DiscussWorldIssues - Socio-Economic Religion and Political Uncensored Debate - View Single Post - Rebirth (Influence, Elements), or Rebirth (Consciousness Transference)?

**LasTins** · 05-30-2012, 08:10 AM

Also. In my opinion, I feel that Doctors and Scientists have already concluded that the mind is nothing more then the wiring of the brain, the processes of neurons and electrons or whatever, that your personality/mind is simply made up of your Genetics, the impact to you from your environment (Society, Culture, Mental/Physical Diseases), your thoughts, your actions, and your speech, but to a greater degree, your environment and thoughts.

This is a valid point, but the science that I practice (and arguably the science that the Buddha practiced) does not use any sort of reductionism, as implied by "the mind is nothing more then [sic] the wiring of the brain."

Mind is an emergent property of the brain. It emerges therefrom, but cannot be reduced thereto. Similarly, a sense of self emerges from a conglomeration of skandhas (aggregates: form, feeling, perception, impulses, consciousness), but cannot be reduced to any of them. In the same way, a chariot "emerges" from a combination of wheels, axels, rods, etc., none of which - when taken alone - constitute a chariot.

Vajira Sutta (SN 5.10)

"Just as, with an assemblage of parts,
The word 'chariot' is used,
So, when the aggregates are present,
There's the convention 'a being.'"

http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipit....010.bodh.html In a sense, a whole is "greater" than the sum of its parts, but only insofar as it aquires new characteristics that its parts lack in isolation.

As for rebirth, I am in agreement that the mind itself cannot transfer from one body to another, as proposed by some rebirth theories.

05-30-2012, 08:10 AM	#24
LasTins Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 629 Senior Member	Also. In my opinion, I feel that Doctors and Scientists have already concluded that the mind is nothing more then the wiring of the brain, the processes of neurons and electrons or whatever, that your personality/mind is simply made up of your Genetics, the impact to you from your environment (Society, Culture, Mental/Physical Diseases), your thoughts, your actions, and your speech, but to a greater degree, your environment and thoughts. This is a valid point, but the science that I practice (and arguably the science that the Buddha practiced) does not use any sort of reductionism, as implied by "the mind is nothing more then [sic] the wiring of the brain." Mind is an emergent property of the brain. It emerges therefrom, but cannot be reduced thereto. Similarly, a sense of self emerges from a conglomeration of skandhas (aggregates: form, feeling, perception, impulses, consciousness), but cannot be reduced to any of them. In the same way, a chariot "emerges" from a combination of wheels, axels, rods, etc., none of which - when taken alone - constitute a chariot. Vajira Sutta (SN 5.10) "Just as, with an assemblage of parts, The word 'chariot' is used, So, when the aggregates are present, There's the convention 'a being.'" http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipit....010.bodh.html In a sense, a whole is "greater" than the sum of its parts, but only insofar as it aquires new characteristics that its parts lack in isolation. As for rebirth, I am in agreement that the mind itself cannot transfer from one body to another, as proposed by some rebirth theories.
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