Zen Buddhism and Alan Watts • Hacker News Board

Re: Zen Buddhism and Alan Watts

#151

Post by webnrrd2k » Wed, Oct 08, 2014, 2:36 AM UTC

dominotw wrote: post #64

orasis wrote: post #55

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I would add the free, short, book "Mindfulness in Plain English". It changed my life. Here is the PDF: http://www.urbandharma.org/pdf2/Mindfulness%20in%20Plain%20E...

What exactly is mindfulness in simple terms? How is different from concentration?

I can't give you an exact definition, but I'd love to share my experiences regarding mindfulness vs concentration.

Concentration is much more one of a one-pointed thing. It's about focusing like a laser on one thing. When I'm concentrated it feels like everything except what I'm focusing on drops away. It's like playing a video game, or reading an interesting book. It's a very calm experience, except that sometimes it feels like there is effort involved

Mindfulness is much more about paying broad attention to what's going on, about being aware and accepting of whatever experience is arising in the present moment. There is a strong intentional component -- I want to pay attention to the present moment, and there is an open curiosity and willingness to just be with whatever arises. There is a certain amount of memory involved, too, in the sense that you need to remember to pay attention and not get caught up in your own thoughts.

Re: Zen Buddhism and Alan Watts

#152

Post by webnrrd2k » Wed, Oct 08, 2014, 2:44 AM UTC

edwinyzh wrote: post #122

orasis wrote: post #55

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I would add the free, short, book "Mindfulness in Plain English". It changed my life. Here is the PDF: http://www.urbandharma.org/pdf2/Mindfulness%20in%20Plain%20E...

"Mindfulness in Plain English" is real and original Zen Buddhism, highly recommended.

Just for anyone interested -- he has a series of books, and they are good. I'd especially recommend his book on the four foundations of mindfulness.

Many of the people who visit this site and are interested in meditation would probably like the "pragmatic Buddhism" [1] movement, or the book "Mastering the Core Teachings of the Buddha" [2].

[1] there are other sites, but this is a good start: http://www.dharmaoverground.org/dharma-wiki/-/wiki/Main/MCTB... [2] http://integrateddaniel.info/book/

Re: Zen Buddhism and Alan Watts

#153

Post by applecore » Fri, Oct 10, 2014, 2:25 AM UTC

charliefg wrote: post #45

alvare wrote: post #32

Another unexpected philosopher used the term "double bind", if not in a more scientific way, but later meaning it in a broader sense; Gregory Bateson the anthropologist. Watts, Huxley, McKenna and Bateson are to me the most important readings a live could have.

If you've mentioned Bateson in the list with those other names then I will certainly look him up - thank you for that. I would also add Jung to that list (he was an influence on McKenna, as well as Watts).

Joyce and McLuhan also.

Re: Zen Buddhism and Alan Watts

#154

Post by jschwartzi » Sat, Oct 11, 2014, 4:28 PM UTC

coldtea wrote: post #107

Steven_Bukal wrote: post #97

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why not? Picking everything to pieces is exactly what those people (theoretical and practical scientists) who seem to have the most success in approximating truth do. These are the methods that best produce accurate predictions about the future and best produce designs for new technologies that actually work.

That's not "truth" though, that's "reality" or "the physical world" and the two notions are quite different.

It's also known as Analysis, which is the opposite of Synthesis. Analytic thinking is central to science.