Death and the Self | Robert Wright & Nina Strohminger

Brief and simplified suggestion to complement the presentation (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=44Yy7MjYMHw) and for future exploration and research:

Naturalness-spiritual meditation, introspection, and contemplation are not parts of lay person and most monasteries practices in Yoga or wholeness ways of life (Buddhist, Hinduism, ,Jainism, and mix) or traditional Yoga countries. And which implies neither the philosophy nor the science. And as evidentially indicated by recent global revival of Nalanda, Vedanta, Aidvata Vedanta, Jainism, Zen, and among other yoga (or wholeness ways of life and  naturalness-spiritual practices) practices as well as essential and meaningful integration with science initiatives. Furthermore, as complementary initiatives to holistic and well being development and living.

In other words, the mass practices are faith based belief rather than authentic ways of life and best practices as originally intended. And therefore, the after life is based on popular belief that there is an after life based on such as one virtues and karma. While in monasteries life, there are many traditions that based the after life on the traditions or lineages philosophies such as mind only, middle way, and heart-mind philosophies. And as well as aspects or philosophy of essence, nature, and ground of being. And nature.

​Furthermore, the no-self philosophy has been miss-interpreted or miss-defined over the millenniums. No-self means that there is an emerging subtle body-mind (or emerging spirit-soul potentialities of possibilities) or real and true self. However, it does not exist by itself but rather, exists as part of  the greater whole or All That Exist and Ever Exist (i.e. subtle body-mind intertwined and entangled with the local and non-local cosmos. In other words, nothing has its own intrinsic inherent independent existence. And which has been recently clarified by the Dalai Lama on numerous occasions (which is based on the heart-mind or body-mind philosophy of the Nalanda tradition or the tradition original philosophy. However, there are many Tibetans) traditions or lineages that have diverse philosophies as previously mentioned.

And therefore, monasteries that practices mind only philosophy as well as miss-interpreted no-self philosophy, would have difficulty reconciling the concept or belief in the after life with the philosophy. And as well as difficulties of constructing or relating the self as form-formless due to miss-interpretation or definition of no-self. Even Westerners, including scholar and philosopher, interpreted or conceptualized no-self literally or as mind only idealism (as indicated by the self and no-self are still being passionately debated among scholars, philosophers, and serious practitioners). What is also critical is improper philosophy and science would lead to improper concept and method. And therefore, improper mediation, introspection, and contemplation concepts and methods. Thus, could easily or would lead to confusion (or illusion and delusion which would also inhibit or prevent realization and actualization potentialities of possibilities). Therefore, uncertainty and unknown which lead to fear. While the mass simply related to the after life through belief. And therefore, less uncertainty and unknown which implied less fear.

And as such, as Mr. Wright also mentioned or emphasized, the following criteria need to be taken into consideration:

1.0 Type of meditation, introspection, and contemplation practices. And their frequency and correlation. Experience and or knowledge of empirical data (or individual and collective efforts) of the transcendence, OBE, and NDE are invaluable. In other words, meaningful experience transcend belief, myth, and even narrow and shallow scientific epistemology (due to present limits in science as well as evolution beyond the known physical world is not part of the scientific exploration and quest). And which the Dalai Lama concurred or essential and meaningful ways of life and practices leading to meaningful essence, nature, and ground of being. And nature experience are meaningful and essential evolution transformation as well as liberation. And are being encouraged by the Dalai Lama.

2.0 Lineage or tradition philosophy, as already mentioned, meditation, introspection, and contemplation would not only be ineffective but also could easily be counterproductive if the philosophy and science or concept and method are incorrect such as not in accordance and resonance to the essence, nature, and ground of  being And nature. Even in the West, where meditation, introspection, and contemplation are more relevant, improper philosophy and science or concept and method would still render the practices ineffective or even counterproductive (issues with meditation practices are now brought forward or in the open for solutions across communities, in particularly Western such as .
(https://www.epistemologyontologyfoundationinstitute.org/philosophy-and-science/on-philosophy-and-science-of-self-and-no-self).

3.0 Extrapolation, interpolation, and correlation of 1.0 and 2.0 as practical philosophy and science empirical to complement core Principles (such as 4 Noble Truth and 8 Noble Path) and Tenet rather than belief based https://www.epistemologyontologyfoundationinstitute.org/local-and-non-local-blog/on-mindful-ways-of-life.
​
Since the Dalai Lama has recently clarify no-self philosophy as well as being a tradition of heart-mind or body-mind philosophy rather than mind only. And is interested in or eager to bridge naturalness-spiritual and science barriers or divide as well as desires to promote communities development and living which also included initiative to establish monasteries as center for learning through practical and meaningful practices. And as well a has broad support among religious, spiritual, and scientific organizations and communities; perhaps contacting the Dalai Lama organizations (https://www.dalailama.com, https://www.mindandlife.org, and https://www.mindandlife-europe.org) for suggestions and opportunities or how best to carry out and collaborate on meaningful research (and related researches such as for health care and death process nurturing and development) for holistic and well being sustainable development and living inspirations and aspirations forward.

In other words, the research could be part of broader collaborations and efforts (such as set up network of monasteries as part the scientific network for essential and meaningful scientific exploration and quest as well as to best strengthen and complement social and communal development, transformation, and living) . And thus, solutions to enhance and develop such as meaningful nurturing, heartful care and mindful care ways of life, health care, and death process development, and living through the scientific method and process for well being in the known physical world. And beyond.


Updated 0916/2019: The efforts and collaborations would complement inspirations, aspirations, and yearnings for quality, meaningful, and well being life in the known physical world. And far beyond.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJBnHmFUd9w
https://aeon.co/videos/how-a-scientific-attempt-to-demystify-buddhist-meditation-yielded-astounding-results (which is a secluded Tibetan tradition more or less apart from the 4 main Tibetan Traditions);