Gemütsverfassungen

https://openscholar.dut.ac.za/bitstream/10321/3060/1/SUKATIBNS_2018.pdf

https://www.zeit.de/zeit-magazin/2022/23/introversion-extraversion-psychologie-interview

Vergleich: Comparison. Phosphoricum acidum with others.

Siehe: Anthroposophie and Psychiatrie + Homeopathic Psychology + Krankheiten + Sensation/Empfindung

Comparison Bell. + Hyos + Stram in Psycho-somatic Illness.

[Mind & Life Conversations - First Day October 30, 2019]

“And when we discuss feelings,” His Holiness suggested, “I think we should take account of ancient Indian psychology, which sees mind as a continuum rather than

a monolith. I’ve heard that each individual has their own different chromosomes. Is there a connection between chromosomes and consciousness?”

In his reply, Wilson mentioned that in addition to genes we have systems of symbols and the evolution of meaning systems. These relate to positive behaviour in groups.

His Holiness asked about how apes’ brains compared to those of human beings. Wilson informed him that compared to human beings, apes are much less cooperative.

That human beings are more peaceable is something we have selected ourselves.

Susan Bauer-Wu intervened to close the first part of the meeting. She acknowledged that human beings do have a capacity to be selfish and self-serving. She asked how this can be resisted and how it can be arranged that kind people are not just taken advantage of?

“In infancy our natural benevolent qualities are more prevalent,” noted His Holiness. “However, education changes this by introducing a sense of ‘us’ and ‘them’.

Instead we should ensure that education also emphasizes the oneness of all human beings and the fact that we have to live together.”

After a short break to rearrange the chairs to bring more people into the discussion, Richie Davidson said he wanted to go back to His Holiness’s question about apes’ brains and point out that we need to look at the size of brains in relation to the size of animals’ whole bodies. An elephant’s brain is bigger than a human brain, but its body is bigger than a human’s too. He also suggested that in terms of what distinguishes conditions for supporting consciousness from the lack of it, the answer is complexity.

David Sloan Wilson contributed the clarification that all important words have multiple meanings and that instead of talking about consciousness it would be simpler to refer to being ‘intentional’ and ‘goal directed’. Davidson responded that single cell organisms can be said to be goal directed, but the evidence is that they don’t feel pain.

He also posed the question, “Does conscious evolution have an effect on physical evolution?” Wilson introduced the notion of epigenetics, the study of heritable changes

that do not involve alterations in the DNA sequence.

Pariticipants engaging in discsussion after a tea break on the first day of the Mind and Life Conversation with His Holiness the Dalai Lama at his residence in Dharamsala,

HP, India on October 30, 2019.

“The fundamental thing,” His Holiness declared, “is that there is a phenomenon we call ‘consciousness’. In connection with this and the continuity of consciousness, there are people who have clear and detailed memories of past lives. Indian tradition suggests that it is the self or ‘atman’ that has no beginning. Buddhists say that what continues is subtle consciousness. Although sensory awareness depends on the presence of an object and sense organs, there is a third factor—the experience of an immediately preceding consciousness.”

His Holiness went on to allude to ‘thuk-dam’, the circumstances following the clinical death of an accomplished meditator when, despite the cessation of breathing circulation and so forth, the body remains fresh. It is explained that this is because the deceased is absorbed in the subtlest consciousness that manifests at the time of death.

Richie Davidson is involved in a project to examine such cases whenever possible to seek a scientific explanation of what is going on.

Davidson reminded the gathering that a member of the board of Mind & Life Europe, Wolf Singer, had remarked, “If this is true, we’re in big trouble,” to which His Holiness responded, “There are many things we still don’t know.”

Returning to the more general theme, His Holiness stated that what is needed is scientific evidence that cultivating a more compassionate mind is better for our health and for ensuring a happier community. He reiterated the necessity of promoting a sense that in being human we are the same and that each of us is part of the human community.

A question was raised about self-interest being a trait in individual evolution, while in groups or social situations generosity is more successful. Wilson remarked that if you’re

a giver surrounded by other givers, it works well. Davidson commented that His Holiness has spoken of the importance of motivation.

His Holiness responded that human beings regard altruism as something good. It indicates a respect for others. “To care for the community,” he added, “is to care for yourself. To be merely self-serving is to ignore your own benefit. And it’s unrealistic.

“Warm-heartedness is not blind when it is combined with intelligence. We view behaviour as harsh or gentle largely on the basis of appearances, but the real distinction depends on the motivation with which it is done.”

Asked to reimagine education, His Holiness replied, “There is no tradition of training the mind through investigation and analysis included in modern education.

But training the mind is important. The ancient Indian practices for cultivating a calmly abiding mind and insight into reality gave rise to the conduct of non-violence supported by an attitude of compassion.

“Therefore, a reimagined education system would include tackling the emotions and achieving peace of mind in a secular context. It would involve wishing for the well-being of humanity in an objective, thoughtful way. Where Mahatma Gandhi demonstrated the efficacy of non-violence in the 20^th century, here in the 21^st century I believe we can show how effective training the mind and emotions can be.”