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Fake "logic": When B. Sujato, B. Analayo, and Vism. "Jhana" apologists try to explain why noble silence is second jhāna and not first jhāna

 1. False equivalence: An example of the type of deception they use

First, a simple and very clear example of fallacious reasoning of the same type of argument they use to explain why noble silence is second jhana instead of first. 

 (they're trying to unconvincingly explain how their erroneous redefinition of vitakka and vicara of "placing the mind and keeping it connected" is noble silence)


1. (true statement) That vehicle has four wheels.

 (true statement) A formula one race car has four wheels.

 (fallacious assertion) Therefore  that vehicle must be a formula one race car. 

Can you see the error? It's easy to see with many counter examples.

A truck also has 4 wheels, a shopping cart also has four wheels, a wagon has four wheels, a toy car has 4 wheels, even a toy car replica of a formula race car has four wheels. So having four wheels is not enough information to establish what kind of vehicle it is. 


2. The hypnotic bait and switch

This tactic is very effective, because it leverages truth. The way it works, and B. Analayo uses this technique on his defense of why vitakka and vicara of first jhana is "directed awareness and sustained contemplation", I'll illustrate with a hypothetical but realistic example of what Vism. apologists will try to use to justify how their vitakka and vicara satisfy second jhana's noble silence.


1. (true statement) Thought and evaluation are required to make vocalized speech.

2. (true statement)  vocalized speech between humans usually involves language.

3. (true statement)  since language is composed of the same words used in vocalized speech,

4. (true statement)  and since it requires initial application and sustained application of the mind  to form the words that make the thoughts that form the words,

5. (fallacious statement) Therefore ceasing initial application and sustained application of the mind is the condition for noble silence. 

You see how this works? The first 4 statements are true, and arranged in a cascading sequence of logical wording, so they lull you into trusting them because they sound credible, and then either at the end, or sandwiched between more true logical assertions, they throw in a lie and hope you swallow it along with the whole package. Hypnotic bait and switch. 



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