The Myth of Free Will

[RonSouther]

Originally Posted by Reefs

What is your definition of mind?

The logical biocomputer/memory bank in my head. An amazing tool, one that learns what is important to us and seeks to automate stuff we do a lot....like remembering how to drive a car or how to get to the store.

The problem with the mind is that our views of life have been automated by religion and culture. Those views are beyond the minds grasp yet though mental habits control our lives and destroy our ability to love self and love others because those habits seek to control life including self and others.

[Reefs]

Originally Posted by RonSouther

The logical biocomputer/memory bank in my head. An amazing tool, one that learns what is important to us and seeks to automate stuff we do a lot....like remembering how to drive a car or how to get to the store.

Is the data that is stored in that 'logical biocomputer/memory bank' also mind? Or is mind only that container-like thing?

[RonSouther]

Originally Posted by Reefs

Is the data that is stored in that 'logical biocomputer/memory bank' also mind? Or is mind only that container-like thing?

How about the mind is a process that can be active or silent? When its silent, time flies. When its active, every second of time is felt. I see the mind as remarkably similar to a personal computer (but that the personal computer is a flea compared to the human mind. A lot of analogies can be made between the two but most are obvious..

[RonSouther]

Originally Posted by Reefs

Is the data that is stored in that 'logical biocomputer/memory bank' also mind? Or is mind only that container-like thing?

That the mind can automate routine tasks is an amazing feature of the mind when those conditionings serve the "being" and the body. If those conditionings are serving the society or the religion, then that is exploitation...a mental slavery.

The journey home to self, to joy is to recognize moments of mindlessness to get a peek at the true self, recognize how the mental processes work, recognize conditionings at work, then realize the exploitation that playys us for fools. Like Santa Claus......the society corrupts the child, the child alters his behavior in return for a promise of a reward, then in time his intelligent doubt pokes holes in the santa beliefs until no longer can the beliefs control him.

That's the path out of a mind centered life of ego and a return to a heart centered life of being an authentic being of loving creativity. The paradox of life is contained in the difference between a mind centered vs heart centered life.

[Arcanum]

Originally Posted by RonSouther

How can the mind see the mind? It would need a mirror and that mirror is called consiousness.

Mind is a concept that refers to thought activity. This activity is happening in consciousness. It IS consciousness. Consciousness is it's content. Consciousness is the movement of awareness that you are. You are aware of this thought activity. It's all one 'thing'. All distinctions are conceptual distinctions only, happening in mind/consciousness/awareness.

The function of denial and projection operates as I described.

And that paradoxes exist is evidence of a separation between mind and consciousness....that the mind does stupid stuff in the subjects of love and freedom, subjects that are beyond the mind.

Again, paradox is just holding on to two contradictory ideas, neither of which is ultimately true. Freedom is an idea that comes out of the notion of bondage, which results from the belief in separation. It has no meaning beyond mind. Love, joy and peace are conceptual translations of qualityless Beingness 'seen through a glass darkly'. Being is essentially non-abidance in mind. There are no subjects to ponder beyond mind.

The mind doesnt contain "truth"....if it did, why does the mind think about truth at all? It would know it already.

I never suggested that mind contains Truth. Truth contains mind.

From my own experience, I know there is something vast beyond the mind. I am able to see my mind but I am not able to see what sees my mind. That is who or what I am.

Yes, and you will never be able to see the seer. You ARE the seer.

[RonSouther]

Originally Posted by Arcanum

Mind is a concept that refers to thought activity. This activity is happening in consciousness. It IS consciousness. Consciousness is it's content. Consciousness is the movement of awareness that you are. You are aware of this thought activity. It's all one 'thing'. All distinctions are conceptual distinctions only, happening in mind/consciousness/awareness.

The function of denial and projection operates as I described.



Again, paradox is just holding on to two contradictory ideas, neither of which is ultimately true. Freedom is an idea that comes out of the notion of bondage, which results from the belief in separation. It has no meaning beyond mind. Love, joy and peace are conceptual translations of qualityless Beingness 'seen through a glass darkly'. Being is essentially non-abidance in mind. There are no subjects to ponder beyond mind.



I never suggested that mind contains Truth. Truth contains mind.



Yes, and you will never be able to see the seer. You ARE the seer.

Theres a common thread of "duality" in your argument. I am looking beyond the duality and thats why I said that your arguments mix duality with non duality unconsciously.

[Arcanum]

Originally Posted by RonSouther

Theres a common thread of "duality" in your argument. I am looking beyond the duality and thats why I said that your arguments mix duality with non duality unconsciously.

When I say "It's all one 'thing'. All distinctions are conceptual distinctions only", I'm not talking about duality. What I've been doing is pointing out that your dualistic bifurcations (mind vs consciousness, the paradox of two things being true,) are illusions. You're the one who said we can't all be one or I would know your thoughts. You're refusing to look beyond duality and operating unconsciously and then projecting that onto me.

[RonSouther]

Originally Posted by Arcanum

When I say "It's all one 'thing'. All distinctions are conceptual distinctions only", I'm not talking about duality. What I've been doing is pointing out that your dualistic bifurcations (mind vs consciousness, the paradox of two things being true,) are illusions. You're the one who said we can't all be one or I would know your thoughts. You're refusing to look beyond duality and operating unconsciously and then projecting that onto me.

Who knows...we may be saying the same thing but certain words have different meaning so whatever you mean I misinterpret and vice versa. Theres nothing to win here except understanding.

[Arcanum]

Originally Posted by RonSouther

Who knows...we may be saying the same thing but certain words have different meaning so whatever you mean I misinterpret and vice versa. Theres nothing to win here except understanding.

Yup, that's what we're shootin for.