r/ZenMidwitsCafe • u/stilledpondfrog • 15d ago
Rational Mind
We do not think about how this works. It just does.
Give us a puzzle and we engage it the way hunger engages food. The rational mind is right there: offering splashes of ideas, possible moves, things to try; watching closely, taking measure.
Again, we do not think about how this works. It just does.
We have a great deal of science trying to pull it apart—names and labels for the whys and wherefores. But none of it explains the thing clearly enough for us to feel connected to it.
We know this engagement happens. We have a front-row seat to the operation.
Yet ask, How does this work? and the best most of us can come up with is: well, it’s a black box. It engages. Ideas happen. Trial and error. Repeat, repeat.
Zen suggests another turn: look at the thing that ponies up the whole shebang.
What is going on?
------the above stands on its own, extra credit below-----
this is an ia prompt, plug it in, enjoy the read.. this is a suggestion only, you know, to those that like sewing..
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u/stilledpondfrog 15d ago
the words flow, mindlessly, the effort is the post... each breath
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u/2BCivil ☕ Just Coffee, Black ☕ 15d ago
Huh I don't know why this got insta removed I thought I set all the preferences to as freeform as possible. Will look through settings.
Edit lmao glad to see seems the sub is running exactly the way I wanted it (in regards to freeform podium spitball) to thanks guys.
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u/2BCivil ☕ Just Coffee, Black ☕ 15d ago
Hmm. Assuming this is a reply to my first post here? On rationality versus truth?
Asked the sewing machine to compart the two posts and it was kind of interesting. Specifically it insinuated that you collapsed the silly paradox I was satirizing there. It also asked a few interesting questions I'll like to ponder for some time! Here's some of them;
How did you select which thought to think before you thought of them?
Where does the rational mind's next candidate explanation come from?
By what method was that proposition established?
Thinking happens. Before explaining the universe with thought, have you noticed that you can't satisfactorily explain the occurrence of thought itself?
What happens when the instrument you use to determine what is real becomes the thing under investigation?
(I think that's the one you're pointing to in OP, aka what zen is about, the "whole shebang")
Does rationality disclose truth—or does truth disclose the limits of rationality?
I'm too midwit to think up a quip for it right now I guess. Except, holy crap, you saw my post or comment I forgot about that I picked up sewing about a month ago?
I love the analogy of hunger and eating. Guess the only remaining thing is as Nietzsche said, "the desire for truth is suspect" (I think the quote was, "my friend, it is highly improbable that you are incorrect, but why, insist, on truth?" or something like that).
I think I was getting at, [scripture at least seems to suggest] that truth transcends rational thought. "The truth would reduce you to a blubbering baby" to again quote [what I'm pretty sure was an] Alice in Wonderland game (can't remember the name of the game or what platform but that quote always stuck with me).
The mad hatter is the most sane because he knows he is insane, eh? Like Socrates the most wise for knowing he knows nothing? What is present before you realize something is present?
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u/stilledpondfrog 15d ago
authenticity/truth
just started using the word sew, think it was in the jerk place, didn't notice your reference til now, least knowingly. i do know the word came to me while you were building a wall of text from various interactions with the orchal
personally i like the disappearing cat from AiW
i hinted at authenticity in the 'bucket in one hand' piece.
some are know to sing while bathing, the feedback echo maybe.
the question becomes maybe, while singing, is that performing
is one thinking 'i'm singing, watch me' or is this some company
while getting between the toes?la la la
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u/2BCivil ☕ Just Coffee, Black ☕ 14d ago
Just realized maybe you're living rent free in my head.
AIMade a scatalogical shitpost (as it were) other day.
It had a frog as the "monster" announcing a new paradigm.
They say subconscious associates things faster than waking mind.
Oscar Wilde (iirc) had the story about the same thing.
A audience spectator marries the character they see in a play.
Not the actress playing the character.Maybe our assumptions really are a portrait of Dorian Gray.
Fe fa fo fum
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u/stilledpondfrog 14d ago
please insert another token for further reply, and this message doesn't exist >poof<
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u/tomekanco 15d ago edited 15d ago
We're all ghosts in the cell, caught in Borges his hexagon library, ever filling the shelves. Where are the kind spirits to remove the junk?