The Unbounded Mind: Exploring Our Shared Consciousness

The provided text, likely excerpts from a book titled “One Mind” by Larry Dossey, explores the concept of a unified consciousness that transcends individual minds and connects all living beings. The author presents anecdotal evidence, scientific theories such as nonlocality and entanglement, and philosophical perspectives to support the idea that our minds are not isolated but are part of a larger, interconnected awareness. The text examines various phenomena, including telepathy, premonitions, shared experiences, animal behavior, and near-death experiences, through the lens of this “One Mind” theory, suggesting a fundamental interconnectedness that has implications for our understanding of consciousness, healing, and our relationship with the world. Ultimately, the text posits the “One Mind” as a source of wisdom, creativity, and a potential solution to the challenges facing humanity, urging a shift from a materialistic worldview to one that embraces this deeper unity.

The One Mind: Collective Consciousness and Interconnectedness

The concept of the One Mind as presented in the sources refers to a collective, unitary domain of intelligence of which all individual minds are a part. It is described as an overarching, inclusive dimension to which all the mental components of all individual minds belong. This perspective suggests that the separateness of individual minds is an illusion, and at some level, all minds come together to form a single mind.

Here are some key aspects of the One Mind concept discussed in the sources:

• Nonlocality: A fundamental characteristic of the One Mind is its nonlocality. This means that individual minds are not confined or localized to specific points in space (like brains or bodies) or time (like the present). Instead, minds are spatially and temporally infinite, suggesting that the connectedness of minds transcends physical distance and time.
• Importance: The concept of the One Mind is presented as potentially vital for addressing global challenges such as division, selfishness, and destruction. Recognizing our interconnectedness through the One Mind can lead to a recalibration of our ethical stance, inspiring us to “Be kind to others, because in some sense they are you”. It can also foster cooperation, heightened imagination, and creativity.
• Experiencing the One Mind: Individuals may encounter the One Mind in various ways, such as transcendent moments, epiphanies, creative breakthroughs, or inexplicably acquired information. It can also manifest as shared emotions, thoughts, or feelings between people at a distance, including spouses, siblings, twins, and even across species.
• Evidence and Manifestations: The book explores a wide range of phenomena as glimpses of the One Mind. These include:
• Acts of selfless saving, where the rescuer’s consciousness seems to fuse with the person in need.
• Experiences of telepathy and the sense of being stared at, suggesting a direct mind-to-mind connection.
• The coordinated behavior of large groups of animals, implying shared, overlapping minds.
• Near-death experiences (NDEs), where individuals report contact with a transcendent domain and access to universal knowledge.
• Reincarnation phenomena.
• Communication with the deceased.
• The remarkable abilities of savants, who possess knowledge seemingly beyond their individual learning.
• The deep connections and shared experiences of twins, even when separated.
• Telesomatic events, where distant individuals experience similar physical sensations.
• Experiences of remote viewing and precognition.
• The One Mind is Not a Homogeneous Blob: Despite the interconnectedness, the One Mind does not result in a featureless muddle. Specificity and individuality are preserved in One-Mind experiences. The analogy of stem cells is used, suggesting the One Mind awaits instructions and prompting to manifest in unique ways.
• Relationship to the Brain: The book challenges the dominant view that the brain produces consciousness. Instead, it explores the idea that the brain may function as an intermediary or receiver for the mind, which originates from a broader, nonlocal source.
• Connection to Ancient Wisdom and Modern Science: The concept of the One Mind has ancient roots in various wisdom traditions and is also finding resonance in modern science through concepts like quantum entanglement and the idea of a holographic universe.
• The Self and the One Mind: While some may fear losing individuality, the One Mind perspective suggests that the illusion of separateness can be overcome to realize a deeper unity. This can lead to a sense of shared identity and fellowship.
• Is the One Mind God? The book addresses the question of whether the One Mind equates to God, noting similarities such as omniscience, omnipresence, and eternality. While some, like Erwin Schrödinger, saw the One Mind as God, the book also emphasizes potential differences and the importance of recognizing gradations of being.
• Accessing the One Mind: Various pathways to experiencing the One Mind are discussed, including meditation, reverie, prayer, dreams, and love. The key seems to involve a letting go of the discursive, rational mind and approaching with respect and an openness to a source of wisdom beyond oneself.

Ultimately, the One Mind concept, as presented in the sources, offers a paradigm shift in understanding consciousness, suggesting a fundamental interconnectedness that has profound implications for our understanding of ourselves, our relationship with the world, and our potential for collective action and spiritual growth.

Nonlocal Consciousness and the One Mind

The concept of nonlocal consciousness is central to the idea of the One Mind, as discussed in the sources.

Definition of Nonlocal Consciousness:

• Nonlocality of consciousness means that individual minds are not confined or localized to specific points in space, such as brains or bodies, nor to specific points in time, such as the present.
• Instead, minds are spatially and temporally infinite.
• Nonlocal mind is a term coined to express this spatially and temporally infinite aspect of our consciousness.

Relationship to the One Mind:

• The nonlocality of consciousness is presented as the ultimate argument for the One Mind.
• Because individual minds are not confined, the separateness of minds is considered an illusion.
• At a fundamental level, all minds come together to form a single mind due to their nonlocal nature.
• The One Mind is described as an overarching, inclusive dimension to which all the mental components of all individual minds belong. Nonlocality makes this interconnectedness possible.

Evidence and Manifestations of Nonlocal Consciousness:

The book explores various phenomena as evidence for nonlocal consciousness and its manifestation in the One Mind:

• Telepathy: The ability to share thoughts, emotions, and even physical sensations with a distant individual without sensory contact. This suggests that minds are not bounded by physical distance.
• Remote Viewing and Clairvoyance: The capacity to demonstrate detailed knowledge of distant scenes or find hidden objects without sensory means. This indicates that awareness extends beyond the physical body.
• Premonitions: Acquiring valid information about future events. This points to a consciousness that is not limited by linear time.
• Near-Death Experiences (NDEs): Experiences of direct contact with a transcendent domain, often accompanied by a sense of unity and access to universal knowledge, occurring when the brain is significantly impaired. This challenges the idea that consciousness is solely a product of the brain.
• Shared Experiences: Instances where spouses, siblings, twins, lovers, or groups share emotions, thoughts, or feelings at a distance. Telesomatic events, where distant individuals experience similar physical sensations, also fall under this category.
• Animal Behavior: The coordinated behavior of large groups of animals, suggesting shared, overlapping minds. The ability of lost animals to return home across vast distances without known sensory cues also hints at nonlocal connections.
• Savants: Individuals with remarkable abilities or knowledge seemingly beyond their individual learning, possibly tapping into the One Mind.
• Experiences of Twins: The deep connections and shared experiences of twins, even when separated, suggest a fundamental link in consciousness.

Challenge to the Brain-Centric View:

• The concept of nonlocal consciousness directly challenges the dominant view in science that the brain produces consciousness. This brain-as-producer model struggles to explain nonlocal phenomena.
• The book explores the alternative idea that the brain may function as an intermediary or receiver for the mind, which originates from a broader, nonlocal source.
• The persistence of coherent experiences during unconsciousness in NDEs further challenges the brain-as-sole-generator theory.

Implications of Nonlocal Consciousness:

• The realization of nonlocal consciousness and the One Mind can lead to a sense of felt unity with all other minds, conveying renewed meaning, purpose, and possibility.
• It fosters the understanding that we are all deeply interconnected, potentially inspiring compassion, responsibility, and cooperation in addressing global challenges. As stated, recognizing our interconnectedness can lead to the ethical stance of being kind to others because “in some sense they are you” [The initial summary provided before the sources].
• Nonlocal consciousness suggests that information and knowledge are potentially accessible beyond the limitations of individual experience.

In conclusion, nonlocal consciousness, as presented in the sources, posits that the mind transcends the physical constraints of the brain and body, existing in a spatially and temporally infinite domain. This nonlocality underpins the concept of the One Mind, a unitary field of consciousness of which all individual minds are a part. The existence of various seemingly paranormal phenomena is presented as evidence for this nonlocal nature of consciousness, challenging conventional, brain-centric views and suggesting profound implications for our understanding of ourselves and our interconnectedness with the world.

One Mind: Shared Experiences and Interconnectedness

The sources discuss various forms of shared experiences, suggesting a fundamental interconnectedness between individuals, which aligns with the concept of the One Mind. These experiences often transcend typical sensory limitations and point to a deeper level of shared consciousness.

Here are some key types of shared experiences discussed in the sources:

• Shared Emotions, Thoughts, and Feelings at a Distance: The sources provide numerous examples of individuals sharing emotions, thoughts, or feelings with distant loved ones, such as spouses, siblings, twins, and close friends.
• A mother inexplicably sensed her young daughter was in trouble and then received a call about her daughter’s car accident.
• A young academic in New York awoke knowing her twin in Arizona was in trouble, which coincided with a car bomb exploding near her sister’s apartment.
• Dr. Larry Dossey notes that these One-Mind experiences involve unbounded, extended awareness.
• Telesomatic Events: These involve individuals separated by distance experiencing similar physical sensations or actual physical changes.
• A mother writing to her daughter felt a severe burning in her right hand at the same time her daughter’s right hand was burned by acid in a lab accident.
• A woman suddenly felt severe chest pain and knew something had happened to her daughter Nell, who had simultaneously been in a car accident with a steering wheel penetrating her chest.
• The case of the infant twins Ricky and Damien suggests a telesomatic link with survival value, as Ricky’s distress alerted his mother to Damien suffocating.
• These events often occur between people with emotional closeness and empathy.
• Shared Dreams: The sources mention instances where multiple people report similar dreams on the same night or dream of each other in a common space.
• The example of the two Japanese women who had strikingly similar dreams of one stabbing the other in a hotel lobby illustrates mutual dreaming.
• Anthropologist Marianne George experienced shared dreams with a Barok female leader in New Guinea, whose instructions in the dream were later verified by her sons, highlighting the possibility of dream communication across distance.
• A curious historical anecdote describes a shared dream of a rat attack between individuals living 143 miles apart, suggesting that shared anxieties and dreams can occur even in modern cultures.
• Shared-Death Experiences (SDEs): These are near-death-like experiences that happen to healthy individuals in the proximity of a loved one who is dying.
• Raymond Moody first heard of SDEs from a Dr. Jamieson who, upon her mother’s death, found herself out of her body with her mother, witnessing a mystical light and deceased relatives.
• Moody and his siblings experienced a shared sense of joy and a change in the light of the room as their mother died, with one brother-in-law reporting an out-of-body experience with her.
• SDEs often include elements of NDEs such as tunnel experiences, bright light, out-of-body sensations, and a life review. A key difference is the shared sensation of a mystical light by several healthy people, which challenges the idea that the light in NDEs is solely a result of a dying brain. Another feature is the observation of an apparent mist leaving the dying person.
• Collective Experiences in Groups: The sources allude to shared mental states in larger groups.
• The coordinated behavior of large animal groups like herds, flocks, and schools suggests shared, overlapping minds.
• The Nuremberg Rallies are presented as an example of how coherent thought and solidarity can be fostered in a large group, though for destructive purposes.
• The experience of the Hotshot firefighting crew, where each member had a near-death experience during a life-threatening fire, sometimes appearing in each other’s NDE, demonstrates a collective fear-death experience with overlapping elements.
• Empathy and Pro-Social Behavior: The demonstrated empathy in rats, where a free rat persistently works to liberate a trapped cagemate, suggests a shared emotional experience and a drive towards pro-social behavior. This indicates that shared feelings and a sense of connection may extend beyond humans and influence actions.

These diverse examples illustrate the concept of shared consciousness extending beyond the individual, supporting the notion of a One Mind where the boundaries of individual awareness are more permeable than conventionally understood. The emotional closeness between individuals appears to be a significant factor in many of these shared experiences. The sources suggest that recognizing these connections can foster compassion and a sense of shared responsibility.

Animal Minds and Human-Animal Connections

The sources provide extensive discussion on animal connections, both among animals and between humans and animals, often linking these connections to the concept of the One Mind.

Connections Among Animals:

• The book explores the highly coordinated behavior of large groups of animals such as bison herds, wildebeest migrations, passenger pigeon flocks, starling murmurations, and schools of fish. These movements often appear unified, as if the group is a single entity.
• Swarm intelligence is presented as one scientific explanation, where local interactions between individuals lead to intelligent group behavior without centralized control. However, the book also notes that some biologists suspect this theory doesn’t fully account for the speed and coordination observed, with some speculating about “collective thinking” or telepathy.
• Rupert Sheldrake’s morphic fields hypothesis is introduced as a potential explanation for this nonsensory group intelligence. He suggests that these fields of influence, shaped by evolution, operate nonlocally and facilitate communication within groups, acting as an evolutionary basis for telepathy. The coordinated movements happen too quickly for sensory explanations like vision alone.
• The book also discusses animal grief and mourning, citing examples of elephants gathering around the dead, burying them, and revisiting the site, as well as similar behaviors in dogs, horses, and gorillas. The “magpie funeral” and crows reacting to a crow being shot are also given as examples of apparent collective responses.
• Evidence of empathy and pro-social behavior in animals is presented, such as the study where lab rats would persistently work to free a trapped cagemate, even when offered chocolate as an alternative. This suggests innate, unselfish behavior in animals.

Connections Between Humans and Animals:

• Numerous anecdotes and some experimental evidence are provided to illustrate a deep and often inexplicable bond between humans and animals.
• Returning lost pets are a key example, such as Bobbie the Collie who traveled 2,800 miles over six months to return to his owners. The book challenges conventional explanations like a highly developed sense of smell over such distances and between species, proposing instead that the minds of the animal and owner are part of a larger One Mind, allowing a sharing of information often associated with love and caring. Similar cases of cats returning home over long distances are also mentioned.
• Animals reacting to the needs and emotions of distant owners are discussed. The case of Prince, the dog who became disconsolate when his soldier owner returned to the front in World War I and then disappeared, is given as an example. Susan Armstrong’s experience of her dog suddenly killing a parakeet at the exact moment she felt a violent emotion while gardening outside also suggests a distant emotional link.
• Anticipation of an owner’s return by pets, even when the time or mode of transport is varied and unknown to others in the household, is highlighted, referencing Rupert Sheldrake’s experiments. This suggests a bond operating at a distance in both space and time.
• Pets detecting their owners’ moods, thoughts, and intentions are commonly reported. Sheldrake’s survey found that a significant percentage of dog and cat owners believed their pets responded to their thoughts or silent commands and were sometimes telepathic.
• Instances of animals rescuing humans and humans rescuing animals are presented as evidence of the One Mind uniting different species. Mythologist Joseph Campbell and philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer’s idea of minds fusing at critical moments is extended to interspecies rescues, suggesting that the rescuer, in a sense, is rescuing itself. Examples include dolphins protecting swimmers from sharks and a horse charging a cow to save its owner.
• The phenomenon of apparent distant, cross-species communication is mentioned, such as Queen Elizabeth’s dogs barking when she reaches the gate half a mile away.
• Dreams involving animals that seem to have a connection to real-world events are noted, such as Jim Harrison’s vivid dream about his neighbor’s missing dogs, which corresponded to the path they took.
• The historical and cultural reverence for animals and beliefs about their connection to the spiritual realm are briefly touched upon, using the example of bees in various cultures.

Overall, the sources present a compelling case for significant connections between animals and between humans and animals that go beyond conventional sensory explanations. These connections are presented as supportive evidence for the concept of a unitary One Mind that encompasses all sentient creatures. The book suggests that recognizing these profound links can foster compassion and a sense of interconnectedness with the wider web of life.

Limits of Science: Consciousness and the Unknown

The sources discuss several limits of science, both inherent and self-imposed, particularly in its understanding of mind, consciousness, and related phenomena.

Firstly, the very nature of mind and consciousness poses a significant limit to scientific inquiry as currently practiced. Dr. Dossey recounts an interaction with an Indian physician who pointed out the multiple levels of consciousness, a subtlety often overlooked in Western science. The author acknowledges the difficulty in providing a specific definition of mind and consciousness that satisfies all perspectives. He suggests that perhaps these terms are best left with a degree of deliberate ambiguity.

Furthermore, there’s a “tool problem” in trying to comprehend consciousness with the mind itself, likened to seeing one’s eye with one’s eye. Similarly, the writer’s tool of language is deemed insufficient to fully describe the unification of individual minds in a unitary One Mind. Bohr’s analogy of cleaning plates with dirty water and dishcloths illustrates this limitation of using unclear concepts to understand nature. Because of this, Dr. Dossey frequently relies on individual experiences, which he argues are essential for grasping the complementarity between individual minds and the One Mind, even if skeptics dismiss them as “mere anecdotes”. Max Planck’s quote underscores this, stating that science cannot solve the ultimate mystery of nature because we are part of that mystery.

The sources also highlight self-imposed limits of science, often stemming from dogmatic assumptions and “pathological disbelief”. Nobel physicist Brian Josephson terms the staunch refusal to consider evidence for a nonlocal, unified aspect of mind as “pathological disbelief”. This is compared to 18th-century scientists denying the existence of meteorites despite physical evidence because “stones cannot fall from the sky”. A similar dogmatism persists today, with many scientists insisting consciousness cannot exist outside the brain and body, disregarding evidence suggesting otherwise. This “aggressive, hubristic pathological disbelief” not only disgraces scientific tradition but also diminishes the “hope of wisdom” needed for survival. Rupert Sheldrake also argues that science is being constricted by assumptions that have hardened into dangerous dogmas.

The arrogance and certainty that science knows more than it does also create serious obstacles in understanding consciousness. Wes Nisker’s playful suggestion to publicly admit “we don’t know what the hell’s going on here” serves as a corrective to this hubris.

Methodologically, science faces limitations when trying to study certain phenomena. J. B. Priestley suggests that precognitive dreams and similar experiences might wither away when brought into the controlled environment of scientific experiment. Similarly, the One Mind, thriving on uncertainty and freedom, is not easily studied through formalized entry methods, which can become a trap. The attempt to study prayer in highly artificial ways is given as another example of how concretization can hinder understanding.

Historically, science has often shown resistance to new ideas, with prominent scientists facing ridicule and opposition for challenging established views. The image of the open-minded scientist is contrasted with the reality of narrow-mindedness, dullness, and even stupidity that can exist within the scientific community, as noted by Nobel laureate James Watson and psychologist Hans Eysenck. Prejudice against consciousness research is openly admitted in some cases. Furthermore, science has been accused of “skimming off the top,” accepting data that aligns with the prevailing paradigm and ignoring contradictory evidence.

The sources also touch upon the limits of science in fully grasping the concept of “self”. While spiritual traditions have long addressed the illusion of a fixed self, science’s attempts to eradicate the self might be an overreach, potentially killing off consciousness as well. Carl Jung believed it’s absurd to suppose existence can only be physical, as our immediate knowledge is psychic.

However, the sources also suggest that acknowledging these limits can be an opportunity for science to expand. Lewis Thomas recognized the importance of admitting our ignorance. Sir Arthur Eddington’s quote, “Something unknown is doing we don’t know what,” is presented as an excellent motto for exploring beyond-the-brain-and-body phenomena, emphasizing humility, awe, and wonder, which Socrates considered the beginning of wisdom. The call for “more and better science” includes a science that embraces the “hope of wisdom” and recognizes our interconnectedness with life on Earth. By ceasing to sacrifice empirical findings to protect pet notions, science can evolve and contribute to a more holistic understanding of reality.

By Amjad Izhar
Contact: amjad.izhar@gmail.com
https://amjadizhar.blog

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