Transformations of consciousness. A cartography, II. The perception-meditation continuum

Abstract

The Japanese Zen and Indian Yoga meditation techniques of zazen, dhārnā, dhyān, savichār- and nirvichār-samādhi are cartographed on a perception-meditation continuum of increasing trophotropic arousal. Certain psychophysiological characteristics and experiential dimensions of these hypometabolic states are discussed and it is proposed that observer-observed interactions or trans-substantiation (commonly termed 'reality') may not be subject to Goedelian restrictions if they proceed in hyper- and hypoaroused states. The meaning of aroused, non-verbal and logically non-Aristotelean states cannot be conveyed to individuals in a non-aroused state. The converse is also true when the relationship of arousal levels is reversed.