The role of consciousness in nature: An interview with Dr. Iain McGilchrist, Part 1 

Would love to hear a Conversation between Iain and Bernardo!

"I don't know who discovered water, but it certainly wasn't a fish." Terence Mckenna

Fabulous clarity in your answer ~Thank You 🕊

Iain McGilchrist is amazing!

I love this man. I hope his ideas sweep across the world.

Every time I listen to a podcast with Iain McGilchrist I learn something new. Terminal Lucidity. I've never heard of that before.

Love to hear conversation between Iain ,Rupert Spita and Bernardo Kastrup. Enjoying these discussions thorougly. Thank you

Iain is a treasure. Thanks for this!

Would also love to hear a conversation between Ian and Bernardo. I wonder Ian's transmitter metaphor and Whitehead concepts could shift towards Schoupenhauer/Kastrup's idea of Will and its Representation in spacetime? ...then I am all in.

Many thanks 😊

Loved the Q&A format 👍 but wish the questions were read aloud instead of us being glued to the screen. 😅 The book to buy, read and gift 💝

Synchronicity in action. First I explored existentialism. It was unsatisfying explained a little but did provide in method of dealing with the world which should apparently absurd. I understand now that all existentialist in particular Sartre and Camus. This in turn left me left me to explore Donald Hoffman's theories. Exploring them at the end to understand how distorted our perception of the real world is.

“You can’t explain / understand consciousness because you are inside of it, and in science we always stand outside something to analyze and explain it” (paraphrasing…). Not entirely true. I listened to Dr. McGilchrist, while conscious, I believe, and understood clearly (if not exactly) what he was talking about. But that means that, standing outside him, I analyzed what he was saying and, being of similar mind, understand why he was saying it. So I do understand what consciousness is. It is😅 experiencing something, thinking about it in your mind, reflecting on it, and then interpreting it in terms of your own experiences. That’s what our brains do. The major reason, I believe, that people do not understand this is that they think of consciousness as a momentary “point” of experience. But consciousness REQUIRES memory, it requires “time” to reflect. If you cannot remember anything you cannot experience consciousness - only “awareness”. You can react reflexively according to your programmed reactions, like the reflex when you stick your finger with a thorn, but to be conscious of that, you have to look at the blood and think about the pain and should you get a bandaid and antibiotic and all that. You would not have a sense of self without memory. Even people that have anterograde amnesia (can’t remember anything more than a couple minutes previous) can claim to be conscious - but then they have both working memory and usually memory previous to the injury causing their amnesia. Examine someone that has no memory whatsoever of anything, but only awareness of what they are immediately aware of, and ask them whether they are conscious. I’m not sure such individuals exist. It’s not the same as anesthesia. BTW, consciousness is not a stream, it’s a vortex of information that keeps circling around in your brain.

Thank you so much for this video. It helps me when things are segmented as they are here. If I don’t quite understand, or my mind drifts for a few seconds, it is easy to just go back and repeat the question.

Excellent!

Thank so much!!

Огромное Спасибо !!

From this, I would opine that the purpose of existence is to express and experience itself!

I respect McGilchrist and I'm surprised he doesn't explicitly point out the convergence between his view and that of the Taoists.

I love this idea of a receiver a radio receiver the is the brain it filters and amplifies consciousness Avery Huber a radio receiver that is the brain it filters and amplifies consciousness into our organic world into our organic world.

Great mind

Could we say that brain injury or alcohol intake affect sentience rather than affecting consciousness? Consciousness being the essential aspect is unaffected by alterations in the phenomenal realm including drastic changes in tge brain function. Are we conflating sentience and consciousness?

A segment from 'Saved by the Light of the Buddha Within'... My new understandings of what many call 'God -The Holy Spirit' - resulting from some of the extraordinary ongoing after-effects relating to my NDE... Myoho-Renge-Kyo represents the identity of what some scientists are now referring to as the unified field of consciousnesses. In other words, it’s the essence of all existence and non-existence - the ultimate creative force behind planets, stars, nebulae, people, animals, trees, fish, birds, and all phenomena, manifest or latent. All matter and intelligence are simply waves or ripples manifesting to and from this core source. Consciousness (enlightenment) is itself the actual creator of everything that exists now, ever existed in the past, or will exist in the future - right down to the minutest particles of dust - each being an individual ripple or wave. The big difference between chanting Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo and most other conventional prayers is that instead of depending on a ‘middleman’ to connect us to our state of inner enlightenment, we’re able to do it ourselves. That’s because chanting Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo allows us to tap directly into our enlightened state by way of this self-produced sound vibration. ‘Who or What Is God?’ If we compare the concept of God being a separate entity that is forever watching down on us, to the teachings of Nichiren, it makes more sense to me that the true omnipotence, omniscience and omnipresence of what most people perceive to be God, is the fantastic state of enlightenment that exists within each of us. Some say that God is an entity that’s beyond physical matter - I think that the vast amount of information continuously being conveyed via electromagnetic waves in today’s world gives us proof of how an invisible state of God could indeed exist. For example, it’s now widely known that specific data relayed by way of electromagnetic waves has the potential to help bring about extraordinary and powerful effects - including an instant global awareness of something or a mass emotional reaction. It’s also common knowledge that these invisible waves can easily be used to detonate a bomb or to enable NASA to control the movements of a robot as far away as the Moon or Mars - none of which is possible without a receiver to decode the information that’s being transmitted. Without the receiver, the data would remain impotent. In a very similar way, we need to have our own ‘receiver’ switched on so that we can activate a clear and precise understanding of our own life, all other life and what everything else in existence is. Chanting Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo each day helps us to achieve this because it allows us to reach the core of our enlightenment and keep it switched on. That’s because Myoho-Renge-Kyo represents the identity of what scientists now refer to as the unified field of consciousnesses. To break it down - Myoho represents the Law of manifestation and latency (Nature) and consists of two alternating states. For example, the state of Myo is where everything in life that’s not obvious to us exists - including our stored memories when we’re not thinking about them - our hidden potential and inner emotions whenever they’re dormant - our desires, our fears, our wisdom, happiness, karma - and more importantly, our enlightenment. The other state, ho, is where everything in Life exists whenever it becomes evident to us, such as when a thought pops up from within our memory - whenever we experience or express our emotions - or whenever a good or bad cause manifests as an effect from our karma. When anything becomes apparent, it merely means that it’s come out of the state of Myo (dormancy/latency) and into a state of ho (manifestation). It’s the difference between consciousness and unconsciousness, being awake or asleep, or knowing and not knowing. The second law - Renge - Ren meaning cause and ge meaning effect, governs and controls the functions of Myoho - these two laws of Myoho and Renge, not only function together simultaneously but also underlies all spiritual and physical existence. The final and third part of the tri-combination - Kyo, is the Law that allows Myoho to integrate with Renge - or vice versa. It’s the great, invisible thread of energy that fuses and connects all Life and matter - as well as the past, present and future. It’s also sometimes termed the Universal Law of Communication - perhaps it could even be compared with the string theory that many scientists now suspect exists. Just as the cells in our body, our thoughts, feelings and everything else is continually fluctuating within us - all that exists in the world around us and beyond is also in a constant state of flux - constantly controlled by these three fundamental laws. In fact, more things are going back and forth between the two states of Myo and ho in a single moment than it would ever be possible to calculate or describe. And it doesn’t matter how big or small, famous or trivial anything or anyone may appear to be, everything that’s ever existed in the past, exists now or will exist in the future, exists only because of the workings of the Laws ‘Myoho-Renge-Kyo’ - the basis of the four fundamental forces, and if they didn’t function, neither we nor anything else could go on existing. That’s because all forms of existence, including the seasons, day, night, birth, death and so on, are moving forward in an ongoing flow of continuation - rhythmically reverting back and forth between the two fundamental states of Myo and ho in absolute accordance with Renge - and by way of Kyo. Even stars are dying and being reborn under the workings of what the combination ‘Myoho-Renge-Kyo’ represents. Nam, or Namu - which mean the same thing, are vibrational passwords or keys that allow us to reach deep into our life and fuse with or become one with ‘Myoho-Renge-Kyo’. On a more personal level, nothing ever happens by chance or coincidence, it’s the causes that we’ve made in our past, or are presently making, that determine how these laws function uniquely in each of our lives - as well as the environment from moment to moment. By facing east, in harmony with the direction that the Earth is spinning, and chanting Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo for a minimum of, let’s say, ten minutes daily to start with, any of us can experience actual proof of its positive effects in our lives - even if it only makes us feel good on the inside, there will be a definite positive effect. That’s because we’re able to pierce through the thickest layers of our karma and activate our inherent Buddha Nature (our enlightened state). By so doing, we’re then able to bring forth the wisdom and good fortune that we need to challenge, overcome and change our adverse circumstances - turn them into positive ones - or manifest and gain even greater fulfilment in our daily lives from our accumulated good karma. This also allows us to bring forth the wisdom that can free us from the ignorance and stupidity that’s preventing us from accepting and being proud of the person that we indeed are - regardless of our race, colour, gender or sexuality. We’re also able to see and understand our circumstances and the environment far more clearly, as well as attract and connect with any needed external beneficial forces and situations. As I’ve already mentioned, everything is subject to the law of Cause and Effect - the ‘actual-proof-strength’ resulting from chanting Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo always depends on our determination, sincerity and dedication. For example, the levels of difference could be compared to making a sound on a piano, creating a melody, producing a great song, and so on. Something else that’s very important to always respect and acknowledge is that the Law (or if you prefer God) is in everyone and everything. NB: There are frightening and disturbing sounds, and there are tranquil and relaxing sounds. It’s the emotional result of any noise or sound that can trigger off a mood or even instantly change one. When chanting Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo each day, we are producing a sound vibration that’s the password to our true inner-self - this soon becomes apparent when you start reassessing your views on various things - such as your fears and desires etc. The best way to get the desired result when chanting is not to view things conventionally - rather than reaching out to an external source, we need to reach into our own lives and bring our needs and desires to fruition from within - including the good fortune and strength to achieve any help that we may need. Chanting Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo also reaches out externally and draws us towards, or draws towards us, what we need to make us happy from our environment. For example, it helps us to be in the right place at the right time - to make better choices and decisions and so forth. We need to think of it as a seed within us that we’re watering and bringing sunshine to for it to grow, blossom and bring forth fruit or flowers. It’s also important to understand that everything we need in life, including the answer to every question and the potential to achieve every dream, already exists within us.

"to know something in science is to stand outside the experience but of course experience is consciousness so we can't stand outside it um in that sense it's different" - Iain This, for those who only use science as a way to prove something from the Left Hemisphere part of the brain, the Intellect, becomes an insurmountable obstacle. The singular work around is to use the Right Hemisphere brain with the Intuition, to grapple the concept of nonphysical Consciousness. "Consciousness is a self-aware information system" - Tom Campbell.

Jerome ATE the Book.

Process ees as mr.kastrup pronounces the word.Consciouness is a process.Yes.

Essential listening for all. Thinking for some. L/s.

💜

He says of the relation of consciousness to the brain: emission, transmission, or permission. I head the first two explained but, unless I missed it, did he explain the 'permission' case?

so beautiful

Hammeroff, an anesthesiologist, said that consciousness comes from microtubules. He studied how anesthesia takes consciousness offline.

34:16 I think the idea of non-instrumental purpose is incompatible with action, since action is inherently about desire satisfaction. If any purposes were in fact non-instrumental, it would be logically impossible for us to partake in them, since acting in accordance with that purpose would necessitate that we instrumentalise it as a means to appease our desire.

The cosmos is an appearance in consciousness rather than the other way around. As it was said, consciousness is foundational. But only 100% foundational and across all observable and non-observable dimensions.

Oh my already right off the hop he stands corrected: YES, YOU CAN OBSERVE nature from outside of it-AS YOU ALREADY DO YOU’RE ENGROSSED IN YOUR CITIES.

life moves like a flock of birds murmuring

📍33:11

Consciousness is not a building block of the universe or cosmos since there is no precedent to consciousness. Concerning the matter of singularity and wholeness, they are coexistent like waves coexist the ocean. They refer to one reality, namely water. The differentiation of the ocean into waves creates a differentiation but not separation.

Consciousness arose when a non-conscious brain looped around to sense and modify its own patterns.

His 'panpsychist' stance is confusing, I think, suggesting that a single cell or single organisms 'can take a decision'. Only consciousness is conscious, isn't it? Hence 'everything is conscious' is not the same as 'everything is conscousness'. What 'makes' the decision, the 'conscious organism' or consciousness itself?

Iain doesn't agree with Bernardo about the dashboard metaphore.

Of course science can understand consciousness, value, love, and all subjective experiences. That does not lessen their personal significance. We know that humans evolved over at least 3.8 billion years and life consists of physical, material ingredients. Certainly, there is emergent properties and behaviors, but those depend on material substrates. Any so-called quale (singular of qualia) emerged from the brain/body complex system. Thus, qualia can be expressed as a function of materiality and information. Continuous phenomena can be sampled digitally to an arbitrary level of accuracy just as analog music is sampled and recorded on digital media. It's time that consciousness and other subjective experiences be demystified. Of course that would not be as enticing, and it would cut short pontifications on these "mysteries" by "experts."

The human body is a hackable object. T but yes but. Be a cell.

Consciousness is the foundation of the fabric of reality itself down to the atoms, and subatoms and forces. There is no reality without first consciousness. Wheresoever reality exists, so too consciousness permeates. That it might not manifest before our eyes is irrelevant. We would not say, "consciousness does not exist in other parts of this planet because we do not see or interact with it". Of course it exists all over this planet even though each of us may never witness or interact or even know of its existence in so many unvisited and unknown places. Se see proof of the foundation of our reality as being consciousness itself on many levels in life right before our eyes... all of our reality is depends on the existence first and foremost on consciousness. From airplanes to letters, to laws to the clothes we wear.... social, scientific, psychological, technological... all have consciousness as forerunner and foundation. Without it, none of these things can exist.

Here I can see two erroneous concepts. The constancy of an entity called conciousness, when it is evolving, changing and dies at tge same time it is firmed as our senses are slow, so we perceive it as continuous. Then there is the need for a being who is present, in this case conciousness itself, when it is just cause and effect process that contounues until it is not reinforced with attention of the observer, as in tbe slit experiment. So long as there is observation of a being there will be mindbody phenomena manifesting on conciousness. When the observer , sense of self, want/ not want , views, self when observing these will disdolve and there is ease, till death. All these other descriptions will have no meaning, but paradoxically everything is there.

“It’s a mistake to think consciousness is a thing, it’s a process or even better it’s an aspect of processes.” But ASPECT IS a noun, which is a person, place or “thing.” So he’ll have to note to himself whether he’s referring to the progressive aspect or the perfective aspect of the “THING” now. And he’ll also have to acknowledge that its “success” is not a success for the rest of things out there. At its origin “aspect” is ‘to look’ but that doesn’t bring understanding. Mind has to do more than merely look to understand. It has to observe, recognize, AND ACKNOWLEDGE. And ego NEVER does that. “It almost sounds like consciousness is a BYPRODUCT of CERTAIN activities, relations or processes,” BUT YOU DON’T SEPARATE FACT FROM FICTION in that statement. You have to separate fact from fiction to KNOW the difference for your own life. Science is NOT clear it’s a manipulation. But that’s another subject. Plus, you say in that sentence that consciousness is limited, and, therefore, easily manipulated BECAUSE it’s only a “byproduct” treated like a “sponge” in that it’s manipulated for it doesn’t learn to extract nutrients and oxygen for itself (actual learning) these are far neglected in “education.” What’s that phrase… stay true to you. Well, what’s YOU. Human? WTH is that when it hasn’t been treated as such who cares. There’s a reason there’s a YOU, an individual, UNLIKE ANY OTHER. All consciousness is an individual. That doesn’t mean it’s a threat to others it’s mostly a threat to itself WHEN it isn’t honest with itself. There’s SO MANY FACETS to it and the answer is to be in nature to see the right one.

“PURPOSE” is family. In case you haven’t noticed your politics have imposed on that.

tooo drryyyyy

So before I start reading the transcript here’s what I hate about “experts” they think that THEIR mind is ALL minds ACROSS THE BOARD. Okay, so being a mind in nature myself I’ll now read what this guy thinks is my experience and understanding also SINCE HE BELIEVES that his consciousness CAN BE EVERYWHERE AT ONCE IN ALL PEOPLE 🙄

45:00 just read this great book by #cynthiabourgeault about #trinity and the link with #Gurdjieff law of three. The power and the meaning of trinity is very misunderstood now a days. Trinity is a relationship a way of relating to what is and by intention changing our personal physical mirror we call world and body.

Looking at a beard

Just think abput the futility of it all. The conciousness manifested phenomena are never real time, always after the fact, illusory, dead, as there is an inherent delay in registered sensory phenomena on the neo cortex. ( the eye upside down on retina, then to the mid brain, visual cortex journey, flup over, then sensory cortex, compare with previous data, recognise, proliferative thouggt etc) So all our cherished memories, observations are modified lies, dead, by out views, opinions, astuteness of nuronal aperatus and the age of sense organs, ie: very subjective and relative even at that dead level. We go to wars with these so called facts, sad.

Windbag