The Doors of Perception

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Rhiannon R
Rhiannon Nov 14, 2005 17:06:28
Replying to Littlestone

Apart from the debatable idea that some places have inherent weirdness (be that deriving from electromagnetics, pressure changes, leylines, 'sacredness', whatever) -

would you think that the physical process of getting to many tma-ish places is the kind of thing that might induce a meditative state of brain/mind? All that physical exertion to get up the hill. Rhythmical movement of your arms and legs. (In my case) heaving lungs and lack of oxygen to the brain. Plus the fact you often get enveloped in the noise of the wind (not really white noise? something like it anyway) which is kind of sensory deprivation.

Thus your state of mind might be particularly primed to experience things that would normally be too far off the edges of your perception??

I Ishmael
Ishmael Nov 14, 2005 17:08:43
Replying to Rhiannon

Yes I'd agree with that. The journey can be an amazing experience in itself.
It happened to me today as I climbed the winding stairs in the tower of Avebury church and what a view when I got to the top!

P PeterH
PeterH Nov 14, 2005 18:08:53
Replying to Rhiannon

Yes I do and its the concept behind pilgrimage.

Go to Avebury and park in the car park. Walk the short walk past the ice cream van and the cricket field to the stones. Nothing much except staring without understanding as one of the crowd.

OR

Walk the long walk from the car park. Follow the river towards WKLB with Silbury on your right. Walk towards the Sanctuary and take the lane to the beginning of the Avenue. Slowly and reflectively follow the Avenue to the stones. Everything falls into place and you get a brief flash of insight and connection to the whole.

Same thing with mountains - go by horrible 4WD as close as you can. Climb up and climb down - big macho conquering thing
OR
Walk in through the landscape seeing the mountain gradually increasing in size over several hours. Become part of the landscape and then climb with no thought of conquest or record breaking. Just being there is enough. Communion.

Key elements? Time - we rush experiences far too much
Physical effort and mental contemplation come from taking a longer time
And switch of the bloody mobile phone!

L Littlestone
Littlestone Nov 14, 2005 18:54:33
Replying to Rhiannon

>...would you think that the physical process of getting to many tma-ish places is the kind of thing that might induce a meditative state of brain/mind?<

Yes I'd go along with that.

Also that there are probably many ways of opening up those 'Doors of Perception' - dancing, chanting, walking, light through the trees, just slowing down as Peter describes. Saunter is a nice word you know - probably from Middle English <i>santren</i> 'to muse'.

Also agree with Steve that, "...nature is not just strange, it's very, very, very strange." That doesn't mean it belongs in the realm of religion - it's just strange and we don't understand why... yet :-)

H Hob
Hob Nov 17, 2005 00:43:41
Replying to Rhiannon

>would you think that the physical process of getting to many tma-ish places is the kind of thing >that might induce a meditative state of brain/mind?

In a vaguely similar vein, it's possible that the building of muckle great megalithic monuments may have induced states of mind never previously encountered. Maybe the amount of constant exertion required to shift big rocks made the ancient endorphins kick in, possibly even, special breathing techniques were employed to synchronise effort amongst the members of a team. Either or both of which could result in a different state of mind from that generally induced by hunter gathering activities.