Experience and consciousness

[Mere Dreamer]

John, I can't explain to you how such different understandings fit together, because I don't know. I only know that we both exist and are able to communicate with each other about our perspectives. I think our personal experience only shows the differences in our ability to perceive.


It isn't so much about who is right or wrong.


We are communicating through a limited system of words (that have multiple uses) with minds that have entirely different experiences of life forming the filter of meaning. Of course it is difficult to explain our true perspective at times!


There are a lot of people who don't believe in a "pure identity and awareness" ... They aren't so much wrong as they are unaware because they haven't experienced the ability to step back and notice yet. For them, it might as well not exist.


To make this idea more tangible, we know why a blind man doesn't understand color. If we have the chance to give him functioning eyes ... then he will have the ability to notice color and he will figure it out for himself because he will finally have the awareness to process color. More likely than not, he will say, "It all makes sense why you say this apple is red, and the other green! I always wondered what the difference was."


I think there are additional senses that we are all learning to access, and sometimes one person will have more of a certain type of perception than another. If I "taste the apple" and you "see the apple" we are not wrong ... just different.

 

[John Tat]

Mere Dreamer


Thanks for the reply it was great. This was an original post by Deborah about consciousness and reality What I'm about to say embraces both


After reading hundreds of posts on this forum my reality is I'm on a different journey to the rest of you


Yes we have many common beliefs about reincarnation, but our basic beliefs are like chalk and cheese. To begin with I do not believe in god or the Akashic records. To be fair I have not given reasonable consideration to the Akashic records. On the surface they appear to me like a belief in god. They both require more faith than I have to give them.


I also have never had a previous life memory


My belief we are three separate identities in one Our souls, our pure identity and awareness (everything about us that is not physical) and our physical identity and awareness prevents us from being only of our souls We are far more than just our souls, that is opposite to what everyone else believes.


One of my most significant connections I have had with my soul was immediately after what Brair Rose calls Lucid dreams


Most of the connection was personal. One thing he did say was this is how it will always be you and me Never, never forget that. My soul was acknowledging to separate identities "You and Me" Him and my pure identity and awareness


I'm obviously on a different journey. It is emphasized to me over and over again that I must be pure and worthy. That can only mean my pure self, not my physical self. I must be pure and worthy for what I will become. Will that be a factory worker, doctor, politician? I have no idea


You all believe through your souls you are already pure and worthy. I know I'm not and may never be. My journey will not be through a god or the Akashic records. It is all about my three separate identities There is three of us all blending and working together that creates who we are

 

[BriarRose]

My dear John Tat, , none of us thinks we are "pure and worthy"- we just think that we "are". If a voice in my head told me he'd always be with me, I'd think it was the Divine, or God speaking through my higher self. I think a lot of this is just a matter of our differing choices of words. I think your quest is a good one, and I wish you well on your path. We all have our own "paths", but one is as valid as another, as long as the heart and intentions are good. Blessings, Briar

 

[Mere Dreamer]

After reading hundreds of posts on this forum my reality is I'm on a different journey to the rest of you
Yes we have many common beliefs about reincarnation, but our basic beliefs are like chalk and cheese.

We may not be quite as different as you may think, John. Whatever we may believe, we are all in search of reality.


One thing is certain. I do not know everything there is to know ... and I think you would say the same for yourself. As Briar said, we simply "are" ... and part of that is learning from life.


As I said before. I can only learn what I presently have space for in my identity and awareness. If an idea is too large for me, then it may develop over time as I become capable of seeing it. Future discoveries will certainly teach us more, and if new information doesn't seem to fit then it is up to us to study further and alter our assumptions if necessary.


As you continue asking questions, you will continue to have new experiences to add to what you already know, and so will I.


I've been enjoying our conversations.

 

[tanguerra]

...When I wake up I have either vivid memories of my past or incredible insight into why I believe what I do.
Because the vivid memories are exact, such as the backyard at my parents home when I was around four years old and I see everything as it was then , even the hole in the back fence I used to look through to look at the kids next door play, the scratch on the garage door, the items stacked up in the backyard shed all long forgotten memories and there they are as though I was four years old again, leads me to believe the insight this gives me on what I believe must be just as accurate.

Yes. As mere dreamer said so eloquently, this is how it is. Past life memories are often as bright and sharp as this too. Your body has changed its cells several times since you were four years old. Why are these memories still so sharp and precise?


The things we are taught about science and religion, 'human nature' and all sorts of other things are all very clever, but they are 'missing bits'. There is a lot we don't know for sure. There are many areas where we are really just guessing. 'Why' being the biggest one. All we can do for now is put the pieces that we do know together and see what we might come up with.


Imagine if the world was the reverse of now and 80% of people were colour blind and 20% could see colour. How would the 20% convince the 80% that colour vision was not only perfectly OK, natural and normal... nothing to do with magic or astrology, but just a simple fact? Unless the other 80% had the experience for themselves, they would struggle to understand it. Even though it had been written about in ancient texts and discussed for thousands of years by many, many people, it would still seem incomprehensible.


But, that doesn't mean there's no such thing as red or green. Actually, if you just 'squint your eyes' just so... you can see it. You are already maybe dreaming in 'colour'.... but you may not know that's what it is.


Metaphor is sometimes a good way to explain things. I hope this helps.

 

[BriarRose]

I really love your "color blind" metaphor, Tanguerra. That is the difference between people with PL memories, and those who don't have them, in a "nutshell".

 

[deborah]

Great older thread -

If every thought, feeling, color, sound, or sensation is a form that consciousness takes on, it appears that as far as the world is concerned, everything is structured in consciousness. Even time and space.

. Your thoughts?

John Tat -

"I'm Deborah and I'm having this dream while I'm asleep in my bed at home.. try doing that

I have - I was asleep in my bed - Out of body reading a book floating above my body and glanced at my body then went above my spirit form with the book into Golden light looking at the other two. There were 3 of me. Body in the physical form, spirit in the ethereal form, and then Golden light form.

 

[cloud potato]

that's beautiful!

"The Total Number of minds in the Universe is One. In Fact, Consciousness is a Singularity phasing within All Beings..." Erwin Schrödinger, Quantum Physicist.

 

[Oscar FRYE]

Hi Deborah,

What a wonderful question. You always have such profound thoughts. For me, as always, they resonate deeply.



I agree – the experience of consciousness is purely subjective. Rather than consciousness being the feeling of what happens, what happens and our experience -- is one of the facets of consciousness.

I believe consciousness is the manifestation of Pure Being. Consciousness creates the world in which we live. Just like a mirror, consciousness reflects things on its own surface.

Imo, consciousness must reflect back on itself -- to know itself and what appears within it. Internality is the state of oneness with True Self, while externality is the state of separation from it.

When we are focused on what is outside -- we are stuck in ego and separateness, limited to the slow moments of time, to the finite possibilities, to the emotions and actions of others. Since we "participate" in everything other people experience, we not only connect with them on a subtle or energetic level, but we are constantly being influenced by these energies.

When direct our focus inwards -- we are consciously experiencing our highest center of wisdom and knowledge, and we are open to all that we are. There is a movement away from ego, toward unity, toward greater possibilities and truths, to timelessness, and the movement of the past, present and future into the Now, all of which enables infinite possibilities, vast understanding and insight.




Our senses perceive duality -- but on the most profound level only unity exists.

Everything is alive -- this includes matter. Matter is also a life form, vivified by the omnipresent life energy. Matter has been created, it has structure, it has the ability to grow and it ages.

Consciousness brings you into contact with all matter -- with its forms, structures, molecules, and atoms; and with subatomic particles and quantum energies.

"Matter is derived from mind or consciousness, and not mind or consciousness from matter." - Tibetan Book of the Great Liberation



Based on my own experiences -- I would definitely agree.

The psychological definition of consciousness, in the most general of terms, is -- self-awareness; the state of being conscious. Consciousness is considered to exist – if there is awareness of one's self, environment, sensations, and thoughts. Therefore, consciousness is the experience of an inner and outer world.

Imo, because our spiritual Self, or essence, exists beyond linear time, we are experiencing everything in a 'now' time. Past life memories are not in the past - they are here, now. We carry the memories and the effects of those lives with us.

Quantum dynamics suggests that a person’s healing is found within. Many Tibetan and Ancient texts speak of an inner spiritual light, a state of consciousness that transcends time and space. All states of consciousness are ever-present potentials simply requiring a slight change in perception in order to experience.



I absolutely agree!

In our present lives -- we are a product of every experience from birth to the present time. I believe -- the same applies to past lives – and the soul’s journey. We are a product of all the energies of memory and experience that have gone before. If our experiences are created from consciousness -– then everything is within us -- it is not something separate.

"You realize beyond all trace of doubt that the world is in you, and not you in the world." Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj

Aili

Hi Aili,
Great answers you wrote here, very precise, reflecting much knowledge, very precious, thank you.

 

[Oscar FRYE]

Great older thread - . Your thoughts?

John Tat -

I have - I was asleep in my bed - Out of body reading a book floating above my body and glanced at my body then went above my spirit form with the book into Golden light looking at the other two. There were 3 of me. Body in the physical form, spirit in the ethereal form, and then Golden light form.

Hi Deborah, impressive experience you report here, must have been amazing.