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 fireworks_god
SexyButt McDanger
Registered: 03/12/02
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 Awareness Of One's Surroundings 
#6926182 - 05/16/07 08:16 PM (6 years, 4 days ago) |
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I've been a firm proponent of the notion that we are capable of directing more awareness into our direct perception of reality. This does not involve our interpretations and conclusions regarding reality, but simply the sensory information that our senses provide us through interaction with other elements within reality.
What I am referring to especially relates with one's vision, which I can only assume is, by far, our strongest sense of reality. I've noticed how, in calming and relaxing my mind, how much more detail becomes evident within our environment. I think it is possible to become aware of the space itself which exists within one's environment, and how its presence adds dimension to aspects of our environment. I've also noticed that our vision does not become focused on specific points but one becomes aware of all aspects of everything that our eyes detect. Instead of specific objects, one is conscious of the total spectrum one's vision provides...
It doesn't apply simply to one's vision. Listening to musikk with such a level of awareness becomes quite the treat, and one's sense of being itself usually will become very calm and peaceful. Walking through one's environment becomes a total, complete, captivating experience, and one can almost sense a third person viewpoint of oneself. I don't think this exists objectively, of course, but is determined from that which we are sensing, with the assistance of our creative memory. Its hard to describe but it it intriguing.
Clearly we have a great advantage when we are keenly aware of our surroundings, as we become more capable of effectively acting in accordance with reality. To exist in a calm, collected, perceptive state of being enables more potential for one to manifest oneself, as well. Not to mention, of course, simply the experience of reality itself, for its own sake. 
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If I should die this very moment
I wouldn't fear
For I've never known completeness
Like being here
Wrapped in the warmth of you
Loving every breath of you
  
 
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 EternalCowabunga
Small sassy black girl
Registered: 04/04/05
Posts: 5,149
Loc: Toronto
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 Re: Awareness Of One's Surroundings [Re: fireworks_god]
#6926225 - 05/16/07 08:29 PM (6 years, 4 days ago) |
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Awareness rules!
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bradley
Stranger
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Re: Awareness Of One's Surroundings [Re: fireworks_god]
#6926314 - 05/16/07 08:56 PM (6 years, 4 days ago) |
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I'm currently reading Aldous Huxley's The Art of Seeing. He is starting to explain how relaxation and proper direction of attention can allow defective eyes to heal themselves.
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MushroomTrip
Dr. Teasy Thighs
 
Registered: 12/02/05
Posts: 14,348
Loc: red panda village
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 Re: Awareness Of One's Surroundings [Re: fireworks_god]
#6926413 - 05/16/07 09:19 PM (6 years, 4 days ago) |
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Mind alchemy 
When one realizes that ordinary awareness have always had "clues" that there's more to it and now the curtains are being lifted giving new meaning to the smallest things. Then one decides on purpose to make "his own game", alternate the intensity, moods and increase a particular perception. A new playground 
It's like we become our own scientists and take notes for the experiences about to come  and we're being left in AWE when we see frequencies taking from. I think it's the only way to get closer to perceiving the Universe.
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All this time I've loved you
And never known your face
All this time I've missed you
And searched this human race
Here is true peace
Here my heart knows calm
Safe in your soul
Bathed in your sighs
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OrgoneConclusion
Rico Suave
Registered: 04/01/07
Posts: 35,233
Loc: Candyland
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Re: Awareness Of One's Surroundings [Re: bradley]
#6926510 - 05/16/07 09:41 PM (6 years, 4 days ago) |
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Quote:
bradleycny said:
I'm currently reading Aldous Huxley's The Art of Seeing. He is starting to explain how relaxation and proper direction of attention can allow defective eyes to heal themselves.
Sounds great. Any opthalmology articles to back that up?
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This is your caterpillar on DMT. Any questions?
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Icelander
The Minstrel in the Gallery
Registered: 03/15/05
Posts: 79,797
Loc: underbelly
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Re: Awareness Of One's Surroundings [Re: fireworks_god]
#6926543 - 05/16/07 09:46 PM (6 years, 4 days ago) |
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directing more awareness into our direct perception of reality.
This sounds contradictory. If you have direct perception of reality (which you have never given any evidence of other than your belief that you have it) then how can you direct "more" awareness into it?
There's plenty of scientific evidence that there is no direct perception of reality. Of course delusional people may think otherwise. As in people who claim to see God or the Flying Spaghetti Monster. Or just someone who doesn't understand how our brain functions.
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"Hang on tightly, let go lightly" -anonymous
“under the present brutal and primitive conditions on this planet, every person you meet should be regarded as one of the walking wounded. we have never seen a man or woman not slightly deranged by either anxiety or grief. we have never seen a totally sane human being.”
― Robert Anton Wilson
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fireworks_god
SexyButt McDanger
Registered: 03/12/02
Posts: 24,188
Loc: Red Panda Village
Last seen: 9 hours, 57 minutes
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Re: Awareness Of One's Surroundings [Re: Icelander]
#6926572 - 05/16/07 09:54 PM (6 years, 4 days ago) |
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Quote:
Icelander said:
This sounds contradictory. If you have direct perception of reality (which you have never given any evidence of other than your belief that you have it) then how can you direct "more" awareness into it?:p
No, it isn't contradictory. We are not conscious of all of which we perceive in this moment. We do not consciously experience all of the sensory information our physical body provides our mind. One can become more aware of aspects of oneself. Perception itself is not awareness. Awareness is a phenomenon that produces an experience of that which is perceived, as well as the phenomenon of the mind.
"Direct" refers to unobstructed sensory data. As in, that which we see, not being obscured or distorted by that which we interpret and think.
Quote:
There's plenty of scientific evidence that there is no direct perception of reality.
There's scientific evidence that we do not have sensory devices that interact with reality and produce sensory data that is transmitted to our brain and subsequently perceived? 
If only I had been stoned when I read that, I would be rolling on the floor in tears.
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If I should die this very moment
I wouldn't fear
For I've never known completeness
Like being here
Wrapped in the warmth of you
Loving every breath of you
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OrgoneConclusion
Rico Suave
Registered: 04/01/07
Posts: 35,233
Loc: Candyland
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Re: Awareness Of One's Surroundings [Re: Icelander]
#6926573 - 05/16/07 09:55 PM (6 years, 4 days ago) |
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*possible tangent alert*
On my first serious acid trip (200mcg?) I heard the most beautiful sound in the world: a car driving down the road. I could hear 10,000 times more nuances and the harmonics of the tires interacting with the road than in a non-tripping state. I could actually 'see' the vibrations. I am fairly certain that if I were able to maintain such a state and given enough samples, could identify the make of the tires, the amount of wear and the approximate weight of the vehicle, such was the clarity of the tire/road signature.
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This is your caterpillar on DMT. Any questions?
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fireworks_god
SexyButt McDanger
Registered: 03/12/02
Posts: 24,188
Loc: Red Panda Village
Last seen: 9 hours, 57 minutes
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Quote:
OrgoneConclusion said:
*possible tangent alert*
On my first serious acid trip (200mcg?) I heard the most beautiful sound in the world: a car driving down the road. I could hear 10,000 times more nuances and the harmonics of the tires interacting with the road than in a non-tripping state. I could actually 'see' the vibrations. I am fairly certain that if I were able to maintain such a state and given enough samples, could identify the make of the tires, the amount of wear and the approximate weight of the vehicle, such was the clarity of the tire/road signature.
Yes, this is exactly what I am referring to. 
You got it.
--------------------
If I should die this very moment
I wouldn't fear
For I've never known completeness
Like being here
Wrapped in the warmth of you
Loving every breath of you
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bradley
Stranger
Registered: 09/17/06
Posts: 6,877
Last seen: 5 hours, 19 minutes
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Quote:
OrgoneConclusion said:
Quote:
bradleycny said:
I'm currently reading Aldous Huxley's The Art of Seeing. He is starting to explain how relaxation and proper direction of attention can allow defective eyes to heal themselves.
Sounds great. Any opthalmology articles to back that up?
He cites a few opthamologists who have gone against convention and openly supported this path of treatment. I haven't looked into them, but his book is more about why, in principle, it works. First and foremost, people seem to improve when applying the methods. I know Huxley experienced improvements himself from it. The "method" by the way, is the Bate's Method, the author of Perfect Sight Without Glasses. William Bates was an opthamologist and he focuses on the method and functioning of the eye more closely in his book. I haven't read it yet, and may have to pick it up depending on how much actual instruction Huxley gives in the matter.
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OrgoneConclusion
Rico Suave
Registered: 04/01/07
Posts: 35,233
Loc: Candyland
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Re: Awareness Of One's Surroundings [Re: bradley]
#6926653 - 05/16/07 10:11 PM (6 years, 4 days ago) |
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Quote:
but his book is more about why, in principle, it works
I always want to know IF something works - that is primary. The 'Bates Method' has failed every clinical trial.
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This is your caterpillar on DMT. Any questions?
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Icelander
The Minstrel in the Gallery
Registered: 03/15/05
Posts: 79,797
Loc: underbelly
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Re: Awareness Of One's Surroundings [Re: fireworks_god]
#6926698 - 05/16/07 10:20 PM (6 years, 4 days ago) |
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"Direct" refers to unobstructed sensory data.
The obstuction is us. When we perceive sensory data we interpret it. We filter it.
But maybe there is a way to directly do it. I have no experience of it and so it's speculative. I know of no one who has experience of it personally. It could be the silent knowing Castaneda refers to. It would have to be without thought then.
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"Hang on tightly, let go lightly" -anonymous
“under the present brutal and primitive conditions on this planet, every person you meet should be regarded as one of the walking wounded. we have never seen a man or woman not slightly deranged by either anxiety or grief. we have never seen a totally sane human being.”
― Robert Anton Wilson
Edited by Icelander (05/16/07 10:28 PM)
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fireworks_god
SexyButt McDanger
Registered: 03/12/02
Posts: 24,188
Loc: Red Panda Village
Last seen: 9 hours, 57 minutes
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Re: Awareness Of One's Surroundings [Re: Icelander]
#6926712 - 05/16/07 10:23 PM (6 years, 4 days ago) |
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Quote:
Icelander said:
The obstuction is us. When we perceive sensory data we interpret it. We filter it. There is no direct perception of reality.
Incorrect. Within the natural limitations of our nature, there is that which can be referred to as direct perception of reality. "Direct perception of reality" does not equate into "objective reality", and such was never implied. I know precisely of which I speak.
--------------------
If I should die this very moment
I wouldn't fear
For I've never known completeness
Like being here
Wrapped in the warmth of you
Loving every breath of you
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MushroomTrip
Dr. Teasy Thighs
Registered: 12/02/05
Posts: 14,348
Loc: red panda village
Last seen: 10 days, 5 hours
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Re: Awareness Of One's Surroundings [Re: Icelander]
#6926744 - 05/16/07 10:29 PM (6 years, 4 days ago) |
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Quote:
Icelander said:
"Direct" refers to unobstructed sensory data.
The obstuction is us. When we perceive sensory data we interpret it. We filter it. There is no direct perception of reality.
We filter reality with our reason... our reasoning is natural too. It's all just layers of awareness, it doesn't mean that one is fake and the other is real, it just means that one is getting deeper and deeper in perceiving reality.
--------------------
All this time I've loved you
And never known your face
All this time I've missed you
And searched this human race
Here is true peace
Here my heart knows calm
Safe in your soul
Bathed in your sighs
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Icelander
The Minstrel in the Gallery
Registered: 03/15/05
Posts: 79,797
Loc: underbelly
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Re: Awareness Of One's Surroundings [Re: MushroomTrip]
#6926783 - 05/16/07 10:35 PM (6 years, 4 days ago) |
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I'm not saying that reasoning isn't natural but if we filter with it then it blocks direct perception. The only way I can see around this is to not think about what we perceive and I'm not sure if that is workable either.
Like I have said before. Some people think they are directly perceiving reality when they see Jesus in their pancake. I myself might only see Saint Peter and someone else sees syrup. Which of us is directly perceiving reality?
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"Hang on tightly, let go lightly" -anonymous
“under the present brutal and primitive conditions on this planet, every person you meet should be regarded as one of the walking wounded. we have never seen a man or woman not slightly deranged by either anxiety or grief. we have never seen a totally sane human being.”
― Robert Anton Wilson
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MushroomTrip
Dr. Teasy Thighs
Registered: 12/02/05
Posts: 14,348
Loc: red panda village
Last seen: 10 days, 5 hours
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Re: Awareness Of One's Surroundings [Re: Icelander]
#6926890 - 05/16/07 10:59 PM (6 years, 4 days ago) |
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You talk about reality and awareness as like they're separate from us and have a precise location. Can you really tell that there's a "map" to awareness? It is already there inside of us as well as all around us, so how can we not directly perceive it? It's like saying you can't perceive you finger touching your arm because of the skin.
--------------------
All this time I've loved you
And never known your face
All this time I've missed you
And searched this human race
Here is true peace
Here my heart knows calm
Safe in your soul
Bathed in your sighs
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Icelander
The Minstrel in the Gallery
Registered: 03/15/05
Posts: 79,797
Loc: underbelly
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Re: Awareness Of One's Surroundings [Re: MushroomTrip]
#6926979 - 05/16/07 11:14 PM (6 years, 4 days ago) |
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The reality that is outside of us may or may not be perceived accurately. To me that is self evident. I have given examples of it in the fact that often two people will not agree on what is out there.
It seems we are perceiving different realities here.:D This is to be expected.
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"Hang on tightly, let go lightly" -anonymous
“under the present brutal and primitive conditions on this planet, every person you meet should be regarded as one of the walking wounded. we have never seen a man or woman not slightly deranged by either anxiety or grief. we have never seen a totally sane human being.”
― Robert Anton Wilson
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redgreenvines
irregular verb
Registered: 04/08/04
Posts: 14,940
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Re: Awareness Of One's Surroundings [Re: fireworks_god]
#6927020 - 05/16/07 11:23 PM (6 years, 4 days ago) |
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if you are still
the tiny twitches of the eye scan more pixel data into brain and
the overlay of this regular collection of visual data builds over a series of moments and gells up as an astonishingly accurate composite picture.
such high resolution collections of visual data all seamed into a single continuous "reality" are not available when you are jumping around or even when you are merely agitated; irregular movements preclude smooth accretion into big clear "real" images.
if a bird flies into the scene and you follow it, the assembled space will persist for several moments as you focus strongly on the hyper realistic bird in the hyperrealistic composite composed view.
if the eyes do not return to the resting point, the hyper real view will fade into fragments as per usual in about 3-12 seconds ( longer with shrooms etc.).
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~~~~~
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bradley
Stranger
Registered: 09/17/06
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Quote:
OrgoneConclusion said:
Quote:
but his book is more about why, in principle, it works
I always want to know IF something works - that is primary. The 'Bates Method' has failed every clinical trial.
So you were testing me when you said "sounds great...any opthamologists to back it up?" Or did you just recently come across something that said it has failed every clinical trial? Please show me the source.
I do not 100% beleive that it works but I greatly suspect that it is conducive to some improvement. First, it worked well enough for Aldous Huxley for him to devote a book to it. There are a great number of testimonials in its favor. There are also reports of no benefit, but this is expected with anything, depending on how easily it can be applied and what percentage of the population it actually works for.
The question is whether the clinical trials actually test the principles of the Bates Method. It is a gradual process which calls for integration into all aspects of life, and I would like to see how that can be clinically tested. It also requires skill, as does the training of any type of voluntary attention, and dedication.
For something which is going to be hard to test I first look to see whether the principles make sense. That is science; make a hypothesis based on the way things seem to work, and test it.
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bradley
Stranger
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Re: Awareness Of One's Surroundings [Re: redgreenvines]
#6927229 - 05/17/07 12:06 AM (6 years, 3 days ago) |
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Quote:
redgreenvines said:
if you are still
the tiny twitches of the eye scan more pixel data into brain and
the overlay of this regular collection of visual data builds over a series of moments and gells up as an astonishingly accurate composite picture.
such high resolution collections of visual data all seamed into a single continuous "reality" are not available when you are jumping around or even when you are merely agitated; irregular movements preclude smooth accretion into big clear "real" images.
if a bird flies into the scene and you follow it, the assembled space will persist for several moments as you focus strongly on the hyper realistic bird in the hyperrealistic composite composed view.
if the eyes do not return to the resting point, the hyper real view will fade into fragments as per usual in about 3-12 seconds ( longer with shrooms etc.).
This is off topic, but this thread is sort of all over the place and I wanted to ask your opinion about something since you seem to know about neuroscience. I have read about a study which shows that meditation builds up the cortex through widening blood vessels and increasing branching and connections: http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn8317
Do you venture that psychedelic usage does the same? I would think the effect is somewhat different since the mind is not necessarily practicing voluntary attention while under the influence.
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