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 […]
Tag: Vedana
Articulating an idea in the vedanā discussion: Sometimes dharma teachers note that a precursor of vedanā may be observed in organisms as simple as single-celled bacteria. These organisms move towards food (that which is beneficial) and away from toxins (that which is harmful). The term for this movement is “chemotaxis”. “Chemo” from the Greek “khemeia”, […]
Perhaps. Some dharma teachers claim there is no English equivalent for the Pāli “vedanā” . Although I do not know a word in common usage, there has been a word used in psychology since the 1930s, “valence”, that I think will do the job very well. [1] In (the HIGHLY recommended) How Emotions Are Made, […]
Bridging anthropocentricity, one bacteria-laden blog post at a time.
(TL;DR: No. Pain is not Vedanā.)
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¿Is Vedanā Interoception?
Is vedanā interoception? Or is interoception vedanā? In a 2018 talk on Vedanā (link) @MartineBatchelor referred to @LisaFeldmanBarrett’s book, How Emotions Are Made. She described interoception and asked, “…the question is, is she talking about the same thing [as] me?” [4:29] Here’s my take: In HEAM, Barrett says: “Simple pleasant and unpleasant feelings come from […]
I’m in the midst of producing several Buddha Bites podcast episodes on Vedanā (aka Hedonic Tone Edit 2023: aka Feeling Tone). It’s challenging! Some deets about the process: As I wrote back in March, a 2019 retreat led by Akincano Weber and Dr. Judson Brewer hooked me on the implications of Vedanā. When I talk […]
This talk was made available by Dharma Seed. Vedanā, Practice on Attention and Sati. Gaia House : Stillness and Insight Good. I’d like to ask for your attention. A few clarifications of our exercise. 00:20 We have started identifying aspects of breathing, have started taking up the exercise of returning attention to a chosen process, to […]
This is one of a series of transcripts of contemporary talks which I have found particularly instructive. This talk was made available by Dharma Seed. Vedanā — Feeling tone and attention. Practice instruction. Insight Meditation Society — Retreat Center : Cultivation — Investigation — Contemplation: Insight Meditation Retreat for Experienced Students. Good. Let me request your attention again for some clarifications about our exercise. […]
Dharma PhD 