Dr Eben Alexander's new book

I really wish there would be more focus on another NDEr than Eben Alexander but I'll take what I can get when it comes to NDEs entering the public consciousness.

Start up another NDE thread.   

As I'm sure you know, there are TONs of them. How about Anita Morjani?  I love the Maria and her tennis sneaker story from Seattle, or Pam Reynolds, or,,, take your pick...

No, that's not the way I read it. You would have to read the passage to see what I mean.

It's hard enough to envision how reality might work. Choosing what I felt like was a rather arbitrary analogy to a whirlpool was even OK. But I felt like he was trying to shoehorn reality to act like the whirlpool so it would be more comprehensive analogy. Felt completed forced to me. And was enough of a distraction that I simply closed the book and put it on the shelf.

IIRC, that particular analogy doesn't even walk away from the book, he supercedes it with another when discussing mind as a multi-dimensional membrane. So, don't throw the baby out with the bath water. 

Also, keep in mind that this first book was an equivalent of "Kastrupian idealism for dummies" and it's all about explaining the tenets of his ideas. Ergo, these are to be expected, since Bernardo is fond of analogies... Even when discussing them: https://groups.google.com/forum/m/#!sear...cmEXXdWpHA

While I don't consider myself an idealist (I prefer not to be boxed), there is no denying that Bernardo is having a lot of success getting his papers published in mainstream publications. I would argue that he was well on his way to the "big time" before this book.

IIRC, that particular analogy doesn't even walk away from the book, he supercedes it with another when discussing mind as a multi-dimensional membrane. So, don't throw the baby out with the bath water. 

Also, keep in mind that this first book was an equivalent of "Kastrupian idealism for dummies" and it's all about explaining the tenets of his ideas. Ergo, these are to be expected, since Bernardo is fond of analogies... Even when discussing them: https://groups.google.com/forum/m/#!sear...cmEXXdWpHA

While I don't consider myself an idealist (I prefer not to be boxed), there is no denying that Bernardo is having a lot of success getting his papers published in mainstream publications. I would argue that he was well on his way to the "big time" before this book.

Yes he is having success.

I agree with him WAY more than I disagree.

Its been almost a year since I put his book down so I can't really get into any detail of where we part ways cause memory is fading of that book.

I suppose I won't be able to tell you until I read another of his books, which will probably awaken the same annoyances. 

Slightly off topic sorry. Not trying to start a whole thread here. but-
 
I respect Bernorado's work, mostly,,

but in his first book, when he started inferring attributes of reality, based on the actual physical attributes of a whirpool, I closed the book and went on to other things. 

I thought that was a huge stretch, and figured if that sort of thing is behind his construction of how things work, I'm taking the other pill..

I once had a conversation with Bernardo and told him he'd pinched my analogy. I had used the word eddies but he preferred whirlpools. Of course, he hadn't stolen it, we both thought of the same analogy. But now I'm offended on our behalf!  

By the way, I used it to point out that an eddy has form and might be considered a thing but it is also the bigger thing - the ocean. There is no separation.

I once had a conversation with Bernardo and told him he'd pinched my analogy. I had used the word eddies but he preferred whirlpools. Of course, he hadn't stolen it, we both thought of the same analogy. But now I'm offended on our behalf!  

By the way, I used it to point out that an eddy has form and might be considered a thing but it is also the bigger thing - the ocean. There is no separation.

I wish I had the time to go back and read the book (maybe I will at some point but I'm having too much fun reading unread material) and refresh what exactly bugged me about it. It might be a fun conversation to have.

It's was NOT that the analogy felt unreasonable at the outset, it was more about the fact that as he delved deeper and deeper into the analogy, it felt like it was taking on a life of it's own. And at some tipping point I said: wait a minute, you are using the analogy to assert features of reality/consciousness that aren't apparent, and that's not working for me. 

Tom Campbell did this often with in his TOE. He, more than once, seemed to be force fitting attributes on to his view of reality (that I don't think are actually there) in a somewhat obvious attempt to further validate his claim that we are the result of a simulation. I brought this up on his web site, and was, not surprisingly, shouted down by the the loyal hoards.

I brought this up on his web site, and was, not surprisingly, shouted down by the the loyal hoards.

Yeah, I got both barrels from the notorious Ted once. Tom was fine with my questions but Ted acts like a mean tempered night-club bouncer.

Yeah, I got both barrels from the notorious Ted once. Tom was fine with my questions but Ted acts like a mean tempered night-club bouncer.

Yup. And since Tom doesn't seem to participate (or at least to respond) all that often, he leaves Ted and the Minions to their task... 

Haven't visited the place for a year two. Assume it is still up and running, in its full glory and adulation of Tom C.

I will say again: that I think Tom is a super smart guy with some really interesting ideas. But I think the most interesting stuff Tom has to say is about his skills with OBE and the adventures he has had.

-Yes, moderators, I know- this is not part of the Eben A. topic. - 
I suppose someone will create a My Big Toe or Tom C.  thread at some point.

Yeah, I got both barrels from the notorious Ted once. Tom was fine with my questions but Ted acts like a mean tempered night-club bouncer.

More like an angry troll asking for a toll. When I visit these forums and come across this:



I kinda understand why Alex got pissy at how unruly we were.

My comment wasn't that Dr. Alexander shouldn't be discussed, or that I wish Tim hadn't made the thread.

I think Alexander's case isn't compelling to me, I don't find him a good advocate given some of the instances in his past, and that it may come out that he exaggerated or even falsified aspects of his experience.

My comment wasn't that Dr. Alexander shouldn't be discussed, or that I wish Tim hadn't made the thread.

I think Alexander's case isn't compelling to me, I don't find him a good advocate given some of the instances in his past, and that it may come out that he exaggerated or even falsified aspects of his experience.

snip- it may come out that he exaggerated or even falsified aspects of his experience.

What is this supposed to mean?

It "may come out" that I am from Alpha Centuri too. However I would suggest that people not make important decisions based on this possibility.

I think it would be better if you put a little more meat on those bones to substantiate your comment. Obviously those instances bother you. What are they?