Why Buddhism is True - Deepstash
Why Buddhism is True

Vladimir Oane's Key Ideas from Why Buddhism is True
by Robert Wright

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Evolution created minds that seek illusions

Evolution created minds that seek illusions

The human brain was designed – by natural selection – to mislead us, even enslave us:

  • Evolutionary, animals that crave things that will help them survive & reproduce are better served by feeling satisfaction. A creature that continually needs to strive in order to satisfy its cravings is more likely to reproduce. Lasting happiness is not something that comes easily to human beings.
  • Natural selection has no inherent bias towards truth. We are prone to delusion and illusion. 

We are living in an unreal circle of unhappiness.

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Emotions from an evolutionary perspective

Emotions from an evolutionary perspective

Emotions can be regarded as automatic judgements about our environment. For instance, anger and fear promote defensive reactions (fight or flight in the face of a threat) to improve our chances of survival; lust fuels sexual activity; and pleasure provides positive reinforcement for evolutionary goals.

But these reflex judgements are not always accurate. For instance, social justice movements the world over have struggled to bring our unconscious inferences about gender or otherness into conscious consideration,

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The modular theory of the mind

This theory conceives of the brain as possessing a variety of structures or networks which support specific functions: self-protection, enabled by a quick reaction to threats; mate attraction, enabled say through demonstrations of empathy or strength; mate retention; kin care; status-seeking, and so on.

These modules continuously compete for the prize of conscious attention. But this competition takes place as a nonconscious level. So many of our impulsive reactions are nonconsciously generated.

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The conscious self doesn’t create thoughts

It receives them!

ROBERT WRIGHT

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The 3 components of the Buddhist Solution

The 3 components of the Buddhist Solution

Buddhism is a philosophy and practice for seeing the world accurately. To notice the true nature of reality:

  1. Non-Self: Your consciousness is not a CEO in your brain, but more like the PR department. There is no atemporal you that is in control. The self is an illusion. 
  2. You can end suffering (dukka) by avoiding tahna – craving for the pleasant + avoidance of pain + tendency for delusion.
  3. Impermanence: Nothing lasts forever! Therefore nothing can be grasped or held onto.

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ROBERT WRIGHT

“Liberation consists of changing the relationship between your consciousness and the things you normally think of as its ‘contents’ – your feelings, your thoughts, and so on. Once you realize that these things are ‘not-self’, the relationship of your consciousness to them becomes more like contemplation than engagement, and your consciousness is liberated”

ROBERT WRIGHT

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IDEAS CURATED BY

vladimir

Life-long learner. Passionate about leadership, entrepreneurship, philosophy, Buddhism & SF. Founder @deepstash.

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