Skeptisch,

I was there as a fan of the topic.

Hameroff hosts the event, along with David Chalmers. Most of the names you mention weren't there. Rupert Sheldrake was. Most of the names are not well known, aside from maybe Stanley Krippner, Stephen LeBerge, Marilyn Schlitz, Jenny Wade, Phil Zelazo, and a few others.

The material isn't as hard as this makes it sound if one has any grounding in psychology and brain physiology.

Peace,
Bill

Hi Carter,
I think you pointed out very well the diversity of views of today's consciousness researchers. I also contributed a scientific and technical presentation to the conference and I agree that a technical paper does not convey anything to those whose expertise is outside the particular field of the paper. It is interesting that you mention that some think that the mystery would never be solved and some others are hopeful that all mysteries of consciousness will be solved one day.
In a way, both views are justified according to Indian Philosophy where consciousness is already fully explained long time ago. One only needs an open mind to read and understand what it says. To summarize very briefly, what we categorically call consciousness or mind has primarily two components. One component consists of thought, memory, desires, emotions, .. and based on logic; let me call this mind. The other component is pure existence and pure awareness of existence and is beyond all logic and therefore not limited by space and time; let me call this consciousness. The second component is mysterious in the sense, one only knows that this consciousness is there but can never prove its existence by any physical scientific means because it is beyond logic. On the other hand, the first component, namely mind and its various processes can be explained by means of science because all these processes are logical. Mental or psychological processes can be explained by means of physics, chemistry, biology, etc. but it takes time to do so because there is simply so much to explore and it did take time for science to be where it is today.

Dear Carter,
I enjoyed reading your post. I did not find much "meat" in it, but love your writing style : )

I wish you could share more about what your personal take is on the questions: What is consciousness? Why are we conscious? What does it really mean to be conscious? Why do we have subjective experience at all? For that matter, do we even have subjective experience? Or is that just a trick of the brain?

Dear Carter,

I read your article with Tolle and I would like to clarify a few things if you don’t mind.

When a Realized person says they have to find a balance in their life to reclaim the stillness out of worry that they might loose it, is a red flag. loose what? The Soul? How do you do that especially after enlightenment. Its there all the time no matter where you are or what your doing and conditions matter not. It is in-between the words and everywhere whether you are with a lot of people or not. There is no need to work at it anymore in a people less atmosphere after realization, to practice at finding a balance in order to bring the stillness back means you were never firmly realized.

Staying in the “now” is in essence practicing a meditation technique, which is used to reestablish your pure witnessing state. It is one of many techniques that are helpful in cultivating the thoughtless state of pure witnessing. The power, as such is only to help you at meditating, because the now is still part of the illusion, and attachment to the “Now” will not deliver liberation, for the “Now” is part of the problem. The present moment (the now) has to be transcended for realization, and staying with this meditation is what the “Now” method is, is one step towards the “Samadhi state. The art of meditating on the Soul (Samadhi) without witnessing the “Now”, is the ultimate power that can take you beyond the “Now”. The “Now” in reality can’t go beyond itself, because it’s the very foundation for existing in the world, and the experiencer of the “Now” remains intact and undisturbed. We have to work at disassembling the person who is attached to the now, the past, and the future, which is the part and parcel of ones personal identity. And, this is what the Samadhi state is used for, to help one in surrendering the whole package, which is what the experiencer is so acquainted with, and refuses to give up. Being happy with just observing the “Now” is not enough to transcend it, and leads to the delusion of complacence from being stuck. The “Power of the Now” really has little power to Realize yourself, but it is an important starting technique on the right path. It must be incorporated with sincere determination for enlightenment, and through a relentless disassociation with the world as in Samadhi meditation. Like everything else in the world earnestness at practicing is a must for success, because until it becomes second nature striving and desire is the inspiration the drives one. Once striving becomes a normal and natural way of living then it happens without having to work at it or for it (realization) anymore. Then there is no more I am (the mind and the body) working hard for liberation when it is your normal way of functioning in the world. By disowning all that comes with manifestation continually is what the earnest seeker does, and he won’t give in to the world or the mind, because they are the attention takers, and attention needs to be fixated on the Soul or God.

Bipolar meltdowns or breakdowns through extensive suffering or suicidal tendencies is a dangerous road to take and should not be endorsed. This rarely works as past history shows and leads to more problems, it is more conducive to a partial surrendering, but not total surrendering, which is needed. Enlightenment is to see the Almighty or the Great Void, by being one with the Almighty in the realm of Eternity your fulfilled, and then you come back to the world. All else are considered as near misses. ~Kurt~

Hey there, Kurt!

How are you? Your post begs a question.

Whose attention (do you think) needs to be fixated on the Soul or God?

I imagine you mean our ego's attention. But, if the ego is an illusion, so is it's attention. Right?

.

What about what the Bible quotes God as having said?

"I am that I am, and beside me there is no other."

The Other, I assume, refers to who we think we are generally.

Syamala, in post #2, calls this part: mind.

But, according to the Bible there is only God's mind.

So, Me2 is me and God or--Me2 is God...right? And you are 2! Perchance?

.

If my transcendent self doesn't have thoughts,

then it doesn't think it needs to meditate, either.

Although, it does have to listen to my ego's prayers every morning.

.

Believe Me2...The Highest part of myself gladly suffers this damn fool!

How 'bout choo? How many near misses have you experienced?

Dare to share, I always say.

Peace and Love, Mmmwaaaa

Hey Keith,

I’m doing fine and that is a good question.

“Whose attention (do you think) needs to be fixated on the Soul or God?
I imagine you mean our ego's attention. But, if the ego is an illusion, so is it's attention. Right?”

The soul’s point of perception is the pure witness and when the witness starts doing or working as an individual person, then the point is focused in the mind activating thoughts. To withdraw your attention from the mind and witness the moment is meditating. To withdraw your attention away from witnessing and stabilizing in Awareness, is uniting the witness, the doer, and Awareness in the Samadhi state. In this state of pure being you loose the ability to witness anything external or internal, then you become one with being. This is the closes you can get to enlightenment while remaining in the body. Like you said the ego, the mind, the doer, the witness, consciousness, and attention are all part of the illusion, but they are there nonetheless and need to be liquidated. The attention is the Soul’s focal point in energy and to see what’s beyond energy the focal point in energy has to be ignored (withdrawn) until your self-realization. The Soul then has its focal point returned back to Eternity to see the perfection and purity of Absolute Space, which is your Home and Eternal resting place. I hope I didn’t confuse you and if I did please put forth another question so I can clear it up in some way.

“What about what the Bible quotes God as having said?
"I am that I am, and beside me there is no other."
The Other, I assume, refers to who we think we are generally.
Syamala, in post #2, calls this part: mind.”

That is correct.

“But, according to the Bible there is only God's mind.”

God is Eternal Awareness without the mind or you can say the mind is a temporary expression of God.

“So, Me2 is me and God or--Me2 is God...right? And you are 2! Perchance?”

You are right again, there is only God, nothing else and no other, just God which you are, just caught up in a tantalizing expression.

“How many near misses have you experienced?
Dare to share.”

I had two monumental near misses (similar to Tolle’s) before I realized myself, and one at-one-ment which is a bit further off than the near misses. Hope all is well with you ~Kurt~

Keith,
I had to make a distinction between two categories related to what we call consciousness or mind or whatever, so I called one mind and the other consciousness. We use these words freely; some use them as synonyms, and others with different meanings, but do not know what they really mean (that is what all the research refered to in the above post is about). Yes, the second component in my post is God. In the Bible God says "I am that I am, and beside me there is no other" that is exactly what Indian Philosophy says also. Yes, the transcendent self doesn't have thoughts and it doesn't need to meditate but it does listen to the ego's prayers every morning because nothing escapes its notice! God does not need thoughts to listen or understand! Well, that is what the enlightened say though we may not understand it (how on earth are we going to prove it scientifically).

The word refrain has two meanings. God refrains. We refrain.
A refrain has been called a burden. (Chamber's Dictionary) "My burden is light, my refrain is easy."

Keep smiling at the end of each stanza, or cry if you want to. It's your party.

I Love you......

Congratulations to the one and only, Kurt!

.

I find...the more time that daily passes by--

Well...a lot of water has gone running under the bridge

since last I was hit, or passed through, or whatever--

As far as I know, it was a completely different lifetime.

Doubt is a bitch, if that's possible. Is it The Sin?

Thanks for your response, KAN.

.

Good to see you again, Syamala!

We both know the difference between an intellectual understanding

and the Other kind of knowing.

Thing is...we probably shouldn't be greedy and pray for such events.

It's a grace, and undeserved for my part.

Take care, and come back real soon, now. Ya hear?

See Keith dance the Can Kan..... Yay, Keith, why pray (sp) and then not not-ice it?

Mr Harryman, thanks for your kindness and courtesy of telling us who was at this gathering. Maybe the IB contributors could do more of the same. The IB reader could then google these experts and find out about them.

Peace to you too,
Walter

When using a mantra (AUM) during meditation the
primordial vibration (resonates) with the vibrations or particles at the source of all things subtle or gross. The recitation of the
primordial vibration connects or resonates with
the universe. Surface level thoughts cycle through awareness but they also have these primordial particles (vibrations) at their source.
This is how non-locality/synchronicity manifests at conscious levels of awareness.
This principle of resonance with the underlying
nature of the universe is the path to enlightenment.
During this meditation phenomenon cosmic particles
(vibrations) coalesce in a fusion reaction similar
to a star's fusion reaction that releases cosmic energy (light). Hence the many reported cases of advanced yogi's transfiguring their bodies into light. The cosmic energy released has the infinite reorganizing power of the universe.
This accounts for the many accounts of healing as well. With these reactions a unified consciousness resurfaces.
Some experience a resurfacing of karmic events when starting with mantra meditation. This phenomena is the release of these pent-up condensed energy (consciousness) fields.
Just like the star the outer layers of mass are ejected until only the field itself exists.
Todd

Consciousness, Free Will and Other Mysteries of the Human Mind:

Todd, your comments are very interesting regarding the title of this thread.

I have been introduced to a form of meditation in 2003 that has given me a few profound experiences regarding walking meditations with and without Mantra's.

The labyrinth is such a Universal symbol of the principle of resonance you describe. I truly experienced it as a path of enlightenment. It has given me one blissful experience after the other for already 5 years now.

You and everyone who is interested can read all about this on my labyrinth blog:

http://mieke-heartphone.blogspot.com

Love, from the heartphone,

Mieke

Hi Keith,
You put it so well - "intelectual understanding is different from the Other kind of knowing" and that enlightenment happens only by Grace. However, I do not agree that you are undeserved because we are told by the enlightened that everybody deserves Grace. One of the Hindu prayers says that Lalita (God addressed as mother) is willing to make Herself known to everybody, even to a child or an illiterate person, without descrimination.

Hi Todd,
Yes, identification (you call it resonance) with the underlying nature of the universe is enlightenment. You say "this is how non-locality/synchronicity manifests at conscious levels of awareness". I agree with you in that the enlightened are able to see things nonlocally and into past, present and future because they identify themselves not with their bodies that others see but with the underlying source of the universe although they usually do not make an exhibition of their powers. Their ability to see is not limited by space and time. Shirdi Saibaba's biagraphy is full of supernatural events such as rescuing a child from slipping into fire from the mother's lap when in fact, the mother and child were nowhere near Saibaba. However, the enlightened describe their experience in various ways, not all use the terms vibration and resonance.

Consciousness brings every thing to Life.

Who deserves one thing
One grace alone worth the while
Good credit doubled