Conscious Universe

[The Hammer]

As a Pagan, I have always known that Nature and of course the Universe as a whole, is alive, as are all of the parts of the whole individually alive in their own unique ways separate from the whole. Animated by Spirit if you want to call it that.

Now, where I waffle back and forth is whether I would consider the universe to be conscious though.

We are aware of and familiar with the Universe in much the same way that an organism in your gut microbiome is aware of your presence. Can that microbe be aware of your consciousness? Are you aware of the consciousness of the microbes in your gut Flora?

What do your traditions say? Is the Universe Conscious. Is it aware? Is this even considered?

 

[SalixIncendium]

What do your traditions say? Is the Universe Conscious. Is it aware? Is this even considered?

Advaita Vedanta is not interested in this question, as the universe is an appearance in consciousness. There is only Brahman.

 

[The Hammer]

Advaita Vedanta is not interested in this question, as the universe is an appearance in consciousness. There is only Brahman.

So Brahman is a concept that transcends the physical Universe?

As only an appearance in consciousness does that mean nothing is truly "real", as only consciousness, that's not ours, exists?

 

[The Hammer]

I guess that's really a silly question. I know you don't see a differentiation between this/that.

 

[crossfire]

Is the universe capable of delusion? This is my test for sentience (which differs from consciousness.)

 

[SalixIncendium]

So Brahman is a concept that transcends the physical Universe?

The physical universe is an appearance in Brahman as a result of Maya.

As only an appearance in consciousness does that mean nothing is truly "real", as only consciousness, that's not ours, exists?

From the perspective of transactional reality, that reality in which one perceived the physical universe, the universe is quite real. From the perspective of absolute reality...Brahman...the physical universe is as real as a dream might be from the perspective of waking consciousness. Similarly, from the perspective of a dream, the dream universe is quite real, but once one awakens into waking consciousness, one realizes that dream was merely an appearance.

 

[SalixIncendium]

I guess that's really a silly question. I know you don't see a differentiation between this/that.

Nah. Not a silly question. You may know this, but not everyone does. I'm more than happy to clarify.

 

[The Hammer]

From the perspective of transactional reality, that reality in which one perceived the physical universe, the universe is quite real. From the perspective of absolute reality...Brahman...the physical universe is as real as a dream might be from the perspective of waking consciousness. Similarly, from the perspective of a dream, the dream universe is quite real, but once one awakens into waking consciousness, one realizes that dream was merely an appearance.

This makes sense to me. A good succinct explanation.

 

[The Hammer]

Is the universe capable of delusion? This is my test for sentience (which differs from consciousness.)

I think that some sentient beings are capable of being free from delusion.

Jellyfish come to mind.

 

[Jimmy]

As a Pagan, I have always known that Nature and of course the Universe as a whole, is alive, as are all of the parts of the whole individually alive in their own unique ways separate from the whole. Animated by Spirit if you want to call it that.

Now, where I waffle back and forth is whether I would consider the universe to be conscious though.

We are aware of and familiar with the Universe in much the same way that an organism in your gut microbiome is aware of your presence. Can that microbe be aware of your consciousness? Are you aware of the consciousness of the microbes in your gut Flora?

What do your traditions say? Is the Universe Conscious. Is it aware? Is this even considered?

Universe conscious? No. A touch above reality? Yes. A touch above consciousness? Yes

 

[The Hammer]

No. A touch above reality? Yes.

Sorry, I'm slow today apparently, can you specify which questions you answered ?

 

[Evangelicalhumanist]

As a Pagan, I have always known that Nature and of course the Universe as a whole, is alive, as are all of the parts of the whole individually alive in their own unique ways separate from the whole. Animated by Spirit if you want to call it that.

Now, where I waffle back and forth is whether I would consider the universe to be conscious though.

We are aware of and familiar with the Universe in much the same way that an organism in your gut microbiome is aware of your presence. Can that microbe be aware of your consciousness? Are you aware of the consciousness of the microbes in your gut Flora?

What do your traditions say? Is the Universe Conscious. Is it aware? Is this even considered?

You are asking all the wrong questions, because you are making invalid comparisons. The only thing that signifies consciousness is that it (sometimes) reacts to stimuli in something other than a purely physical way. (The 8 ball in pool is not conscious of being hit by the cue ball, but moves anyway using nothing more complicated than Newton's laws of motion.)

If you can show an example of the universe reacting to something that has been done to it -- outside of that purely physical action-reaction response -- then we might consider it. Otherwise, why even bother?

 

[Jimmy]

Sorry, I'm slow today apparently, can you specify which questions you answered ?

I edited

 

[The Hammer]

Universe conscious? No. A touch above reality? Yes. A touch above consciousness? Yes

Interesting.

So something larger than the Universe (ie above reality) has something more than conciousness? Am I understanding you right?

 

[The Hammer]

Otherwise, why even bother?

Intellectual stimulation, and pondering things outside our limited understanding based on classical empiricism?

 

[The Sum of Awe]

I would say it is.

 

[The Sum of Awe]

You are asking all the wrong questions, because you are making invalid comparisons. The only thing that signifies consciousness is that it (sometimes) reacts to stimuli in something other than a purely physical way. (The 8 ball in pool is not conscious of being hit by the cue ball, but moves anyway using nothing more complicated than Newton's laws of motion.)

If you can show an example of the universe reacting to something that has been done to it -- outside of that purely physical action-reaction response -- then we might consider it. Otherwise, why even bother?

What about responding to Ceasing to Exist by Existing?

 

[Evangelicalhumanist]

Intellectual stimulation, and pondering things outside our limited understanding based on classical empiricism?

Well, if you want to do that, open it all the way up. Question everything.

 

[Evangelicalhumanist]

What about responding to Ceasing to Exist by Existing?

Because I haven't the slightest idea of what that might mean. It's like "ceasing to eat by eating." You tell me.

 

[The Hammer]

Well, if you want to do that, open it all the way up. Question everything.

True. But, best to start somewhere.

Personally, I'm partial to esotericism, and those types of discussions.