Date sent: Sat, 25 Sep 1999 21:45:38 -0400 From: Robert Owen <rowen@technologist.com> Subject: TO: Joe Dees et al.: Vectors & Zeros To: extropiansextropycom <extropians@extropy.com> Send reply to: extropians@extropy.com
> After a great deal of frustrating analysis, I must concur
> with the logician who recently stated:
>
> 0/0 is chronically indeterminate.
>
> But you will be delighted to learn that I have a new Koan
> for your enlightenment:
>
> What is the vector which is orthogonal to itself?
>
> Bob
>
I have one for you: The Zen Doctrine of No-Mind asserts that the
belief that one possesses a self is a delusion; that the self is, in
reality, nothing. However, if one does indeed possess a self, then
there is no delusion involved in believing that one does. On the
other hand, if one does not possess a self, then no delusion can
occur, either, for delusion requires a self in order to have a subject
to delude - a deludee, if you will. There must be a believer for a
belief to occur, and a nonexistent belief cannot be deluded; in
addition, delusion in the absence of one who is indeed deluded
makes no sense whatsoever, since such a concept cannot meet
the sine qua non test. So, whether or not there is such an entity
as a self in existence, there can be no delusion, and there is no
room between the twin horns of this dilemma, since the either-or
alternatives encompass all the possible situational alternatives.
Q.E.D., the Zen Doctrine of No-Mind, which asserts that such a
belief is necessarily deluded, when in fact it cannot be, must be
false.
There is a way around this argument. What is it?
Have fun, Joe
>
> =======================
> Robert M. Owen
> Director
> The Orion Institute
> 57 W. Morgan Street
> Brevard, NC 28712-3659 USA
> =======================
>
>
>
>