Peter Russell, Savant Master of the Light of Consciousness, "The Light of Consciousness, The one I am, at the heart of all creation, Thou art the light of life."--Shvetashvatara Upanishad
My studies in experimental psychology had taught me much about neurophysiology, memory, behavior, and perception. Yet, despite all that I was learning about brain function, I was no closer to understanding the nature of consciousness itself. The East, however, appeared to have a lot to say about the subject, and so did many mystics, from around the world. For thousands of years such seekers had focused on the inner realm of the mind, exploring its subtler aspects through direct personal experience.
Believing that such approaches might offer insights unavailable to Western science, I began delving into ancient texts such as The Upanishads, The Tibetan Book of the Great Liberation, The Cloud of Unknowing, and contemporary writers such as Alan Watts, Aldous Huxley, Carl Jung, and Christopher Isherwood.
I was fascinated to find that here, as in modern physics, light was a recurrent theme. Consciousness itself was often spoken of in terms of light. The Tibetan Book of the Great Liberation spoke of "the self-originated Clear Light, eternally unborn… shining forth within one’s own mind." St. John referred to "the true light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world."
Those who have awakened to the truth about reality–whom we often call illumined, or enlightened–frequently describe their experiences in terms of light. The sufi Abu 'l-Hosian al-Nuri experienced a light "gleaming in the Unseen… I gazed at it continually, until the time came when I had wholly become that light."
Deep comment Horace. Was that from you or Peter Russell ? Regardless, it seems we are dharma brothers on a journey that continues to unfold. Light, though, remains a quantum mystery. Beyond words, it is untouchable, yet still usable with karmic effects. The motivation for such light/work can arise spontaneously, in the moment. An unexpected transient inspiration that goes outside the bounds of consensus reality into the great beyond, then returns to the practioner outside the perception of T I M E. 🤔
Peter Russell, Savant Master of the Light of Consciousness, "The Light of Consciousness, The one I am, at the heart of all creation, Thou art the light of life."--Shvetashvatara Upanishad
My studies in experimental psychology had taught me much about neurophysiology, memory, behavior, and perception. Yet, despite all that I was learning about brain function, I was no closer to understanding the nature of consciousness itself. The East, however, appeared to have a lot to say about the subject, and so did many mystics, from around the world. For thousands of years such seekers had focused on the inner realm of the mind, exploring its subtler aspects through direct personal experience.
Believing that such approaches might offer insights unavailable to Western science, I began delving into ancient texts such as The Upanishads, The Tibetan Book of the Great Liberation, The Cloud of Unknowing, and contemporary writers such as Alan Watts, Aldous Huxley, Carl Jung, and Christopher Isherwood.
I was fascinated to find that here, as in modern physics, light was a recurrent theme. Consciousness itself was often spoken of in terms of light. The Tibetan Book of the Great Liberation spoke of "the self-originated Clear Light, eternally unborn… shining forth within one’s own mind." St. John referred to "the true light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world."
Those who have awakened to the truth about reality–whom we often call illumined, or enlightened–frequently describe their experiences in terms of light. The sufi Abu 'l-Hosian al-Nuri experienced a light "gleaming in the Unseen… I gazed at it continually, until the time came when I had wholly become that light."
Deep comment Horace. Was that from you or Peter Russell ? Regardless, it seems we are dharma brothers on a journey that continues to unfold. Light, though, remains a quantum mystery. Beyond words, it is untouchable, yet still usable with karmic effects. The motivation for such light/work can arise spontaneously, in the moment. An unexpected transient inspiration that goes outside the bounds of consensus reality into the great beyond, then returns to the practioner outside the perception of T I M E. 🤔