Consciousness and the Brain.
When your mind and heart are truly open abundance will flow to you effortlessly and easily.
Question:
I had recently read your new book, 'The Future of God'. I was thinking about consciousness the other night, and arrived upon a question – if we humans are the only creatures that have the capacity to be self-aware, would that not support the idea that consciousness stems from an advanced and evolved brain? Because our brains are so much more advanced than other creatures', it would make sense that the most advanced species is also the most self-aware.
Response:
It’s not clear whether we are the only species that can be self-aware, but even if we accept that premise, I don’t see how that implies consciousness is derived from and evolved brain. All animals have some form of consciousness, and many species have highly evolved brains even if they may not have what we call self-awareness.
But more generally, my position is that consciousness is the origin of the body and brain. Our mind uses our brain. This is the exact opposite of the physicalist position that says the mind is nothing but the brain. That point of view says we have no free will, no mind, no sense of identity, creativity, or love. That all our human experience is just the random firing of neurons and the physical property of chemicals. I believe, like all the ancient wisdom traditions of the world, that consciousness is primary and is the precondition for all physical experience.
Love,
Deepak
Consciousness and the Brain.
When your mind and heart are truly open abundance will flow to you effortlessly and easily.
Question:
Hi Deepak, I have a dilemma and would really like to hear your take on this if possible, as I can't seem to get a convincing answer from anyone. Since consciousness is an extension of the living physical brain, how can it survive physical death? Thanking you in anticipation.
Response:
I believe you have it backwards. We are spiritual beings having a physical experience, not the other way around. Consciousness isn’t an extension of the brain, the brain is an extension of consciousness. The brain and the body is simply the vehicle for consciousness to interface with the physical world. The brain is a tool of consciousness but is ultimately not dependent upon it. Consciousness survives death because is prior to physical embodiment and exists after physical embodiment.
Love,
Deepak
Its amazing to see different perspectives...they all seem right. Living on in our children and grandchildren ...as genes Living on as a spirit and getting reborn Getting back to the main question...I am wondering what makes animals have a 6th sense. I have heard animals being intuitive and evacuating the place before a natural disaster. Mind, brain or awareness ???
Me gustaria accede a esta informacion y twiter en español. Gracias
@David77111f // Agreed. Maslow has written quite a bit on `peak experiences.` We`ve all had them. As Eliot said- “Except for the point, the still point, There would be no dance, and there is only the dance” T.S. Eliot