do thoughts affect material objects?

Answer 1

The "thinker" of the thought is indeed a "material object", so even if (s)he is the only thing affected, the answer is yes.

The answer is yes because of the physical law that states for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.

The unknown here; the real question is "to what extent to thoughts affect material objects?"

Answer 2

Interesting question.

We now know that we are embedded in a field of reality in which everything is interconnected at the quantum level. Also, that the massive human brain has evolved to the point that higher/altered states of consciousness are possible but science is still not advanced enough to plumb the depths of the human interface with reality. Pearce's "The Biology of Transcendence" covers much of the research to date and is extremely insightful regarding the affect of 'unconflicted' states of mind - and the measurable EM field humans generate as a result of conditioned emotional (electrochemical) reactions - on reality.

But, simply thinking in terms of "mind affecting matter" is less interesting than considering other aspects of this interconnected field and the relationship between being/reality which is constrained by human perception (the conditioned ego identity). Every religious adept (mystic) in human history has intuited and experienced this causality and attempted to explain how to master reality, even to the point of materially demonstrating it. But the sciences (the 'physics' of biology and psychology specifically) have yet to catch up in explaining how this relationship operates.

The most interesting work to date may be in the field of holography and "holonomic brain theory, originated by psychologist Karl Pribram and initially developed in collaboration with physicist David Bohm ... a model for human cognition that is drastically different from conventionally accepted ideas. They posit a model of cognitive function as being guided by a matrix of neurological wave interference patterns situated temporally between holographic Gestalt perception and discrete, affective, quantum vectors derived from reward anticipation potentials." That's a mouthful! This of course is strikingly mirrored by Buddhism's focus on dismantling the brain's patterns of "fear and attachment."

Also, related to Pribram's theory of "Quantum Dynamics of Free Will" (here we again bump into the realm of theology), waveforms, within the matrix of a distributed system, allow fluctuations taking place to create new patterns, and the resulting dynamic potential can then organize new foci of activity oriented to the precipitation of strategic planning and exercise of free will.

Pribram states"(I)f you get into your potential mode, then new things can happen. But usually free will is conceived of in terms of how many constraints are operating, and we have in statistics a notion of degrees of freedom. I think our will essentially is constrained, more or less. We have so many degrees of freedom, and the more degrees of freedom we have, the more we feel free, and we have freedom of choice."

The limiting constraints he describes are very much aligned with the processes of psychological purification - related to eliminating conditioned "beliefs about self/reality" (that control perception/thought/emotions) - that adepts have offered ways to "transcend" in order to achieve a reality that is synchronized with or mirrors conscious choice. Religious types refer to this as achieving heaven/nirvana.

Rather than continuing with the additional topic of the "Holographic Principle" and how it relates to "mind over matter" - I'll add it to a 360 blog.

Answer 3

Only if acted upon...

Answer 4

I believe thoughts can only directly affect the person whose thoughts they are, and no other material objects..... when communicated, they can influence the ones communicated to, through raising their own thoughts in reaction to the thoughts so communicated.

Answer 5

You can positively or negatively charge an object with your thoughts . A material object after all is made of atoms with spaces in between the atoms vibrate and the vibration can change according to the thoughts.

Answer 6

Because of my beliefs and experiences with a material object I can look at it in a certain way, and that is real to me. Now my experiences change and I go back to look at the same material object and see it differently. Just because my thoughts changed.

Answer 7

not if you don't have a job.

Answer 8

Thoughts affect everything. Whatever is observed, changes in the observing, does not have to be touched.

Answer 9

Yes. You would do well to see " what the bleep do we know" it is on youtube.