| “I have no indication that directly trying to dissolve ego is a safe or fruitful goal”
Does Dzogchen practice (described in Sam Harris’ book “Waking Up”) contradict this? The sense of self is presented as a primary cause of suffering, and directly dissolving it (or noticing that it is already an illusion) as the antidote.
I have listened to that in audiobook form. I don’t consider it to be strong evidence about my concerns. I don’t find its view to be especially implausible, though.
Could you (or anyone interested) elaborate on why practices like Self Inquiry might be maladaptive?
Is it a Chesterton Fence around the fragility of values in general, or some specific value, as indicated here?
If so, it could be useful in moderation, or to some agents in specific situations. Examples: 1) Someone serving a life sentence in prison or solitary confinement in a way that their ability to create value both for themselves and others is limited could benefit from weakening the DMN.
2)A Google Design Ethicist might want to hold off on this kind of mental training at least until s/he has a strong moral framework already in place.
| “I have no indication that directly trying to dissolve ego is a safe or fruitful goal”
Does Dzogchen practice (described in Sam Harris’ book “Waking Up”) contradict this? The sense of self is presented as a primary cause of suffering, and directly dissolving it (or noticing that it is already an illusion) as the antidote.
I have listened to that in audiobook form. I don’t consider it to be strong evidence about my concerns. I don’t find its view to be especially implausible, though.
Could you (or anyone interested) elaborate on why practices like Self Inquiry might be maladaptive?
Is it a Chesterton Fence around the fragility of values in general, or some specific value, as indicated here?
If so, it could be useful in moderation, or to some agents in specific situations. Examples: 1) Someone serving a life sentence in prison or solitary confinement in a way that their ability to create value both for themselves and others is limited could benefit from weakening the DMN.
2)A Google Design Ethicist might want to hold off on this kind of mental training at least until s/he has a strong moral framework already in place.