Out of Sight, Into Mind: The History and Philosophy of Yogic Perception, by Jed Forman
Open accessAbstract
Out of Sight, Into Mind: The History and Philosophy of Yogic Perception, by Jed Forman. Columbia University Press, 2025. 296pp. Pb. £30, ISBN: 9780231215534; Hb. £117, ISBN: 9780231215527; eBook £30, ISBN: 9780231560801.
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Claims the paper makes
- Classified as probably not a substantial claim. 2
- May combine two claims. 1
Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable). May combine two claims.
InterpretationreasoningYogic perception carries psychological and existential significance, reflecting how people interpret their own awareness, intentionality, and spiritual insight.
“As such, yogic perception holds psychological and existential meanings, highlighting how humans make sense of their capacity for awareness, intentionality, and spiritual insight.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim- Rests on an assumption: Extramission is contradicted by the scientific theory of optics.
Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable).
InterpretationreasoningThe intuitive and symbolic appeal of extramission provides insight into how perception was experienced, revealing lived experiences that are not necessarily measurable by science.
“Despite contradicting the scientific theory of optics, intuitive and symbolic appeal offers insight into how perception was imagined experientially, exposing lived and felt experiences that are not necessarily scientifically measurable.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim- Rests on an assumption: Extramission is contradicted by the scientific theory of optics.
The paper relies on this without support.
Extramission is contradicted by the scientific theory of optics.
“Forman mentions that extramission involving rays shot from the eyes has been disproven by optical science but still holds a profoundly intuitive and symbolic appeal across various philosophical and religious traditions.”
Self-check
Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.
Each contradiction between two passages listed here was confirmed by an independent check.
Sakya position is labeled both non-representational and representational
MinorThe main text describes the Sakya position as non-representational, but the footnote calls it representational.
“Conversely, Sakya thinkers such as Sonam Tsemo (twelfth century) advocate for a non-representational view of yogic perception”
“the differences between Gelug's representationalism and Sakya's representationalism positions on Yogic perception”
Cites
The publisher hasn’t deposited this paper’s reference list.
Research works printed but not linked: 3
- Bryant, Edwin F. 2009. The Yoga Sūtras of Patañjali: A New Edition, Translation and Commentary. New York: North Point Press.
- Doniger, Wendy. 1981. The Rig Veda: An Anthology: One Hundred and Eight Hymns, Selected, Translated, and Annotated. Harmondsworth: Penguin Books. Penguin Classics.
- Katz, Steven, ed. 1972. Mysticism and Philosophical Analysis. New York: Oxford University Press.
- Authors
- Ifergan, G.
- Affiliations
- Monash University (AU)
- Corresponding author
- Ifergan, Gidi
- Venue
- Buddhist Studies Review
- Publisher
- Equinox Publishing
- Published
- 2025-11-18
- Volume
- 42
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 130-137
- ISSN
- 0265-2897 (ISSN-L)
- 1747-9681
- OpenAlex
- W4416408114
- Cited by
- 0
- References
- 0
- FWCI
- 0.00
- Type
- journal article
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- Buddhist Studies Review (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › History and Philosophy of Science › Diverse Historical and Scientific Studies
- Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › History and Philosophy of Science › History of Science and Medicine
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Embodied and Extended Cognition
- Keywords
- meditation, consciousness, history of yoga, philosophy of mind, Vedanta, Vedas
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Claims read by deepseek-v4.1-flash under definition version 3 (extract-v3) on 2026-10-04.
Classified by jev-1.13-20260917 (gold-guideline-v0.2) on 2026-10-04.
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