Conscious of what?
A primary question about consciousness is “conscious of what?”
What if your consciousness is based on an error?
If you become conscious of the error, you will most likely correct it and thus change your consciousness.
Metacognition is a word that is sometimes used in place of “consciousness.”
Metacognition implies awareness of how our consciousness is functioning.
Buddhist mindfulness can be defined as “active metacognition.” This implies awareness of what is in our consciousness, what the elements of its functioning are in the moment.
Buddhist practice assume that if while being mindful we perceive error in our consciousness, we will correct the error.
Metacognition requires “self-awareness” or “awareness of the functioning of consciousness.” It seems that most people do this better than most animals in most situations.
Metacognition or mindfulness requires training or practice. But training and practice can also be wrong, based on wrong views.
Many forms of selfhood are based on wrong views.
Right mindfulness is used to perceive these mistakes and correct them.
For example, a person can be trained to have an identity. They can practice having this identity and learn the emotions that go along with it.
With wrong training and practice an identity can become explosive, violent, crazy.
This is a major part of what is meant by delusion in Buddhism, having a wrong view about your identity.
Notice, that a person can have a very wrong identity and be fully conscious of it and the world around them without realizing their identity is wrong.
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Related subjects:
Re-representing consciousness: dissociations between experience and meta-consciousness
Consciousness Goes Deeper Than You Think
A deep philosophical flaw of the West is the root cause of our downfall
The West has failed to analyze and understand metalevels of interpersonal communication. Our philosophies employ metalevel concepts and vocabularies but have never delved into or properly understood metalevels of interpersonal communication.
This failure to properly understand metalevels of interpersonal communication has very large downstream effects. It has retarded our religious understanding and psychologies, our group formation, our understanding of other groups, and our ability to form profound interpersonal relationships.
The basis of this claim is that when interpersonal language is deeply restricted—as ours is by this massive hole in Western philosophy—all other forms of language use are negatively affected. When metalevels of interpersonal communication are limited, so is almost everything else.
I believe our philosophers never went there for the same reason no one elsewhere has either—analysis of interpersonal metacognitive language and thought goes against a primitive human instinct to not question others too closely, especially in real-time and about usage and meaning.
The few areas of Western endeavor that have not been hobbled in this way are science, technology, and to some extent economics and politics. This is because these areas by definition must deal with metalevel concepts and thus are very capable of understanding and manipulating them, but only in their own self-described contexts. They are successful because they are practically engaged with the real-world.
In contrast, Western religions, psychologies, group formations, and intergroup communication are so severely hobbled by limited metacognitive understanding, they are all but forced to use rigid definitions of what their metacognitive levels are. Thus Western psychologies are theoretical, religions are dogmatic, group formations are formal at best or ideologically tribal, indicating the need to enforce metacognitive language and concepts rather than analyze or discuss them.
Wittgenstein came close to understanding the problem but did not provide a solution or seem to see that there is one. I hope readers of this site understand that FIML is both the solution to this problem and the best way to personally experience and come to grips with how very serious it is. ABN
Col Douglas Macgregor: NO, the IRAN WAR is NOT OVER
My boyfriend kissed me on the lips
Retroactive Revision
Retroactive revision means changing what you said. Anyone can do it but retroactive revision is especially designed for FIML partners. Partners can use it whenever they feel a statement they have made has boxed them into a corner or is making the conversation take a turn they had wanted to avoid.
For example, you say “I like XYZ cars the best.” What you actually meant is I very much like XYZ cars. Your partner starts talking as if you really mean you like them the best. This is a very simple example, but sometimes it can be difficult to keep things on track even with a simple mix-up like this.
If you feel your partner is wasting time talking about the good points of other cars to show you that XYZ may not be the best, just say you want to retroactively revise what you first said. Say: “I want to retroactively revise what I said. I want to change my initial statement to I very much like XYZ cars. I didn’t actually mean I like them the best of all cars; I was exaggerating, I guess.” Your partner will understand that you were using words loosely and that they need not take your original statement literally. They will change their tack and your conversation will become more in keeping with what you really think and feel.
Once learned, that technique will give both partners a lot of freedom. It’s relaxing to know you can easily change what you have said to be more in line with the thinking that has evolved in your mind since you made your initial statement.
As with most FIML techniques, FIML partners should do retroactive revisions the moment they feel that their partner may have misunderstood them. If it turns out your partner did not misunderstand, there is still a major benefit for both partners because the mistaken impression you had about your partner will not cause any further confusion for either of you.
Christian-Zionists are being scammed, but time is running out
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This is a funny dark Xweet, and also it’s true. The religious foundations of Israel’s conflict with its neighbors is completely nuts. Christian Zionists who buy the nonsense have been infiltrated and mind-controlled by Jewish Supremists. It’s as simple as that. When Christian Zionists wake up to the demonic scam which has fleeced and fooled them, they are not going to like it at all. ABN
The Iranian POV
Trump appoints Erika Kirk to Air Force Academy board
President Donald Trump has appointed Erika Kirk, the widow of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, to fill a seat on the Air Force Academy’s Board of Visitors.
Charlie Kirk, the founder of conservative group Turning Point USA, was a member of the Board of Visitors and attended a meeting before his assassination in September.
His wife, Erika Kirk has taken over has CEO of Turning Point USA since his death. The group says it has more than 800 chapters on college campuses nationwide. It also hosted the alternative half-time show during the Super Bowl featuring Kid Rock.
As a Board of Visitors member, Erika Kirk is one of 16 members responsible for making recommendations to the Secretary of Defense about changes at the Air Force Academy. The board also includes members of Congress including 5th Congressional District Rep. Jeff Crank of Colorado Springs along with Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., and Chairman Rep. August Pfluger, R-Texas, among others.
White revival needed now, better late than never
Newest War Developments: AI Bombings, Advice to Trump, and the Nuclear Agenda to Reset the World
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At about 18 min Col. Douglas Macgregor enters. As of today, there is a distinct paucity of facts about the actual missile strikes and damage caused, so commentators are resorting to theory and history. I have only watched about 20 min of Macgregor and it is interesting because he knows a great deal about war and about that region. ABN
UPDATE: Macgregor has a lot to say and all of it is worth hearing. He provides a good argument/ prediction why USA will definitely not use nuclear weapons but Netanyahu might. If Netanyahu does use nukes, Macgregor says Israel will be destroyed by nukes either made in Iran or brought into Iran from Pakistan. There is no upside to this war. The sooner it ends the better. ABN
Donald Trump Has Betrayed America. | Candace Ep 308
Scott Ritter : Will Iran End US Hegemony?
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Well-worth viewing. Ritter has authoritative recent updates. He presents a picture of total defeat for Israel and USA. ABN
Jake TV covers the Iran War
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This is a masterpiece of dark parody and dark humor. Its callous buffoonery suits the horror and absurdity of the attack on Iran and the central role of maniacal Jewish Supremacism. ABN
American Buddhist Net 