Vinaire's Blog

The Logic of Reality

As shown in the paper, Physics & Reality, the logic of reality depends on its consistency. A strange shift in reality occurred when Newton’s corpuscular theory of light was replaced by the wave theory of light. Light was no longer viewed as substance; instead it was viewed as energy that propagated through a hypothetical medium (substance) called aether.

The reality in physics shifted from “light is substance” to “light is energy”.

NOTE: A substance is anything that has impact on senses. That impact is sensed as force.

Young’s Interference Experiment

The wave theory of light was at first resisted because there was no medium in which a light wave could travel. But Newton’s corpuscular theory could not explain the overwhelming evidence of the wave characteristics of light.

According to Wikipedia:

Young’s interference experiment, also called Young’s double-slit interferometer, was the original version of the modern double-slit experiment, performed at the beginning of the nineteenth century by Thomas Young. This experiment played a major role in the general acceptance of the wave theory of light.

With the acceptance of wave theory, physics was forced to postulate a hypothetical stationary aether.

The demonstration of interference patterns of light led to the acceptance of wave theory over Newton’s corpuscular theory.

Particles versus Wave

The corpuscles of Newton’s theory were discrete; therefore, they could not be modeled into waves to explain the interference patterns. But a closer look tells us that these corpuscles cannot be discrete.

Material particles are discrete by the fact of their center of mass. Light particles do not have center of mass, and, therefore, they cannot be distinguished from each other. They must form a fluid-like continuum of substance that flows. Newton’s corpuscular theory incorrectly visualized light to be made up of discrete particles.

When corpuscles are modeled as a flowing, fluid substance, the objections to corpuscular theory go away. Light becomes capable of explaining the interference patterns of Young’s experiment, without requiring a medium.

When corpuscles are seen as fluid-like flowing substance, they are able to explain Young’s interference patterns.

Quantum Reality and Mathematics

This shift of light as energy has persisted through Maxwell’s theory, Einstein theory of relativity, Quantum mechanics and now QED (Quantum electrodynamics) even when the hypothetical aether has long been discarded. The illusion of light as energy has been kept alive by the accuracy of results from these mathematical theories.

In his book, QED, The Strange Theory of Light and Matter, Richard Feynman takes up the difficult problem of partial reflection from glass surfaces. It has no satisfactory solution for light either as a discrete particle or as a continuous wave. So, QED has no choice but to resort to mathematical probability to explain the “strangeness of nature”.

But if we define light as a non-atomic fluid that has very low mass density and very high speed, the problem of partial reflection is resolved easily without thinking of the strangeness of nature. With this classical model one does not have to resort to mathematical probability to find a real answer.

Strangeness of reality comes from conflating energy with substance.

Future Possibility

The mathematical models of quantum physics have been successful in predicting physical phenomena in a certain narrow sense. It may be possible to reinterpret the mathematical symbolism of quantum physics without affecting those results.

By considering light to be a fluid-like, flowing, non-atomic substance we restore the consistency of reality. This consistency may spur just enough intuition to allow QED to successfully explain gravity and radioactivity as well.

The consistency in reality seems to spur intuition.

August 11, 2019 – 3:13 PM Categories: Physics Book | Comments (1)

The Goal of Meditation

The original word for becoming enlightened is Bodhi, which means “awakened”. The words the Buddha uttered involuntarily at the moment of enlightenment were:

“Wonder of wonders! Intrinsically all living beings are Buddhas, endowed with wisdom and virtue, but because men’s minds have become inverted through delusive thinking, they fail to perceive this.”

A human being, whether clever or stupid, male or female, ugly or beautiful, is capable of being awakened to the fact that he is naturally endowed with wisdom and virtue. There is no perfection other than this state of being awakened.

At the moment of enlightenment, the person is suddenly out of the trap of his deluded thinking that is preventing him from perceiving his true nature.

The Goal of Meditation

The goal of meditation is to become enlightened. When you start practicing meditation, it immediately reduces the turbulence in your mind so you can become more aware. With increased awareness you can start spotting your deluded thinking and make it disappear.

At first you may be in doubt about your true nature. But as you make progress through meditation there comes a point when you suddenly awake to your true nature. You now have a certainty that harbors no doubt. It is a unique moment that fills you completely with joy and happiness.

The Enlightened Individual

An enlightened individual is not absolutely free of flaws, but he is cleared of his deluded thinking. He has a mind in which perceptions continually divide into fine discriminative elements and get freely associated and assimilated into an orderly mental matrix providing rational solutions.

The cleared individual does not avoid, resist, suppress or deny any thoughts, emotions, and sensations when thinking; and so, he perceives things objectively with clarity. He is able to examine and overcome all prejudices, biases and fixations. He is keenly perceptive and knowledgeable and continues to explore new areas of knowledge.

The cleared individual is universal in his outlook. He rises above any idea of self or individuality. He is not subjective, self-centric, or human-centric. There are no conflicts within him. He would not hesitate to sacrifice himself if need be.

The cleared individual can look from the viewpoint of others as well as objectively from the viewpoint of all life and the environment. He continues to expand his understanding of the physical and spiritual aspects of the universe without resorting to superstitions.

The cleared individual is the first to realize his error and correct himself. Whenever he senses resistance or observes some oddity, he follows it up until it is cleared. If he suffers a painful experience, heavy loss, or confusion he is able to sort it out quietly in his mind.

The cleared individual is in good health and has no psychosomatic illnesses. He is purposeful in his demeanor, and graceful in his movements. He is strong and calm even in adversity. In no way is he trying to win or dominate, but he is passionately engaged in bringing order to his environment.

Above all, he is compassionate.

August 10, 2019 – 6:38 PM Categories: Meditation | Post a comment

Posture in Meditation

In the Satipatthana Sutta Buddha instructs:

Herein, monks, a monk, having gone to the forest, to the foot of a tree or to an empty place, sits down with his legs crossed, keeps his body erect and his mindfulness alert.

The ancient statues of Buddha show him sitting in this posture. An erect posture imparts the alertness of mindfulness.

In the Yoga Sutra, Patanjali describes this asana as a “steady and comfortable posture.” So, a meditative posture, besides being stable and erect must also be natural and comfortable so that it could be maintained for a long time without causing any stress or discomfort.

The condition of body in deep meditation is very similar to the condition in deep sleep. When sitting, the body may slump if not propped up properly. Crossing the legs and locking them in full-lotus position keeps the body erect even in deep meditation.

The purpose of the posture in meditation is to keep the body stably erect, even in deep meditation, in a natural and comfortable manner.

Niceties of Posture

In the ancient culture people were used to sitting with their legs crossed. This posture was natural and comfortable to them. So, this became the natural posture in meditation. Over time, however, other details got added that are not essential to meditation.

Zen Buddhism goes into incredible details about how to sit in meditation. It provides the size and shape of cushions to sit on, and the kinds of clothes that should be worn. It specifies how to place legs and knees on the mat, and hands and fingers in the lap. It dictates how ears should be lined up with the shoulders, and nose with the navel. It even directs the position of tip of the tongue, and the angle of the gaze. If you give importance to such niceties you can waste much time worrying about the correct posture during meditation.

Once the purpose of meditative posture is met, additional details prescribed for the posture are inessential.

Sitting in a Chair

In many cultures, especially in European culture, people are not used to sitting with their legs crossed. People find it easier to sit in a chair. They do not feel comfortable in the lotus posture after a while.

As long as body can be kept stably erect, there is no reason why a person cannot meditate sitting in a chair. One may use a straight-backed chair to keep the body erect. Additional cushions may be used to ensure the stability of the posture in deep meditation.

One may meditate sitting in a straight-backed chair as an alternative to the lotus position.

When meditating in a chair, it may help if the knees are parallel to the shoulders and feet are flat on the ground. The arms may rest in the lap. The hands, fingers and tongue may assume natural and relaxed positions. The eyes may be open, half open or closed according to natural tendency. The attention may focus or not focus on anything in particular. The gaze may become directed or peripheral. These variations may occur naturally during meditation.

August 10, 2019 – 1:26 PM Categories: Meditation | Post a comment

Introduction to Meditation

Twenty-six hundred years ago Buddha launched a grass-root movement of spiritual awakening, which was so successful that it civilized three-quarters of the world. That ancient movement was based on the concept of meditation. Wikipedia states:

Meditation is a practice where an individual uses a technique – such as mindfulness, or focusing their mind on a particular object, thought or activity – to train attention and awareness, and achieve a mentally clear and emotionally calm and stable state. Scholars have found meditation difficult to define, as practices vary both between traditions and within them.

When you look up meditation in a dictionary, it provides synonyms, such as, concentration, contemplation and reflection. Meditation seems to have become difficult to practice today because most people find it difficult to define.

We need to define meditation more precisely using a scientific approach.

The Problem of Meditation

In meditation, a person is using concentration, contemplation and reflection to settle the mind; but none of these actions can be accomplished until the mind is already in a settled state. This is a catch-22. Therefore, one must understand why the mind is in turmoil in the first place.

We all have heard the analogy that the muddy water in a bucket will remain muddy if it keeps on getting stirred. One must stop stirring the water to give mud a chance to settle down at the bottom. The same approach is needed to calm an agitated mind.

The mind is agitated because it is continually being interfered with.

The First Step

One must stop interfering with the mind to let it settle down into a quiet state. But for most people this is easily said than done. As soon as a person sits down to meditate, he is hit with the mental chatter that soon makes him tired and sleepy. He then spends his meditation time trying not to fall asleep.

But, to not interfere with the mind also means to not interfere with the mind falling asleep. This is an extreme example, but it is given here to drive home the point that the principle of non-interference applies to all activities of the mind, including sleep.

So, if the mind is falling asleep don’t interfere with it. It would eventually wake up. Then you can continue with meditation without having to fight with the sleep. Just make sure that the body does not slump when it is asleep (see the chapter Posture in Meditation).

The first step in meditation is to stop interfering with the mind, so it has a chance to settle down naturally.

Young’s Interference Experiment

Particles versus Wave

Quantum Reality and Mathematics

Future Possibility

The Goal of Meditation

The Enlightened Individual

Niceties of Posture

Sitting in a Chair

The Problem of Meditation

The First Step

R = REVIEWED

I–Basic Meditation

Introduction to Meditation (Old) (R)

Posture in Meditation (Old) (R)

Posture in Mindfulness Meditation (R)

THE BASICS OF LOOKING (R)

The Basics of Meditation (old) (R)

Settling the Mind (R)

Unwinding the Mind (R)

The Meaning of Enlightenment (R)

Introduction to Meditation (R-current)

Posture in Meditation (R-current)

The Basics of Meditation (R-current)

I–Basic Meditation Exercises

Exercise: Reaction to Locations (R)

TR0 and Mindfulness (obsolete) (R)

TR0 and Mindfulness (R)

Walking and Mindfulness (R)

Exercise: Meditative Posture (R-current)

Exercise: Being There (R-current)

Exercise: Confronting (R-current)

II–Discipline of Mindfulness

INTRODUCTION TO LOOKING (R)

COMMENTS ON LOOKING (R)

KHTK 1A: LOOKING: INTRODUCTION (R)

The Discipline of Mindfulness (R)

The Premise of KHTK (R)

Inconsistency Defined (R)

The 12 Aspects of Mindfulness (V1) (R)

TRAINING IN MINDFULNESS (OLD) (R)

Training in Mindfulness (R)

Mindfulness (R-current)

The 12 Aspects of Mindfulness (R-current)

The 3 Rules of Mindfulness (R-current)

II–Discipline Exercises

EXERCISE: Technique of Mindfulness (R)

Mindfulness 0: See Things as They are (R)

Observe without Desires (R)

Observe without Assuming (R)

Observe what is Missing (R)

Exercises: Mindfulness (Set 1) (R)

Observe the Incomprehensible (R)

Observe all Senses (R)

Let the Mind Un-stack (R)

Exercises: Mindfulness (Set 2) (R)

Experience Fully (R)

Do not suppress (R)

Associate Data freely (R)

Exercises: Mindfulness (Set 3) (R)

Observe beyond Name and Form (R)

Contemplate thoughtfully (R)

Let it be effortless (R)

Exercises: Mindfulness (Set 4) (R)

III–Theory of the Mind

Emptiness (R)

Continuity, Harmony and Consistency (R)

Mindfulness C: Continuity, Harmony & Consistency (R)

From Chaos to Order (R)

From Chaos to Order (old) (R)

The Mind as a Matrix (old) (R)

The Mind as a Matrix (R)

PERCEPTION (R)

Mind in Mindfulness (R)

OT 1948: An Analogy of the Mind (R)

III–Mind Exercises

Mindfulness Applications

Mindfulness in Mental Objects (Enlightenment) (R)

Mindfulness Therapy

Level 0 Therapy

Mindfulness Applications