Can we achieve a state of awareness without any choice?
In short: Most of us navigate life through a constant stream of preferences and decisions. But what if true clarity only arrives when the 'chooser' disappears? Explore the radical philosophy of choiceless awareness and how modern science is investigating mind-body training to protect our cognitive future.
Popularized in the mid-20th century by the Indian philosopher Jiddu Krishnamurti (1895–1986), 'choiceless awareness' describes a state of complete, unpremeditated presence. Unlike traditional meditation, which often relies on specific techniques, Krishnamurti argued that any method or effort to achieve this state actually creates conflict. He believed that true awareness occurs when the distinction between the observer and the observed dissolves, leaving only an unbiased perception of the present moment.
In this state, Krishnamurti posited that action would no longer be a product of biased decision-making, but a natural manifestation of pure awareness. He viewed the presence of choice as a sign of underlying confusion. To reach this, he suggested a process of inquiry based on total attentiveness, rather than following any doctrine, teacher, or even one's own psychological history.
While Krishnamurti’s approach was unique, contemporary science is beginning to bridge these philosophical insights with neuroscience. Researchers are exploring a spectrum of self-processing, ranging from ordinary self-referable processing to transformed non-self experiences. This aligns with studies into the default mode network and how contemplative practices might influence self-experience.
The stakes for such mental training are increasingly practical. As the prevalence of Alzheimer's disease in the United States is projected to double over the next 30 years, researchers are investigating whether internet-based, asynchronous mindfulness-based stress reduction programs can serve as preventative strategies. Such lifestyle-based interventions may potentially reduce dementia rates by up to 45% during the preclinical phase of cognitive decline.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Feasibility of Internet-Based Mind-Body Training for Adults With Subjective Cognitive Decline: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial.
- Also: Choiceless awareness
- Also: A spectrum of self-processing modes: Indian philosophical insights and contemporary science on wellbeing.
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