Navigating Non-Dual Experience: Is Our Perception Absolutely Unmediated by the Mind?

The latest theories in neuroscience, particularly the predictive coding model, challenge our understanding of how the human mind constructs reality. Predictive coding posits that our brain actively constructs reality based on prior knowledge and expectations rather than passively observing the world through the senses. This theory has significant implications for our perception of non-dual experience, where the line between self and the external world blurs.

Active Construction of Reality

According to predictive coding, our brain is more like a detective or a detective solving a puzzle, making inferences and guesses to construct a coherent model of the world. This process involves a complex interplay between sensory data and prior beliefs. The brain essentially creates a prediction of what the sensory data should reflect based on past experiences. When sensory data confirms the prediction, the brain generates an 'error signal', suggesting that the prediction is on track. Conversely, when the sensory data deviates from the prediction, it triggers an error signal indicating that the brain needs to update its model.

This process is crucial for survival and daily functioning. For example, if a person is standing up, the brain predicts the necessary physiological adjustments (such as increasing blood pressure) to maintain balance. Without such predictive capabilities, the individual might collapse when standing up. Similarly, to catch a moving ball, the brain must predict the ball's trajectory based on its current position and movement patterns. These predictions are essential for effective interaction with the environment.

The Nature of Perceived Reality

The implications of predictive coding extend to our perception of reality. Since the brain constructs reality based on predictions and previous experiences, the reality we perceive is inherently a blend of the actual sensory data and the brain's predictive model. This means that what we perceive is not necessarily a direct, unmediated experience of the external world but a constructed one. The world we perceive is often in the past because it is based on predictions and previous experiences, not real-time perception.

Implications for Non-Dual Experience

Non-dual experience, often discussed in philosophies like Buddhism, suggests the dissolution of the boundary between the self and the external world. In this framework, the self is not a distinct entity separate from the world but an integral part of it. This idea aligns with the notion that our perception is a continuous interaction between the self and the world, rather than a passive acceptance of external stimuli.

Predicative coding further supports this view by highlighting that our experience is a result of the brain's predictive models and sensory data. Any discrepancy between the prediction and actual sensory input creates an error signal, but interestingly, predictions often hold more weight in this system. This suggests that our perception of the world is heavily influenced by our past experiences and expectations, making the line between the self and the external world less clear in a non-dual sense.

The Role of Consciousness

Another aspect of predictive coding is the role of consciousness in filtering and focusing attention. In conscious moments, our brain prioritizes information that is most relevant to our current state or goals. For instance, when surveying a street, our brain might filter out irrelevant details and focus on what is most critical to our immediate needs. This selective attention further emphasizes the subjective and constructed nature of our experience.

Moreover, the process of waking up from sleep can be seen as another form of entering a dream-like state, where our brain actively reconstructs the environment based on our previous dreams and experiences. This continuous process of dreaming and conscious perception highlights the fluidity and construction of our reality.

Conclusion

In conclusion, predictive coding provides a compelling framework for understanding how our perception of reality is a result of the active construction by our brain, rather than a passive acceptance of external stimuli. This process is particularly relevant in the context of non-dual experience, where the line between the self and the external world is blurred. The theory suggests that our experience is a complex interplay of sensory data and predictive models, challenging our traditional notions of perception and reality.

By embracing this understanding, we can appreciate the intricate nature of our consciousness and the continuous reconstruction of reality. This approach not only deepens our philosophical understanding but also offers practical insights into the nature of human experience.