8D8DA.3643A@clara.co.uk> Date: Mon, 02 Oct 2000 19:50:03 +0100 From: Douglas Brooker <dbrooker@clara.co.uk> Organization: University of London X-Mailer: Mozilla 4.5 [en] (Win95; I) X-Accept-Language: en To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk Subject: Re: the conscious universe References: <20001001192848.AAA26404@camailp.harvard.edu@[204.96.32.187]> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Sender: fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk Precedence: bulk Reply-To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk
"Wade T.Smith" wrote:
> Empirical science _is_ universal- always has been and always will be,
> world without end amen.
The teachings of one school of mysticism combines theory and empirical
practice. The practice consists of a large number of exercises that are also
referred to as 'experiments.' One purpose of the experiments is to allow the
student to test and verify the theoretical propositions to their own
satisfaction. Scepticism is encouraged.
The experiments, simply described, apply various forms of concentration and
meditation, to develop the student's skill using their mind and understanding
the dimensions and capabilities of their consciousness. One experiment
involves placing a piece of paper in a bowl of water and by applying the
technique described to cause the paper to move about the surface of the water
as directed by the consciousness of the student. The exercise is meant to
demonstrate the theoretical principle that thoughts are 'things' and that
thoughts can be focused in such a way as to produce empirical manifestations
entirely through correct direction of consciousness.
On the basis that thoughts are things, it seems to follow that there is a
physical basis to memetics. This is one mystical interpretation.
Douglas
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