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Contemplative Insights

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Submitted by: David Lorimer

Submit Date: 2004-06-17

A Contemplative Perspective on Reality

by David Lorimer

Who is it that wants to know?

We believe that the experience of contemplatives from all traditions can enhance our understanding of the nature of reality and the development of human potential.

The contemplative understanding of reality suggests that there is a spectrum of states of consciousness. Human beings operate at different levels within this spectrum: spiritual, mental-emotional, and physical. Individual human consciousness arises at the spiritual level and “reflects” into the mental-emotional and physical levels.

Modes of consciousness (e.g., spiritual, mental, psychic, emotional, physical) are expressed through vehicles or centers of consciousness on different levels. This relates content to form and consciousness to its manifestation.

The sense of individuality is developed by the process of becoming aware of and integrating these vehicles or centers of consciousness. Paradoxically, this results in an enlargement of the feeling of unity with the cosmos.

This understanding sheds light on the words of the Delphic Oracle: Know thyself, and thou shalt know the cosmos—that is, know the nature of consciousness. 
The fundamental epistemological and ontological question therefore is: Who is the Knower? This is more subtle and more profound than the question: What is consciousness?

This question lies at the heart of existence and forms the basis for a lifetime of study and practice.

Consciousness in this sense is fundamentally unqualified and unconditioned.

Consciousness is not an object: it is the ultimate subject: The Self is the knower (tat tvam asi—thou art that), never the known (the object). It is ultimately unknowable precisely because it is the Knower.

Here is the paradox: How, then, is consciousness to be investigated or studied? To know something deeply one has to become at one with it, not just observe it from the outside. This merging and fusion process is known as Samyama and is the time-honored research technique of the Indian yogins. In order to achieve this state, one also has to relinquish all that is conditioned, even one’s learning. This process requires humility and courage. 
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Excerpted from "Manifesto for an Integral Science of Consciousness" courtesy of the Scientific and Medical Network.

David Lorimer is former director of the Scientific and Medical Network, and is an editor of Network magazine. He is the author of seven books, including The Spirit of Science and Wider Horizons. The full text of this manifesto can be found at www.scimednet.org.

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Link: http://www.noetic.org/publications/review/issue57/r57_Lorimer.html

Kshetra and Kshetra-jna refer to the physical body and consciousness in Sanskrit. The truth or tattva regarding such is described by various rishis in numerous Vedic literatures and sung with perfect logic and definitive conclusions in the final work of Vedavyasa called the Brahma-sutra. Since the ultimate knowable is beyond our senses it[He] can only be known by reference to shastra or Vedic evidence. Ikshate naashabdam.
by: bvavadhut@gmail.comOne form of becoming one with consciousness is being human. The human mind in its perceptive functions of looking out and looking within is the open doorway to oneness. Trust this and it is clear. Looking out we see manifestation of consiousness, and within the source and intent from which it arose.
by: leaRNYELLOWSTONE@NETSCAPE.NET

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