Newsgroups: comp.ai.philosophy
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From: kovsky@netcom.com (Bob Kovsky)
Subject: Re: What makes up consciousness?
Message-ID: <kovskyD3z34u.H5x@netcom.com>
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References: <departedD3vKy5.M3B@netcom.com> <kovskyD3x7Gw.7JJ@netcom.com> <departedD3ysx5.5rn@netcom.com>
Date: Tue, 14 Feb 1995 04:29:17 GMT
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In article <departedD3ysx5.5rn@netcom.com>,
just passing through <departed@netcom.com> wrote:

...

>Okay ... I believe you ... in fact, I like Buddhist consciousness models
>better than anything the West has come up with ... but some questions too:
>
>What do you 'know' in that state?  Or do you realize _later_ that you were
>in that state, without knowing it at the time?
>
>How is the structure (or lack of structure) of that kind of consciousness
>different from consciousness with an object?  Is it non-particular, i.e.
>your consciousness just includes everything?
>
>And, can you be sure that this consciousness does not have an object, or
>simply that you do not perceive your own consciousness as having an object
>during that time?  Perhaps, in looking back at it, you might see an object
>of awareness, although that wasn't known at the time.
>
>Are we talking about a shift in identification, so that all your perceptions
>are not considered as 'other' but instead just as part of your consciouness?
>
>In this state of non-object conciousness, perceptions still exist, correct?
>But perhaps without giving rise to a feeling of 'other' ...
>
>-- Richard Wesson (departed@netcom.com)

	The experience is not easily described and any attempt sounds 
rather gooey:  "be here now" etc.  There is consciousness, but there is 
detachment from objects of consciousness.   I am aware and am aware that 
I could attach my consciousness to objects, but it is much nicer not to.  
Percepts are there floating around, I just don't attach to them.  
Eventually, however, the detachment disappears and I do attach.  (I 
usually attach to "plans," such as things to be done that day.)


-- 

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    Bob Kovsky          |  A Natural Science of Freedom 
    kovsky@netcom.com   |  Materials available by anonymous ftp
                        |  At ftp.netcom.com/pub/fr/freedom
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