OBSERVATIONS ARE NOT OF THINGS

[atanu]

The OP is meant to be a philosophical one and certainly not meant for debate. Furthermore, the debaters have entirely missed the implications of the conclusions of the studies cited. The studies have shown that theories based on the joint assumptions of realism and locality are not tenable. The view that there is an objective physical world, ontologically distinct from mentation that exists independently of being observed—to 'nonlocal hidden variables' theories is questionable. The physical world is contextual: its measurable physical properties do not exist before being observed. If these studies stand, there is no ontological ground outside awareness where these properties could otherwise reside before being represented in mind.

These conclusions seem to corroborate Richard Conn Henry’s assertion in his 2005 Nature essay that “The Universe is entirely mental”.

What does it mean?

For many of us, who already believe that 'space-time-objects' appear and disappear in consciousness, which illumines and knows these, have not much difficulty in appreciating the revolutionary implications of the cited studies.

But what happens to the extant physics paradigms and axioms? It was the intention of the OP to explore this question and not to enable entry of physicalist axioms through back door.
...

 

[atanu]

And speaking philosophically, discarding 'Realism' as the de facto truth, has huge implications for us in our daily lives and when under extraordinary stress.

In 2003, a boy named Bala fell down between two cliffs at Tirumala. He remained stuck between the two cliffs for six days before giving up. He shouted and whispered with whatever strength he could muster for 5 days requesting food, water, and rescue, and then became silent. No one could get him out.

What was his condition? He might have had fractures or might have been hanging partially upside down, suffering from heat, darkness, and despair for six days. Can you imagine his condition?
The terror, the agony that one experiences, before the unconsciousness takes over, is unimaginable. Some of us might have faced such a situation with mental choices. Some might face a similar situation with illness.

A teacher par excellence, who had experienced and taught the world that the I awareness was not the body-mind, Maharshi Ramana suffered from cancer from November 1948 to April 16, 1950. Till the last day, he met devotees and gave darshan. By the end of March 1950, when devotees gave up all hope, Ramana Maharshi is said to have replied, "Why are you so attached to this body? Let it go", and "Where can I go? I am here."

We cannot even imagine that the I awareness is not the body. That the body-mind of three experiential states of waking, dreaming, and sleeping are objects of the awareness that runs through these states. But under the aforesaid distress, the only way to peace is the knowledge, gained through "Who Am I?" inquiry that the I awareness is not the body-mind.

Suffering alone exists, none who suffer
The deed there is, but no doer thereof
Nirvana is, but no one seeking it
The Path there is, but none travel it.

...

 

[Ostronomos]

I have my guesses.

It really is sad how you claim to know science but do not compare to the performance and knowledge that I can lay claim to in that state. So while you may venture to guess a small fraction of the events of that day you have no clue of the extraordinary events that took place in their entirety. My level of performance in the pitch black darkness of my mother's basement was extraordinary.

 

[Polymath257]

It really is sad how you claim to know science but do not compare to the performance and knowledge that I can lay claim to in that state. So while you may venture to guess a small fraction of the events of that day you have no clue of the extraordinary events that took place in their entirety. My level of performance in the pitch black darkness of my mother's basement was extraordinary.

No doubt that you believe it to be so. Too bad it isn't manifested anywhere else that I can see.

Self-evaluation is a particularly poor measure in some situations.

 

[Ostronomos]

No doubt that you believe it to be so. Too bad it isn't manifested anywhere else that I can see.

Self-evaluation is a particularly poor measure in some situations.

I never claimed it was. And if you're denying that it wasn't apparent in a small fraction of my threads in philosophy then you're either deluded or lying.

 

[Martin]

And speaking philosophically, discarding 'Realism' as the de facto truth, has huge implications for us in our daily lives and when under extraordinary stress.

In 2003, a boy named Bala fell down between two cliffs at Tirumala. He remained stuck between the two cliffs for six days before giving up. He shouted and whispered with whatever strength he could muster for 5 days requesting food, water, and rescue, and then became silent. No one could get him out.

What was his condition? He might have had fractures or might have been hanging partially upside down, suffering from heat, darkness, and despair for six days. Can you imagine his condition?
The terror, the agony that one experiences, before the unconsciousness takes over, is unimaginable. Some of us might have faced such a situation with mental choices. Some might face a similar situation with illness.

A teacher par excellence, who had experienced and taught the world that the I awareness was not the body-mind, Maharshi Ramana suffered from cancer from November 1948 to April 16, 1950. Till the last day, he met devotees and gave darshan. By the end of March 1950, when devotees gave up all hope, Ramana Maharshi is said to have replied, "Why are you so attached to this body? Let it go", and "Where can I go? I am here."

We cannot even imagine that the I awareness is not the body. That the body-mind of three experiential states of waking, dreaming, and sleeping are objects of the awareness that runs through these states. But under the aforesaid distress, the only way to peace is the knowledge, gained through "Who Am I?" inquiry that the I awareness is not the body-mind.

Suffering alone exists, none who suffer
The deed there is, but no doer thereof
Nirvana is, but no one seeking it
The Path there is, but none travel it.

...

The Visudhimagga quote at the end of your post is incongruous, given that it's a commentary on the Buddhist suttas. The Buddhist suttas of the Pali Canon teach anatta, which negates Atman. And Mahayana sutras like the Heart Sutra teach sunyata, which negates Brahman. In other words, Advaita and Buddhism teach very different things, so attempts to validate Advaita by referencing Buddhist teachings are at best misguided. And quote-mining is generally unhelpful.

I see a pattern here. You are so intent on "proving" your Advaita beliefs that you are prepared to misrepresent or misinterpret other traditions, philosophy and physics.
I would be more sympathetic to an open-minded enquiry and discussion eg "Here is what Advaita teaches, what support is there to be found in other traditions and disciplines?"
I actually like what Advaita teaches, but listening to you, I always feel I'm being lectured at, and talked down to.

 

[Polymath257]

I never claimed it was. And if you're denying that it wasn't apparent in a small fraction of my threads in philosophy then you're either deluded or lying.

No extraordinary level of performance has been evidence in any of your threads.

In fact, I would say they should a lack of understanding of some basic concepts, such as entanglement and superposition.

 

[Ostronomos]

No extraordinary level of performance has been evidence in any of your threads.

In fact, I would say they should a lack of understanding of some basic concepts, such as entanglement and superposition.

Even if you fail to notice it in a few of them that doesn't make it any less true. I am well aware of what I can and can't do. "Extraordinary" has been a fact in a great deal of my performance since 2007.