Neil, thanks for the recent, albeit rather barbaric study. I have been sharing this type of information all along. For those who missed my post with the link to the Santa Barbara Institute, take some time and read, watch, listen to as many of the internal links there as you can. The place is run by an old friend of mine, Alan Wallace. He taught me Tibetan in the mid 80s and I've done 7 day long intensive shamatha retreat with him. http://www.sbinstitute.com/
All the way back to William James the scientific study of mind/ consciousness has been addressed in western psych. Unfortunately, few in the west after James followed his recommendation to not only study behavior and the somatic body, but introspection...mind looking at mind itself. On Mar 18, 5:41 am, archytas <[email protected]> wrote: > Electrodes implanted in the brains of people with epilepsy might have > resolved an ancient question about consciousness. Signals from the > electrodes seem to show that consciousness arises from the coordinated > activity of the entire brain. The signals also take us closer to > finding an objective "consciousness signature" that could be used to > probe the process in animals and people with brain damage without > inserting electrodes. Previously it wasn't clear whether a dedicated > brain area, or "seat of consciousness", was responsible for guiding > our subjective view of the world, or whether consciousness was the > result of concerted activity across the whole brain (the pineal gland > was an old favourite). Probing the process has been a challenge, as > non-invasive techniques such as magnetic resonance imaging and EEG > give either spatial or temporal information but not both. The best way > to get both simultaneously is to implant electrodes deep inside the > skull, but it is difficult to justify this in healthy people for > ethical reasons (volunteers being those who fail to take two steps > backwards). > > Between the 10 volunteers, the researchers received information from a > total of 176 electrodes, which covered almost the whole brain. During > the first 300 milliseconds of the experiment, brain activity during > both the non-conscious and conscious tasks was very similar, > indicating that the process of consciousness had not kicked in. But > after that, there were several types of brain activity that only > occurred in the individuals who were aware of the words that were > specially delivered in the experiments. > > First, there was an increase in the voltage levels of the signals in > their brains. Second, the frequency and phase of neurons firing in > different parts of the brain seemed to synchronise. Then some of these > synchronised signals appeared to be triggering others. For example, > activity in the occipital lobe seemed to cause activity in the frontal > lobe. Because this activity only occurred in volunteers when they > were aware of the words, the research team argue that it constitutes a > consciousness signature. As much of this activity was spread across > the brain, they say that consciousness has no single "seat". > "Consciousness is more a question of dynamics, than of a local > activity," is the conclusion. > Journal reference: PLoS Biology, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.1000061 > > I suspect this may not tell us much more than something about the > speeds at which consciousness operates, but I do sense we are > approaching understanding at empirical levels that could inspire an > Einstein to come up with something we could manipulate conceptually in > terms of a theory in touch with empirical testing. I do wonder how > far we might be from being able to wire up distantly separated > Ornamental monks chanting for peace etc. Sadly the only experiments I > can afford to do have to be basic and cheap. Getting Molly and Gabby > to hold hands without destroying the universe might be financially > feasible, if impossible in reality and people seem to give a damn > whether the universe continues for them or not (surprising really as > we burn the planet etc. - though not if your basic view of humanity > involves the core metaphor 'selfish wankers'). There is a need to > remember that empiricism does not need to be left in the hands of cold > bullies, but also that it is not E = MC2 (the easy one that is merely > a conservation principle example) we do not understand, but how and > what to observe. We are always thicker than we think and at the same > time more capable, if only we can start the cycle of welcoming the > history of mistakes. > On 17 Mar, 21:53, gabbydott <[email protected]> wrote: > > > > > Wherever you are, Molly, you can say you to me. :-) > > > On 17 Mrz., 21:14, Molly Brogan <[email protected]> wrote: > > > > Not exclude, embrace - oh the lovely paradox! > > > > On Mar 17, 1:55 pm, gabbydott <[email protected]> wrote: > > > > > Hey Molly, these are the kind of scripts the soft porn industry is > > > > waiting for! Go for it! *laughing* > > > > > You say: “When we embrace all others as self, all other lives as > > > > perfect and complete, the soul has fully matured. In writing this, I > > > > can again experience the sensation.” In our minds eye context I’d have > > > > to protest, though. My life is neither perfect nor complete, therefore > > > > you exclude me from your present(ed) we-sensations. > > > > > On 17 Mrz., 15:32, Molly Brogan <[email protected]> wrote: > > > > > > Please forgive me for being so unclear as seeming to dismiss > > > > > rationality. Just as I think the ego is essential to character and > > > > > important because it allows us to react and in a split second and not > > > > > have to learn everything over and over again, I know that the rational > > > > > mind is essential to the development of logic and allows all kinds of > > > > > necessary organization for individuals and groups. But we don't end > > > > > there, there is much more. Our first inklings of soul may take us > > > > > into uncomfortable and unfamiliar territory - karma can be a bitch! > > > > > Many of us slip back into our rational comfort zones and try to forget > > > > > the calling of soul. But call it will, louder and louder, until a > > > > > dark night takes us into that place of nothingness where we are met > > > > > with our own humility and invited into the connection of gratitude. > > > > > For the brave, soul searching eventually gets much better than that. > > > > > By developing our intuition, meditation and contemplation of the > > > > > beautiful, we continue our soul searching in ways that are our own. > > > > > > For me, my exploration of karma and soul finally became joyful when I > > > > > was able to look at multiple past lives simultaneously and recognize > > > > > patterns of identity and value. At that point, what was good and evil > > > > > in those lives lost their charge because I could understand the > > > > > balance in the opposition (sorry for mixing threads here.) I think > > > > > this is the point where we can let go of our karma - and look at all > > > > > lives, feeling the inherent sacred nature. Karma and its cause and > > > > > effect are released and no longer in control. The soul searching > > > > > became much more joyful from here, and I think its because this > > > > > turning point allows us a direct line to spirit. When we embrace all > > > > > others as self, all other lives as perfect and complete, the soul has > > > > > fully matured. In writing this, I can again experience the sensation. > > > > > > Just as when the ego matures, it can step aside and allow our higher > > > > > nature to direct response, at the point mentioned above, the mature > > > > > soul steps aside to allow that direct experience of spirit. Yet both > > > > > aspects of self continue to support us, allow us to sense and > > > > > experience who we are. But here, as you say Slip, we can create our > > > > > own experience unencumbered by karma, riding the river of spirit as it > > > > > flows. > > > > > > I think that there are, and always have been, people that live their > > > > > lives as heaven on earth. There are, I think, myriad people in just > > > > > as many stages of development, all moving through experience in a way > > > > > that provides a congregate harmony. To know and truly feel the > > > > > perfection in this is heaven on earth. > > > > > > I won't pretend to be in tune with the infinite every moment. But I > > > > > have my moments. They can be as painful as saying goodbye to a loved > > > > > one for the last time, feeling that we are always together. They can > > > > > be as simple as smelling a rose in my garden on a warm spring day and > > > > > feeling the joy of that moment in everyone. Or they can be more > > > > > complex and much more globally triumphant. But that is not > > > > > necessary. Glamour and world recognition aren't necessary. > > > > > Integration and connection are. That is my experience so far, anyway. > > > > > > On Mar 16, 11:12 pm, Slip Disc <[email protected]> wrote: > > > > > > > Molly; > > > > > > It does not matter how late you arrive to the affair, as your > > > > > > presence > > > > > > is always of pertinence and your contributions appreciated, by, > > > > > > let's > > > > > > say, most. > > > > > > The responses to this thread are insightful and show the true depth > > > > > > of > > > > > > Minds Eye thinkers. As for as soul, we shredded the theory, concept > > > > > > and belief into finite fragmentation. Your take on soul does > > > > > > coincide > > > > > > with mine as being the eternal vessel that holds our identity from > > > > > > all > > > > > > lives. I believe the vessel is mostly empty upon initial birth and > > > > > > accumulation of knowledge occurs with each lifetime. However, this > > > > > > did not go over too well with the scientific community, so I decided > > > > > > to package and market souls, still waiting for the first buyer, > > > > > > seems > > > > > > no one is really interested in having one, I guess it's the > > > > > > maintenance aspect that is the deterrent. > > > > > > How the infinity thread transitioned to soul is beyond reach for me, > > > > > > but I just ride the river when it flows. One never knows when the > > > > > > amenities of life will cease to be, so eat when there is food and > > > > > > laugh in times of jest. I agree that the more we are in tune with > > > > > > our > > > > > > soul the more the Spirit of cosmic knowledge becomes our cornucopia > > > > > > of > > > > > > infinite experience. > > > > > > Perhaps we are escapees from an exploding Krypton that happened > > > > > > upon a > > > > > > sustainable planet or dumped here by beings from the other side of > > > > > > the > > > > > > black hole. For me none of that matters because I still relax in > > > > > > the > > > > > > Jacuzzi under the stars or in the midday, reflecting on my life in > > > > > > the > > > > > > past, the present or the future. > > > > > > I would not > > ... > > read more »- Hide quoted text - > > - Show quoted text - --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups ""Minds Eye"" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/Minds-Eye?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
