[Buddha-l] Natural lucidity for all, a Buddhist dream

[curt]

On the other hand it could be that people who are naturally prone to 
lucid dreaming are also drawn to video games - in other words, the cause 
and effect could be exactly the opposite of what everyone seems to be 
assuming. Intuitively this seems more likely than the absurd idea that 
playing Pokemon Mystery Dungeon has some spiritual or psychological 
benefit - or really any measurable effects whatsoever other than carpal 
tunnel syndrome.

It could also be that some psychologists will do anything for a buck, 
and that a couple of hucksters like Gackenbach and LaBerge have made 
some kind of sweet deal with Nintendo to do for them what "biochemical 
researchers" have been doing for the pharmaceutical industry (providing 
free publicity in the guise of "science"). After all, the American 
Psychological Association won't even prohibit it's members from aiding 
and abetting torture. This is actually true - here's a little reading 
material: http://www.counterpunch.org/bond08232006.html.

- Curt

Joy Vriens wrote:
> "In 2004 [ Jayne Gackenbach] found that frequent video game players 
> have more "lucid dreams" (in which the dreamer is aware that they are 
> dreaming) than non-gamers. Often, the dreamer can even manipulate the 
> action or observe it in third-person, much like a video game.
>
> "On an intuitive level, it makes sense," said Gackenbach."If you're 
> spending a lot of time in a changeable virtual environment, it acts as 
> a sort of practice for another virtual reality, dreams."
>
> Gackenbach's research suggests the effects of video games on minds are 
> much more complex. She even goes as far to suggest that video gaming 
> may share some traits with deep meditation, in that both immerse the 
> mind in a singular, deeply focused activity.
>  
>  "Video games are changing how people's brains work, how they are 
> wired," she said."
>  
> http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=4991
>  
> I used to deplore the growing importance of virtuality reality in 
> various fields, of image and image management, branding, of spin in 
> the media etc., because I believed it would remove people even further 
> from the nitty grityy facts of "basic reality", earthy and 
> ordinary reality or what do you want to call it... But this article 
> gives me new hope. Perhaps the growing and constant confrontation with 
> virtual reality in various fields will change people's brains and 
> ultimately lead to spontaneous awakening.  
>  
> Joy
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> _______________________________________________
> buddha-l mailing list
> buddha-l at mailman.swcp.com
> http://mailman.swcp.com/mailman/listinfo/buddha-l
>