snowleopard

@egoless For sure ... The human experience is not some random mistake or curse, it is a wonder to behold. Embrace and honor it to the fullest, and trust that when it's time for it to pass away, then too the infinite cosmos is unfolding as it should.

@LaucherJunge Yup, much like the revelation that there aren't really two sides to a strange loop.

@PaulK It's much like asking can 'awareness' experience a body being hungry, or having an orgasm. I'd say the answer is obvious. There is awareness of a body being drunk. I suppose that it's conceivable that if there is some capacity to be in a so-called 'witnessing' state of awareness, that one could then dis-identify with that bodily experience to such an extent that it might be like watching the body being drunk, as in an OBE. If so, this would explain why 'awakening' tends to put an end to any desire for such experiences, since witnessing it would likely be a big turn-off. Whereas, the segregated body/self-identity, acting from a largely unconscious state, may keep drinking and go uncontrollably deeper into that state -- as my alcoholic father did. On a related note, apparently zen 'masters', well-practiced mediators, are not immune from the mind-altering experience of psychedelics -- however, seem to maintain the awareness of having some conscious control over the trip ...

@AlwaysBeNice While the post-materialist scientific search for experimental evidence may well someday validate the primacy of consciousness, it all became inescapably evident, while during an OBE I perceived consensus construct phenomena, as the body/brain laid on a couch in a house located far away from the event being perceived. Being an indoctrinated materialist at the time, I was determined to come up with an explanation that would fit that paradigm ... and never did. I eventually just had to accept that consciousness had the capacity to go non-local, which has only been reinforced by other such events, and countless similar reports which make my experience seem insignificant in comparison. For materialist science to simply disregard this evidence as hearsay and fantasy is just willful, closed-minded ignorance. A shift in the paradigm is so long overdue, what is most astounding is how it has been avoided for as long as it has.

@AleksM That is a 'phenomenal' description ... Now back to the noumenal.

@egoless Once 'what one is in essence' has been put into words, then it is a mere story, even the most plausible scientific theory, or esoteric philosophy, or eloquent description -- which are all you'll ever hear from someone else. ... Which does one believe, the direct knowing, or the story?

@egoless What else is a physicalist scientist going to offer but a physicalist theory of consciousness? They're no more valid than theories based on the primacy of consciousness. Again, no-one, not the high priests of science, philosophy or spirituality, can give you an answer in lieu of self inquiry. It is the only way to get beyond the theories.

Insofar as brain activity is a part of the phenomenal consensus construct -- i.e. the collective dream -- then it's valid to say that its activity is correlated to that construct. However, once that construct is transcended into non-consensus paranormal, transpersonal events, then any consensus construct phenomenon is, by definition, not applicable, and so it is at best speculation as to what, if any, correlation there may or may not be. And, of course, to even offer an explanation requires the language and presumptions of consensus construct. So it's probably a dead end conversation, as @Leo Gurasuggests.

Well, apparently there can be major brain impairment and still be relatively normal awareness, as in this example. Also, there is now significant evidence that some psychedelics actually temporarily reduce brain activity, and that, at least in some cases, brain damage, e.g. due to strokes, is associated with enriched consciousness, as explained in this Scientific American article. However, not sure anyone really knows how brain activity correlates to the so-called awakened state. But it might make for an intriguing study.

@Ilya Not being fond of the higher/lower hierarchical designations, which can become another trap of the segregated self-identity, it can perhaps also simply be expressed as unsegregated consciousness.

@Faceless How about an individual l/eye, aspect/expression, of All that Is ...

@Dreamwalker I keep having this weird 'self'-perpetuating dream 24/7 ... aka this life

'I' am here because the Dreaming keeps on playing ... no beginning, no causation, no ending ... WTF ?!

@Ether Yeah, as usual, there's what it is, and then there's the story about what it is -- not to be confused. And most good stories and odysseys tend to get death involved. At best, it's a very convincing test-run, otherwise 'no-one' would be posting about here.

Ah existential fear ... Once mortal enemy, just longs to be embraced like an old friend.

@egoless A dreamed up reality with lots of money ... A dreamed up reality without much money ... What do they have in common?

@iTommy Not to worry, I've had non-psychedelic nightmares like that -- though not lately -- so it can't just be the acid. There are some very dark hellish places that can be experienced, as no experience is precluded. Jung theorized that there is such a collective 'shadow' of humanity, that like the individual shadow must also be integrated. So such explorations and accounts of 'dark nights of the soul' are not uncommon on the spiritual journey, and may also serve their integral role.

@Nomad How about 825 pieces ...

@Nahm Shouldn't we at least wait until Easter?

@Ilya God? As for eclectic Grecian philosophers, you may want to check out Plotinus, considered a neo-platonist, who traveled eastward to study Persian and Indian philosophy. If so inclined, here is an interesting (IMO) blog post about him. http://critique-of-pure-interest.blogspot.ca/2016/04/plotinuss-metaphysics-of-creative-self.html

@Nahm I like this example ... Nahm checking into Hotel Infinity, and the desk clerk says, "sorry we're full, didn't you see the No Vacancy sign?". Nahm, being very wise, says "But you advertise an infinite number of rooms, so just move the ppl from room #1 to room #2, and the ppl from room #2 to room #3, and the ppl from room #3 to room #4, and so on ... then room #1 is vacant !" Clerk says, "Yes, that should work" -- despite the inconvenience of moving everyone ad infinitum

@Ilya I feel this was already glimpsed, so all it takes is a nudge to let go of the cliff-edge of attachments

@Ilya Here's the catch ... It's impossible to fill the void, because the void is all that is, what one is in essence, and forever full. Best get used to it