Is Reality Simply a Mental Construct?

[Eodnhoj7]

If the senses cannot be sensed through the senses than is experience of external reality merely a process of the mind?

[attofishpi]

If the senses cannot be sensed through the senses than is experience of external reality merely a process of the mind?

Seriously..just wot kind of eggnog are you?

[Eodnhoj7]

If the senses cannot be sensed through the senses than is experience of external reality merely a process of the mind?

Seriously..just wot kind of eggnog are you?

Why are you upset over a simple question, one you were not forced to read or answer?

[attofishpi]

If the senses cannot be sensed through the senses than is experience of external reality merely a process of the mind?

Seriously..just wot kind of eggnog are you?

Why are you upset over a simple question, one you were not forced to read or answer?

Upset?

Every man and his dog nose that reality is a mental construct. Without any mental construct, then there is NO REAL+IT+Y

[Eodnhoj7]

Seriously..just wot kind of eggnog are you?

Why are you upset over a simple question, one you were not forced to read or answer?

Upset?

Every man and his dog nose that reality is a mental construct. Without any mental construct, then there is NO REAL+IT+Y

Do not assume the majority of people know this assertion nor the depth of what it contains.

[Walker]

If the senses cannot be sensed through the senses than is experience of external reality merely a process of the mind?

As a modifier, the word “merely” foists a subjective, unsubstantiated qualification upon the vague object, “process.” The same foisting applies to the concept of “Simply,” applied to “mental concept."

Mind is not “merely,” but rather inexplicable and therefore miraculous, explained with theories that use assumptions to explain the miraculous.

For example, a stroll through Manhattan is where most everything first existed within the infinite potentiality that is only detected by mind, but like water to a fish the Cityscape and its objects becomes part of reality, a part of the assumed “merely,” and the assumed “simply.”

*

Empirically speaking:

When the sensory gates close, thoughts are still experienced. A sensory deprivation tank will close the sensory gates, but this does not end thoughts.

In fact, mental activity increases when the sensory gates close. More thoughts and mental images push and shove for attention. However without a sensory deprivation tank the mind sense is strong enough to even override attention’s attachment to the senses, so that even hunger and thirst can be ignored through contemplation.

However, non-intellectual meditation stills the attention/object duality.

This happens whether the object of attention be the stimulation that enters through the open sensory gates, or the stimulation of mental activity such as contemplation, or memories.

[Walker]

If the senses cannot be sensed through the senses than is experience of external reality merely a process of the mind?

Seriously..just wot kind of eggnog are you?

That's a different subject, one that most threads turn into.

[Age]

Seriously..just wot kind of eggnog are you?

Why are you upset over a simple question, one you were not forced to read or answer?

Upset?

Every man and his dog nose that reality is a mental construct. Without any mental construct, then there is NO REAL+IT+Y

When 'reality' is defined as, 'the physical world', for example, then, of course, there is 'reality' without any mental construct. As, obviously, earth was 'reality' before 'mentally constructing beings' 'came along'.

Also, and by the way, do you really believe, absolutely, that every own, by a man's, dog knows that 'reality' is a mental construct?

Just out of curiosity, how do you know what dog's know?

[Eodnhoj7]

If the senses cannot be sensed through the senses than is experience of external reality merely a process of the mind?

As a modifier, the word “merely” foists a subjective, unsubstantiated qualification upon the vague object, “process.” The same foisting applies to the concept of “Simply,” applied to “mental concept."

Mind is not “merely,” but rather inexplicable and therefore miraculous, explained with theories that use assumptions to explain the miraculous.

For example, a stroll through Manhattan is where most everything first existed within the infinite potentiality that is only detected by mind, but like water to a fish the Cityscape and its objects becomes part of reality, a part of the assumed “merely,” and the assumed “simply.”

*

Empirically speaking:

When the sensory gates close, thoughts are still experienced. A sensory deprivation tank will close the sensory gates, but this does not end thoughts.

In fact, mental activity increases when the sensory gates close. More thoughts and mental images push and shove for attention. However without a sensory deprivation tank the mind sense is strong enough to even override attention’s attachment to the senses, so that even hunger and thirst can be ignored through contemplation.

However, non-intellectual meditation stills the attention/object duality.

This happens whether the object of attention be the stimulation that enters through the open sensory gates, or the stimulation of mental activity such as contemplation, or memories.

The term "merely" is an act of reduction. "X is merely Y" says X is reduced to Y.

[Walker]

The term "merely" is an act of reduction. "X is merely Y" says X is reduced to Y.

Understanding the Mind, The Nature and Power of the Mind
Sense and Mental Awareness
Geshe Kelsang Gyatso

From the point of view of their uncommon dominant condition, minds can be divided into two types: sense awareness and mental awareness.

Sense Awareness
Definition of Sense Awareness

The definition of sense awareness is an awareness that is developed in dependence upon its uncommon dominant condition, a sense power possessing form.

As with other minds, the nature of sense awareness is clarity, but it has different functions from other types of mind. The principal functions of sense awareness are seeing visual forms, hearing sounds, and experiencing odours, tastes, and tactile objects. There are five sense awarenesses, which are called the ‘awareness of the five doors.’ The five doors are the eyes, ears, nose, tongue, and body. In dependence upon their respective doors, eye awareness sees visual forms, ear awareness hears sounds, and so on.

Insofar as they permit us to read and listen to Dharma instructions, sense awarenesses are useful for our Dharma practice, but from the point of view of their obstructing our meditation and concentration they are quite harmful. If a sense awareness manifests when we are meditation on an object single-pointedly it immediately disturbs our concentration by causing distraction to other objects. It is like a sharp thorn sticking into our flesh. This is why many meditators who are emphasizing the attainment of tranquil abiding develop renunciation for sense awareness.

[Eodnhoj7]

The term "merely" is an act of reduction. "X is merely Y" says X is reduced to Y.

Understanding the Mind, The Nature and Power of the Mind
Sense and Mental Awareness
Geshe Kelsang Gyatso

From the point of view of their uncommon dominant condition, minds can be divided into two types: sense awareness and mental awareness.

Sense Awareness
Definition of Sense Awareness

The definition of sense awareness is an awareness that is developed in dependence upon its uncommon dominant condition, a sense power possessing form.

As with other minds, the nature of sense awareness is clarity, but it has different functions from other types of mind. The principal functions of sense awareness are seeing visual forms, hearing sounds, and experiencing odours, tastes, and tactile objects. There are five sense awarenesses, which are called the ‘awareness of the five doors.’ The five doors are the eyes, ears, nose, tongue, and body. In dependence upon their respective doors, eye awareness sees visual forms, ear awareness hears sounds, and so on.

Insofar as they permit us to read and listen to Dharma instructions, sense awarenesses are useful for our Dharma practice, but from the point of view of their obstructing our meditation and concentration they are quite harmful. If a sense awareness manifests when we are meditation on an object single-pointedly it immediately disturbs our concentration by causing distraction to other objects. It is like a sharp thorn sticking into our flesh. This is why many meditators who are emphasizing the attainment of tranquil abiding develop renunciation for sense awareness.

"Merely means "only." If you say "I was merely trying to help," your efforts were probably not appreciated and you're likely to be stalking off with your nose in the air. Merely comes from the Latin merus, ("undiluted")." www.vocabulary.com

If mind can be divided, and this division occurs through mind as the act of division itself, then mind is contradictory by nature.

[AmadeusD]

As I see it, clearly not.
If reality were 'simply' a mental construct, we have no non-mental objects. We do. I do not really see where else this would go?

If the argument is just for anti-realism about perception, that doesn't negate an actual reality out there, outside our heads. One of hte few things I think Kant got right in his axioms.

[Eodnhoj7]

As I see it, clearly not.
If reality were 'simply' a mental construct, we have no non-mental objects. We do. I do not really see where else this would go?

If the argument is just for anti-realism about perception, that doesn't negate an actual reality out there, outside our heads. One of hte few things I think Kant got right in his axioms.

A "non-mental x" is a conception. People assume mind is purely rational and yet the divisive qualities it requires to make distinctions, that allows for its justification as a construct, necessitates it as contradictory by nature.

Mind and no mind are conceptions. No mind can be observed as the conceptual limits to which a mind is aware where anything beyond the mind is less of a thing and more of a negative conception that places limits on the mind in a manner to allow a distinct order.

[Atla]

As I see it, clearly not.
If reality were 'simply' a mental construct, we have no non-mental objects. We do. I do not really see where else this would go?

If the argument is just for anti-realism about perception, that doesn't negate an actual reality out there, outside our heads. One of hte few things I think Kant got right in his axioms.

Wasn't Kant a Die Hard agnostic on an actual reality outside our heads, maybe his biggest mistake?

[Walker]

If mind can be divided, and this division occurs through mind as the act of division itself, then mind is contradictory by nature.

Contradictions don't exist in nature, they are prompted by dualistic interpretation of reality.

So, you're a merely man.

You have already, merely connected mind to a "Construct" with the headline question.

A Construct is a Thing.

So that you can relate, I’m merely explaining, which so far has been ignored with a dismissal.

- To understand how a particular statement can be true proceeds on the assumption that it is true, whether or not it actually is. Then the new understanding becomes a matter of figuring out, rather than demanding that it be figured out for you.

- To assert how something cannot be true proceeds by asserting the limitations of one’s knowledge, which can have the effect of changing a discussion into a defense of those limitations that uncomprehend how a particular statement can be true.

*

Geshe Gyatso notes:
“Although mind lacks form it can nevertheless be related to form.”

Commentary:
- All things have form.
- All things are compounded.
- Mind is not a formed thing.
- Mind can be related to form.
- Mind can be related to a compounded thing.

- And especially, Constructs are compounded things.

Divisions of Mind

“There is a twofold division of mind into conceptual minds and non-conceptual minds; a twofold division into sense awarenesses and mental awarenesses; a sevenfold division into direct perceivers, inferential cognizers, re-cognizers, correct beliefs, non-ascertaining perceivers, doubts, and wrong awarenesses; a twofold division into valid cognizers and non-valid cognizers; and finally another twofold division into primary minds and mental factors.”