A Function of Consciousness
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As spiritual beings, it is our business to create reality. It is also our business to create what is not reality. For example, if we live in a place filled with ignorance and illusion, this is just as much our creation as is living in awareness and truth. And this is the case whether we know it or not, whether we like it or not, whether we understand it or not. It doesn't matter. Reality is our creation, 100% of the time, whether we acknowledge the fact or whether we are ignorant of it or whether we deny it. The only distinction is that if we know it and acknowledge it, we have the opportunity to create reality consciously. And if we don't know it, or if we know it and don't like it or some variation thereof, we still create reality, but we do it unconsciously or in a way that puts us at the effect of life, so that we become victims having no power.
Reality itself is therefore a function of consciousness. And that means that whenever we are facing problems, whatever the problem may be, whether it is a personal problem, or a global problem or a universal problem, it can only be solved by consciousness. So if it's true that we create reality 100% of the time without exception; and if we acknowledge this; and if we simply assert that that is true - we become, potentially, extremely powerful. We are extremely powerful. Yet the unfortunate truth is that most of us, most of the time, look at ourselves as though we have no power. And that is the "human" part of the formula.
Reality itself is therefore a function of consciousness. And that means that whenever we are facing problems, whatever the problem may be, whether it is a personal problem, or a global problem or a universal problem, it can only be solved by consciousness. So if it's true that we create reality 100% of the time without exception; and if we acknowledge this; and if we simply assert that that is true - we become, potentially, extremely powerful. We are extremely powerful. Yet the unfortunate truth is that most of us, most of the time, look at ourselves as though we have no power. And that is the "human" part of the formula.
We are spiritual beings having a human experience
The human being has forgotten their power. Essentially and for the most part we do not recognize that we are the creators of our own reality, so when we experience difficulties and problems of any kind, we feel ourselves to be victims, at the mercy of circumstances, the whim of the gods, the bearers of "bad karma", unworthy of success or happiness. Though as spiritual beings we are the authors of our circumstances and the ultimate authorities on how and why things are the way they are, and as human beings we think we have no responsibility for our own suffering - though we are quick to take credit for things when they turn out well.
Therefore the first corollary to acknowledging that we create reality by our consciousness is that we have responsibility for the reality that we create, that we are the authors of and authorities our own existence and our own world. If you are willing to stand up and say "its time to wake up", you have to take responsibility for the whole process and you have to begin to deal with things that previously slipped under the table. You have to look at things, not only in your personal life that, perhaps, you were not looking at, and in addition, you have to recognize that the overall conditions of life on Earth - what is happening to this planet and what is happening to other people and what is happening to human society - is your responsibility too. We have tremendous power - potential power for the most part - but real power nevertheless. Responsibility and power go hand-in-hand. It's a matter of the ability to step up to the plate and using our opportunity wisely, using it responsibly, and using it in a way that is for the greatest good of not only all life everywhere, but all of Being itself.
Therefore the first corollary to acknowledging that we create reality by our consciousness is that we have responsibility for the reality that we create, that we are the authors of and authorities our own existence and our own world. If you are willing to stand up and say "its time to wake up", you have to take responsibility for the whole process and you have to begin to deal with things that previously slipped under the table. You have to look at things, not only in your personal life that, perhaps, you were not looking at, and in addition, you have to recognize that the overall conditions of life on Earth - what is happening to this planet and what is happening to other people and what is happening to human society - is your responsibility too. We have tremendous power - potential power for the most part - but real power nevertheless. Responsibility and power go hand-in-hand. It's a matter of the ability to step up to the plate and using our opportunity wisely, using it responsibly, and using it in a way that is for the greatest good of not only all life everywhere, but all of Being itself.
Seven steps to manifestation
- Vision - Visualize what you want.
- Desire - Be intensely excited about what you're visualizing.
- Belief - Believe what you desire is possible to manifest.
- Acceptance - Accept your belief and your ability to manifest it as being true
- Intend - Want and intend are different. You must have the intention to manifest your desire.
- Action - Act and behave like your desire has already manifested.
- Allowance - Detach from the outcome. Be intense in your desire without any expectation that it will manifest.
Claustrum: A Potential On-Off Switch for Consciousness in the Brain
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While the neural mechanisms that underlie consciousness are not fully understood, researchers have discovered a region in the human brain where electrical stimulation reproducibly disrupts consciousness. A 54-year-old woman with epilepsy underwent depth electrode implantation and electrical stimulation mapping. The electrode whose stimulation disrupted consciousness was between the left claustrum and anterior-dorsal insula. Stimulation of the claustral electrode reproducibly resulted in a complete arrest of volitional behavior, unresponsiveness, and amnesia without negative motor symptoms or mere aphasia. The disruption of consciousness did not outlast the stimulation. These findings may suggest that the left claustrum/anterior insula is an important part of a network that subserves consciousness. However, due to a limited sample size, more research needs to be conducted (Koubeissi, Bartolomei, Beltagy, & Picard, 2014).
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Location of the Claustrum. Image by Gray on Wikimedia Commons
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References
Frissell, B. (2001). You are a spiritual being having a human experience. Berkeley, Calif.: Frog.
Koubeissi, M., Bartolomei, F., Beltagy, A., & Picard, F. (2014). Electrical stimulation of a small brain area reversibly disrupts consciousness. Epilepsy & Behavior, 37, 32-35. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.yebeh.2014.05.027
Penrose, R., Hameroff, S., Kak, S., & Tao, L. (2011). Consciousness and the universe: quantum physics, evolution, brain and mind. Cambridge, MA: Cosmology Science Publishers.
Koubeissi, M., Bartolomei, F., Beltagy, A., & Picard, F. (2014). Electrical stimulation of a small brain area reversibly disrupts consciousness. Epilepsy & Behavior, 37, 32-35. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.yebeh.2014.05.027
Penrose, R., Hameroff, S., Kak, S., & Tao, L. (2011). Consciousness and the universe: quantum physics, evolution, brain and mind. Cambridge, MA: Cosmology Science Publishers.