Posts in Chronological Order

My friend Dave Fortna sends a chart comparing feelings and emotions; Dirk has been researching the distinction as well. It appears that the common understanding is the opposite of what you are giving us. Common definitions make the emotions primary and longer lived, and the feelings secondary and shorter. Partly this is because we and…

We repeat, what sometimes looks like diversion or digression may merely illustrate parts of the context of the question that otherwise might be missed. Sometimes what is missed invalidates what is perceived, not because what is perceived is wrong, but because its importance cannot be properly weighted in the absence of what is missed. So…

Remember that our purpose always isn’t to support or attack any given way of seeing things, but to express our way of seeing them. Remembering this will save you a great deal of internal friction. Understood. Keep our eye on the information and let judgments about other ways of seeing things go, at least for…

After yesterday’s session, I wondered, is one of the roots of fanaticism arguing against one’s doubts? That is, could there be a connection between people’s self-division, due to their incorporating (embodying) contradictory beliefs, and the zeal with which they refuse to be open to argument from others? (That is, from the “external” world?) But you…

You said we would discuss moods, today: how and why they are generated, how they act to smooth out transitions between moments. In context, remember, of our statement that 3D is lived first in feeling, then only later (even if “later” means fractions of a second) in thought. It is so important that you realize…

I believe you proposed to continue by discussing how we change our beliefs. Less how you change them than how they change. That is, you are less active in the process than might be assumed. Our beliefs change themselves? Well – Remember, we are considering your life not as if the 3D were lived in…

After yesterday’s fiasco, I don’t know where we are or how you want to proceed. We wouldn’t call it a fiasco. Interesting to watch you redefine things as you go. Your reaction may serve to illustrate, in fact. We were proceeding smoothly. We hit a speed bump. We had to stop and reconsider our path.…

Emotions are not things, so naming them is misleading if nonetheless necessary for the purpose of discussing them. And anything we say about emotions, we can pretty much say of feelings, too. The reason there is so much confusion about the difference between the two is that the distinctions are largely arbitrary. To name something…

We ought to take care to get feedback, to see what people make of your explanations. I’m not quite sure why you need me to tell you what I would have assumed you know directly – mind to mind with them – but I gather that you do. That is a remnant of your thinking…

At some point I suppose we’re going to have to anchor theoreticals with actuals. But that means exposing one’s innards. It would do, yes. Specifically, let’s talk about what is it when one runs out of road, emotionally. I could hide behind the lives of others – Hemingway most obviously – but that’s what it…