(Spiritual Quest) The mystery of consciousness! Let's explore the enigma of why matter, seemingly unconscious, experiences awareness. Discover the "hard problem of consciousness," insights from philosophers like David Chalmers and Thomas Nagel, and groundbreaking theories from neuroscientists such as Anil Seth and Giulio Tononi. #Consciousness #Philosophy #Neuroscience #Meditation #Mindfulness #AI #Panpsychism
00:00:00 - The fundamental mystery of consciousness
00:01:48 - What is consciousness? (and why it’s hard to define)
00:03:38 - The problem of detecting consciousness
00:05:30 - The illusion of conscious control
00:07:26 - The future of consciousness science
Is consciousness everything?
All-seeing Great Brahma has multiple faces.
Pantheism says "God" is everywhere in everything. What if that actually refers to Consciousness, which seems to be everywhere in everything?
Asangoham made a video on the Brahma Sutras talking about Hinduism that touches on this point, everything originating from Brahma (the "Supremo") who out of boredom created Maya (the illusory world around us), who immediately wanted to play (lila) a game, a divine drama, a diversion.
First, create the universe then get lost in it, forgetting yourself, then play hide-and-seek to find yourself. It's an old New Age belief. It seems to be what Alan Watts believes.
If Everything is conscious then we can know everything by tapping into Source and connecting, merging, uniting with it. It's like tuning into a frequency, as a radio does.
If you’re feeling brave, sit and look — and I mean really look — at a plant on your windowsill as it bends toward the light.
Why are they growing, Son? - Looking for Sun!
It seems simple, but stare at it long enough and you may find yourself doubting everything you thought you knew about your own mind. Sooner or later you’ll ask yourself, "Why, exactly, is that plant stretching toward the sun?"
Sure, you can look it up and find out there’s a thing called phototropism, which involves cells in a plant elongating to chase the sun. But that’s not really much of an answer. The question is, Why does the plant do that?
Is its movement just a mechanistic response with no feeling [or reflexive awareness] behind it? Or does the plant want that delicious, warm light? To many kids, it’s obvious: The plant wants the light!
Yet as adults, at least in the West, we’re supposed to be embarrassed by that kind of language. Modern science warns us against anthropomorphizing [treating nonhuman things as if they're human] — and not just when it comes to plants.
The editors of Wisdom Quarterly have collected this diverse batch of clickbait time consumers that make us wonder how we lived before TikTok taught us so much. Enjoy
Nikola Tesla's lost interview: Deep Space SECRETS (2024)
(Pep Talk) Sept. 13, 2024: Dive into the extraordinary world of Nikola Tesla in the video "Nikola Tesla's Lost Interview (100 Years Old): Deep Space SECRETS (2024)."
This groundbreaking discovery reveals previously unseen footage of the legendary inventor discussing his visionary ideas about spirituality [speaking like Edgar Cayce during a reading or a shaman on entheogens], deep space, and the universe.
What secrets did Tesla uncover about electricity, energy, technology, and the cosmos that are still relevant today?
Whether one is a Tesla aficionado, a space enthusiast, or curious about the mysteries of the universe, this video is a must-watch.
"Tesla" is now a personal robot built by Elon Musk's company for home use and probably sex.
. Nikola Tesla (July 10, 1856–Jan. 7, 1943) lived to be 86. He was a Serbian-American [3, 4] born in modern day Croatia. He was an experimental scientist and very much a mystic, who became famous as an inventor, engineer, and futurist.
He is well known for his contributions to the design of the modern alternating current (AC) electricity supply system [5].
Born and raised in the Austrian Empire, Tesla first studied engineering and physics in the 1870s without receiving a degree.
He then gained practical experience in the early 1880s working in telephony and at Continental Edison in the new electric power industry. In 1884, he immigrated to the United States, where he became a naturalized citizen.
He worked for a short time at the Edison Machine Works in New York City before he struck out on his own. With the help of partners to finance and market his inventions, Tesla set up laboratories and companies in New York to develop a range of electrical and mechanical devices.
His AC induction motor and related polyphase AC patents, licensed by Westinghouse Electric in 1888, earned him a considerable amount of money and became the cornerstone of the polyphase system, which that company eventually marketed.
Attempting to develop inventions he could patent and market, Tesla conducted a range of experiments with mechanical oscillators/generators, electrical discharge tubes, and early X-ray imaging. He also built a wirelessly controlled boat, one of the first ever exhibited.
Tesla became well known as an inventor and demonstrated his achievements to celebrities and wealthy patrons at his lab and was noted for his showmanship at public lectures.
Throughout the 1890s, Tesla pursued his visions for wireless lighting and worldwide wireless electric power distribution in his high-voltage, high-frequency power experiments in New York and Colorado Springs.
In 1893, he made pronouncements on the possibility of wireless communication with his devices. Tesla tried to put these ideas to practical use in his unfinished Wardenclyffe Tower project, an intercontinental wireless communication and power transmitter, but ran out of funding before he could complete it.
After Wardenclyffe, Tesla experimented with a series of inventions in the 1910s and 1920s with varying degrees of success. Having spent most of his money, Tesla lived in a series of New York hotels, leaving behind unpaid bills. He died in New York City in January 1943 [6].
Tesla's work fell into relative obscurity following his death, until 1960, when the General Conference on Weights and Measures named the International System of Units (SI) measurement of magnetic flux density the "tesla" in his honor.
There has been a resurgence in popular interest in Tesla since the 1990s [7].
Early home, now the Nikola Tesla Museum
Tesla's birth house (parish hall) was rebuilt in the church where his father served as an Eastern Orthodox priest in Smiljan, Croatia. The site was made into a museum about him [8].
I didn't get to be The Richest by morality
[When Tesla passed away in New York, the U.S. government confiscated his papers, effects, devices, and made them secret to benefit private interests or appropriate advanced technology with possible military applications for U.S. arsenals and secret laboratories, making Tesla's revelations the opposite of his intentions to benefit the world and every being in it.]
Elon Musk is the anti-Nikola Tesla making $$$.
Nikola Tesla was born into an ethnic Serb family in the village of Smiljan, within the Military Frontier, in the Austrian Empire (present-day Croatia).
Tesla's father, Milutin Tesla (1819–1879) [11], was a priest of the Eastern Orthodox Church [12, 13, 14, 15]. His father's brother Josif was a lecturer at a military academy who wrote several textbooks on mathematics [11].
Musk and Tesla could hardly be more different.
Tesla's mother, Georgina "Đuka" Mandić (1822–1892), whose father was also an Eastern Orthodox Church priest [16], had a talent for making home craft tools and mechanical appliances and the ability to memorize Serbian epic poems. She never received a formal education. Tesla credited his eidetic [photographic] memory and creative abilities to his mother's genetics and influence [17, 18].
Tesla was the fourth of five children. He had three sisters -- Milka, Angelina, and Marica -- and an older brother Dane, who was killed in a horse-riding accident when Tesla was six or seven [19].
In 1861, Tesla attended primary school in Smiljan where he studied German, arithmetic, and religion.
In 1862, the Tesla family moved to the nearby town of Gospić, where Tesla's father worked as parish priest. More
TIME STAMPS
Musk is using my good name to sell.
0:00 Introduction
00:00:14 Tesla is recognized for his profound understanding of the cosmos and questioned about his identity.
00:00:48 He's celebrated as the mind behind the 20th and 21st centuries, with futurists praising his inventions.
00:01:11 Industry hails Tesla as a supreme saint, recognizing his contributions to physics, chemistry, and technological advancements.
00:01:18 Despite remarkable achievements, Tesla expresses a sense of unfulfillment, having not yet reached his ultimate goal.
00:01:47 His dream was to illuminate the entire Earth, harnessing the limitless power of electricity.
00:02:04 Tesla believes in tapping into diverse energies, including positive mental energy from music and art, to elevate humanity.
00:02:20 He envisions a world where Earth's natural energies foster joy, peace, and love.
00:02:30 Tesla spent years researching how energy impacts humanity, seeking to harness its potential for positive change.
00:02:42 He outlines three key areas of scientific inquiry: providing food for the hungry, eradicating suffering, and harnessing the universe's light.
00:03:23 He discovered a star that could vanish without disrupting the universe, showcasing the vastness and mystery of the cosmos.
00:03:36 Tesla challenges Einstein's theory of relativity, advocating for understanding the universe's harmony.
00:03:51 He believes in the potential for humans to achieve a higher spiritual state.
00:04:07 Tesla's ambition extends beyond inventions, aiming to awaken humanity's innate potential for growth and transcendence.
00:04:24 He views "empty space" as teeming with untapped energy, waiting to be harnessed.
00:04:40 His connection with birds reflects his belief in humanity's latent ability for flight and spiritual elevation.
00:05:08 Tesla discusses his views on love and relationships, choosing a path of solitude, and dedication to his work.
00:05:33 He perceives illness as a transformative process, leading to purification of mind and body.
00:06:02 Tesla sees the universe as inherently moral, surpassing human comprehension.
00:06:35 He experiences the universe as a symphony of light and energy, transcending conventional human senses.
00:07:10 He claims to possess heightened senses, perceiving sounds and colors beyond normal human perception.
00:08:27 He describes hearing cosmic music and seeing unique colors, demonstrating his extraordinary perception of reality.
00:08:51 Tesla's imagination fuels his inventions, blurring the line between reality and vision.
00:09:22 He shares ten conditions for achieving higher consciousness and spiritual growth.
00:10:28 Tesla views his body as a well-understood machine, advocating for mindful eating and sleep.
00:11:02 A humorous anecdote involving Mark Twain illustrates the importance of balance and moderation.
00:11:34 Tesla stresses emotional control and harnessing sexual energy for spiritual development.
00:12:12 Memory is essential, but he prioritizes accessing knowledge when needed, not just remembering.
00:12:34 All experiences are stored as light particles, accessible through his visualization abilities.
00:13:30 Tesla's heightened senses allow him to perceive phenomena beyond the normal range.
00:14:00 He sees illness as a purification process, aiding spiritual growth.
00:14:20 Tesla's "illusions" offer glimpses into dimensions beyond the physical world.
00:14:44 He recounts a childhood experience that shaped his understanding of the universe's interconnectedness.
00:15:33 The ultimate adjustment is finding joy and playfulness in life and work.
00:16:35 Tesla challenges the notion of stealing fire from the gods, viewing lightning as a natural wonder.
00:17:02 He reiterates that everything is electricity, the fundamental energy of existence.
00:17:41 Tesla advocates for embracing life's rhythm and finding harmony with the universe.
00:18:11 He emphasizes the interconnectedness of all beings and celestial bodies.
00:19:02 He urges us to be receptive to the universe's messages and learn its language.
Rare earth mineral mining and coal-generated electric plants pollute the world worse than gas
Elon Musk is a fraud to appropriate the name "Tesla" to profit from the discoveries given from Venus (or Aldebaran) to a sensitive man from Croatia who, like those beings sending the communication, wanted to save the world with free energy.
"Zig, hey!" says ginger white kitty, while extending its paw in the air (zaLysonArts/Getty).
.
A surprising number of cats want us to play fetch with them
What good results from the deed of meditation?
Many people have seen dogs fetch, but cats like to get into the game, too. Despite their very different hunting and play styles, fetching appears to combine elements of predatory [hunting, stalking, killing] and social behavior for both species.
Although their domestication histories and natural behaviors are very different, cats and dogs share many similarities.
Both species are predators, live closely with humans and are capable of enjoying rich social experiences with us.
Is this fake Buddha quote true? Kind of, partly
In our newly published study, we found that more than 40% of cats described in our survey data played fetch, compared with almost 80% of dogs.
We also outlined several possible reasons for fetching, including play, selection during domestication, and learning effects. More
The Creeping [Cat] Sutra (AN 10.216)
Karmic-result? Deal with it.
“Meditators, I teach an exposition of the Dharma on creeping. Listen, attend closely, and I will speak.”
“Yes, venerable sir,” they replied. The Buddha then said: “What, meditators, is the exposition of the Dharma on creeping?
“Meditators, beings are the owners of their karma (deeds), heirs of their karma; they have karma as their origin, karma as their relative, karma as their resort; whatever karma they do, good or bad, they are its heirs.
I'm a stalker. I'm a predator. I'm a killer.
(1) “Here, someone destroys life, is murderous, bloodyhanded, given to beatings and violence, is merciless to living beings.
“One creeps along by body, speech, and mind: One's bodily karma is crooked, one's verbal karma is crooked, one's mental karma is crooked.
“[Therefore,] one's destination is crooked, one's rebirth is crooked. And for one with a crooked destination and rebirth, I say, there is one of two destinations -- either the exclusively painful hells or [rebirth/reappearance as] a species of creeping animal.
“What are the species of creeping animals? The CAT, the snake, the scorpion, the centipede, the mongoose, the mouse, and the owl, or any other animals that creep away when they see people.
“Thus, a being is reborn from a being; one is reborn through one’s deeds. When one has been reborn, contacts [impressions] affect one. It is in this way, I say, that beings are the heirs of their karma.
(2) “Someone takes what is not given… (3)…engages in sexual misconduct… (4)…speaks falsehood… (5)…speaks divisively… (6)…speaks harshly… (7)…indulges in idle chit chat… (8)…is full of longing… (9) …has a mind of ill will and intentions of hate… (10)… More
[EDITOR:KARMA (deeds, intentional actions, courses of action) refers to doing. Having been willed, carried out, and stored up, there are two kinds of outcomes -- the "resultants" (vipaka)and the "fruit" (phala) that ripens. [One might distinguish between immediate mental resultants and longer-term fruits or future circumstances that result from deeds.]
Mikel Delgado, Judith Stella, The Conversation, Nature via ScienceAlert.com, 9/5/24; Dhr. Seven (ed.) "Creeping" (AN 10.216) based on Bhikkhu Bodhi translation (suttacentral.net, AN 10.216), CC Liu, Ashley Wells (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly
From the CEO’s Desk: From the Beach to Black Rock City and the World in 1986, a small group gathered on Baker Beach for the first burn, not yet imagining what would become Black Rock City.
That initial connection sparked a global culture. Now, with Black Rock City just days away, Marian Goodell shares her thoughts. In the spirit of transparency, Burning Man is keeping it real with the Burner global community.
Please don't dial 911 [at our] screams of pleasure
There aren't really sex ORGIES at Burning Man, are there? No, no, well, I mean, I suppose it depends on how you define "orgy." Are there tents with mattresses inside and naked people horsing around in a Bacchic manner? Well, yeah, sometimes. It depends on the attendees. Anyone can have any kind of tent. Come to our ECSTATIC MEDITATION TENT (jhanic-piti) on the Playa by the smoking dragon structure where "No sex, please; we're Ameboids and Gatchularians" is our motto if it's a non-orgy you want. But if it's an orgy of diversion and hedonistic distractions, keep going to the Orgy Dome.
Come hear the Buddha's "Fire Sermon" or read it below.*
WARNING: Adults only! Orgy in progress.
In days, there will be a gathering of people in the Black Rock Desert, celebrating and putting into practice a culture of creativity, innovation, and connection.
The Burning Man Project has been supporting and encouraging this Burning Man cultural movement since 1986.
Burning Man migrated from the beach in San Francisco, to the Nevada desert and then out into the world.
In 2023, 74,000 people came together in Black Rock City and, incredibly, an additional 95,000 people participated in official Burning Man Regional Events (regionals) around the world.
I didn't mean to cling! I was just curious
Specific to Black Rock City this year, we can’t wait for the Curiouser & Curiouser convening. We expect the metropolis to bring together nearly 70,000 participants, including similar levels of first-time Burners on the Playa as in the past.
Those who are new will discover as they acculturate with the Survival Guide what community—at Burning Man events and in the world—is truly all about:
Let’s remember, we were all newbies once, and with that wide-eyed expression caught up in awe and joy we went on to do more and bigger things. From building a wilderness camping experience in Black Rock City as an experiment in civics to achieving our nonprofit goals, no one said it would be easy.
Tantric sex is better for intimacy in dating.
And the goal remains the same—to make the world better. The key to our collective success is the long-term survival of the Burning Man culture and our continued ability to inspire participation—in Northern Nevada and worldwide.
In this moment of societal division, isolation, and a decline in people connecting, the antidote is more togetherness, mental well-being, and creativity.
On one occasion the Buddha was dwelling in Gaya, at Gaya’s Head, together with 1,000 meditators. There he addressed them: “Meditators, all is burning! And what, meditators, is the 'all' that is burning?
“The eye is burning.
“Forms [visual objects] are burning, eye-consciousness is burning, eye-contact is burning, and whatever feeling arises with eye-contact as condition — whether pleasant or painful or neither-painful-nor-pleasant — that too is burning.
“Burning with what? Burning with the fire of lust, with the fire of hatred, with the fire of delusion; burning with rebirth, aging, and death; with sorrow, lamentation, pain, displeasure, and despair, I say.
“The ear is burning…
“The nose is burning…
“The tongue is burning...
“The body is burning…
“The mind is burning
Maitreya: What is the "all" that is burning?
and whatever feeling arises with mind-contact as condition — whether pleasant or painful or neither-painful-nor-pleasant — that, too, is burning.
“Burning with what? Burning with the fire of lust, with the fire of hatred, with the fire of delusion; burning with rebirth, aging, and death; with sorrow, lamentation, pain, displeasure, and despair, I say.
“Seeing thus, meditators, the instructed noble disciple experiences dispassion [disillusionment, revulsion, letting go] towards the eye, towards forms, towards eye-consciousness, towards eye-contact, towards whatever feeling arises with eye-contact as condition — whether pleasant or painful or neither-painful-nor-pleasant...
Bomjon, the Nepalese boy meditator, perhaps practicing tummo, spontaneously catches on fire.
.
“One experiences revulsion towards the ear…towards the mind…towards whatever feeling arises with mind-contact as condition….
“Experiencing revulsion, one becomes dispassionate. Through dispassionone's mind is liberated.
“When it is liberated, there comes the knowledge: ‘It’s liberated.’ One understands, ‘Destroyed is rebirth, the utmost life has been lived, what had to be done has been done, and there is no more [of this to come] for this state of being.’”
This is what the Buddha said. Elated, those meditators delighted in the Blessed One’s statement. And while this discourse was being spoken, the minds of the thousand meditators were liberated from the taints by letting go (nonclinging).
This giant symbolic man will burn. He'll be set on fire. Think of the symbolism! Eh, don't think.
.
DANGER: Dust storms may strike. No refunds.
Burning Man culture is more relevant than ever. This is exactly what it offers through art, music, learning, leadership, and civic engagement.
In the early years, annual ticket revenue was sufficient, but it alone does not fund Black Rock City and all the other ways the nonprofit brings Burning Man culture to the world.
Since becoming a nonprofit in 2011, philanthropic support has been increasingly vital. It is even more important today given lower ticket sales to this year’s event.
.
It is easy to hypothesize about why we’re in this moment, but let’s not forget that while the movement is vibrant, any culture is impacted by what is happening in broader society. Moods and societal values change, economic forecasts and consumer confidence fluctuates, local, state, and federal laws shift, the weather patterns become unpredictable, and costs rise,
But one thing remains: Our passion and commitment to bringing more Burning Man culture to the world is steadfast. More (COMMENTS)
Aug. 25, 2024: Rain and mud problems
(KCAL) It's last year all over again, when we were trapped in a mud flood of desert rain and slop clay
It might rain and become muddy. Pack accordingly. Bring mud tires and trip insurance.
.
Y'know things are bad when ya pray for drought
The desert is an unforgiving place. It's not really that it's hot. That's not what makes it a "desert." What makes it one is temperature extremes. Sure, it's hot in the day and you'll die of dehydration. But in the night, you'll freeze to death and die of predation. Jinn, snakes, coyotes, scorpions, shapeshifters, the wilderness is not the place to be wandering. But if lost, travel by evening or night when it's cooler.
These new oversized mud tires keep me unstuck
If you happen to be driving to a new city in the desert that pops up once a year for a week, bring mud tires, a raincoat, galoshes, boots, and chains to get hauled out of mud and sand traps. Today, Sunday, Aug. 25th, is the first day of Burning Man 2024. Problem. The gates are locked to Black Rock City due to rain. Burners and Newbies must have sensed this when they were buying tickets like previous years. Form a line. Pull a tarp over your art installation. And wait for the water to soak in the ground before driving and getting stuck in the soup like last year.
All materials on this site are submitted by editors and readers. All images, unless otherwise noted, were taken from the Internet and are assumed to be in the public domain.
In the event that there is still a problem, issue, or error with copyrighted material, the break of the copyright is unintentional and noncommercial, and the material will be removed immediately upon presented proof.
Contact us by submitting a comment marked "private."
Do not follow this journal if you are under vinaya or parental restrictions. Secure protection by Sucuri.
Wisdom Quarterly: American Buddhist Journal is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 United States License. Permissions beyond the scope of this license may be available at creativecommons.org/about/licenses.
.jpg)
.jpg)
