Koans, Creativity and Consciousness

by Albert Low

Science has consistently rejected subjective data in science. Undoubtedly the main reason for this is that most scientists consider it to be unreliable and difficult to verify. Our immediate experience is, indeed, often incomplete, distorted, or simply false. Another important reason for rejecting subjective data is the scientist’s unconditional commitment to materialism and this automatically precludes the possibility of a consciousness distinct from matter. Most scientists, therefore, believe that third person, objective data, available to all is the only reliable source of data. Inner observation of our own experience is unacceptable because it cannot be subjected to similar public scrutiny and manipulation.
Yet, what is most important, but invariably overlooked, is not what I am conscious of, but that I am conscious. The only way this can be verified or even considered is by “first person” enquiry. A way by which first person enquiry can be established is by koan practice developed by Ch’an Buddhists in China during the T’ang dynasty (600-900 CE.)
In what follows, I explore ways to allay scientific suspicion towards subjective accounts, and show how koan study is used as first person scientific inquiry.

ebook

First published September 22, 2012

About the author

Albert William Low was a western Zen master in the Philip Kapleau-lineage, an internationally published author, and a former human resources executive. He lived in England, South Africa, Canada, and the United States and resided in Montreal since 1979. He held a BA degree in Philosophy and Psychology, and was a trained counselor. In 2003, he was awarded an honorary degree of Doctor of Laws for scholastic attainment and community service by Queen's University, in Kingston, Ontario.

Reviews

[M.A. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read. Thought and Consciousness explored from different nuanced perspectives.

[mavromou · Rating 5 out of 5]

Este es un libro muy cortito que me cruce por casualidad buscando el concepto de Koan que habia leído en el libro anterior Mente Zen, mente de principiante...

Y la verdad que me llamo poderosamente la atención el título de este libro, porque sin querer me topé con uno de mis conceptos preferidos, la creatividad...

Lo loco, es que hace una especie de paralelismo entre los tres conceptos del título del libro, relaciona la incongruencia aparente de los Koans, con la teoría de bisociación de Koestler (cosa que ya había estudiado y me parece uno de los hallazgos mas importantes en tema de creatividad), y finalmente basándose en un concepto super interesante -que desconocía ampliamente- el de Lógica de la ambigüedad y valiéndose de una vieja y conocida ilusión óptica en blanco y negro, termina de relacionar los conceptos de Koan, creatividad, y consciencia...

En la explicación del libro de la Lógica de la ambigüedad y en otros conceptos Zen -con los cuales recién me estoy familiarizando-, pareciera que se entienden mucho mas, o cobran sentido, si pensamos que en realidad nuestra vida, todo nuestro universo es una simulación.

Lo que más me gustó de este libro es que actua como todo un Koan, te deja pensando totalmente perdido... -espero que esto de frutos en el futuro-

Recomendado si te interesa el pensamiento Zen y/o la filosofía de la conciencia y la creatividad.