all 43 comments

[–]Luminato 2 insightful - 2 fun2 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 2 fun -  (4 children)

There have been a few books that explore the theory that consciousness is shared rather than individual. Opening the Doors of Perception by Anthony Peake takes a scientific, research-based approach to the idea that our minds acts as receivers - rather than the transmitters - of existence reality, and what happens when some of our minds 'tune' into an alternate reality.

[–][deleted] 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (3 children)

But consciousness IS individual. Herd mentality isn't...

[–]jet199 3 insightful - 3 fun3 insightful - 2 fun4 insightful - 3 fun -  (2 children)

People's brain waves sync up when they are together. That could well lead to a shared consciousness.

[–][deleted] 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (1 child)

Herd mentality, not consciousness.

[–]jet199 4 insightful - 3 fun4 insightful - 2 fun5 insightful - 3 fun -  (0 children)

Nope.

Herd mentality is when you copy other's behaviours because you think you will get social benefits. You follow the crowd.

Shared consciousness is more about problem solving, understanding and coordinating timings, sometimes without even being in the same place.

[–]Zapped 1 insightful - 2 fun1 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 2 fun -  (12 children)

So, you're saying we don't have free-will?

[–][deleted] 3 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 0 fun4 insightful - 1 fun -  (11 children)

We do, but our thoughts are controlled by something else. The conclusion is obvious: to be free, one need only not ever think.

[–]jet199 2 insightful - 4 fun2 insightful - 3 fun3 insightful - 4 fun -  (0 children)

Well, you're getting there.

[–]Zapped 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (3 children)

Stream of consciousness?

[–][deleted] 3 insightful - 3 fun3 insightful - 2 fun4 insightful - 3 fun -  (2 children)

Query unclear.

[–]Zapped 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (1 child)

I guess I was going for more of the information either. I remember Tom Petty talking about tapping into the stream of consciousness when he was writing songs; like there was a "river" out there full of songs that he could pull out. There is an idea that consciousness is a collective.

[–][deleted] 3 insightful - 2 fun3 insightful - 1 fun4 insightful - 2 fun -  (0 children)

Consciousness is only individual. Some people confuse soul and consciousness but they are utterly separate and different. Animals are souls but do not have consciousness. Humans have sleeping consciousness hypnotized by their soul's conditioning. And soul can definitely be collective. A bank of fish for example has a collective soul. Herd animals too. And humans? Yes, humans' souls can be very collective, but their consciousness can also awaken and dissociate from the collective, turning the human into an individual.

[–]IridescentAnaconda 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (5 children)

Welcome to Buddhism.

[–][deleted] 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (4 children)

Except Buddhism has never solved the question: how to not think. Buddhism is very cute, and wise, but lacks science.

[–]IridescentAnaconda 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (3 children)

Methodology is very simple conceptually: meditate. "Not thinking" isn't something that comes immediately, it comes over time with the daily practice. And there is still an ebb and a flow (some days are good, some are bad).

You might quibble on the definition of "thinking", but I think it's fair to say that putting your attention in a nondifferentiated state where the focus is away from the things that cause human suffering is close enough for the purposes of this discussion.

[–][deleted] 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (2 children)

Yes, I know all about Buddhism, even the Zen variety. The problem is that it produces only superficial "enlightenment" and not actual Supramental Consciousness. That is the real end goal of human mental evolution.

Buddhist "enlightenment" is a trap. But for people like you, it's the pinnacle that can be attained, so you might as well work your way towards that.

[–]IridescentAnaconda 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (1 child)

Since you trotted out the "people like you" bit -- and I am very aware of what you mean -- I will point out that I have a great deal more self-discipline and self-control than a morbidly obese man who cannot stop himself from eating himself into oblivion. But you be you.

[–][deleted] 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

Thank you for proving my point. Welcome to my blocked list.

[–]Tiwaking 1 insightful - 2 fun1 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 2 fun -  (0 children)

[–]Vulptex 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (21 children)

A conformist society is run by thoughts though isn't it? And one of the most covenient ways for the thought-implanting archons to control us.

[–][deleted] 3 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 0 fun4 insightful - 1 fun -  (20 children)

Well technically, thoughts don't run anything. It's up to the individual to "listen" or "obey" the thoughts or not. Free will.

[–]jet199 2 insightful - 3 fun2 insightful - 2 fun3 insightful - 3 fun -  (1 child)

That decision is just another thought.

[–][deleted] 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

OBVIOUSLY not.

[–]Vulptex 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (17 children)

Which is exactly why such a society would be bad, because it tries to take that away.

[–][deleted] 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (14 children)

You think you prefer communism and degeneracy to morality... Well that is up to you.

[–]Vulptex 2 insightful - 2 fun2 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 2 fun -  (13 children)

You the one who wants society to take away free will and individuality, I think you're the communist here.

[–][deleted] 3 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 0 fun4 insightful - 1 fun -  (12 children)

WTF are you smoking dude.

First and foremost, communism is PROFOUNDLY anti-morality. Second, I wrote that there are advantages to morality being uniform and reinforced, but I didn't write that that is what I stand for. Just that it has advantages.

[–]Vulptex 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (11 children)

I don't know what to tell you if you think communist countries are free. Try going to North Korea and criticizing Kim Jong Un and see what happens. Or better yet, just post an unpopular opinion on reddit.

[–][deleted] 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (10 children)

You are delirious. Where did I talk about communist countries being free? Again, are you doing poisonous hard drugs or WTF is wrong with your mind? You're posting responses that are miles away from what I wrote. You are completely disjointed from the discussion here. Come back to Earth...

[–]Vulptex 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (9 children)

You said I must want communism because I don't want society to take freedom away.

[–][deleted] 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (8 children)

Not at all, I wrote that you would prefer communism because you think a morally conformist society is bad. Communism is anti-moral.

[–][deleted] 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (1 child)

You mean the society that created the industrial revolution and all technologies? OK, let's say it's, as you say, "bad". What's better?

[–]Vulptex 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

I'm pretty sure the US was always moving away from that kind of society until recently.

[–]yabbit 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (1 child)

Morality is constructed by the ruling class

[–][deleted] 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

WAS putatively constructed by the long-ago ruling class. The current ruling class is rabidly anti-morality. But some people believe in Jesus Christ and such and that's where their morality comes from.