Apparent patterns of wisdom and peace and their relation to direct and progressive paths
Too Long, Didn't Read (TLDR) summary
This post introduces a model that conceptualizes the bodymind through two distinct but interconnected "circuits": the self-illusion circuit and the psychoemotional circuit. The self-illusion circuit comprises the structural elements of the illusory "I," and the psychoemotional circuit houses emotional, reactive patterns and trauma. Direct path approaches target the self-illusion circuit to reveal wisdom, while progressive path approaches target the psychoemotional circuit to reveal peace. Because these circuits reinforce each other, removing the illusory "owner" allows emotional patterns to lose their power and erode gradually. Conversely, a calmer emotional state makes it easier to deconstruct the illusory "I." When both circuits are cleared, there is profound insight and emotional imperturbability, that is, both wisdom and peace.
Request for feedback
The model is based on my limited knowledge and experience. Moreover, I'm unsure whether the model's potential benefits of the model outweigh the conceptual baggage it might generate for a seeker. Thus, I'd love your feedback on the model. Specific questions I have include:
- Do you know of evidence or data that confirms or refutes the model?
- What are the potential benefits and drawbacks of the model?
- How could the model be improved?
Thank you for the feedback you provide. 🙏
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A tale of two circuits: apparent patterns of wisdom and peace and their relation to direct and progressive paths
This post introduces a model that explains apparent patterns of wisdom and peace among practitioners and how these relate to the direct and progressive paths. Because it’s a model, it is not ultimately true: it’s just thoughts. Yet, as statistician George Box said, “All models are wrong, but some are useful.” So, in case the model is useful, I capture it here.
Apparent patterns of wisdom and peace
In reading different texts and interacting with others, I’ve noticed the following apparent patterns of wisdom and peace among practitioners. These are three basic characterizations, and in reality, there are infinite combinations of wisdom and peace.
- Some experience significant insight into no-self, but still experience substantial emotional reactivity. In this case, wisdom coexists with suffering.
- Some experience little emotional reactivity, but still experience an illusion of self. Here, peace coexists with delusion.
- Some experience both significant insight into no-self and little reactivity. In this instance, both delusion and suffering are, for all practical purposes, extinguished. This is wisdom and peace.
I was curious about these apparent patterns and how to explain them. Thus was born a “tale of two circuits.” It’s a model, so it is conceptual. Therefore, it’s not really real.
The two circuits
To account for these patterns, I propose that there are two apparent circuits in the bodymind. Each circuit is a distinct portion of the bodymind’s nervous and musculoskeletal systems.1 The two circuits are:
- Self-illusion circuit
- Psychoemotional circuit
The self-illusion circuit includes the facets of the illusion of self, namely, time, space, agency, and subject-object duality. This circuit represents the fundamental, deeply embodied belief that “I am here, in time, perceiving and acting on objects in an external world.” This circuit provides the “I” to which everything is referenced, and it is responsible for the sense that thoughts and sensations are “mine.” The self-illusion circuit is the domain of delusion, and clearing this circuit reveals wisdom.
The psychoemotional circuit consists of emotional, reactive patterns, which are also known as attachments. Attachments originate from evolutionary programming and societal conditioning.2 An attachment generally consists of an “I/me/my” thought imbued with an emotional charge, like fear, grief, or pride. The psychoemotional circuit also includes deeply entrenched trauma patterns that bypass the narrative mind. This circuit is the domain of suffering, and clearing this circuit reveals peace.
Since the two circuits are distinct, the apparent patterns noted above can arise. Yet, the circuits are also interconnected, and they reinforce each other. For example, the “I”-thought of the self-illusion circuit functions as the “owner” of emotional reactivity; without this illusory “owner,” the psychoemotional circuit is orphaned and cannot sustain itself. Conversely, intense psychoemotional activity reinforces the self-illusion circuit by creating a perceived need for a “manager” of experience.
Direct and progressive approaches for clearing the circuits
Generally speaking, there are two paths to liberation: the direct path and the progressive path. The direct path focuses on illuminating the illusion of self, while the progressive path focuses on reducing emotional reactivity. Therefore, each path tends to target a specific circuit: the direct path targets the self-illusion circuit, while the progressive path targets the psychoemotional circuit. Each path uses practices generally intended to clear the circuit it targets.
To clear the self-illusion circuit, the direct path employs approaches like self-inquiry, vipassana, and direct pointing. These approaches question and overturn fundamental assumptions about the nature of the self and the world. In doing so, the facets of the self-illusion are deconstructed, thereby working to clear the circuit. The self-illusion circuit has been significantly cleared when it is recognized beyond doubt that all there is is no-thing apparently happening.
To clear the psychoemotional circuit, the progressive path employs many techniques. Examples include samatha, Byron Katie’s the Work, psychotherapy, somatic techniques, and the Sedona Method. There are many, many more. These practices focus on releasing attachments, which helps to clear the psychoemotional circuit. The psychoemotional circuit has been significantly cleared when there is general imperturbability regardless of circumstances.
The distinction between direct and progressive practices is rough and for convenience only. Because the circuits are interconnected, most practices impact both circuits; however, each practice tends to impact one circuit more than the other.3 For example, I did much self-inquiry, which helped to clear the self-illusion circuit. It also removed some attachments. However, it did not address deep-seated trauma patterns, which are rooted in the psychoemotional circuit.
What happens after clearing a circuit
Since the two circuits are distinct, one circuit can be cleared, while the other circuit remains operative. This can occur if someone primarily uses approaches from one path. For example, I tended to use direct path approaches; so, the self-illusion circuit became significantly cleared, while the psychoemotional circuit still contained much material. Thus, there was wisdom, but limited peace.
Yet, because the circuits are interconnected, clearing one circuit greatly facilitates clearing the other circuit. In my experience, if the self-illusion circuit has been significantly cleared, there is no longer an embodied belief in an “I” that owns psychoemotional activity. Therefore, when an attachment arises, it is not interacted with, and so its energy naturally wanes. Each time it arises, it arises with less energy and persists for a shorter duration. Eventually, it no longer arises.4 So, when the self-illusion circuit no longer reinforces the psychoemotional circuit, attachments effortlessly erode over time, thereby increasing peace.
On the other hand, when the psychoemotional circuit is significantly cleared, there is much mental stillness and less drive to manipulate experience. This enables practitioners to more easily target and disassemble the facets of the self-illusion, thus increasing wisdom. It may be that after clearing the psychoemotional circuit, effort is needed to clear the self-illusion circuit. This is certainly not conclusive, however.
Clearing the psychoemotional circuit is effortless after wisdom emerges, and for the majority of practitioners, the apparent clearing process is probably relatively mild. However, if the circuit contains significant trauma, then the unwinding of attachments can be tumultuous and can, in severe cases, temporarily impair functioning. Now, a bystander witnessing a tumultuous clearing process might conclude that suffering has increased; however, for an apparent organism that no longer believes in a self, there is a deep trust in what’s apparently unfolding and far less concern about outcomes. So, suffering is more muted than what others might assume. Nonetheless, it can be useful to address trauma while the illusory self is still apparently functioning.
Finally, if both circuits are significantly cleared, perhaps through direct or progressive approaches, or a combination thereof, then both wisdom and peace are revealed. ⭕🙏
Footnotes
I do not personally experience significant energetic or parapsychological phenomena, so I do not include those in this model. This does not mean they are irrelevant.
Some people believe attachments are inherited from previous lives. I have not personally verified this, so I have not included it here.
I have difficulty placing some practices in either category, particularly because I have little experience with them. These include metta, devotional practices, and movement-based meditations like Sufi whirling.
The likely neural basis for this phenomenon is long-term synaptic depression followed by synaptic pruning.
