When Even Awareness Stops: New Meditation Research | Ruben Laukkonen PhD

Can we turn off our awareness (i.e., conscious metacognition) in meditation and then stay in that state for 7 days without water, food, or going to the bathroom? A recent study by Dr. Ruben Laukkonen on the cessation of awareness in advanced meditation practitioners confirms this. In this interview, Natalia Vorontsova talks with Ruben about his research and its implications for our understanding of the nature of reality. This is a deep, yet light-hearted, conversation about mind, consciousness, time, AI, and the future of science, especially since Ruben is also an experienced meditation practitioner.

You can find out more about work of Dr. Laukkonen here:
https://rubenlaukkonen.com/  
 / rubenlaukkonen  
https://substack.com/@rubenlaukkonen

00:00:00 Interview and guest intro
00:01:56 Common passions in life.
00:03:40 On meditation: does it include introspection, and everything related to mind and self?
00:09:38 Mind, self, and non-duality.
00:19:03 Research on the cessation of consciousness in advanced meditation practitioners.
00:29:00 Meditation: the cessation of consciousness vs. ‘tukdam’ state. Other research findings.
00:35:43 Is there a story to tell after consciousness turns on?
00:39:09 Groundlessness of mind and freedom: the most important discovery.
00:44:16 The reality model: mind, interdependence, and emptiness.
00:49:47 God and suffering according to non-Eastern traditions vs. insights from meditation.
00:54:02 Why did life emerge and become conscious?
01:02:01 Our evolution: merging with AI - intelligent, conscious or even enlightened? Are we also a 'simulation'?
01:19:59 Co-creation of reality: conscious vs. unconscious self.
01:27:33 The 'here and now': what is the present moment? The nature of time.
01:37:08 What is consciousness? A new paper: “An active inference theory of consciousness”.
01:58:34 The role of insight and subjective experience in inner transformation. Cognitive deconstruction and construction practices.
02:07:50 Metaphysical aspects of research findings: reductionist materialism and mind vs. matter.
02:13:06 Ruben’s own meditation experience and fundamental shifts.
02:19:05 The future of science: bridging the scientific method and the wisdom traditions.
02:22:45 Online resources and references. Closing remarks.

   
     I haven't watched the video yet but I'm wondering if it addresses in any way the experience of anesthesia and suspension of time. Braude , if I remember correctly claimed that one's experience upon going under, as it were, was one of the best arguments against survival. Having recently gone under anesthesia for a medical procedure I experienced a continuity of consciousness which was immediate from the application of the gas to full waking consciousness with no sense of time having past. The experience made me consider where my conscious went and whether I actually existed during the time frame of my procedure.
Does any one know the best understanding of this phenomenon from a suvivalist position??

   
     I haven't watched the video yet but I'm wondering if it addresses in any way the experience of anesthesia and suspension of time. Braude , if I remember correctly claimed that one's experience upon going under, as it were, was one of the best arguments against survival. Having recently gone under anesthesia for a medical procedure I experienced a continuity of consciousness which was immediate from the application of the gas to full waking consciousness with no sense of time having past. The experience made me consider where my conscious went and whether I actually existed during the time frame of my procedure.
Does any one know the best understanding of this phenomenon from a suvivalist position??

They didn't really cover anything about NDEs or OOBEs, let alone any other Survival evidence.

I'll note that the monk was observed as being able to set a [mental] timer for when he would return out of the "Cessation State" so it seems some part of his consciousness was still online to serve as the alarm.

I'd say if a person seeks support for the No-Self doctrine this would probably give them at least suggestive evidence. OTOH those who believe in an enduring Self could ask who is it that witnesses the construction of the Self?

However it would be nice to have some discussion between those who adhere to the No-Self doctrine and someone like Edward Kelly who is an Idealist who does believe in personal Survival. How do we compare the subjective report of meditators with the reports suggestive of Survival?