(This will be old hat to the veterans -- I'm talking here to people like me but maybe a month or year behind me in the process of figuring out what All This is about.)
The post's subject describes me. I am trained in science (doctoral level and beyond), and don't like touchy feely, new-age-ish fluff. So as I practice, I continue to read and study, sifting what I consider gems out of the large volumes of what I consider dross. In that quest for understanding, I recently came upon Shinzen Young (
hat tip to Mario for pointing me in that direction).
I've just watched this
Google Talk of Young's, and I found it quite simply jaw dropping. As far as is possible, he completely strips out everything that appears as fluff to the newcomer -- he talks about taking the "mist" out -- and produces a carefully constructed, lucid description of Buddhist meditation (although it's clear he believes the underlying "core" technology is more widespread than Buddhism) and what it's all about. He builds to a conclusion that is on the one hand, quietly articulate and stripped of emotion, but on the other hand ... well I don't think "thrilling" is too strong a word for it.
If you're curious about what All This is about, but find that a lot of what you read and hear leaves you bemused and asking
"WTF are you *talking* about!?", then watch this video. It's long, but I can't recommend it highly enough. The overall impact for me was as quickly as possible to get to my computer so I could write this recommendation so I could then get onto my ass and get to work with practice.
Run, don't walk, to listen to this guy. Me, I'm off to sit.