ExploringReality

What Is Context? ⚠️

320 posts in this topic

Posted (edited)

1 hour ago, ExploringReality said:

Okay now were talking. Good stuff, seems simple but approaching the overlooked obvious from an epistemic foundation of questioning and investigation reveals a huge gap in our awareness and understanding.

Now the question is, what is this background? Also the foreground cannot be without the background, and vice versa. Now we're talking non duality. The union of separation and unity. If Context metaphorically is the background that determines the foreground, then what can determine the background or context?

Changed "determines" for "shapes" above. 

Hmm, let me look into it a bit and then I'll give it a stab.

Edited by UnbornTao

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Posted (edited)

I complain, and yet I keep bringing language into the conversation, as a model for investigating context. 

For example: without language, internal dialogue (talking with yourself) and a big part of what we call thinking - maybe even the entirety of it - couldn't exist. Communication, relationships, culture, others, metaphor, influence - if some of these could exist without language, they'd be radically different from our view of them now. Consider how much of your experience is influenced by those things! 

I've been trying to look for a graspable "item" that is there, but there doesn't seem to be anything that is the substance of context. I'm facing a wall. Turns out context isn't an object or a thing per se. Space and possibility - perhaps condition and freedom - are some terms that come to mind. Haven't had a direct consciousness into what space is yet. Lots to question.

Edited by UnbornTao

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6 hours ago, UnbornTao said:

For example: without language, internal dialogue (talking with yourself) and a big part of what we call thinking - maybe even the entirety of it - couldn't exist. Communication, relationships, culture, others, metaphor, influence - if some of these could exist without language, they'd be radically different from our view of them now. Consider how much of your experience is influenced by those things! 

I understand this!!! 

I've been trying to come at the problem from the opposite side - how would the definition of context change if we were a telepathic species? 

I think you hit the nail on the head - language is probably the easiest example of context to work with here. And because we are a voiced species it has defined us - made us unique and special. Differentiated from other species. 

 


Deal with the issue now, on your terms, in your control. Or the issue will deal with you, in ways you won't appreciate, and cannot control.

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6 hours ago, UnbornTao said:

For example: without language, internal dialogue (talking with yourself) and a big part of what we call thinking - maybe even the entirety of it - couldn't exist. Communication, relationships, culture, others, metaphor, influence - if some of these could exist without language, they'd be radically different from our view of them now. Consider how much of your experience is influenced by those things! 

When the mind is utterly still, life begins to flow on its own, like a river finding the ocean without a map.

No effort, no controller, no integration is needed.

Yes, the mind still exists as a tool, but there is no “you” sitting at the center trying to weave it all together.

You are simply the moment itself, the song, the dance, the breeze, the heartbeat.

In that flow, there is only bliss and love without boundaries.


"It is impossible for a man to learn what he thinks he already knows."

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Perhaps the ego, the self, is context for communication. 

Until awakening 😈


Deal with the issue now, on your terms, in your control. Or the issue will deal with you, in ways you won't appreciate, and cannot control.

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8 minutes ago, Natasha Tori Maru said:

Perhaps the ego, the self, is context for communication. 

Until awakening 😈

the ego functions as a kind of practical reference point in the play of life, much like language itself.

It allows interaction and communication, but it is never the truth of what You are.

When awakening dawns, this “context” is seen as only a tool, not an identity, like a costume worn in a drama that falls away when the curtain closes.

What remains needs no context, no reference, and yet can still appear to speak and act.

Before enlightenment, the mind / ego / you runs the play. After enlightenment, the play is still there, but now You / Being are the director, not the puppet.


"It is impossible for a man to learn what he thinks he already knows."

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5 minutes ago, James123 said:

the ego functions as a kind of practical reference point in the play of life, much like language itself.

It allows interaction and communication, but it is never the truth of what You are.

When awakening dawns, this “context” is seen as only a tool, not an identity, like a costume worn in a drama that falls away when the curtain closes.

What remains needs no context, no reference, and yet can still appear to speak and act.

Before enlightenment, the mind / ego / you runs the play. After enlightenment, the play is still there, but now You / Being are the director, not the puppet.

Sorted 🙃


Deal with the issue now, on your terms, in your control. Or the issue will deal with you, in ways you won't appreciate, and cannot control.

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25 minutes ago, James123 said:

When the mind is utterly still, life begins to flow on its own, like a river finding the ocean without a map.

No effort, no controller, no integration is needed.

Yes, the mind still exists as a tool, but there is no “you” sitting at the center trying to weave it all together.

You are simply the moment itself, the song, the dance, the breeze, the heartbeat.

In that flow, there is only bliss and love without boundaries.

What does that have to do with context? 

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4 minutes ago, UnbornTao said:

What does that have to do with context? 

I answered above to @Natasha Tori Maru .


"It is impossible for a man to learn what he thinks he already knows."

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12 minutes ago, UnbornTao said:

What does that have to do with context? 

Maybe we could look at it as the James' context - ego - wanting to display it's knowledge 🙃


Deal with the issue now, on your terms, in your control. Or the issue will deal with you, in ways you won't appreciate, and cannot control.

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Posted (edited)

On 12.8.2025 at 4:19 AM, Natasha Tori Maru said:

Upon re-read this sounds like telepathy. 

I suppose the benefit to telepathic connection and communication would be context is transmitted along with the 'distinction'. Less misunderstanding.

Sort of like the entirely of what is 'Christmas' being sent - the tree, the ham, the turkey (fucken yum yum, its obviously lunchtime in Australia), the reason for celebration: birth of Christ (hearsay, goddamit) . As opposed to describing Christmas along with the historical context in a linear method using language. 

Anyway back to the topic - apologies. This one was with @Carl-Richard in mind :P 

I think this is exactly what telepathy is, but also empathy, or generally feeling, being the thing that is being communicated. When I feel what you're feeling, it's not a linguistic interpretation, it's a synchronization, a tapping into our shared being. And if you're sensitive, or your self is very expanded, you can't help but take it all in, because that is what is; it is your experience.

If I were to use some Sheldrakian terminology: when the field of your mind becomes more receptive or it stretches out far enough, more things become part of that field, not necessarily just thoughts, but often experiences, because all experiences fundamentally take place in the same field.

Edited by Carl-Richard

Intrinsic joy = being x meaning ²

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All James wants is attention and validation of it's ideas. Much like a child needing someone to see them perform something because the feeling of confirmation, validation and attention is a deficiency need coated in neo advaita.

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Posted (edited)

51 minutes ago, Carl-Richard said:

I think this is exactly what telepathy is, but also empathy, or generally feeling, being the thing that is being communicated. When I feel what you're feeling, it's not a linguistic interpretation, it's a synchronization, a tapping into our shared being. And if you're sensitive, or your self is very expanded, you can't help but take it all in, because that is what is; it is your experience.

If I were to use some Sheldrakian terminology: when the field of your mind becomes more receptive or it stretches out far enough, more things become part of that field, not just as a thought, but often as an experience, because all experience fundamentally take place in the same field.

The distinction between inside and outside dissolves and what remains is universal rather than personal. This ties into context, context not being one or the other but both simultaneously. You couldn't have a context without content.

It's like our whole language system relies on linguistics and communication that is limited to words, definition or concepts rather than visual which is less ambiguous and clear or some other rather direct conscious communication 

Edited by ExploringReality

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6 hours ago, Natasha Tori Maru said:

I understand this!!! 

I've been trying to come at the problem from the opposite side - how would the definition of context change if we were a telepathic species? 

I think you hit the nail on the head - language is probably the easiest example of context to work with here. And because we are a voiced species it has defined us - made us unique and special. Differentiated from other species. 

Glad to hear that - it's still a work in progress. Did you mean language or communication in your first paragraph? We often think of language as the symbols or concepts being presented. Otherwise, I'm not sure. I might give it some thought over the weekend.

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5 hours ago, Natasha Tori Maru said:

Maybe we could look at it as the James' context - ego - wanting to display it's knowledge 🙃

That'd be more like purpose. Funnily enough I once learned to create purpose and confused that with context too. 

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1 hour ago, UnbornTao said:

Glad to hear that - it's still a work in progress. Did you mean language or communication in your first paragraph? We often think of language as the symbols or concepts being presented. Otherwise, I'm not sure. I might give it some thought over the weekend.

Language - If I am understanding the paragraph you are referring to?

1 hour ago, UnbornTao said:

That'd be more like purpose. Funnily enough I once learned to create purpose and confused that with context too. 

I think so... But my evil intention there was to point out where James was operating from ego - injecting his need to teach where it may not have been needed, required - or relevant :P


Deal with the issue now, on your terms, in your control. Or the issue will deal with you, in ways you won't appreciate, and cannot control.

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10 minutes ago, Natasha Tori Maru said:

I think so... But my evil intention there was to point out where James was operating from ego - injecting his need to teach where it may not have been needed, required - or relevant :P

Read carefully, what is exactly "my" teaching there? Or there is no teaching there?


"It is impossible for a man to learn what he thinks he already knows."

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6 hours ago, ExploringReality said:

All James wants is attention and validation of it's ideas. Much like a child needing someone to see them perform something because the feeling of confirmation, validation and attention is a deficiency need coated in neo advaita.

First ask, who is James?

Second ask, who is the "I" that think about James?

Third ask, who is "I"?

Till "I" vanishes.


"It is impossible for a man to learn what he thinks he already knows."

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Posted (edited)

1 hour ago, James123 said:

Read carefully, what is exactly "my" teaching there? Or there is no teaching there?

There is a compulsion to reply - what is that?

There was no requirement for any of your (so to speak) teaching :)

Edited by Natasha Tori Maru

Deal with the issue now, on your terms, in your control. Or the issue will deal with you, in ways you won't appreciate, and cannot control.

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2 minutes ago, Natasha Tori Maru said:

There is a compulsion to reply - what is that?

There was no requirement for any of your (so to speak) teaching :)

I just love you guys.

That's all.


"It is impossible for a man to learn what he thinks he already knows."

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