In a world obsessed with the latest tech, 4K and 5K TVs are transforming our entertainment experience. We marvel at the beads of sweat visible on an actor’s face, and the surround sound that immerses us in helicopter scenes. Yet, while we strive for higher definition in external things, we often overlook the most crucial tool for experiencing this realm – our brain and it’s perception!
When tech enthusiasts discuss HD, it sparks a fascinating thought. Now that humanity grasps this concept, it paves the way for a deeper understanding of our own minds, regardless of how scientific or materialistic we are. Imagine trying to explain the concept of HD to the masses 2500 years ago – there would be no reference point or framework in the collective consciousness to build from. Apparently certain doctrines such as “Abhidharma” were NOT shared broadly for this very reason; they were as obscure to the human mind at that point as “computer code” would have been.
Today, computers, science, and technology have given us experiential concepts that are incredibly useful in understanding ourselves. HD, or High Definition, is a term so pervasive that its meaning is firmly and accurately defined within our minds from personal experience. Most people may not understand what 4K means beyond “my movies look a lot better”. But that’s enough!
Upgrading Your Reality: The HD Experience
The crux of this post is that you can literally upgrade the apparatus that processes your very experience of reality. I’ve seen the results of this, as have many others. Some people like Daniel Ingram can do wild things with scientific evidence. And like with 4K, there are multiple dimensions in play, as to what aspects of the brain you can upgrade, and how far it can go!
💡 We’re way past simply grabbing a cup of coffee to increase your alertness!Let’s break down your experience of reality, like we would if we were analyzing the specs of a new computer.
- Size of the screen (how much stuff can you take in and fit on the screen)
- Bandwidth (like megabits per second) you have to accumulate information
- CPU frequency (mHz) necessary to process information coming in (creating a hologram on the screen)
- RAM (how much information can be stored and reflected upon at once, or how many objects can be on the screen)
- Programs (how many active thoughts we have at any given time)
- User (observation and reflection on the experience)
Each of these things metaphorically represents some aspect of your reality, that you can upgrade with specific practices.
Expanding Your Screen: The Neuroscience of Perception
A well-known fact in neuroscience is the spotlight effect. There’s a part of our brain, the reticular activating system (RAS), that filters out most of the information we take in even before we experience it. It’s like walking around a dark room with a spotlight, only able to see what is within the light.
By training this part of the brain, we can expand our awareness and take in more information, effectively increasing the “size of the screen”. We also become more aware of how big the screen itself is, and of the fact that there even IS a screen to begin with. This can be done through awareness meditation (like Zen) and other mindfulness practices.
Boosting Your Bandwidth: Sensory Stimulation and Information Processing
Your body is largely responsible for transporting sensory input from the outer limits (for example the skin) to the part of your brain responsible for translating that analog signal into something it can work with. The part of the brain that receives the raw sensory input is called the thalamus. By engaging in activities that stimulate our senses, such as trying new foods or engaging in outdoor activities, we can increase the amount of sensory information that is sent to the brain, effectively increasing our “bandwidth” and allowing us to experience more of the world around us.
Similarly, by practicing techniques such as speed reading and memory exercises, we can increase our “bandwidth” and process information more efficiently. All of this increases our ability to “Download” more information faster from our reality. It’s like getting a 10Gig fiber line to your house, where a 4K movie used to take over an hour to download, and now it only takes seconds.
Increasing Your CPU Frequency: Brain Power and Processing Speed
Our brain IS a neural network (not the same as an artificial neural network). Information storms move through it like waves of weather do the sky. It’s complex, and hard to predict how it will respond to any given stimulus. There are patterns, but we also have free will and can break the mould at any time. This is one of the most wonderful parts of being human (we get to choose).
Certain meditative techniques such as concentration meditation, or tantric visualizations greatly increase this capacity over time. I’ve personally experienced a level where it was so fast that an entire ocean appeared to move in freeze-frame for a number of minutes. Other activities that stimulate our creative and problem-solving abilities, such as brain teasers and puzzles can also increase the “CPU frequency” of our brain and improve our ability to process and analyze information.
The “CPU frequency” of our brain can also be increased through practices such as physical exercise. Exercise has been shown to increase brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which promotes the growth and survival of neurons in the brain. In addition, getting enough sleep is crucial for allowing the brain to rest and recover, which can also improve cognitive function and increase the brain’s processing power.
Upgrading the “User”: Self-Reflection and Introspection
The user is the observer, who looks at the results of the reality you’ve constructed. All that information that your senses are taking in, transporting to the brain, processing, and displaying needs to be considered by something. There’s a part of you that takes all that in, and decides what to do about it. This is the ephemeral “I”, who represents the very core of who you think you are. And yes, that can be upgraded too.
By practicing self-reflection and introspection, we can upgrade our “user” and become more aware of our own thought patterns and biases, allowing us to have a clearer and more accurate perception of reality. We can build a new facility called Meta-Cognition, where we internally, automatically listen to, and curate our own thoughts, feelings, and emotions. Rather than blindly trusting the voice in your head (that was put there by, maybe your parents?), you begin to discern the value of certain thought patterns.
Really powerful tools here are insight meditation (vipassana) and “noting” practice, where you begin to look at all the constructions (the stuff your CPU is processing) and discern how it’s all made up. That itself, you can go really, really deep on. I’m not even aware of an end there, probably the bottom of the universe.
Upgrade Your Life: The Ultimate Reality Check
So, instead of focusing solely on external upgrades, consider upgrading the apparatus responsible for your experience of reality. Begin to experience YOUR reality in HD. Start with small practices and build from there. You might be surprised at what you’re capable of experiencing.
- Start practicing mindfulness meditation for at least 10 minutes every day to increase your awareness and expand your perception of reality.
- Engage in activities that stimulate your senses, such as trying new foods or spending time in nature, to increase your bandwidth and experience more of the world around you.
- Practice concentration meditation, brain teasers, and physical exercise to increase your brain’s processing power and improve your ability to analyze information.
- Reflect upon your internal experience, and begin to get familiar with your inner kingdom.
Remember, the most significant upgrade isn’t the one you can buy in a store. It’s the one you can make within yourself. So, why not start today? Upgrade your reality and experience life in HD.
