Political Crossfire Forums

[Drey]

I posted this in the Buddhism forum and got no answer so far. Been reading the Dalai Lama's 'Universe in a Single Atom'.

discussion please on this question: "Is mind a function of the universe?"

[Nice Geod]

Do you mean is it physical rather than spiritual?

[Fido]

Drey wrote: I posted this in the Buddhism forum and got no answer so far. Been reading the Dalai Lama's 'Universe in a Single Atom'.

discussion please on this question: "Is mind a function of the universe?"

The mind is the conscious equivalent to the brain, which may or may not be conscious, and the brain is matter based, and nothing of the spiritual; but whose very complexity gives rise to spiritual connotations and questions. Mind allows a consideration of relationships, even up to the point of self in relation to the universe, but there is no credible defense of the positive statement that mind is a function of the universe. In my opinion.

[Drey]

Nice Geod wrote: Do you mean is it physical rather than spiritual?

Well I am mucking through this. I do like to evaluate things through the lens of spirituality which I equate with consciousness, or in my mind spirit.

Quite a while ago I read a book titled 'The Dancing Wu Li Masters' by Gary Zukav. The book was a look into the new physics brought to life through quantum theories.

I came away from the book with the concept that has not left me in all that time that on the basis of what we know regarding things physical at the level of the quantum matrix that the Universe at that level may and likely is something that can be termed conscious.

Now if this is the case reality need to be addressed in a way much different that the western paradigm of science allows.

It allows for the concept that we call God and immanence to be a reality that we can actively seek. It allows for a collectivity of the human race and a collective soul or consciousness that we share in common with each and every other piece of matter. It allows that matter of any kind is sentient.

This would radically transform any notion of spirituality, other than that of the mystics.

Like I said I am mucking my way through this and if you can debunk this or add to it I would be interested.

The link below with take you to a series of six articles written by eminent scientists from various fields that talk about this phenomenon of consciousness and matter from the perspective of their own specialty.

This concept is really intriguing to me and if it turns out to be true it will revolutionize everything we think and know about ourselves and the Universe.

I am not to familiar with Buddhist philosophy but it seems to me from the little I have read that in their understanding of reality such an understanding about mind and the universe, ie. matter and spirit(?) might be agreeable.

1. The first article:

http://www.bizcharts.com/stoa_del_sol/conscious/conscious1.html


2. the main page to all 6 articles:


http://www.bizcharts.com/stoa_del_sol/conscious/index.html