the darkness conjecture by Andrew Durham
Submitted by andrewed on Mon, 2009-08-03 07:50.
Civilization | design | Health
the darkness conjecture: a strifeless approach to chronic suffering
this new site culminates 22 years of my independent research. Past writings of mine include "Tribal Housing" (from the old "secret design" site) and "Sociality Undenied: the operative principle of band society".*
the darkness conjecture:
- Civilized people suffer inordinately from meaninglessness, confusion, self-hatred, disease, sociopathy, and ecocide.
- These conditions result from... (read more)
Please check it out and let me know if you would like to participate or contribute in any way (on the contact/comment page). Don't miss the blog page, which has many posts.
Andrew Durham
*see "other writings" page on my site for these pieces
Brain Waves
Submitted by Tony on Tue, 2009-08-04 00:21.
I've done some interesting course work and extra-curricular work on brain waves, where in Delta the body heals itself the best, and you seem to be encouraging Delta waves to come to the forefront through your techniques very stimulating! (sorry for the ironic pun!)
dig
Submitted by andrewed on Tue, 2009-08-04 06:39.
Hi, Tony,
Thanks for your comments. I remember you fondly from IshCon in 2002. Glad you're digging the site.
I hardly know anything about brain waves. If delta waves occur during rest, then they're more like tidal waves during darkness.
Re: your first comment. You're definitely getting some of it, so I think if you keep reading, the answers to your questions will become apparent. If you're still unsure, please comment again, and I will respond point by point.
Holy Crap Ishcon! 2002! The
Submitted by Tony on Tue, 2009-08-04 22:26.
Holy Crap Ishcon! 2002! The best year! Hey, I live in STL, now, BTW (I love three letter acronyms).
Okay, I'll come back soon with more, and maybe give the 48 hours a try!
Check out more about brain waves until then I think you'll get a lot out of some of the most basic research (meaning, you don't have to get too obscure to see why the delta wave thing clicked for me).
Delta waves!
Submitted by andrewed on Tue, 2009-08-11 20:01.
Hi, Tony,
I started reading about delta brain waves. That's exciting that an EEG machine will record delta waves during deep, non-rem sleep, when the healing quality of sleep is most active. Modern life systematically prevents this kind of sleep through ambient urban light, light leakage around doors, LED indicators on machines and LCD alarm clocks, and night lights. The reason we are metaphorically asleep as people and as a culture is that we are literally sleep-deprived. We are especially deprived of deep sleep characterized by the dominant presence of delta waves in the brain.
The sleep in darkness is so deep because light does not signal the pineal gland to lessen the secretion of melatonin. Thus awakening in darkness occurs, not merely because the environment has become light, but because one is rested. The difference can be shocking to anyone who is chronically underrested, which includes most of the people of this culture.
Having experienced repeated periods of deep sleep in darkness, I can report that sleep in darkness is unlike anything I have ever experienced, including 23 days of fasting (drinking only water) in a desert in Southern California. Sleep in total darkness is far more profound, far deeper than that was. After only 48 hrs, I felt like I had caught up on all the sleep I had ever lost.
Anyone can do this by totally darkening her bedroom for ordinary, nightly sleep. Or stay in for a whole weekend to begin getting high-melatonin states of awareness, which I describe on my site in the article "four darkness experiences". Your past life can suddenly appear to you as a vague dream.
Would it be unreasonable to
Submitted by Sceptic on Tue, 2009-08-04 07:30.
Would it be unreasonable to think that people suffer from feelings of meaninglessness, confusion, self hatered and a lot of other things simply because they have not yet accepted the salvation offered by Jesus Christ?
Think about it. How many religions offer salvation from the turmoil and despair of this life? How many religions and philosophies has not failed in trying to have the wisdom of men as their guide?
Life in the suburbs is not that different from living in the forest, the only thing that can give life meaning is something beyond the routine. Even if you have a very successful routine, everything eventually will turn into something ordinary and feel trivial and meaningless. Action+action =/= meaning. Only action + meaning = meaningful action.
And where does meaning come from? Ofcource there is one form of meaning found in seeing to it that this planet isnt spoiled and destroyed. And there is a form of meaning found in having a job or occupation that gives you pleasure. But in the end, we have to ackgnowledge that we are mortal, and as mortal beings we simply cant help but to ask of the greater purpose of life. Its simply not possible to deny the validity of this question. But many try. And I think that is one reason people dont see any meaning, because they dont allow it by never asking this question.
Living life entirely occupied with your daily tasks and entertainments simply doesnt cut it. And the older you get the more you will understand this. That its time to confront the real questions, even tho almost all of society protests and point fingers and laughs. They are wrong and they have no reason to laugh. Ask them why they laugh and they cant provide any reason for it that is sound and makes sense.
The darkness people feel is the darkness caused by a culture that has turned its back on the real questions and the real seriousness of being alive. Life is more than just work or family life or paying cheques or going to the mall. If you compare religious people with those who have chosen atheism, there is great difference in feelings of joy, health, vitality and meaning. Why make it so hard on yourself? Best wishes and blessings.
oh, brother
Submitted by andrewed on Mon, 2009-09-14 07:45.
Is there even one right way to respond to this kind of comment?
cool
Submitted by Wheres Raven on Tue, 2009-08-04 08:34.
Maybe this is a reason why people slept in 'coffins'?
And why jails use solitary confinement?
I'm going to try it....
dark
Submitted by andrewed on Tue, 2009-08-04 14:49.
Hi, Wheres Raven,
Yes, coffins and solitary may well be unconscious expressions of yearning for the healing that darkness affords.
I'm glad you'd like to try it. Make sure whatever space you use is absolutely dark: not a pinpoint, haze, or glimmer of light. Go at least 48 hrs. Please let us know it goes, here or on the contact/comment page of my site!
The Darkness
So, you are basically saying, spending time in the dark heals the over-stimulation ofconsciousness, which is basically in shock from not paying attention to the moon and shit?
I totally get this, but I'm not sure jsut darkness will heal. Rest may heal, but are you also saying it innoculates? I think knowing the best time to go fishing instead of who said what about Obama or Sarah Palin today is innoculous, what do you think?
I've spent a lot of time in a artificial womb (sweatlodges, showering with the lights of, so on), and would love to open up a conversation on this technique. By the way, I'm enjoying reading your blog...