Andrew Furst's Blog, page 44

Evolution and Mind – Dialectic Two Step

Estimated reading time: 8 minute(s)

My teacher once told me “All is Mind”. Alas it is true and there is a catch-22 there.  Mind comes from evolution and they make a sneaky pair.

The leading hypothesis of the evolution of life on the planet involve the formation of some very basic but very interesting molecules. Because of the abundance of molecular materials and the chemical properties of those materials, they had the peculiar ability to replicate themselves. These molecules continued to replicate over time, until competition arose for the molecular raw materials (amino acids) needed to generate new generations.  Of course this wasn’t a conscious competition. The “winners” were simply the molecules that were most successful in acquiring the raw materials and replicating.

This is natural selection. As these replicators succeeded “strategies” evolved whereby one replicator could undermine or even prey on other replicators;.consuming them and their raw materials. These strategies involved larger and more complex configurations, and grew into larger and more complex systems. All of these systems sustaining themselves because they maintained the ability to replicate.

At some point structures that would one day serve as cell organelles evolved. The perhaps via some symbiotic, or more likely parasitic, strategies these structures joined forces. Cells were eventually formed. Of course, the success of these cells, was measured in their ability to replicate the genes that programmed them within a highly competitive environment.

Living Large

Next these cells continued to increase in complexity (alway as a function of natural selection). Multicellular life formed. Competition between members of the same species began to drive newer traits.  Species became more complex and adaptive through the process of natural selection. The “winners” continuing on, the losers joining the dust heap of evolution.

Getting Fancy

Then, relatively recently on the 4 billion year time scale, beings evolved nervous systems, brains, and then minds.  Why?  The likely answer: natural selection, augmented by something else called sexual selection.  The latter a consequence of the appearance of sex on the scene.  Sexual selection appeared as the result of the competition between members of the same sex for sexual partners. It generated traits that the extremely slow and efficient natural selection would abhor.

Sexual selection is likely responsible for the showier less useful traits we see in nature.  Peacocks tails, complex mating rituals, and the rather impressive and troublesome human mind are good candidates of for sexually selected traits.

A great book on this topic is Richard Dawkins’ “Selfish Gene”.  He does a great job giving a lot of scientific explanation without excessive scientific jargon, mathematical details, and complexity.

THE POINT

Mind is a tricky thing that may not behave using the rules we think they do. Here is my point:

 

Dialectic Two-Step  is an ongoing series of my thoughts on questions that come my way.

Wisdom lies neither in fixity nor in change, but in the dialectic between the two. - Octavio

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The Stream – Verse Us (Poems by Me)

Verse Us - Poems I write: haiku, senryu, mesostics, free verse, random word constructions, I might even use rhyme or meter once and a while.

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Review of Clouds Tell Us (Another 5 Stars)

Wendy Haylett offers another review of Clouds Tell Us and gives it 5 stars. Head over yourself, buy a copy and see why everyone is giving it such good reviews.

The Review

Clouds Tell Us is a collection of poetry exploring the intersection of nature and our humanity. What does it mean to be awake? What is it like to actually be alive? Could anything be more important than being awake for life? Nothing brings us back to it more than spending time in nature. This book hopes to inspire you to rediscover your connection with nature and to rekindle your humanity.

Of course the best way to get my books, artwork, and other goodies is to support my work on Patreon

where you can make small monthly micro-contributions that help support my work.

If Patreon doesn't work for you, then drop me a one time contribution at PayPal.me

 

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The Test – Say What?

Say What?  is an ongoing series of laconic exchanges on Buddhism in the format of a comic strip. 

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MIndfulness and the Future – Modern Koans

Question: Can I practice mindfulness and think about the future?

My Response: This is an important question. It implies a particular concept of mindfulness that really needs examining. First of all mindfulness is a meditation technique. It should not be confused with Buddha Nature. It is entirely related, but don’t equate them.

I’ll pose a question as a means to get at what I see as problematic about the idea.

If you are being mindful and a thought about the future crosses your mind, does the thought negate your mindfulness? How about a thought about the past? Buddhist teachers warn us about living in the future or the past. They instruct us, to be in the present moment. But does the technique of mindfulness forbid thinking about the past or the future?

If a thought about the future crosses your mind, does it negate your mindfulness?
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I’ll pose another question. If you are being mindful, carefully noticing all of the aspects of the present moment, for instance the clouds, the moon, the cool breeze, and so on. Each time you notice, the thought “cloud” arises, then “moon”, then “breeze”. Do these negate your mindfulness? Does their appearance represent a failure to be mindful? I hope not.

I don’t think that the quality of the thought that appears in the field of mind is a measure of mindfulness. It is how we receive it, acknowledge it, and so on.

In your opinion, is mindfulness better done when its focus is tangibly in the present moment?  In what way would we be able to control these thoughts? For instance by letting awareness be immersed in the body? 

I'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments below.

Modern Koans is an ongoing series that recognizes that good questions are often more important than their answers.

The riddles of God are more satisfying than the solutions of man. ― G.K. Chesterton

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Andrew Weil on Fear and Greed – Quotes

Quotes -The path to right view is an arduous walk through fields of manure.

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Andrew Weil on Fear and Greed

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Upper Purgatory Falls – A One Minute Meditation

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Minute Meditations is an ongoing series of short videos, poems, and commentary intended as a meditation.  Offered as an opportunity to step back from your cyber routine and settle into a more natural rhythm, if only for a minute.

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These videos are produced for those of us who spend an inordinately large amount of time in the cyber-world.  They are not a substitute for unplugging from your devices and taking a stroll near trees, water, or a patch of unkempt grass.  Getting out into the world - touching, smelling, hearing, and seeing nature is the best way to reconnect with our prime purpose.  

What is our prime purpose? We are feeling and sensing machines.  We are the universe looking back on itself. We are witness to the wonders and dangers of living in this corner of the cosmos.  We are the seekers looking for connection a little further beyond yesterday's borders and boundaries.

But sitting and staring at the screen robs us of the sustenance that we rely upon for wonder and sanity.  These videos are an opportunity to bring the sensations of nature to you, while you're in the cyber-world. Its an opportunity to relax your gaze, resettle your posture,  and regain some depth in your breath.  Listen and watch the video and allow your self to open up and recharge.

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Post Card Art Project – Faith Dust, & Pixie Trust

Here’s the next installment of the Post Card Art Project. Faith Dust, and Pixie Trust.

The artist (and let me know if there are mistakes) are shown below in the same position as their card:

 

The Post Card Art Series

This is one of a series of Post Card Art Projects. These are collaborative arts project done on postcards with people all over the world. 

Using an image divided into sections, I created postcards for each section.  I printed, pre-stamp, and mailed them out to patreon supporters, friends, and blog readers who expressed an interest. The artists add their art, mail the cards back, and I assemble them.

The results are fun and unique.

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Photograph from September 11 by Wislawa Szymborska – Compass Songs

.

They jumped from the burning floors—

one, two, a few more,

higher, lower.

The photograph halted them in life,

and now keeps them

above the earth toward the earth.

Each is still complete,

with a particular face

and blood well hidden.

There’s enough time

for hair to come loose,

for keys and coins

to fall from pockets.

They’re still within the air’s reach,

within the compass of places

that have just now opened.

I can do only two things for them—

describe this flight

and not add a last line.

 Compass Songs is an ongoing series of works by poets that I enjoy. Poetry, as the Zen Masters have said, is like a finger pointing to the moon. It speaks the unspeakable.

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Beautiful Review of Clouds Tell Us

Grace Curley offered this beautifully written review of Clouds Tell Us.  Reading it, I thought the review itself was worthy of praise. So even if you don’t buy the book, I recommend reading the review!

 

Clouds Tell Us is a collection of poetry exploring the intersection of nature and our humanity. What does it mean to be awake? What is it like to actually be alive? Could anything be more important than being awake for life? Nothing brings us back to it more than spending time in nature. This book hopes to inspire you to rediscover your connection with nature and to rekindle your humanity.

Of course the best way to get my books, artwork, and other goodies is to support my work on Patreon

where you can make small monthly micro-contributions that help support my work.

If Patreon doesn't work for you, then drop me a one time contribution at PayPal.me

 

The post Beautiful Review of Clouds Tell Us written by Andrew Furst appeared on Andrew Furst.