In this month's edition of my Consciousness Video Series, I put together a review of a recent book by Dr. Alan Lightman called, "The Transcendent Brain: Spirituality In The Age of Science." In a wonderful development, my review of Dr. Lightman's book, "A Sense of the Mysterious," apparently caught his eye, and he sent me … Continue reading Consciousness Video Series: Episode 11: The Transcendent Brain Reply to Alan Lightman +plus: A Porch With A View
The subjective experience of consciousness, as all functionally cognitive people know it, is in a constant state of flux. The person you were yesterday when you experienced your first ride on a roller coaster or jumped out of a perfectly good airplane for the first time is not the same person you are today, having … Continue reading Spiritual Resonance
This world has within it many different individual souls, personalities, beings, creatures, plants—living things—each with its own set of values, assets, and particular liabilities. None have a worth greater or lesser than the other in the broad scope of life. All living things have a disparate measure of worth. Humans sometimes feel that theirs is … Continue reading A Purposeful Universe
It’s fairly unusual in my experience to encounter individuals who embody the very essence of my writing work—the central theme of my writing and the publicizing of my thoughts on my blog, “John’s Consciousness.” Within a whole range of social interactions over decades, I have experienced a number of serendipitous connections which I immediately feel, … Continue reading Invisible Connections
The Challenge of Comprehending Consciousness I know that there is a connection between my inner world and the world without. Subjectively, it is clear to me that this is the case, and I am confident that the statements I make, the theories I embrace and put forward, are a reflection of my genuine knowledge—the genuine … Continue reading The Challenge of Comprehending Consciousness
Mist and Shadows “Home is behind the world ahead, And there are many paths to tread, Through shadows to the edge of night, Until the stars are all alight.” “Mist and shadows, cloud and shade— All shall fade, all shall fade.” Follow the link below to hear the song: https://www.facebook.com/reel/1307202833541080/ Lyrics and Music from Lord … Continue reading Mist and Shadows
The title of the song in the background of the video below is “Beyond This Moment,” by Patrick O’Hearn. I’ve mentioned his work before and heard it on the radio on the way home one evening, and it stuck with me. The title started me to thinking about how we might discover what lies “beyond … Continue reading Consciousness Video Series: Episode 8: Beyond This Moment
Last summer, in August of 2022, I posted episode six of my “Consciousness Video Series: Metaphor and the Inner Experience.” https://johns-consciousness.com/2022/08/27/consciousness-video-series-episode-6-metaphor-and-the-inner-experience/ This video described metaphorically my immediate impressions, as I struggled to express, understand, and relate my very personal interpretation of a profound sense of recognition of my inner life, which invariably suggested the elements … Continue reading The Path Beneath the Terrace
***(The planned blog posting "The Mystery of Miracles," will appear in the coming weeks. In the meantime, I thought my readers might enjoy a more personal look at the subjects at hand, as I tell the story of one very intense "metaphysical or mystical" experience from my younger days. Enjoy!)*** Edwin Austin Abbey (1852 - … Continue reading Bonus Material: – Musical Ecstasy = Mystical Experience?
Anyone even vaguely familiar with the term “mystical,” whether from a religious practice or simply from an investigation into the subject generally, can usually agree that it includes a whole range of possible experiences which may qualify. In his classic volume, “Varieties of Religious Experience,” William James writes: “The adjective ‘mystical’ is technically applied, most … Continue reading The Mystical Is Often Metaphorical
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