Primacy of Consciousness

Originally the universe was seen as the product of the great mind of divinity. Then about 500 years the universe began to be seen as the great machine. Now we are beginning to look at the universe as consciousness itself. The fundamental nature of reality is actually consciousness. In our standard view of things, consciousness exists only in the brains of highly evolved organisms, and hence consciousness exists only in a tiny part of the universe and only in very recent history. According to panpsychism, in contrast, consciousness pervades the universe and is a fundamental feature of it. This doesn’t mean that literally everything is conscious. The basic commitment is that the fundamental constituents of reality—perhaps electrons and quarks—have incredibly simple forms of experience. And the very complex experience of the human or animal brain is somehow derived from the experience of the brain’s most basic parts.   "You are what you think you are."   -   The Finder A few minutes of online research on the topic of war casualties reveals that humans are our own worst enemy. Why have we  been so willing to kill hundreds of millions of our own species?  Tribal customs, habits, beliefs, mythologies and laws naturally evolved out of unique regional geographic characteristics. Desert people are naturally very concerned with water rights. Coastal villages want to protect access to good fishing. Agricultural communities compete for productive soils. People were routinely displaced when colonial property laws were established to lay claim to places that were often previously occupied by others. But even these so called indigenous people had sometimes driven out other more primitive dwellers in a more distant past. Each successive group lays claim to ownership for reasons they deem to be valid. Claims of ownership in the name of sovereignty amounts to a "might makes right" policy. And civil authority usually is subservient to moral authority, each religious group claiming "we are right, they are wrong," to justify the wholesale slaughter of innocents. But the implications of recent science implies a fundamental shift in the identity of the ultimate moral authority. Apparently there may well be 100 million earth-like planets in our galaxy. And there may well be at least 100 million galaxies in the universe. So creation itself is a much bigger arena than it appeared to be only a few decades ago. But the clincher is a recent scientific claim that consciousness must preceed physical reality. Albert Einstein, who won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1921, wrote, “A human being is part of a whole, called by us the ‘Universe’, a part limited in time and space. He experiences himself, his thoughts and feelings, as something separated from the rest - a kind of optical delusion of this consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest us. Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circles of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty.” Einstein also wrote that God is either nothing or everything. Apparently our understanding of what is has rounded the corner of awareness of infinity itself. Galileo and Copernicus removed the earth from the center of the universe, and recent physics has established that there is no center of the universe. But civil law always lags behind, and this lag just may tip the scales in the ultimate scenario of the human experience on this small planet. Unless we can somehow shift gears from exclusion to inclusion, we may do ourselves in. Too little, too late may be the cosmic verdict for humanity. Unless we replace fear with love, and soon, our prospects aren't looking so good. A contemporary take on moral and emotional intelligence, invites us to accept what is and to be willing to find a way to be OK with it. Clinging to the past just isn't working. We live in a time of profound global trends: climate destabilization, peak oil, water shortages, dying oceans, over-population, poverty, food shortages, soil depletion, pollution, weapons of mass destruction, and economic problems. These trends are interactive, and combined represent an unparalleled adversity trends amounting to systems crisis. Never have we faced global challenges such as are upon us. So far our response has been applying more science and engineering. Peter Russell and Duane Elgin speak about the world in transition and explore some of the bigger questions about what is happening and our role in it all. They acknowledge that we are simply overwhelmed to the extent of just avoiding the issues. These two men make intelligent inroads into the nature of both the problems and of our denial and discuss how individuals can begin to come to terms with the future. On their website Peter Russell and Duane Elgin emphasize that the real crisis is one of the human psyche. In one way or another human activity is at the root of this crisis, yet we stubbornly ignore the human part of the equation. The deeper part of the problem is within ourselves: greed, selfishness and apathy. And for that we need a spiritual and cultural transformation. If that is to happen, we might begin by learning more about the top Spiritual Leaders of our times, and making an effort to learn what they have to offer. 1. Eckhart Tolle's profound yet simple teachings have helped countless people throughout the world find inner peace and greater fulfillment in their lives. At the core of the teachings lies the transformation of consciousness, a spiritual awakening that he sees as the next step in human evolution. He does not advocate any particular religion deliberately avoided setting up an ashram or center as he cautions that "one needs to be careful that the organization doesn't become self-serving". 2. Dalai Lama  is a vocal activist for Tibetan independence and has made an incredible contribution to global spirituality. As the Dalai Lama observes in his book, The Universe in a Single Atom: The Convergence of Science and Spirituality, dialogue between scientists and those interested in spirituality is important because science is not neutral; it can be used for good or ill, and we must approach scientific inquiry with compassion and empathy. Similarly, a spirituality that ignores science can quickly become a rigid fundamentalism. 3. Wayne Dyer inspires readers to actualize their potential, "Change Your Thoughts Change Your Life". He is referred to as the "father of motivation." He has reviewed hundreds of translations of the Tao Te Ching and says it is the wisest, most influential book ever written.and offers ways to use this wisdom. 4. Thich Nhat Hanh is a Zen Master, teacher, author and peace and human rights activist is called "an apostle of peace and nonviolence." He reflects on the beauty of the present moment, being grateful for every breath, and the freedom and happiness to be found in a simplicity in his journal of the art of mindful living. 5. Deepak Chopra is author of more than sixty books translated into over thirty-five languages on Ayurveda, mind-body medicine and spirituality, he has had huge success with titles such as Ageless Body, Timeless Mind and The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success. Chopra combines ancient relaxation and meditation techniques with technology to bring focus, energy and balance to your life. 6. Louise Hay is a motivational author, and the founder of Hay House. Her best known work is You Can Heal Your Life; Hay House has published over 300 books, and has made an immense contribution to mind-body-spirit literature and the New Thought Movement. Thinking positively can definitely make a difference! 7. Paolo Coelho is a Brazilian author, but he writes novels that transcend nationality and represent emotions and struggles that all humans can understand and sympathize with. "Closing cycles. Not because of pride, incapacity or arrogance, but simply because that no longer fits your life. Shut the door, change the record, clean the house, shake off the dust. Stop being who you were, and change into who you are." The Alchemist is one of the top selling books in history—with over 65 million copies sold, and holds the Guinness world record for being translated in the most languages. 8. Oprah Winfrey is one of  the most influential people in the world. She has discovered and advocated for so many spiritually influential thinkers—from Obama to Eckhart Tolle. We ranked her at only 8th place, because her influence isn't focused on spirituality, but eighth place may act as a metaphor since 8 means infinity in numerous metaphysical paradigms. 9. Ken Wilber has advocated Integral Thought and influenced figures as varied as Bill Clinton, Deepak Chopra, and Billy Corgan. He founded the Integral Institute and has written about adult development, developmental psychology, philosophy, world centrism, ecology, and stages of faith. 10. Rhonda Byrne is well known for The Secret book and DVD. Byrne advocates the belief that we can all transcend our suffering by not falling prey to negative thoughts. She has been listed among Times Magazine's list of 100 people who shape the world, and has also produced television shows. Last year she published The Power as a sequel to The Secret. "You'll begin to understand the hidden, untapped power that's within you, and this revelation can bring joy to every aspect of your life." 11. Lynne McTaggart is a best-selling author, researcher and lecturer whose work has rightly been described as "a bridge between science and spirituality. For the past 20 years she has been researching medicine and its shortcomings, and quantum physics and what this means for you and the world we live in. The result has been best-selling books and a monthly journal described as the best health journal in the world. She has also been overseeing a range of intention experiments on the web - believed to be the largest mind-over-matter trials ever undertaken – as well as a peace intention project that harnessed the intentions of thousands of participants for the betterment of humanity. 12. Dr. Bruce Lipton is a renowned cell biologist, former University professor and researcher. He has turned his scientific exploration to the integration of mind, body and spirit, and teaches how our beliefs affect our health. His breakthrough studies on the cell membrane revealed its function as essentially an organic computer chip, the cell’s equivalent of a brain. His discoveries opened the door to a new and important field, the science of epigenetics that shows how genes  respond to the environment, and stress, diet, behavior, toxins and other factors activate chemical switches in stem cells. Primacy of Consciousness Physics and Consciousness Consciousness and the Mystery of Existence How Panpsychism Can Explain Conciousness  - Rupert Sheldrake  Donald Hoffman - What is Real