Introduction: A Paradox at the Heart of Buddhism Buddhism presents us with an apparent contradiction. In the Second Noble Truth, Buddha tells us that “the illusion of self originates and manifests itself in a cleaving to things.” Yet in the Third Truth, he says that by “conquering self, the flames of desire will be extinguished.” […]
Continue reading…Occam's razor
Life’s Chain of Causation — Revised
Entropy → fear → need → action → life meaning → “happiness” (→ = gives rise to, begets, causes) This chain-of-causation is offered not as scientific proof but as a pointer — something to test against your own experience. As Buddha insisted: take nothing on faith. Verify it yourself, or discard it. Two Separate Questions […]
Continue reading…Life’s Chain of Causation
Entropy → fear → need → action (i.e., negentropy) → life meaning → “happiness” (Note: → = gives rise to, begets, causes,) This bottom-up chain-of-causation applies to all living things. Undoubtedly, this chain is easily misunderstood because of the imprecise ways words are interpreted. The synonym-like parallel meanings below help improve understanding.
Continue reading…Quantum Superposition as the Driver of Insight
The short article by Donald D. Hoffman from the Edge book, This Will Change Everything, has for the first time given me a tangible explanation for an insight I experienced that was triggered by my brother’s death in 1964. I suspect that the idea he raises points to something very real and experienced by everyone, […]
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