Scott Alexander explores meditative states as feedback loops, discussing jhanas from Buddhist practice and why most people don't experience runaway emotional feedback in everyday life. Longer summary

Scott Alexander discusses meditative states as feedback loops, referring to his previous post 'Going Loopy'. He explains that people don't usually enter runaway emotional feedback loops due to their inability to concentrate for long periods. The post then explores the concept of jhanas, advanced meditative states described in Leigh Brasington's book 'Right Concentration'. The first jhana is described as an intense state of pleasure achieved through concentration meditation. Brasington explains this state as a positive feedback loop of pleasure, similar to audio feedback but with pleasant sensations. Scott suggests that other jhanas might work similarly, with the fourth jhana being a state of ultimate calm achieved through a feedback loop of calmness. The post concludes by noting that non-meditators can't achieve these states because they lack the necessary concentration skills to maintain self-referentiality. Shorter summary

Scott Alexander reviews 'Mastering The Core Teachings Of The Buddha', a practical guide to Buddhist meditation that details the stages of insight and debunks common myths about enlightenment. Longer summary

Scott Alexander reviews 'Mastering The Core Teachings Of The Buddha' by Daniel Ingram, an emergency physician who claims to have achieved enlightenment. The book provides a practical, no-nonsense approach to Buddhist meditation, detailing the stages of insight and their effects. It breaks down Buddhism into three teachings: morality, concentration, and wisdom. The review explores the book's explanation of meditation techniques, the stages of insight (including the challenging 'Dark Night of the Soul'), and the nature of enlightenment. Scott also discusses the book's debunking of common myths about enlightenment and questions why one would pursue this path given its potential difficulties. The review concludes by drawing parallels between the book's descriptions of meditation experiences and concepts from cognitive science. Shorter summary