lorenzop wrote: ↑Mon Oct 17, 2022 4:52 pm
This may be an example of symantics - for example I use the term thinking and perception as being of the same category, not as two different things . . .
I find the explanation of thinking\perceiving as an activity modulated by reality, I find this explanation more useful. More so than thinking\perceiving as plucking already existing thoughts\perceptions from an existing pool of thoughts. This latter explanation does not require a reality or environment - or if we pluck thoughts\perceptions from a pool, but this 'plucking' is modulated by a reality - then suggesting that the thoughts already exist (as spiritual beings or otherwise) doesn't really gain us anything.
I understand your stance to see thoughts and perceptions on the same plane. This makes it difficult to speak of thinking because, as you say, it all reduces to semantics. Let’s try another approach.
Some time ago you said that you can’t imagine things in your mind’s eye so most of the exercises given here are no option for you. But let’s try something else. I guess you won’t have any trouble
focusing your attention on various objects in your surroundings. Do an experiment, pick a random point, say, the corner of the table, and hold your attention still at it for a few seconds, then move to another point. It’s not important what the object is – it acts only as an anchor point. Try to feel the act of focusing your attention itself.
Then, after you get a good feel for this, try with eyes closed and focus your attention at random points. The eyes are closed only to avoid distractions, there’s no need to conceive of some parallel imaginary space or anything like that. You are in the same room space. Think of it as if instead of closing your eyes, the lights simply go down. Then you focus your attention in the space where, for example, the chair should be, the table and so on. But this is only for reference. In reality you need not try to imagine anything at the points of focus. At the center of the experiment is the very act of pointing your ray of attention at various points in space. You can also try something more advanced like smoothly moving the focus of your attention in circular, spiral, rectangular, etc. paths.
Now if you really did this experiment I guess you would agree that what you experience is not thought/perception in the traditional sense. There isn’t any object that you try to focus on. No thought appears, neither do you pluck a thought out of some pool. All your experience is entirely within your willing of the movement of the focus of attention within empty space.
In your view, what would you call this thing that you’re doing? Is it some ‘playback’ of reality or there’s something more in it which has to be taken into account if we are to move towards a fuller experience of reality?
