Philosophical Speculations

Ashvin, Can you elaborate on this "systematic way" of unpacking the Divine idealist structure which gives rise to the phenomenal appearances? No, I can't. I don't get into phenomenology in my theology. Subjective experience is a mystery to me, just like it is for many people. First, I've n...

This is mostly in line with U.G. Krishnamurti's view, but I think traditionally Buddhism is also teaching something like that. Buddhists don't think there's "something underneath it all", they precisely aim to realise that in the end there isn't. And in a sense I agree, because I don't th...

Steve, I grok and appreciate Bellah's cautionary statement. It fits well with the transcend-and-include perspective. But, as a thought experiment, consider whether it's open to the possibility that the Kogi might be the 'transcended' and we 'moderns' might be the 'included'? One has only to look at...

While I generally like the scholarship of Robert Bellah, I'm unconvinced by the distinction of "historical religion." Does anyone believe that old aboriginal religion has not -- where it has survived the conquests of dominating civilizations -- also had an evolution into so-called, 'moder...

This question just keeps nagging at me. Both ancient Hinduism and Buddhism are very committed to the idea that people's mission in this reality is to check out of it. To awaken to its illusory nature, not just for the purpose of being able to experience it in a more level-headed way, not just for r...

Exactly, Conscious-Being-Itself is the fact of our every-moment direct conscious experience (but only if we pay attention to it) and, based on such experience, it is undeniable reality. But we also find that this beingness is also actively experiencing, perceiving, cognizing, willing and creating f...

I'm saying that your (and Goethe's) ideas of Polarities (Darkness, Light, Eternity) as ontic realities actually are abstractions of your mind which you believe exist as realities. Alfred North Whitehead called this the fallacy of misplaced concreteness when one mistakes an abstract belief, opinion,...

Then why do you insist on isolating every part of the spiritual scientific approach we are suggesting, without ever considering it holistically , as Steve is suggesting? You slice and dice it up and make random arguments against each tiny fragment, moving from one to another whenever you run out of...

Just as a side note, in my engineering work there is a process of design reviews where one of us presents his design and others take a role of critics: they try to find every possible way the design may break or not work or show a non-intended performance, and any unproven or untested assumptions. ...

I just had a vision or fantasy of a future time when the evolution of consciousness had so unfolded (I choose not to use the word 'progressed') I really like the word "unfolded" instead of "progressed". I think it's apt when thinking about spirituality throughout the ages. Anoth...