[MD] Reifying carrots

[MarshaV]

     "Upon first learning of mental states described in traditions outside of one's, there is a natural tendency to seek counterparts in one's own background or in the knowledge of one's native culture.  For many people it si difficult to acknowledge the possibility that the attainment of quiescence may have no counterpart in Western civilization, that the contemplative science of ancient India made advances that the West has not duplicated.  Especially over the past five hundred years, the West has made tremendous advances in developing physical instruments to aid us in exploring the world.  Such research instruments have enabled us to probe deeply into the nature of physical phenomena, but they offer no direct access to mental events.  The mind is the only instrument capable of examining all types of natural events --- including both the physical and mental.  But in terms of refining human awareness in the development of stability and clarity as described above, Western civilization has made no progress since the Scientific Revolution.  In this field of contemplative science ours is a backward, underdeveloped culture.  If we wish to explore these Buddhist theories and practices further, we are well advised to proceed not with blink faith, but with our full powers of critical intelligence.  In so doing we follow the advice that the Buddha gave to his monks when he counseled:
   
      O monks, sages accept my words after examining them well--
      like gold after it has been melted, cut and rubbed--but not out 
      of devotion [for me].
  
 (Wallace, B. Alan, 'Choosing Reality, : A Buddhist View of Physics and the Mind',2003,pp.198-199)


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