What is THIS, you ask.
Thought.
Thought emerging from mystery. Uncontrolled. At least uncontrolled consciously.
This is easily tested.
If you think that you can control thoughts, then stop the ones that cause suffering or the ones that you don't want, or the stupid, rubbish ones. If you think that you can do this, then go back to your reality tv. This blog is not for you.
So, what are thoughts ?
A story here is that they are the description/expression of perception. (more on this in a moment)
Thoughts might also be more than this. They might be, hmm, let's think about this... they might be..
Hmm, i'll get back to this, as i can't think of any exceptions at the moment.
Can perception happen without thoughts ?
What is perception ?
Ha, it's one of those nouns that's not a thing. There is only perceiving. It can only exist as a verb.
OK, so what is perceiving ?
If i break the word down using common sense before going to the dictionary, i would say it consists of 'per' and 'ceiving'. 'ceiving' as in re-ceiving or taking in, obtaining. 'Per' as in 'by' or context. OK, let's go to the dictionary..
Wiki says;
Perception (from the Latin perceptio, percipio) is the organization, identification, and interpretation of sensory information in order to represent and understand the environment.[1] All perception involves signals in the nervous system, which in turn result from physical stimulation of the sense organs.[2] For example, vision involves light striking the retinas of the eyes, smell is mediated by odor molecules and hearing involves pressure waves. Perception is not the passive receipt of these signals, but can be shaped by learning, memory, and expectation.[3][4] Perception involves these "top-down" effects as well as the "bottom-up" process of processing sensory input.[4] The "bottom-up" processing is basically low-level information that's used to build up higher-level information (e.g., shapes for object recognition). The "top-down" processing refers to a person's concept and expectations (knowledge) that influence perception. Perception depends on complex functions of the nervous system, but subjectively seems mostly effortless because this processing happens outside conscious awareness.[2]
Dictionary.com says;
per·cep·tion [per-sep-shuhn]
noun
1.
the act or faculty of perceiving, or apprehending by means of the senses or of the mind; cognition; understanding.
2.
immediate or intuitive recognition or appreciation, as of moral, psychological, or aesthetic qualities; insight; intuition; discernment: an artist of rare perception.
3.
the result or product of perceiving, as distinguished from the act of perceiving; percept.
4.
Psychology . a single unified awareness derived from sensory processes while a stimulus is present.
Origin:
1350–1400; Middle English percepcioun (< Old French percepcïon ) < Latin perceptiōn- (stem of perceptiō ) comprehension, literally, a taking in. See percept, -ion
1350–1400; Middle English percepcioun (< Old French percepcïon ) < Latin perceptiōn- (stem of perceptiō ) comprehension, literally, a taking in. See percept, -ion
There is a gross presumption here (in language and the definitions above) that what is being perceived is coming in, from outside.
Coming back to the beginning of this post, There is only THIS !, then of course there is no outside or inside separate, as everything that exists as Real, only exists as its' perceiving. (and perceiving can only exist as it's description/expression, thought.)
Does anything exist before perception ?
Not for this organism. No.
Oh, i can have a story about, let's say the Pacific ocean, but it can only exist as an idea until i am experiencing it.
Ha, that means that it is the story about it that exists, and i am perceiving the story, not the actual ocean.
Well, that brings us back to the beginning. There is only THIS ! (thoughts about what i am currently perceiving)
