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Monday, September 13, 2010

Buddhist roots and contemporary science

The meaning of ku, which is a part of the Buddhist concept of Three Truths (Ke, Ku and Chu)

Ke/temporary existence- Can be thought of as life's manifestations and earthly phenomena.

Ku is that which can not be perceived with the senses but exists as pure potential. Non substantiality. Ku is used to describe the state we are in after we die. "Ku is entirely different from non-existence. It is the potential-void combining the three views of existence: Ketai, Kutai and Chutai."

Chu/The Middle Way The way which both transcends and unites dualities such as life and death.The realization of the unchanging essence of the universe. This concept is so difficult to grasp, it has been explained by saying what it is not; in the Eightfold Negations: 'neither birth nor death, neither cessation nor permanence, neither identity nor difference, neither coming nor going.'

Ideas (ku) become realized as tangible changes or actions (ke). The nature (ku) of these actions will be influenced by Chu. Chu is the permeating life force of the universe; it may be compared to our essence, which in turn is shaped by our dominant life state.

The concepept of ku, has been translated as latency, non-substantiality, emptiness and void. The first articulations of this idea comes from Nagarjuna. He believed that the state of "neither existence nor nonexistence" described in this concept expressed the true nature of all things. The paradoxical nature of this idea, however, makes it somewhat foreign to Western dualist logic. Ku, however, is down-to-earth, and in fact consistent with the findings of contemporary science.

Modern physics, in attempting to discover the essence of matter, has arrived at a description of the world that is very close to that of Nagarjuna. What scientists have discovered is that there is no actual, easily identifiable "thing" at the basis of matter. Subatomic particles, the building blocks of the physical world that we inhabit, appear to oscillate between states of being and nonbeing. Instead of a fixed "thing" in a particular place, we find only shifting waves of probability. At this level, the world is actually a highly fluid and unpredictable place, essentially without substance. It is this non-substantial nature of reality that the concept of ku describes.

87 comments:

ANNA-LYS said...

Welcome back!
Interesting post, I have to get back on this one ... need time to gather and focus my thoughts :-)

guillermo said...

Fascinating post. I would like to know What is the origin/main concept behind the 3 truths?

Mariana Soffer said...

ANNA-LYS
You are so kind, is really encouraging after a long time without posting to hear your words.

Mariana Soffer said...

guillermo:
The main idea behind the 3 truth is that you need these 3 basic concepts to understand buddhis epistemology, but mainly that all things should be analyzed from more than one viewpoint

gabriela said...

I find really interesting the fact that the conclusions from such an old discipline where recently reached by a pretty different branch of seeking for knowledge.

Mariana Soffer said...

gabriela: I also find it amazing, it makes me admire even more buddhist discipline

christopher said...

It is not so surprising that we find concordance between Buddhist thinking and the thinking of quantum physicists. Both operate from the idea that the world is unitary and then plumb the depths of that unitary vision for truths which survive the constraints of that extreme depth. The physicists enter the depth of the world while the Buddhists enter the depth of the human heart.

That the outcome of discipline and integrity in both endeavors reveal strong similarities of vision reflects that apparent case that we arise out of the heart of the world and carry that heart inside us, or else that we envision the world as enclosed within us.

In other words, we are on to something universal describing the world in quantum terms or else we are getting really successful in framing the world in terms of the human soul. We cannot really know if there is a difference.

SHUBHAJIT said...

Buddhism is an offshoot of Hinduism.

the Ke is Brahman - the omniscient, omnipresent, which is beyond the time, space and cause. It is ever powerful and eternal. there is no definition as such. But people can call That God.

Chu i guess what we call 'Maya'. In western philosophy its called time, space and cause. beyond which we can't go..perhaps we can but not for permanent.

Ku is what we known as life force, in Sanskrit we call it 'Prana'. this prana is a single force that imbibed in every organism. Many Yogis can control a part of it and we see some "miracles". It's not exactly breathing but a force that tie the whole universe.

*****
I was waiting and waiting for a post from you and finally..where you have been all these days?

Paul Andrew Russell said...

Hi Mariana. :-)

It's good to see you back blogging. I hope all is well with you.

The Buddhist concepts you speak of are indeed complicated and take some thought to understand, if I understand them.

It's almost like that famous quote, "The only constant in life is change." I don't remember who said it but it's very apt for the subject in question.

Best Wishes

Paul

Charles Gramlich said...

Sounds kind of like calculus!

~otto~ said...

I love the way you tied Buddhism into science. Enlightening. Thanks.

ANNA-LYS said...

Hi again, dear
I must admit that I have missed Your posts :-)

When I read Your post earlier I found that I had read the same with other worlds in later neuroscience, and also I recognized phenomenology and psycho-analytic theories, even if the later used Greek mythology to explain different levels of being in the world. Quantum was mentioned here before, and I share that it is from which perspective we explain that forms how we talk about the phenomenon.

But, there are also a danger in meeting different thinking through the view of other explanations ... it blinds us for taking in new perspectives, and see the differences. Thanks for this thought-provoking post ... finally, it is the question of subjective ontological view that makes us open or close the door to other forms of epistemology, isn't it?

Take care,

(( hug ))

ArtSparker said...

...and I like the idea that the uncertainty principle relates to negative capability in poetry, it's not the same ,granted - negative capapbility is the idea of staying in readiness rather than focusing instantly on the end. I do think it's related, not fixing on end, uncertainty, non-attachment.

JanetK said...

Hi, nice that you are posting again.
Have you read 'Tao of Physics' by Capra? There are probably still second hand copies of the book around. I lost my copy years ago.It looks at nuclear physics from an Indian/Chinese religious tradition perspective (with a Californian colour).

J said...

The meeting between spirituality and science is something I've had cause to think about over the years, and it seems increasingly obvious that there are contradictions in how science is generally seen to be done, and the scientific understanding of the world, and how scientists regard their relationship to their work.
I mean it that it is commonplace for a scientist to look at herself as a separate entity from the world, as it is for most people, yet science tells us that she is simply a further part of a greater physical/chemical system interacting all the time with the rest of her environment as one flow of matter/energy.
That is, scientists have a sense of self when the science should be telling them that there is no such thing, but that does not seem to be bridging that conceptual barrier of self/not self which is one of buddhism's main concerns - I do believe.

Quantum physics is a high level study area and I want to be careful not to misrepresent it as I am not an expert, but I think it would be safe to say that the observer effect is one of those areas where that self/not self division breaks down.

I wonder what parallels there may be between the intense and steady observation required by physicists to come to an understanding of quantum effects, and the intense and steady observation required by buddhists in meditation.

I am not sure that buddhism ultimately concerns itself with the human heart, though I understand compassion is important in a lot of traditions, but I thought Christopher put some things well there.

tipota said...

marianna querida welcome back, its so good to see you!
reading this post created from somewhere within a kind of sense, which if i could explain it in visual terms would be, like being a shower of golden light sprinkles in a deep velvety dark space encompassing the entire field of vision and beyond. i love what you are pointing to here, and i love the way it is written, so inspiring!
xxx

Uncle Tree said...

11 days of September passed
between the time
I wrote about my middle way
and you wrote about a way
worth one's time to understand

Uncle Tree said...

Coincidently, I've been reading the work of Jack Kerouak this summer. The Beat Generation of the 50's was fed by the arrival of Buddhist thought in America by way of educational institutions. I seem to have run into the very same quandaries found by other seekers of an earlier time all of my own accord. It makes me feel at home -- for home is where the heart is, and I feel at home with you :)

J said...

For Uncle Tree, some Kerouac. God is Pooh Bear, apparently.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hJo-7Ui60l8

Uncle Tree said...

Thank you for that link, J! Now I have a face AND a voice to hear as I read along in Desolation Angels. I started with One The Road after reading about him via Ken Kesey. Jack was a brave mo fo! That much I do declare :)

How bout a quote that fits here? (From D. Angels)

"As for me, I'm in an excited state because I've been in an airy dungeon for two months and everything pleases and penetrates me, my snowy view of light-particles that permeate throughout the essence of things, passes right on through--I feel the Wall of Emptiness-- Naturally it's perfectly within my interests to see Cody and Raphael glad of each other, it has all to do with the nothing that is all, I have no reason to quibble with the absence of judgement placed in Things by the Absent Judge who builded the world without building it.

Without building it."

Harlequin said...

loved this post and the comments have been wonderful.
so nice to see you back at it.

i found this post a comfort as well as a meditation. lots of taoist undercurrents and resonances as well.

ANNA-LYS said...

UNCLE TREE
I can't find Your blog, I am interested to read about Your "middle way" can You point it out for me, please.

// Anna-Lys

Uncle Tree said...

Sure, Anna! Mariana has it on her blog roll, or you can find Uncle Tree's House here:) I appreciate your curiousness-ness-ness-ness.
http://me2watson.wordpress.com/

Stu said...

Mariana, it's great that you're posting again, and what a wonderful post to return with!

"Modern physics, in attempting to discover the essence of matter, has arrived at a description of the world that is very close to that of Nagarjuna." So true. This is such a fascinating topic.

maekitso said...

Good to see you back in action Mariana. existences and non-existences, I suppose, having pondered for a short time on your post here are qualities or perhaps quantities of things measured at a given point in time - and since things never stand still and unchanged in the passage of time it makes sense that they would rather be in a state of flux between their existence and non-existence. either that or existence and non-existence are just distinctions imposed by minds upon things which are in a state of flux - that is a state of flux defined as a non-periodical state of being with no absolute distinctions and not even any inbetweenies!

Mariana Soffer said...

Christopher

I really write how well written is your first paragraphs, thanks for stating it here. I like when you said that Buddhists enter the depth of the human hart, but I am not sure that those are the best words to put that thought it, Nevertheless I can not thing of something better, I find it too hard to express it myself.

I do agree that both disciplines are pretty similar on the view ot things, buy I also think that the difference among them even dough it seems irrelevant is fundamental for the understanding of what each discipline pretends stating.

Your third paragraph is wonderful, It provides a clear insights to both words and their sameness and otherness that can be observed while exploring them. You really left me thinking and kind of enlightned (at least I feel it) with what you said here.
Thanks a lot Christopher.

Mariana Soffer said...

Shubhajit:
I am not sure what you mean by offshoot, but for what I infer it seems true to me.

Thanks a lot for adding those analogies to the definitions, they are of great value to me, dough I am not that familiar with Hinduism, it provides to me really interesting information from where to start learning it. I just have one doubt: Are you sure you would define the ke as god? It does not sound like a proper description of what I understood the concept is to me.

I really appreciate your collaboration here.
Take care and be well

Mariana Soffer said...

Shubhajit:

Regarding the personal text, thanks a lot for caring, just let me tell you that luckly I have been all right, just not feeling like posting, mainly because I did not felt I have interesting things to share with other people.
I have mainly been working, taking care of that part of my life, changing jobs and thinking about where I would like to direct my career to in the future years.

Mariana Soffer said...

Paul Andrew Russell:
Thank you very much Paul, indeed things are good, as I told to Shubhajit.

I am not sure I understand the concepts either, indeed I think you can never do that, you can just get closer to the perception of it's meaning.

The quote is perfect for this context, and is full of wisdom in it.
Thanks for sharing your kind words here.

Mariana Soffer said...

Charles Gramlich:
Calculus is an approach to examine this topic as valid and clarifying and also similar to the ones I refer to here.

Mariana Soffer said...

Charles Gramlich:
Calculus is an approach to examine this topic as valid and clarifying and also similar to the ones I refer to here.

Mariana Soffer said...

otto:
It is an honor that you pay such a compliment to me, thanks a lot for it, It is relevant to me due to your skeptical and critical way of seeing and talking about things.

Mariana Soffer said...

ANNA-LYS:
You are right in pointing out that I speak based on previously established theories here. I did not invent those ideas, I like to describe them with my words and add value to the text by talking about how we can relate them in a different way.
Nevertheless, I did never think about psycho-analytic theories, , maybe I addressed it even do I did not intended to do it consciously.

I agree that there is that danger, and thanks for being brave and warning us from it. But I also think it blinds us only if we believe they are the one true reality, this blinding happens when thinking about anything as an absolute and unquestionable truth. We should always take care about that, it is the main and most important danger while reasoning.

I believe it is what decides the door to be left open or closed. This is a great reflection indeed.

Mariana Soffer said...

ArtSparker:

I really like how you connect the concepts, and relate this to poetry. I would also add that negative poetry is focused on the constant flow and movement and not on the static ending or state of a certain thing. The idea that everything is constantly moving and changing ad every instant. goes hand in and with the way Buddhist see and understand the universe.

JanetK said...

Hi, nice that you are posting again.
Have you read 'Tao of Physics' by Capra? There are probably still second hand copies of the book around. I lost my copy years ago.It looks at nuclear physics from an Indian/Chinese religious tradition perspective (with a Californian colour).

Mariana Soffer said...

JanetK:
Thank you very much for your kind words. To tell you the truth I did never heard about it before, But I have just spend more than an hour reading about it from the net. I found parts of what I read pretty enlightening such as:

I had gone through a long training in theoretical physics. At the same time, I had become very interested in Eastern mysticism and had begun to see the parallels to modern physics. I was particularly attracted to the puzzling aspects of Zen which reminded me of the puzzles in quantum theory. At first, however, relating the two was a purely intellectual exercise. To overcome the gap between rational, analytical thinking and the meditative experience of mystical truth, was, and still is, very difficult for me.
This link has also really interesting content: http://www.spaceandmotion.com/Philosophy-Fritjof-Capra.htm
Thanks a lot for sharing and recommending related literature with us.
Hope you are doing really well my friend

Mariana Soffer said...

J:
I agree that, in reality, there are contradictions among science different aspects, but I am not sure this contradictions are not caused by how humans deal with them in "reality". Maybe more purely and properly understood science would not be in itself contradictory.
Your second paragraph is correct.
Your third paragraphs opens and triggers interesting questions and thoughts in my mind, thanks for broadening horizons here.

Regarding your last paragraph It is really really interesting to notice that I said the exact same thing to Christopher while replying to his post. Just read my reply, and you will see we agree in this a hundred percent.
I really appreciate you sharing your thoughts here.

Mariana Soffer said...

Tipota:
Thank you very much my dear friend, it is great to see you too.
Your colaboration to this post content is superb, from your own standpoint (the artist one) you beautifully and deeply describe the message I wanted to transmit with my post in your own way of understanding, perceiving and addressing things.
Besides I am really glad you like this post.
Lots of hugs, and golden sprinkles.
M

Mariana Soffer said...

Uncle Tree: Regarding writting related stuff, without knowing we where doing it, I think is not a coincided, What I think is that we are connected trough at some level we are not able to understand logically, so it does not supprise me.

Mariana Soffer said...

Uncle Tree:
You are such an elegant gentelman, I love that. Believe it or not I have been reading Kerouak myself, Isn't it creazy? we really have many coincidences. I was also interested in his Buddhist reflections. The book I read was the classic on the road, which I found both fantastic and not very good at the same time, It would take me a long time to state my reflections about it, so lets leave it there, and stick with the fact that there is no doubt we are connected, which is something that makes me really happy.
Lots of love
M

Mariana Soffer said...

J:
What a fantastic link, thanks for sharing it, I love that you keep up with the dialogue here

Mariana Soffer said...

Dear uncle:
What a fantastic quotation, You left me without words to say with that quote. There is nothing more left to say about it. .

Mariana Soffer said...

Harlrquin:
It makes me really happy to read you, and thanks a lot for the compliments, I do appreciate so so much the fantastic colaboration people do to this blog.

That was kind of the idea of the post, transmit some comfort, wisdom and hope. And of course you know I love taoism, so I guess I can not escape making references to it.
Take care and be well

Mariana Soffer said...

Uncle and Annal- :
It makes me happy that you get to connect with each other trough my blog, I belive you would really enjoy reading each other and exchanging ideas.

Mariana Soffer said...

Stu:
My dear poet friend, first of all thank you very much for your kind words.
I have been lately trying to read and understand better Nagarjuna words, I think they are really deep and provide lots of insights, there is some material about him, but not much that you can find on the web, If you want I can send you something anyway.
Hope you are doing great.

Mariana Soffer said...

Maekito: Thank you for your kind words, well I talked a lot in my previous comments in reply to people about the continuous flux, is a fundamental notion of Buddhism to me. Another important point I think you bring here, is the idea that things (reality, life), can never be defined in an absolute way, all attempts of doing that fail, because each one only manages to capture one tiny aspect of the hole, one arbitrary framed view of it.

SHUBHAJIT said...

First of all I admit I was wrong while understanding Ke..I got mingled..any ephemeral thing can't be God..

What most of the Westerners perceive Hinduism is very different from the actual Hinduism..It's a rational explanation or rather a direct realization that beautifully explained through verses in Vedas and Upanishads..When I first read it and later on follow (try to) I've found there is nothing scientific and profound than these philosophy..Newton's Law, Plank Constant, Uncertainty principle, even some of Mr. Hawking theories are very similar to these age old texts..

Any philosophy of Hinduism is not just a written text but a realization that passed through ages..Sankhya philosophy of Hinduism makes the basis of Buddhism. Sankhya philosophy rejected any personal God, heavens or hells so does Budhistic philosophy Both Hindus and Buddhist believe in theory of Karma. Buddhism do not contradict Hinduism but fulfills it..But later on Hinduism emerged as a loose body of Gods and zillion rituals and became a formal religion..

SHUBHAJIT said...

Hinduism says the world is 'Maya' (a delusion under space, time and cause) (http://shubhajit-chakraborty.blogspot.com/2008/11/in-midst-of-illusion-and-delusion.html) {may be you like this link}.. and behind the permanent. If the Maya is so beautiful think about how much beautiful the behind would be! On the other hand Buddhism says behind the real world is actually impermanence..Hinduism proclaims an infinite existence that without second, attribute less, omniscient and omnipotent..that's the reason of this creation and everything is just a part of That..Thus this whole Universe is just a body of That..we are not controlled by anything but our fate is in the hand of ours..by the incredible cycle of Karma..Now Karma is another profound aspect..

SHUBHAJIT said...

Karma or simply work is the essence of everything. What we are doing, the thought process is because of our past karma – our tears, our grief, our smiles, our curses, our blessings – if we calmly study ourselves, to have been brought out from within ourselves by so many blows. The result is what we are. All these blows taken together are Karma – work action. Every mental and physical blow that is given to the soul, by which, as it were, fire is struck from it, and by which its own power and knowledge is discovered is Karma.

I am writing to you, karma. You are reading, karma. We breathe, karma, we walk, karma. Everything is karma. And it leaves its marks on us. So, we can control but somewhere down the line we are all controlled by our own karmic cycle….

Buddhism emerged in 6th and 4th centuries BCE whereas archaeologists found Hinduism 5500–2600 BCE and some believed it was originated much earlier..There are lots of similarities..and a few dissimilarities..I can't point the exact realization of Buddhism or Hinduism coz I haven't realized it..but based on reasons and history I can say it's an offshoot..

Mariana Soffer said...

Shubajit:
I think is a great explanation and a good way to put in words the meaning of karma (at least one of the aspects of it, because I am still not sure exactelly what it means) My big confusion with karma comes when it gets involved with our past lives, as other kind of living creatures, I can not understand that concept, or agree with it completelly.
Regarding the origins, There is a common belief that Nagarjuna, one of the most important philosophers was born in India. Nevertheless he was the originator of the most influential thoughts of the Indian doctrines.One of these doctrines was discussed for more than one millennium in china, Tibet, Korea and Japan. Zen Buddhism considers him one of his main pillars. So I guess things are kind of intertwined and there is not such a clear differentiation.

Dave King said...

This whole area is full of fascination and more is being written about it all the time. It becomes increasingly difficult to distinguish between the latest scientific writings and those written from a traditionally spiritual standpoint. To speak of the basis of nature being everywhere and nowhere and also omnipotent, for example, does not sound like the writing of a scientist, but it is.

silvia zappia said...

tiempo sin leerte! y llego a este post intersantísimo, sobre uno de mis temas preferidos, como son las raíces budistas.

besos,Mariana*

Mariana Soffer said...

Dave King:
Glad you find this interesting. And you are right that is fascinating how to very different paths lead to the same place in the end. I love seeing that happen between different disciplines.
Take care and thanks for writing

Mariana Soffer said...

Rayuela:
Me alegro mucho que te halla gustado, yo ando fascinada con el tema ultimamente.
Carinios

Mariana Soffer said...

Shubhajit:
First let me tell you that we all make mistakes, the important thing is to try to learn I think. Interesting that you studied induism, I am sure you know much more an I do about the subject of this post.
Thanks a lot for explaining the history, I am glad I am learning it.

Mariana Soffer said...

Shubhajit:
Very interesting post, it really has a lot that I can learn from it, dough to tell you the truth there are a few things I do not completelly agree with, one is when you say something like the only thing that is real is death. Nevertheless I found it overall really enlightening.
Nevertheless after finishing your comment, I realized that indeed you think like me, I completelly agree with what you say in the rest of it.

Mariana Soffer said...

Shubhajit:
Thanks for explaining the meaning of karma to me, cause it is always really confusing. You provide me with an introductory kind of theory and real life examples tn deepen my understanding.

Let me finish by saying that your conclusion about uncertainty makes complete sense to me, specially given the facts you wrote here.

I am really great full you spent all this time trying to make me understand this things.
Take lots of care, and cheers

Anonymous said...

Good brief and this fill someone in on helped me alot in my college assignement. Thanks you as your information.

manik sharma said...

helloo mariana ....i'm new to your blog...so namaste(means helloo in hindi)

this post is very interesting....buddhism has long been a source of inspiration....i say inspiration because if u carefully observe it is the artists or the rather more creative types of this planet who have taken to it and followed it......

hence you could fathom that they understand it much better than the physicians and scientists ever will.....beyond the subject of buddhism....as the question here is life itself....

what i feel...
it is energy ....transferred from one bodily structure to the other...a cycle .....rather a circle....in the ultimate sense....
"zero"

you started with zero(as zero)
and will end with zero(as zero)
the magnitudes lie in between....and that is what life is perhaps.....

Mariana Soffer said...

Anonymous:
glad is usefull to you.

Mariana Soffer said...

manik sharma:
nice to know about your name.

It is very interesting and true what you say about buddhism, a valuable inside you provided here.

And I love what you said at the ending, about the cycles, dough the Zero methaphor puzzled me a little bit.
Anyway, thanks a lot for stepping here.

andrea guiu said...

Hola Mariana, cómo estás, hacía mucho que no posteabas. Me interesa mucho el tema del budismo, así que leeré con especial atención tu último post. De paso quería preguntarte, como estudiosa de la inteligencia, si conocés el juego de estrategia del "go" japonés / chino. Alguien me comentó y leí algunas cosas por ahí, pero nunca lo jugué, no sé demasiado. Presumo que a vos te debe interesar. Me pareció fascinante el concepto de estrategia que lo sustenta. Bueno, retomamos el contacto, te mando un fuerte abrazo desde Córdoba.

Mariana Soffer said...

Andrea guiu:
Hi andrea (hope you do not mind me writing in english, if so, please just let me know. I am happy so see you here. And I am also happy that you are interested in the subject, Let me tell you that I started meditating not long ago, and to complement it I am also studying a little about it, to try to complement the practice properly.

Regarding the Go, let me tell you that I do know the game, played it, and also studied it in order to make a computer program that could learn to play against a human. I was a big fan of go long time ago. Just let me tell you one fact about it, you know that nowadays human beings loose while playing against machines at chess, nevertheless nobody has been able to develop a proper go program that beats humans. It is a beautifull game, I think you should start playing it if you are interested, it is really neat.
Send you a big hugh to you and take care as well.

J said...

Mariana, yourself and readers may like to look at this website here, and have a listen to this guy who has studied both science and buddhism.

http://www.buddhistgeeks.com/2007/01/bg-002-alan-wallace-on-achieving-shamatha/

Mariana Soffer said...

J:
Thanks a lot J, I knew this guy, I read a book from him a long time ago http://www.amazon.com/Choosing-Reality-Buddhist-View-Physics/dp/1559391995/ref=sr_1_8?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1285264113&sr=1-8
which was really interesting, but at that time it was not easy for me to follow. I know he is also an expert translator and that he is one of the most important experts in Buddhism in our culture.
I will take my time to listen to it carefully

Яaƒ said...

I just loved this post! What a great way to return my friend!

Buddhism (and its relation whith science) has been a topic of my interest since a couple of years ago. Thank you for charing this with us, explained so easly.

Hugs!

J said...

Mariana,
Oh yes? I may have a look at that book or others by him he seems to be a good quality sort of guy.
I'm just getting into watching Shinzen Young's talk at google, I'm glad that so many techno nerds seem to have an interest in buddhism.

Mariana Soffer said...

Rakro:
I am really happy you liked it my friend. If you like this topic I would strongly recomend you to read a series of books that are conversations between the dalai lama and the top contemporary scientists, one book is "Consciousness at the Crossroads: Conversations with the Dalai Lama on Brainscience and Buddhism", this is more connected to brain science, but you have others from this series that are more related to physics, and other disciplines.
Take care!

Mariana Soffer said...

J:
Thanks for letting me know another interesting person to learn from, I will check it out. And you are right about the point that there are many many nerds interested in this discipline, what an interesting coincidence isn't it? I would have to reflect on why this happens.

Uncle Tree said...

Our connection is quite mysterious, Mariana. Makes me wonder if we're not in perfect (or near perfect) opposition. How weird is that? A cool laid-back beat needs somewhere to hang it's hat, like a music scale (perhaps :) Note for note or not I agree wholeheartedly. Ha!

Peace & Luvz & Hugz to you, sweet niece!, UT

Mariana Soffer said...

Uncle Tree:
dear uncle you are right about our connection, it is strange, we are so different, but somehow we can connect at a really deep level. Maybe is due to the opposition, I am not sure but that is an interesting possibility, maybe is because we have mental structures that are perfect for interacting with each other. Your last words from the first paragraph are fantastic.

Lots of hugz and love to you dear uncle, hope you are doing really good

Jason Gusmann said...

good you see you again, marianna, in fine form as well

Rohit Singh said...

Describe Ku in easy way. I read all your article twice. After a long time i read any english post. you describe points with in easy way. I hope i will be continue and you too continue with your post...

J said...

What do you think of the Pirate Party Mariana?

Mariana Soffer said...

Jason Gusmann:
Thank you very much my friend, is a pleasure to see you here, you comments are really encouraging and helpfull to me.
Take care and hope you are doing great

Mariana Soffer said...

boletobindas:
I am glad you found this instructive and at the same time simple to understand. Thanks for your nice hopes. I do hope to that you keep comming here, and I would love to be able to read something from you in english, but I had not been able to find any, if you have a url where I can read something from you please do not doubt on posting it here.
It is been a pleasure to recieve your visit

Mariana Soffer said...

J:
Sorry, I am a little absent minded, I can not figure out what do you refer to with the Pirate party, excuse me for my confusion my friend.
Take care

J said...

OK, it's off topic.

Val said...

I found this interesting to read because at the moment I've been experimenting with EVP's and in a way this has everything to do with how entities/spirits manipulate energy to communicate in this reality with those are still in body. Buddhism is an ancient recognition of the principles of the complexity that is actually simplicity of this universe IS us, not something outside us. I always adore it when you post something like mariana. hugs :) I miss you!

andrea guiu said...

Thanks a lot, Mariana! I´m really pleased with your comment about Go game, I supposed that you have been experimented it, or at least knowing about this subject, because of your profession and interests. You make me thing I should be prove by myself. It´s also amazing your attempt to create a program which be able to defeat human players in that game, and the impossibility to find the way by now… Fortunatly, human beings are still unpredictable…
Reading your post about Ku concept and its relationship with modern science, I wonder about its conexion with art developement. Is ku "the between"? for instance, among effects and agent who produces them. What do you thing?
Excuse my english, I´m doing my best, I assure you… It´s a great pleasure to meet you here again, sharing thoughts with thinkers of all over the world (by the way, Anna-Lys is following my blogs, it´s a great pleasure for me her presence, a new friend reader).
I send a big hugh to you. Have a nice week!

the walking man said...

Constantly flux between being and non being, attached and non attached is movement. Movement is by necessity an aspect of space, space hold mass and matter. Simply put even though the symphony sound has ended the vibration of it still is in motion therefore in not being it is still existent.

Mariana Soffer said...

VAL:
You are right, EVP is pretty related to what I am talking about here, nevertheless I am not sure they do refer to the same thing exactly.
I really liked how you described Buddhism, I think it is a perfect way to put it in words, you do seem to understand it properly, which makes me very happy, cause it implies we really do communicate.
Thanks a lot for your lovely words at the end val, they are beautiful.
Send you love and take care

Mariana Soffer said...

andrea guiu:
Your welcome, is my pleasure to talk about this things, I was pretty passionate about them when I was young, and I still enjoy them a lot.
I do agree that you should try it yourself, it is fun.
Yes: thank good human beings are still a mystery, otherwise things would be pretty boring indeed.
Regarding the art question: it is pretty hard for me to answer, but I guess ku would be the latent possibility of art to be expressed (which some times is) and is also the latent possibility of the effect it can cause (which sometimes it does).
Let me tell you that your English is really good, and that it is also a pleasure for me to be able to share interesting thoughts with you.
Take care and be well my friend

Mariana Soffer said...

the walking man:
Excellent words, they are really wise.
I guess the flux you refer to is related to the middle path which is described by Buddhist as the conciliation between the different concepts/words. The last sentence is a great example of it.
Thanks a lot, and is an honor to count with your collaboration here.

Anonymous said...

There's only one valid point in this article, and if people are too stupid to see it, I won't tell them what it is.
I don't think it's up to anyone to judge what people's posts should be about. Why not allow everyone to just say what they want (in designated threads, ofcourse)?
There was a story about this in our newspaper. People come to steal other people's content from blogs and then publish on their own sites.
I just saw my comments being removed from some sites. I mean no harm, I'm just… sporadic.

What I think of Western civilisation? I think it would be a wonderful idea.
Mahatma Gandhi

Anonymous said...

Great post, I am almost 100% in agreement with you

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Anonymous said...

hello to every one - hope yous had a realy nice one - just back from tenerefe weather crap , all the best for the comming year -
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