We all know the feeling. A sense of clarity characterized by creativty and openness. It's basically a good mood with depth. The train of thought is charging. It's the mood when television is a horrible idea. When most great ideas are midwifed. When bees are funny.
I'm willing to (basically) admit this state of mind is chemical, so the question is this: These chemicals, do they run out? If one were to find away to experience this heightened consciousness constantly, would they eventually suffer a depression (like manic depressive people) or able to sustain it (like possibly buddhist monks). Is it a muscle that can be exercised and strengthened, or is it a well that gets tapped?
It's too bad there isnt an expert on pleasureful brain chemicals on this blog or this question could possibly be answered. oh wait...
4 comments:
"All that we are is the result of what we have thought. If a man speaks or acts with an evil thought, pain follows him. If a man speaks or acts with a pure thought, happiness follows him, like a shadow that never leaves him."
-Siddhartha Gautama
I assume by "expert" you were referring to me and not Kyle. I like to think of the brain as a muscle, if one exercises it often it can be more adept at what its been exercised to do. If your goal is positive thought and healthy happiness then I believe these can be sustained. However, if you wish to train your brain into excess happiness (mania, elation) then I don't believe these are neutral states and cannot be sustained. I think the brain is capable of being exercised into almost any state whether "normal" or not. A lot of amazing things can happen when your brain is considered manic, however. In fact I would like to venture an (educated) guess that an enormous amount of creative genius that has lead to leaps in our understanding of art, science, philosophy, are in part due to maniacal brains. I've heard versions of this theory many times in books, radio, television (a.k.a: the ultimate truth), and others. The "normal" brain is maybe less capable of making the abstract connections that a hypersensitive brain can make. I just recently attended a meeting of neuroscientists and one definitely noted that most of his light-bulb moments took place in the transient space between sleep and consciousness. Though very different from mania, this state of consciousness is similar in that it allows the junction of bizarre and new thoughts. I think that it is safe to every once in a while travel to the aforementioned transient states. One must remember, however, the path to return to normalcy may be cluttered with obstacles. I for one get the most creative thinking while drinking excessive amounts of coffee and going for a country drive. This seems to be relatively productive and coming down is not unbearable.
Good stuff jake. Yes I was speaking of you as the expert. Who is this 'kyle' person you mentioned? I was thinking about referring to this state of mind as being 'awake' but I didn't because of what you mentioned, how it frequently comes on the brink of sleep. For me a frequent path is being high, outside, and alone (although the alone requirement is only because I am lacking people out here who lead to this state of mind). I'm also planning on getting another prescription to adderall, which is a cheap and limited shortcut but an effective one.
if you were always up, you'd never appreciate it.
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