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  1. Swami

    The Mystic way of knowing (for the skeptics)

    I accept everything here but I would like to go deeper into this thought. We need to go deeper than the "mind". As you correctly bring up, the world that is derived from the mind and senses can not be said to exist independent of the mind and senses. This is the problem of Western science -...
  2. Swami

    The Mystic way of knowing (for the skeptics)

    After careful contemplation, I've come to the realization that you are not serious. You don't want to experience, and therefore you will never be convinced.
  3. Swami

    The Mystic way of knowing (for the skeptics)

    George-ananda's criticism of your views is correct. You are pushing "scientism".
  4. Swami

    The Mystic way of knowing (for the skeptics)

    Our main disagreement is on the value of the experience itself. In my view, the interpretation doesn't matter but rather it is the evidence that matter in terms of validity. An experience itself counts as evidence. If you have evidence that raises questions on the validity of the experience...
  5. Swami

    The Mystic way of knowing (for the skeptics)

    I accept that the experience itself would have value just as it has for every other skeptic who has experienced it. People don't usually doubt their experience from the start unless there is an obvious reason. It is usually innocent or truthful until proven guilty. Do you question if your...
  6. Swami

    The Mystic way of knowing (for the skeptics)

    When you can transcend self, then come back and offer your perspective. Here is an example of a self transcendent experience.: "I was home alone, walking through the living room, not thinking of anything in particular, when suddenly my consciousness erupted. It no longer ended at the surface...
  7. Swami

    The Mystic way of knowing (for the skeptics)

    This would be most excellent !. I will offer one or two suggestion. The first two steps I listed amount to general meditation. Devote lots of time. It is very good training to the mind to stay focused. From this level of practice alone you will begin to notice benefits and you can use this...
  8. Swami

    The Mystic way of knowing (for the skeptics)

    I can accept all of your thinking except for the part in bold. As is common among many in the West, you simply want instant results. You only want the end result without having to worry about the journey or hard work. If there is anything you should accept it is that "levitation" and...
  9. Swami

    The Mystic way of knowing (for the skeptics)

    I am more interested in reaching scientists than skeptics. Oftentimes, the skeptics claim to be motivated by science so I assume reaching them would be no different than reaching a scientist. This has not been the case. If anything, I am only here to offer what science is lacking which is...
  10. Swami

    The Mystic way of knowing (for the skeptics)

    Why did you conclude that your experiences were false? Meditation has been a life long tradition for me. My first mystical experience at the age of 13 actually frightened me. But one thing I did not do was simply conclude that it was "false" simply because scientists were not around. In my...
  11. Swami

    The Mystic way of knowing (for the skeptics)

    Read this post with my last post. I noticed when I said that the "mystical" way of knowing was teachable, that you went silent. Do you think that you should reserve judgement until after you are willing to learn and experience for yourself? Is it scientific to make conclusions before the...
  12. Swami

    The Mystic way of knowing (for the skeptics)

    A common observation I've made about many skeptics is that they have not had any mystical or extraordinary experiences. The willful close-minded ones do not even want to experience even if they were shown a way to have the experience voluntarily. This is far from a scientific attitude. An...
  13. Swami

    The Mystic way of knowing (for the skeptics)

    The point of this discussion is not about what science is now. I clearly understand that first person methods and knowledge are not part of science. The point of discussion is that they should be added to science. Arguing how science is now does not invalidate the point that new methods...
  14. Swami

    The Mystic way of knowing (for the skeptics)

    The same way your awareness is one with your mind/body is the same way your awareness can merge with another object (anything in reality) through the process of samadhi. The same way your awareness is a first person perspective to your mind/body is the same way you can become a first person...
  15. Swami

    The Mystic way of knowing (for the skeptics)

    Many here have already lived out multiple lifetimes. The ultimate goal is to know and experience the real (Brahman). The real is tied to the end of suffering and complete bliss.
  16. Swami

    The Mystic way of knowing (for the skeptics)

    This is not quite a fair conclusion. I brought up scientific findings that support my views to a degree. There is a scientific basis to expect or even predict that my claims are valid. Examples: - Scientists accept depersonalization disorders. "Depersonalization is described as feeling...
  17. Swami

    The Mystic way of knowing (for the skeptics)

    Evidence for extraordinary feats have been documented since the start of religion and continue today. The problem is that many of these experiences occur unexpectedly and beyond the person's control. The yogic tradition of meditation (samadhi) provides a voluntary way to bring on these...
  18. Swami

    Why Scientists need to accept Eastern thought

    It is interesting that the skeptic tends to jump to the magical or extraordinary aspects. When you are examining a belief and you start there, of course it is going to be very hard to believe. But if you start where I suggested, which is with first discovering the nature of consciousness, then...
  19. Swami

    The Mystic way of knowing (for the skeptics)

    Useful to science? The Eastern way of knowledge, particularly "samadhi", is useful in trying to discover the nature of consciousness. Being able to merge our consciousness with any and all matter not only reveals the nature of consciousness, but also reveals information that would otherwise be...
  20. Swami

    The Mystic way of knowing (for the skeptics)

    Yoga Sutras chapter 1, aphorism 49 Thank you for the reference. The benefit of "samadhi" as a way of knowledge is that it allows for direct experience of an object (any person or thing). Knowledge of the "mind" provides a good example to compare samadhi with sensory/reason based knowledge...
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