Neutral Monism

When I talk to someone I am functioning in the mode of “Mind.” When I read an article in Nature or Science I am functioning in the mode of “Matter.” They are like the duck/rabbit or vase/profile gestalts: you can’t see both at once. And yet Neutral Monism requires it, and I think it can be done if you don’t try too hard—as the Zen story says: “Master, how long will it take to reach Enlightenment?” “About ten years.” “But what if I try really hard?”  “About twenty.”