Category Archives: KHTK

Knowing How to Know

Infinity and Unknowable

December 17, 2011 – 10:46 PM
Infinity

INFINITY is beyond conception.

  1. Anything conceived has to be different from THAT, which conceives it.

  2. To conceive THAT, which conceives, there must be a deeper THAT, which conceives it.

  3. This regression may be taken back without limit.

  4. This means, anything conceived can be defined, but, THAT, which conceives, cannot be fully defined.

  5. Here we have another example of INFINITY.

  6. In other words, anything conceived is measurable, whereas, THAT, which conceives, is not.

  7. This property of being measurable may be called dimension. The word DIMENSION comes from Latin, dimensio, extent or measuring parameter. Dimension defines what is conceived.

  8. We may say that anything conceived has “dimension,” whereas, THAT, which conceives, does not have “dimension.”

  9. Infinity is “absence of dimension.” Infinity is unknowable.

  10. That, which conceives, is unknowable.

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By vinaire | Also posted in Postulates | Tagged | Comments (0)

The Unknown Influence

December 10, 2011 – 2:13 PM

Reference: Religion

“Unknown influence” is the most fascinating factor that has always occupied human interest. While browsing through the Wikipedia I came across the following explanations, which I have presented in slightly modified form.

A Phenomenon is any observable occurrence.

The Noumenon is a posited object or event that is known (if at all) without the use of the senses.

Numen means, literally, “an influence perceptible by mind but not by senses.”

Senses are physiological capacities of organisms that provide inputs for perception.

Human physiology is the science of the mechanical, physical, and biochemical functions of humans in good health, their organs, and the cells of which they are composed.

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Those subscribing to the explanations above do not look at mind as a sense organ. Buddhism presents a very different viewpoint. It looks at mind as just another sense organ like the body. See Observation, Experience and Looking.

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Numinous is an English adjective describing the power or presence of a divinity.

Divinity refers to some transcendent or transcendental power or deity, or its attributes or manifestations in the world.

Transcendence refers to the aspect of nature which is wholly independent of (and removed from) the physical universe.

Immanence refers to theories, in which the divine is seen to be manifested in or encompassing of the material world.

The Divine presence basically boils down to an unknown influence.

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The unknown influence could simply be conceived as something the mind perceives. However, the conception of this perception gets complicated when mind is not conceived as a sense organ.

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By vinaire | Comments (4)

Fundamentals, Consistency and Breakthroughs

November 21, 2011 – 11:22 PM

Breakthroughs occur when deeper consistencies are found in the fundamentals of a subject. A breakthrough is always preceded by the discovery of some inconsistency. It then leads to the breakthrough and a deeper consistency.

For a long time, mathematics was based on numerals that did not include the zero. Look at the Roman numerals. There is no zero there. This is because a number was supposed to represent “something” only. For a long time it was inconceivable that the idea of “nothing” had any use in mathematics.

We know that the next number is arrived at by adding one to the number. There is no limit to the next number. It keeps on going for ever. We also know that the previous number is determined by subtracting one from the number. However, at one time the previous number stopped at one, because counting started from one. Nobody seemed to see any utility in seeking a number previous to one.

It was not until the 4th century BC that somebody took a hard look at the inconsistency of not going beyond one for the previous number. This new number was perceived as “void” or “nothing.” If a person spent all his money, he had no money left. This was consistent with the idea of previous number. But this was resisted simply because counting started from one, and “nothing” could not be counted. The moment that resistance was overcome, breakthroughs started to occur in the subject of mathematics. Zero could now be used as a reference point from which to measure. The biggest breakthrough came with the positional notation for the numbering system. Suddenly, it became much simpler to write numbers (compare current numbering system to the Roman system), and mathematics started to progress by leaps and bounds.

Inconsistencies at the fundamental level are hard to accept as inconsistencies because the popular consensus endorses it as the norm. Thus, it took several centuries before the possibility of numbers previous to zero could even be considered. The idea of negative numbers was resisted in Europe as late as the 17th century AD, even though they were known to facilitate the representation of debt. Finally, with the formal introduction of negative numbers later in 17th century, the “previous” numbers could also be extended without limit. A much deeper consistency was achieved at the fundamental level of mathematics. This led to incredible breakthroughs.

There are many such examples of overcoming mental resistance at the fundamental level for the sake of greater consistency. And each time it happened it was followed by wonderful breakthroughs. Here is one more example. We know that larger and larger magnitudes may be represented by the idea of a unit, such as, a planet, a galaxy, a cluster of galaxies, and a universe. Is there a limit in magnitude to which a unit is bound? The expanding universe seems to indicate that the answer is no. Now looking in the opposite direction of smaller and smaller magnitudes, is their another limit to which a unit is bound? The discovery of the irrational number seems to indicate that the answer is no again. So, the mathematical logic points to the possibility of discovering smaller and smaller particles endlessly. We don’t know for certain yet. We are simply looking at a deeper consistency.

In summary, breakthroughs occur when one seeks a deeper consistency in the fundamentals of a subject, even when this requires going against the general consensus.

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By vinaire | Comments (11)

The Factors of Unknowable

November 13, 2011 – 11:29 AM

This is an effort to go as deep as possible into the Unknowable using the Vedic process “neti, neti.”

The most fundamental starting factor:

(1) There is observation (because this is an observation being registered).

Phenomena:

(2) There are things to be observed.

(3) These things are being manifested and unmanifested.

(4) A manifestation begins, continues, and then ends.

Manifestations:

(5) The universe is a manifestation that is continuing.

(6) There are sub-manifestations to this universe that begin, continue, end.

(7)  Manifestations may come and go, but the manifesting continues.

Existence and Time:

(8) It is the property of manifesting, which is known as existence.

(9) It means that something or other continues to be manifested.

(10) Thus, existence provides the idea of Time.

Form:

(11) A manifestation can be observed only because of its form.

(12) The form of a manifestation can be physical, such as, rocks, trees, chair, molecules, atoms, light and electromagnetic waves.

(13) The form of a manifestation can also be mental, such as, visualizations, thoughts, evaluations, conclusions, considerations and speculations.

Dimensions:

(14) The form of a manifestation has finite extents.

(15) It is the property of extents, which is perceived as dimensions.

(16) It means that something or other continues to be extended.

Space:

(17) These dimensions provide the idea of space.

(18) Physical dimensions provide the idea of physical space.

(19) Mental dimensions provide the idea of mental space.

Motion:

(20) As these extents reach out and withdraw there is change.

(21) It is the property of change, which is perceived as motion.

(22) It means that something or other continues to move.

Energy:

(23) This motion provides the idea of energy.

(24) Physical motion provides the idea of physical energy.

(25) Mental motion provides the idea of mental energy.

Patterns:

(26) Motion of extents may follow certain fixed patterns.

(27) It is the property of fixidity, which is perceived as patterns.

(28) It means that some pattern or other continues to be exhibited.

Matter:

(29) These patterns provides the idea of matter.

(30) Physical patterns provides the idea of physical matter.

(31) Mental patterns provides the idea of mental matter.

The Universe of Manifestation:

(32) The Universe of manifestation is made up of time, space, energy, and matter.

(33) Research into manifestations is continuing through physical and mental sciences.

Awareness:

(34) There is observation, so there is also the ability to observe.

(35) It is the ability to observe, which is recognized as awareness.

(36) Awareness continues as long as there is something to be aware of.

Perception:

(37) Thus, there is the ability to assess what is there.

(38) It is the ability to assess, which is recognized as perception.

(39) Perception continues as long as there is something to perceive.

Consideration:

(40) Thus, there is the ability to visualize what is assessed to be there.

(41) It is the ability to visualize, which is recognized as consideration.

(42) Consideration continues as long as there is something to consider.

The Universe of Consideration:

(43) The Universe of Consideration is made up of the awareness, perception and consideration of existence, form, motion and pattern.

(44) Research into manifestations and underlying considerations is continuing, primarily, by examining their consistency and inconsistency through mathematics.

Life and Beingness:

(45) It is the presence of abilities, which is perceived as life.

(46) These abilities are manifested  just like other things are manifested.

(47) It is the manifesting of abilities that we may call Beingness.

The universe:

(48) Thus, there are manifestations in terms of existence and beingness.

(49) Thus, there is a universe, which is aware of itself on the whole.

(50) There are considerations of existing and not existing.

(51) There are considerations of static and kinetic.

(52) There are considerations of cause and effect.

(53) What is beyond these considerations may only be speculated upon.

(54) The research into Unknowable thus continues.

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NOTES: Alfred North Whitehead said: “All systematic thought must start from  presuppositions.” The factors above start from what is observable. These may be considered to be presuppositions.

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By vinaire | Also posted in Postulates | Comments (18)

What is Unknowable?

November 10, 2011 – 7:54 AM

With the use of the Vedic process “neti, neti” I have finally arrived at the following understanding. This is also referred to as BRAHMAN in Vedic terminology.

(1) I shall use the word UNKNOWABLE for the moment in an attempt to describe my understanding at this level. It doesn’t really matter what word I use because word is not the “thing.”

(2) The problem here is that there is NOTHING to describe. As far as our knowingness is concerned we can only know the considerations that appear spontaneously and randomly… from where… that is impossible to know.

(3) We can never know what lies beyond these considerations. We may certainly CONSIDER what lies beyond; but then, we would only know the consideration we make.

(4) Thus, we can only know the considerations and not what is beyond them. As we try to dig past considerations, we simply find more considerations.

(5) Actually, as we dig deeper in our attempt to describe what is beyond, we may simply uncover and describe our own hidden considerations.

(6) Thus, this unknowable beyond is nothing more than a carrot, that may help us uncover the considerations that, maybe, lie hidden deep in our consciousness. This is more than wonderful.

Furthermore:

(7) When we think of beingness we think of the being (soul). That being is not the core of beingness. The core of beingness is unknowable.   

(8 ) Whether the being dissolves into the unknowable is neither here nor there. Beyond considerations there is no time. So, whether one is “Unknowable” for a billion years or for just a blink of an eye. It is the same thing.

(9) We will never know if we had ever dissolved into the unknowable or not. All we would ever know at the highest level is being a “soul” in its simplest form.

(10) As far as we are concerned, the idea of the unknowable is simply there to help us uncover the deepest of our considerations.

And beyond this:

(11) A being (soul) can be constrained only by its own considerations. Total freedom would mean not be constrained by one’s own considerations.

(12) Only those considerations would constrain a being that are being generated and held fixedly in place because of ignorance.

(13) A being may enjoy life fully; participate in any and all adventures, while also being aware of all considerations one is generating even at the deepest level.

(14) That would be Nirvana… that would be the unknowable beyond… that would be attaining Brahmanhood; for this doesn’t mean forsaking of life and adventure.

(15) Nirvana, or total freedom, simply means absence of hidden considerations even at the deepest level. It means total command over oneself. The concept of Brahman, as built into the process “neti, neti,” helps one move in that direction.

(16) Nirvana would simply mean the ability to generate a consideration, hold on to that consideration, and then destroy that consideration.

(17) Nirvana does not mean forsaking this universe. Nirvana simply means total control over one’s considerations. One can attain Nirvana while being in this universe. In fact one’s enjoyment of this universe would be infinitely greater after attaining nirvana.

(18) Buddha lived to a grand age of 80, quite rare for his time, after attaining nirvana.

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By vinaire | Also posted in Postulates | Comments (19)