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| ~ ∞ ~ Outdated View of Life (Mechanistic Machine) 2/3 - Awaken the Living Awareness Within ~ ∞ ~ |
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When it comes to consciousness – our innate ability to experience or to feel – it remains a mystery to science, although many so-called “experts” have attempted to study, define and explain it. Considering how far we have come as a species, with all the discoveries in science, engineering and technology – including astronomy, biology, chemistry, medicine, psychology, sociology, and philosophy, among many other fields, it is simply astonishing how little we have discovered about consciousness.
In our attempt to understand consciousness, we have chosen a stance of denial: if we cannot locate, measure, or see consciousness; if we cannot quantify or break down consciousness – it must be impossible; or at the very least – it must reside in the brain.
It is, after all, our firm belief that the mind is in the brain – so therefore also consciousness must reside in the brain, as well. Yet, ironically enough, we cannot prove it to be so. We tend to think that what we see is all there is – that there is nothing we cannot see. Even though we know this is not true, we like to pretend otherwise.
This view is based on a set of assumptions that are grounded in the metaphysics of matter in blind motions, of reductionistic mechanism and materialism. Scientific materialism is a philosophical stance which posits a limited definition of consciousness.
In this view, consciousness is the working of the various physical subsystems of the brain, or more broadly, consciousness is quantified as the number of feedback systems within an organism. As a result, Western science views consciousness as being merely an epiphenomenon, an ineffective by-product of matter – evolved to the complexity of nervous systems and brains.
This predisposition sets the tone by defining our expectations, which in turn creates even more limitations to our already narrow way of thinking, giving less leeway to creative and innovative approaches that could lead to groundbreaking discoveries. In other words, instead of breaking out of the box that is limiting our thinking, with this predisposition we are creating evermore tighter box around us than we already are in.
There is an a priori presumption in the Western worldview that consciousness is the same as mind – something that is confined to the brain. This presumption that consciousness shares the limitations of the mind and the body is simply a belief to which the vast majority of humanity unknowingly subscribes. This happens in spite of the fact that there is no evidence to support such a belief.
No matter how advanced our level of science and technology is, no matter how sophisticated our equipment, or how complex our methods of analysis have become – we have failed to prove this presumption to be true. Not only that, but we have also failed to explain the experiential aspect or the subjective state of being oneself, otherwise known as the ‘I’ experience.
Because scientific materialism likens consciousness to mind, it accepts the existence of mind in a peculiar way: as a pointless, purposeless epiphenomenon of mindless, material atoms. Mind, in science, has no causal efficacy whatsoever. Therefore, is it any wonder that our collective actions as nations, as governments, as businesses, and even as individuals has turn out to be pathological in nature.
Our actions are, indeed, quite pathological – simply because they don’t take account of the profound interdependence of living systems, nor consciousness for that matter (pun intended). The underlying pathology of our collective thought is metaphysical. You see, as mentioned earlier, the birth of modern science was preceded and accompanied by the development of philosophical thought which led to an extreme formulation of the spirit-matter dualism.
As a result, the mind has been separated from the body and given the task of controlling it – causing an apparent conflict within human beings; this inner conflict manifests in various forms and occurs at different levels. In other words, this fundamental division between the two seemingly independent and separate realms – that of mind and matter, has divided us more than ever.
This fragmented view is further extended to society, which in turn is then split even more – into different nations, races, religious and political groups. The belief that all of these fragments are really separate can be seen as the essential reason for the social, cultural and ecological crises.
This fragmentation has not only alienated us from nature, but also from our fellow human beings – creating unnecessary conflicts between people; the consequence being a life which is mentally and physically unhealthy.
To realize how this fragmentation plays out requires only a brief look at a university catalog – there one will find that learning is divided into segments with separate departments, each taking a slice of what mankind has learned throughout human history: astronomy, biology, philosophy, history, mathematics, psychology, sociology, physics, chemistry, and so on.
Within each of these departments there are many subspecialties. The large number of departmentalization is not the worst aspect of the problem, neither is the fragmentation of knowledge, but rather the fact that the scholars of these numerous specialties often resent each other and find it impossible to speak to one another.
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~ ॐ ~ Sambodhi Padmasamadhi ~ ∞ ~
Get the Book: Awaken the Living Awareness Within – Discover the Keys to Happiness, Inner Peace & Harmony
~ ॐ ~ Sambodhi Padmasamadhi ~ ∞ ~
Get the Book: Awaken the Living Awareness Within – Discover the Keys to Happiness, Inner Peace & Harmony
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Extra Material: Video: You're It - Alan Watts. Video description: "An inspiring and profound speech from the late Alan Watts. Speech extract from 'Zen Bones and Tales' by Alan Watts"
