The Phenomenology of “Pure” Consciousness as Reported by an Experienced Meditator of the Tibetan Buddhist Karma Kagyu Tradition. Analysis of Interview Content Concerning Different Meditative States
A philosopher and a cognitive neuroscientist conversed with Buddhist lama Tilmann Lhündrup Borghardt (TLB) about the unresolved phenomenological concerns and logical questions surrounding “pure” consciousness or minimal phenomenal experience (MPE), a quasi-contentless, non-dual state whose phenomeno...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2021-06-01
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| Series: | Philosophies |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2409-9287/6/2/50 |
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| author | Cyril Costines Tilmann Lhündrup Borghardt Marc Wittmann |
| author_facet | Cyril Costines Tilmann Lhündrup Borghardt Marc Wittmann |
| author_sort | Cyril Costines |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | A philosopher and a cognitive neuroscientist conversed with Buddhist lama Tilmann Lhündrup Borghardt (TLB) about the unresolved phenomenological concerns and logical questions surrounding “pure” consciousness or minimal phenomenal experience (MPE), a quasi-contentless, non-dual state whose phenomenology of “emptiness” is often described in terms of the phenomenal quality of luminosity that experienced meditators have reported occurs in deep meditative states. Here, we present the excerpts of the conversation that relate to the question of how it is possible to first have and later retrieve such non-dual states of selflessness and timelessness that are unrelated to sensory input. According to TLB, a “pure” experience of consciousness contains the phenomenal quality of luminous clarity, which is experienced solely in the transitional phase from the non-dual state of absolute emptiness to the state of minimal emptiness, when the person gradually returns to duality. However, this quality of luminous clarity can also be experienced in non-minimal states as in the experiential mode of being awakened. TLB describes this transition as a kind of ephemeral afterglow in the form of a maximally abstract phenomenal quality, i.e., luminosity, which justifies the conclusion of having been in a state of “pure” consciousness. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T10:20:16Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-303c8984386542e9965b8eb6de51a178 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2409-9287 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2025-03-22T04:32:03Z |
| publishDate | 2021-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Philosophies |
| spelling | doaj.art-303c8984386542e9965b8eb6de51a1782024-04-28T02:35:02ZengMDPI AGPhilosophies2409-92872021-06-01625010.3390/philosophies6020050The Phenomenology of “Pure” Consciousness as Reported by an Experienced Meditator of the Tibetan Buddhist Karma Kagyu Tradition. Analysis of Interview Content Concerning Different Meditative StatesCyril Costines0Tilmann Lhündrup Borghardt1Marc Wittmann2Department of Philosophy, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, 55122 Mainz, GermanyThe Ekayana Institute, 79853 Lenzkirch, GermanyInstitute for Frontier Areas of Psychology and Mental Health, 79098 Freiburg, GermanyA philosopher and a cognitive neuroscientist conversed with Buddhist lama Tilmann Lhündrup Borghardt (TLB) about the unresolved phenomenological concerns and logical questions surrounding “pure” consciousness or minimal phenomenal experience (MPE), a quasi-contentless, non-dual state whose phenomenology of “emptiness” is often described in terms of the phenomenal quality of luminosity that experienced meditators have reported occurs in deep meditative states. Here, we present the excerpts of the conversation that relate to the question of how it is possible to first have and later retrieve such non-dual states of selflessness and timelessness that are unrelated to sensory input. According to TLB, a “pure” experience of consciousness contains the phenomenal quality of luminous clarity, which is experienced solely in the transitional phase from the non-dual state of absolute emptiness to the state of minimal emptiness, when the person gradually returns to duality. However, this quality of luminous clarity can also be experienced in non-minimal states as in the experiential mode of being awakened. TLB describes this transition as a kind of ephemeral afterglow in the form of a maximally abstract phenomenal quality, i.e., luminosity, which justifies the conclusion of having been in a state of “pure” consciousness.https://www.mdpi.com/2409-9287/6/2/50consciousness <i>per se</i>pure awarenesspure consciousnessminimal phenomenal experiencecontent-free awareness<i>dharmakāya</i> |
| spellingShingle | Cyril Costines Tilmann Lhündrup Borghardt Marc Wittmann The Phenomenology of “Pure” Consciousness as Reported by an Experienced Meditator of the Tibetan Buddhist Karma Kagyu Tradition. Analysis of Interview Content Concerning Different Meditative States Philosophies consciousness <i>per se</i> pure awareness pure consciousness minimal phenomenal experience content-free awareness <i>dharmakāya</i> |
| title | The Phenomenology of “Pure” Consciousness as Reported by an Experienced Meditator of the Tibetan Buddhist Karma Kagyu Tradition. Analysis of Interview Content Concerning Different Meditative States |
| title_full | The Phenomenology of “Pure” Consciousness as Reported by an Experienced Meditator of the Tibetan Buddhist Karma Kagyu Tradition. Analysis of Interview Content Concerning Different Meditative States |
| title_fullStr | The Phenomenology of “Pure” Consciousness as Reported by an Experienced Meditator of the Tibetan Buddhist Karma Kagyu Tradition. Analysis of Interview Content Concerning Different Meditative States |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Phenomenology of “Pure” Consciousness as Reported by an Experienced Meditator of the Tibetan Buddhist Karma Kagyu Tradition. Analysis of Interview Content Concerning Different Meditative States |
| title_short | The Phenomenology of “Pure” Consciousness as Reported by an Experienced Meditator of the Tibetan Buddhist Karma Kagyu Tradition. Analysis of Interview Content Concerning Different Meditative States |
| title_sort | phenomenology of pure consciousness as reported by an experienced meditator of the tibetan buddhist karma kagyu tradition analysis of interview content concerning different meditative states |
| topic | consciousness <i>per se</i> pure awareness pure consciousness minimal phenomenal experience content-free awareness <i>dharmakāya</i> |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2409-9287/6/2/50 |
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