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• Wednesday, June 25, 2008 09:29 AM

  @droogoy

  Thanks again for your thoughtful response. I appreciate your passion and willingness to continue to engage.

  There is only one point you make that I personally take issue with, and that is your statement that:

  If one questioner could just provide the n-s conditions for his claim, or the underpinning of his quest, then much of this could be rendered more legitimate as a useful pursuit. As opposed to mere speculations that never produce results.

  I would suggest that your use of the term "results" is biased on positivist assumptions. Perhaps the "results" obtained from intellectual study of the "infinite" or "mystery" do not meet the critera for empirical science. However, your mention of "returning to the same point in an endless loop" reminds me very much of mantra meditation.

  As you probably know, science has shown repeatedly that regular meditators have certain physiological and neural strengths not generally found in non-meditators. As you also probably know, many Eastern forms of meditation have no need of any higher deity in the way the Western traditions do; that is they don't posit, "God". I think for the intellectually inclined seeker, philosophical study of this sort acts as meditation and may indeed provide "results" in the form of improved health and well-being rather than strict, empirical answers.

  That is why I don't believe them to be a waste of time. Although this path is certainly not for everyone, as not everyone is satisfied with non- or trans-rational "answers".

  Take care.

  —jazztao Read jazztao's other letters
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