¿Chemotaxis as a Vedanā Precursor? Part 2, So What?

Previously we proposed that chemotaxis may be a precursor of vedanā and that holding this view (lightly) may contribute to a more embedded/interconnected understanding of human-beingness in the spectrum of life.

This time I’d like to play with the idea that infusing an understanding of vedanā with a sense of taxis/movement can more coherently embed it into an understanding of the path as a whole.

Perhaps it is the case that dhammic development can be understood as transition from more inner movement (greater reactivity) to less.

Rob Burbea speaks of taṇhā (craving/aversion) as a kind of push and pull, and equanimity as a stilling of that pushing and pulling.

In SN 35.247, The Simile of Six Animals, Gotama refers to sati (mindfulness) as a post that is sunk into the earth. Six animals (Saḷāyatana, the sense bases,) are tied to the post and pulling frantically in different directions. Over time, the animals calm and submit to resting in stillness.

The word we translate as “path” (noun) is paṭipadā, which I understand has the more accurate meaning “putting one foot in front of the other” (verb).

If this were the case, if the sense of the path included an understanding of movement and stillness, then vedanā-as-taxis would naturally incorporate.

Your thoughts?