Higher Consciousness

[Sriram]

Hi everyone,

Here is a nice video about higher consciousness. Its short and simple...and nothing religious or spiritual.

http://timewheel.net/Video-Check-Out-This-Brilliant-Animation-On-Higher-Consciousness

When I say that spirituality is about Self Development...this is what I mean. 

Cheers.

Sriram

[SusanDoris]

Well, I'm not going to watch the video. I've quite often heard people talk about 'higher consciousness'. When questioned, people who bandy this phrase about can never explain what it means.  Mostly, it sounds as if they want others to consider that they, those who advocate 'higher consciousness' , have some special, sort of 'spiritual' quality that we, the atheists, the sceptics, etc, do not have.    They imagine they can 'reach' some insight unavailable to those who prefer to say 'I don't know', and who much prefer objective truth and reality and who know the difference between reality and imagination - the wonderful, amazing ... and REAL ... ability of the human mind. 

[Nearly Sane]

Susan, the end of your post seems to do exactly the same for religious people as regards 'objective' truth as higher consciousness might do for non believers.

[Rhiannon]

Doesn't consciousness reside in the mind? All 'higher consciousness' aims to do in my understanding - I haven't watched the video - is access the 'superior' level that is usually masked by our day- to-day thinking.

[Sriram]

The video is an animation and explains in simple terms how we have evolved higher brain functions and that we need to move beyond the basic reptilian brain.   

[Udayana]

Quite a good, short, video. Self-reflection is a property of the mind, no harm in exercising  it from time to time.

[ekim]

I think it's a pity that the word 'higher' is used as it can imply superiority which invites the comments which Susan has quite logically made.  Words like 'higher' and 'superior' can attract the attention of the self centred or egocentric to imagine that it is a way of enhancing their egos and portraying themselves as being on a higher level than other mere mortals.

[Sriram]

I think it's a pity that the word 'higher' is used as it can imply superiority which invites the comments which Susan has quite logically made.  Words like 'higher' and 'superior' can attract the attention of the self centred or egocentric to imagine that it is a way of enhancing their egos and portraying themselves as being on a higher level than other mere mortals.

I know atheists like to think we are all the same.... just 'different'. But humans ARE superior to other animals. Some humans like Gandhi ARE superior to other humans like Hitler. 

Its in fact ego centric for people to think that they are the same as everyone else....and no one can be superior to them.   Superiority and inferiority is intrinsic to life.

[Udayana]

You can only discuss whether things or people or animals are higher or lower, or superior or inferior if you are sharing a scale of values with whoever you are talking to. But obviously, we not sharing such a scale.

I dare say ... you might see this ... in exercising your higher consciousness!

[Sriram]

If we are unable to accept that we could be inferior to someone in certain aspects...then we are not likely to learn and grow much. Everyone is not the same. Some are better athletes, some are better at maths, some are better cooks, some are better at spirituality!  We can't get egoistic about such matters. It only makes things worse.

[SusanDoris]

If we are unable to accept that we could be inferior to someone in certain aspects...then we are not likely to learn and grow much. Everyone is not the same. Some are better athletes, some are better at maths, some are better cooks, some are better at spirituality!  We can't get egoistic about such matters. It only makes things worse.

Of course people have unique genetic make-ups and therefore each person has a unique combination of talents. But consciousness does not have quantifiable 'layers' of spiritual knowledge, or advancement, or whatever fancy name those who think they have choose to call their imagined superiority in this - non-existent - field! . It's a pity, I suppose, that we call the difference between sleep, wakefulness and anaesthetised sleep, etc, 'levels' of consciousness- a new word would probably help here.

to think one is able to 'reach' or 'achieve' some imagined 'higher level of consciousness is a conceit, not backed up by any evidence.

[Maeght]

Its in fact ego centric for people to think that they are the same as everyone else....and no one can be superior to them..

What a surprising interpretation of what some atheists might say.

[Sriram]

We humans have acquired some qualities that we regard as inherently superior. Intelligence, moral sense, humility, altruism, selflessness, self control ...and many other such qualities. This is a higher consciousness as compared to being on a basic competitive & survival mode. 

People who have the above qualities are superior and of a higher consciousness than those who are more animal like (now don't tell me we are also animals...please! ).  There is a gradation. Everyone is not the same....which we can observe.

The video in the OP gives an anatomical/physiological reason as to how we have developed this higher consciousness.  As simple as that.

Merely thumping the table and declaring that 'I am not inferior to anyone else!!'...is egoistic and misses the point entirely.

[Maeght]

Interesting that this interpretation comes from someone who insists that they are superior when it comes to spirituality and suggests those who don't share his beliefs are less developed spiritually.

Of course people are different and we are different to other animals. The point is that you seem to believe in some direction of travel regarding spiritual beliefs and that you are further along it than others. I think that we all see things differently with no direction or superiority. I don't believe the stuff you do - fine, we are just different. You seem to be the one with the ego claiming superiority. Of course there are atheists who claim they are more rational and logical than believers - I don't necessarily share that view.

[SusanDoris]

Does the video actually compare human consciousness with the consciousness of other mamals, all of which have evolved differently? If that is the case, then I would be even less inclined to look at it.

[Udayana]

No it doesn't. It is not really making any claims or comparisons as such ... you could just listen to it anyway ... it is only a few minutes, you are not going to be brain washed! In fact it is just making the same point anyone here might make in a reflective moment.

Of-course, as soon as someone starts off with words such as "higher", "superior", "advanced" etc we know we are being sold something.

[SweetPea]

Does the video actually compare human consciousness with the consciousness of other mamals, all of which have evolved differently? If that is the case, then I would be even less inclined to look at it.

Susan, you should listen to the video. I was surprised, it wasn't what I was expecting, and unrelated to the New Age idea of higher consciousness. I think you'll find you won't suffer too much from cognitive dissonance.

[Nearly Sane]

Watched it, for something claiming not to be wishy-washy,it was both wishy and washy

[ekim]

I think it's a pity that the word 'higher' is used as it can imply superiority which invites the comments which Susan has quite logically made.  Words like 'higher' and 'superior' can attract the attention of the self centred or egocentric to imagine that it is a way of enhancing their egos and portraying themselves as being on a higher level than other mere mortals.

I know atheists like to think we are all the same.... just 'different'. But humans ARE superior to other animals. Some humans like Gandhi ARE superior to other humans like Hitler. 

Its in fact ego centric for people to think that they are the same as everyone else....and no one can be superior to them.   Superiority and inferiority is intrinsic to life.

Well, I would suggest that superiority and inferiority are relative terms which are largely subjective when applied to human nature.  However, I was commenting upon 'consciousness' as having superior or inferior qualities.  I see consciousness as being more neutral but available to be directed i.e. giving attention to.  A person who directs their consciousness (attention) whole heartedly to any pursuit is more likely to be superior at it than somebody who doesn't or who directs their attention elsewhere.  There are other words which are often associated with consciousness (in a 'spiritual' sense).  One of these is 'expansion' which is associated with the practice of freeing consciousness from its constraining attachments to the contents of the psyche.  Another is 'clarity' which is associated with being aware without the cataracts of preconceived concepts or accumulated emotions.

[Enki]

I think it's a pity that the word 'higher' is used as it can imply superiority which invites the comments which Susan has quite logically made.  Words like 'higher' and 'superior' can attract the attention of the self centred or egocentric to imagine that it is a way of enhancing their egos and portraying themselves as being on a higher level than other mere mortals.

I know atheists like to think we are all the same.... just 'different'. But humans ARE superior to other animals. Some humans like Gandhi ARE superior to other humans like Hitler. 

Its in fact ego centric for people to think that they are the same as everyone else....and no one can be superior to them.   Superiority and inferiority is intrinsic to life.

Well, I would suggest that superiority and inferiority are relative terms which are largely subjective when applied to human nature.  However, I was commenting upon 'consciousness' as having superior or inferior qualities.  I see consciousness as being more neutral but available to be directed i.e. giving attention to.  A person who directs their consciousness (attention) whole heartedly to any pursuit is more likely to be superior at it than somebody who doesn't or who directs their attention elsewhere.  There are other words which are often associated with consciousness (in a 'spiritual' sense).  One of these is 'expansion' which is associated with the practice of freeing consciousness from its constraining attachments to the contents of the psyche.  Another is 'clarity' which is associated with being aware without the cataracts of preconceived concepts or accumulated emotions.

Yes, I go along with most of what you say here, Ekim. I watched the video but I didn't learn anything that I didn't know before, and, like you, I regret that the term 'higher consciousness' was used, as it implies some form of superiority of some compared with others. I certainly don't think in terms of my superiority simply because I have the ability to use what the video suggests are the elements of this 'higher consciousness' from within the mammalian neocortex. Plenty of other people, both with whom I meet and here, on this Message Board, often show elements of empathy, imagination, reflection, non introspective thinking etc.

For me, the secret is to seek a balance between what the video calls our reptilian brain and our mammalian brain, although I would not necessarily think of it in those terms. Easy to say, of course, but much harder to achieve.

[floo]

Could so called 'higher consciousness' just refer to people who have talents not all of us possess, like those who are good musicians, for instance?

[Maeght]

Could so called 'higher consciousness' just refer to people who have talents not all of us possess, like those who are good musicians, for instance?

Yes, just a different outlook and way of viewing things. Different consciousness, not higher - unless someone wants to bang the desk and insist otherwise.

[Rhiannon]

My personal take us that our 'higher self' is the part of us that doesn't get caught up in the stories of everyday - the silliness, angst, all the misguided thinking that makes us anxious, cross and unhappy.

[floo]

My personal take us that our 'higher self' is the part of us that doesn't get caught up in the stories of everyday - the silliness, angst, all the misguided thinking that makes us anxious, cross and unhappy.

I don't quite get that one?

[ekim]

Could so called 'higher consciousness' just refer to people who have talents not all of us possess, like those who are good musicians, for instance?

I suspect that 'higher consciousness' arose from its analogy with vision and the ability to broaden it by rising up to a higher position as you might in a helicopter.  The perspective changes from that of somebody who may have spent a lifetime narrowly focused on immediate surroundings.  I'm not sure what you mean by 'good musician', but some may have just focused on honing a skill with a musical instrument.  Another may have done the same but have also realised a potential to express themselves as a composer.  Realisation of hidden potential might be associated with what the term 'higher consciousness' is meant to represent.  The Christian term 'ascension' also implies climbing up to something higher.