On Jan 9, 2008, at 7:14 PM, Robert Seeberger wrote:
> On 1/9/2008 7:40:25 PM, Warren Ockrassa ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) wrote:
>>
>> The idling mind is seen in Buddhist
>> psychology
>> to be absolutely packed full of discursive thought, virtually all of
>> which is concerned either with reliving the past or anticipating the
>> future.
>>
> My understanding, introspective and otherwise, is that human brains
> model one's experiences and potential outcomes pretty much constantly.
There's a difference between modeling and playing alternatives ("If
I'd only said..." or "The next time he tries that I'll..." and so on).
Modeling or planning is certainly useful -- to a point -- but getting
caught up in different versions of the narrative might not be as useful.
> The only time I seem to drop out of this mode is when I have to focus
> on something immediate such as a conversation.
Yes, concentration on a single point is difficult. And in
conversations, we're planning out our replies at least as much as
we're listening to what's being said.
> Even when I am working I
> seem to be modeling what I am working on and only stop to perform
> individual tasks.
Which, when you think about it, is almost saying that you're not
actually doing what you're doing. :)
--
Warren Ockrassa
Blog | http://indigestible.nightwares.com/
Books | http://books.nightwares.com/
Web | http://www.nightwares.com/
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