A Course in Consciousness

1
A Course in Consciousness

• This is a course in questioning and in seeing,
  not in believing.
• Question everything!
• Believe nothing!
• See directly!

2
Why are we dissatisfied with life?

• We feel separate from our thoughts, feelings, and
  body sensations.
• We think they should not be the way they are
• so we try to change them.
• The more we try to change them, the more separate
  from them we feel.

3
We feel separate from the world

• We think it should not be the way it is
• so we try to change it.
• The more we try to change it, the more separate
  from it we feel.

4
We feel separate from Reality

• What is Reality, anyway?
• We yearn and yearn to know it.
• Yet, the more we yearn for it, the farther we
  seem to be from it.

5
Who/what is this I that is trying so hard?

• Maybe I is what we should investigate!
• But, that seems too hard and it might make our
  heads hurt. (Well do that later.)
• Lets start with something easy, like
  philosophy and physics.
• That might give us some answers
• and maybe it will help us answer the hard
  questions!

6
The concept of objective reality

• Objective reality is assumed to exist whether or
  not it is being observed.
• The existence of separate objects is assumed to
  be verifiable by observation, at least in
  principle.
• The common feature of all objects is that they
  are by definition separate from each other.
• This means that separation is a basic assumption
• so the observer-object is assumed to be separate
  from the observed-object.
• We will see later that these are all nothing but
  assumptions!

7
Objective reality (cont.)

• In addition to the assumption of separation,
  objective reality has three other components
• 1) Observation of an object or its absence.
• 2) Communication of the observation to others.
• 3) Agreement with others on the existence or
  nonexistence of the object.

8
Still more on objective reality

• Agreement is required because
• 1) We must agree on the definition of the object
• 2) The existence or nonexistence of the object
  must be confirmed by at least one other observer.
  If it is not confirmed, the existence or
  nonexistence of the object is indeterminate.

9
But, what is it that is being observed?

• All of our observations are nothing but mental
  images (a mental image for each of the five
  physical senses)!
• If all of our observations are mental images, how
  can we prove that there is anything outside of
  the mind?

10
More about objective reality

• How can we prove that anything exists if we
  are not observing it?
• Anything we do to verify an objects existence
  just produces more mental images!

11
The philosophy of materialism(pure
objectivity)(Earliest materialists Atomists
Leucippus, Democritus, andEpicurus 460-270 BC)

• Everything is assumed to be matter (or, at least,
  it is governed by physical law).
• Space and time are assumed to be objectivethey
  are assumed to exist whether or not there is an
  observer.
• Matter is assumed to be objectiveit is assumed
  to exist whether or not there is an observer.
• If consciousness exists, it is assumed to be an
  epiphenomenon of matter with no independent
  existence of its own.

12
Personalized statement of materialism

• I am a body.
• Do you agree with this statement? If so, are you
  all of the body or just parts of it?
• Which parts are you? Which parts are you not?
• Where in the body are you?
• What is this I that is a body?
• Is it material?
• Is it conscious?

13
Other questions about materialism

• Which, if any, of the following are conscious,
  and what is the evidence for it?
• Cats and dogs?
• Plants?
• Microbes?
• Self-reproducing protein molecules (e.g.,
  prions)?
• Inanimate objects (e.g., rocks)?

14
The philosophy of Cartesian dualism (objectivity
plus subjectivity)(René Descartes, 1596-1650)

• Descartes proposed that mind and matter are two
  fundamental, independent substances.
• He proposed that a mind is an indivisible
  conscious, thinking entity without physical size
  or spatial location.
• He proposed that a body is a divisible object
  that has physical size, i.e., it occupies space.
• He proposed that mind and body can interact with
  each other.

15
Personalized statement of Cartesian dualism

• I am a mind and I have a body.
• This implies that I am subjective but the body
  is objective.
• (Note that the complementary statement, I am a
  body and I have a mind, is a personalized
  statement of materialism.)
• Do you agree with this statement of Cartesian
  dualism? If so, are you all of the mind or just
  parts of it?
• Which parts are you? Which parts are you not?
• Where in the mind are you?

16
Other questions about Cartesian dualism

• Similar questions as for materialism Which
  objects have minds and which do not
• Animals?
• Plants?
• Microbes?
• Prions?
• Rocks?

17
The philosophy of idealism(pure
subjectivity)Plato (380 BC), Berkeley (1710),
Kant (1781)

• Idealism is a Western philosophy that proposes
  that everything is Mind, and
• there is nothing but Mind.
• This is similar to the Eastern teaching of
  nonduality (next slide).
• Whereas, idealism is purported to describe
  Reality (assuming that Reality can be
  described),
• Nonduality is taught as a pointer to Reality
  (Reality cannot be described, only pointed to).

18
The teaching of nonduality(pure
subjectivity)Ramana Maharshi (1879-1950),
Nisargadatta Maharaj (1887-1981), Ramesh Balsekar
(1917-2009), Francis Lucille (1944-)

• Nonduality teaches that Consciousness is
  Awareness plus all of the objects of Awareness .
• Awareness does not exist in space. Space is only
  a concept in the mind.
• Since space is only a concept in the mind,
  objects are not objectively separate from each
  other. Therefore, separation is not real. It is
  only a concept.

19
The mind in nonduality

• The mind is an object of Awareness.
• My mind includes all of my thoughts,
  feelings, emotions, sensations, and perceptions.
• Your mind includes all of your thoughts,
  feelings, emotions, sensations, and perceptions.
• Even though my mind is different from your
  mind, the Awareness of my mind is the same
  Awareness of your mind.

20
Questions about minds in nonduality

• If space is only a concept in each mind, how can
  minds be separate?
• If minds are not separate, how can you see
  objects that I cannot see?
• If minds are separate, how can you and I see
  the same objects? (Remember, there is no
  objective reality!)

21
Impersonalized statement of nonduality

• I am pure Awareness/Presence.
• If space is only a concept in the mind, can there
  be any actual separation between me and pure
  Awareness/Presence?
• If space is only a concept in the mind, can there
  be any actual separation between you and me?

22
Stages of manifestation and demanifestation

• 0) Pure unmanifest I (pure Awareness).
• 1) Appearance of the body and pure Presence (the
  birth of the infant).
• 2) Appearance of the concepts of boundaries and
  separation (the infant perceives objects).
• 3) Identification of Awareness/Presence with the
  concept, I am Stanley (put in your own name).
• 4) Identification of Awareness/Presence with the
  sense of personal doership (I observe, I
  think, I feel, I choose, I do) the
  appearance of the emotions of suffering (e.g.,
  anger, guilt, fear, desire).
• 5) Disappearance of the sense of personal
  doership, disappearance of suffering, return to
  pure Awareness/Presence (the sage).
• 6) Disappearance of pure Presence (death of the
  body), return to pure Awareness.

23
Classical physicsIsaac Newton (1643-1727)

• Classical physics was assumed to be both
  materialistic and objective. Consciousness was
  not part of the theory.
• Classical objects were assumed to have separate,
  independent existences whether or not they were
  being observed.
• They were assumed to have definite properties,
  such as position, velocity, and orientation
  whether or not they were being observed. These
  properties were assumed to have no intrinsic
  uncertainties.

24
Classical physics (cont.)

• Classical objects were assumed to be acted upon
  by classical forces such as electromagnetism and
  gravity.
• The laws of classical physics were deterministic.
  This means that the state of the universe in the
  future is assumed to be completely determined by
  the state of the universe in the present, which
  is assumed to be determined by the state of the
  universe in the past.

25
Questions about classical physics

• How might our lives be different if there were no
  external objective reality but we did not know
  it?
• What if we did know it?
• How might our lives be different if the world
  were deterministic but we did not know it?
• What if we did know it?
• Suppose you accepted the principle of determinism
  as truth. How do you think you would then feel
  about your feelings, decisions, and actions?
• About other peoples feelings, decisions, and
  actions?
• How do you think it would affect your judgments
  about yourself and others?

26
In the late 1800s, problems arose with classical
physics

• It could not explain certain experiments (e.g.,
  blackbody radiation, the photoelectric effect,
  and line spectra of atoms).
• After 3 decades of trying to make classical
  theory work, physicists replaced it with quantum
  theory in the 1920s. (Why did it take so long?)
• In order to get a theory that successfully
  explained the experiments, physicists had to
  throw out the basic assumption that matter
  consisted of separate, independent, observable
  objects!

27
If quantum theory does not describe separate,
independent, observable objects, what does it
describe?

• Quantum theory was originally formulated to
  describe only objective, physical phenomena.
• At first, it was intended to describe only
  microscopic phenomena, but now it is assumed to
  describe all physical phenomena, from elementary
  particles to the entire universe.
• It is the only physical theory we have at the
  present time. If it is incorrect, we have as yet
  no other theory to replace it.
• In every direct and indirect experimental test of
  quantum theory so far, the basic principles have
  been never been shown to be invalid.

28
In quantum theory, an interpretation is necessary

• In classical physics, no interpretation was
  necessary because it was assumed that it
  described classical objects directly without an
  interpretation.
• However, quantum theory turned out to be purely
  mathematical and
• it was not obvious how to relate the mathematics
  to what, if anything, is being observed.
• An interpretation was needed for this
• but the interpretation was not self-evident.

29
In fact

• there are many interpretations of quantum
  theory, almost as many as there are those who
  interpret it.
• We still dont know if there is a correct one
• and, if there is, we dont know what it is!

30
Nevertheless,

• the mathematics of quantum theory is routinely
  used to predict the probability that an
  observation will yield a specific result (e.g.,
  the probability that a position measurement will
  yield a specific position).
• This can be done without needing to know exactly
  what it is that is being observed (if, indeed, it
  is anything).
• It could be purely objective (objective reality)
• It could be partly objective and partly
  subjective (objective reality plus observer)
• Or it could be purely subjective (observer only)
• Or it could be none of the above.

31
Richard Feynman (1918-1988)(Brilliant, creative,
iconic theoretical physicist, and bongo drummer)

• I think I can safely say that nobody
  understands quantum mechanics. The Character of
  Physical Law (1960).

32
There are three general types of interpretations
of quantum theory

• Interpretation in terms of purely objective
  reality (ontological interpretation).
• Interpretation in terms of Cartesian dualism
  (objectivity plus subjectivity).
• Interpretation in terms of purely subjective
  reality (epistemological interpretation.

33
The Copenhagen interpretationBorn, Heisenberg,
Schrödinger, Bohr (1925-1927)

• Even though the Copenhagen interpretation is
  supposed to be the orthodox interpretation,
  there is widespread disagreement on it.
• Some physicists think it is purely objective.
• Some physicists think it is partly objective and
  partly subjective.
• And a few (very few) think it is purely
  subjective.

34
In the (orthodox) Copenhagen interpretation

• space and time are assumed to be objectively
  real, but
• the only thing in space-time that is assumed to
  exist prior to an observation is a wavefunction
  that exists over all space.

35
Elementary description of a physical wave

• A physical wave is a traveling oscillation.
• Physical waves carry energy and momentum.
• Examples Water waves and electromagnetic waves.
• However, the quantum wavefunction is not a
  physical wave. It is a purely mathematical wave.

36
Big paradox The wavefunction is purely
mathematical, but is assumed to be objectively
real!

• The wavefunction is assumed to exist whether or
  not there are observations.
• It represents the probability (not the certainty)
  that a specific result will be obtained if the
  observer makes a specific type of measurement
  (e.g., position).
• It describes all of the possible results (e.g.,
  all of the possible positions) that could be
  obtained , but cannot predict which result will
  actually be obtained.

37
Wavefunction collapse

• At the moment of observation, the wavefunction is
  assumed to change irreversibly from a description
  of all of the possibilities (e.g., of position)
  that could be observed to a description of only
  the event that is observed.
• This is called wavefunction reduction, or
  wavefunction collapse.

38
The next observation

• After an observation and wavefunction collapse, a
  new wavefunction emerges.
• It represents all of the possibilities that are
  allowed by the previous observation.
• Another observation results in another wave
  function collapse, etc.
• In this theory, any observation results from a
  stream of wavefunction collapses.
• Without wavefunction collapse, there are no
  observations.

39
The mind

• Your mind consists of one stream of
  observations.
• My mind consists of another stream of
  observations.
• However, the wavefunction represents all
  possibilities and therefore predicts only the
  probability, not the certainty, that you will
  observe something. Similarly for me.
• It does not guarantee that what you see is the
  same thing that I see.

40
Consistency requires that collapse be nonlocal

• The Copenhagen interpretation requires that
  wavefunction collapse happens over all space
  simultaneously or nearly simultaneously so that
  your observations are consistent with my
  observations, no matter how far apart we are.
  This is called nonlocal collapse.
• For example, suppose you and I set up an
  apparatus to drop no more than one B-B onto a
  table top (all described by the wave function),
  but we dont know in advance where it settles on
  the table top.
• Now, suppose you and I simultaneously or
  nearly simultaneously observe the table top.
• What prevents you from seeing a B-B at one
  place on the table while I see it in a
  different place?

41
But

• What is meant by simultaneous or nearly
  simultaneous observations?
• That depends on the definition of simultaneous.
• But, no matter how simultaneity is defined, the
  same statement holds in the Copenhagen
  interpretation Simultaneous or nearly
  simultaneous observations result from collapses
  of the same or nearly the same wavefunction.

42
Side note

• Albert Einsteins (1879-1955) invented the
  special theory of relativity in1905.
• Einstein made one assumption The velocity of
  light in vacuum is a constant, independent of the
  relative velocity (also assumed to be constant)
  of two observers observing each other. (This
  assumption was consistent with the measurements
  of Michelson and Morley (1881)).
• Using only this assumption, Einstein proved that
  no physical effect, including information, can
  travel faster than the velocity of light. (This
  was also consistent with the measurements of
  Michelson and Morley.)
• This is now considered to be a physical law,
  more than just a theory, because it has been
  verified innumerable times both directly and
  indirectly. No experiment has ever invalidated it.

43
Nonlocality (cont.)

• Einsteins special theory of relativity says that
  no physical effect can travel with a velocity
  greater than the velocity of light.
• Thus, there is no physical explanation for
  anything that happens over all space
  simultaneously or nearly simultaneously so there
  is no physical mechanism for nonlocal collapse.
• Therefore, nonlocal collapse can only result from
  a nonphysical mechanism.

44
A possibility that most physicists do not like to
consider

• It might be Awareness that causes wave function
  collapse.
• Awareness is not an object. It is what is aware
  of objects.
• Since It is not an object, It cannot be observed.
• Because It is not an object, It cannot be
  localized in space and time. Therefore, It is
  nonlocal.
• Because It is nonlocal, It could collapse the
  wavefunction so that what you observe is
  consistent with what I observe.

45
Wavefunction collapse (cont.)

• Even if there were a physical mechanism for
  wavefunction collapse, it would produce nothing
  but a collapsed wavefunction.
• A collapsed wavefunction is not aware! It is only
  a collapsed wavefunction.
• Awareness exists on a different level from the
  objects of awareness.
• What you are aware of cannot be what is aware.
• The awareness of the observer is self-evident. It
  needs no proof. That you are aware is the only
  thing you can be certain of.
• Everything else is subject to definition,
  interpretation, and change.

46
Hidden-variables interpretationsDavid Bohm
(1917-1992)

• Particles are assumed to exist as classical
  particles whether or not they are observed
  (purely objective interpretation).
• They are assumed to be acted on by the classical
  forces, such as electromagnetism and gravity.
• In addition, the particles are assumed to be
  acted on by a quantum force, which is derived
  from the quantum wavefunction.

47
Nonlocality in hidden variables theories

• In classical theory, there are no
  faster-than-light effects. Therefore, all effects
  are local.
• However, hidden variables theories are
  intrinsically nonlocal because the quantum force
  acts at all points in space simultaneously.
• Since hidden variables theories are purely
  objective theories, there is no explanation for
  how consciousness arises, or for which objects
  are conscious and which ones are not.
• In fact, consciousness is not even a concept in
  the theory.

48
Many-worlds interpretation(Hugh Everett,
1930-1982)

• Many-worlds is a purely objective interpretation.
• The entire universe is described by a single
  wavefunction.
• The wavefunction is assumed to exist as the only
  reality from the moment of the big bang.
• Since there can be no observer or observation
  that is separate from the universe, the
  wavefunction never collapses.
• At any moment that I (as part of the universe)
  make an observation, the wavefunction branches to
  manifest the world that I observe with a
  probability given by the wavefunction. There is
  no wavefunction collapse, but there is a
  manifestation of my world.

49
Nonlocality of the many-worlds interpretation

• At the same moment that my world manifests, all
  of the other possibilities given by the
  wavefunction are manifested as other worlds.
  There is a me in every one of them.
• The different worlds cannot communicate with each
  other.
• Each time there is an observation, there are as
  many worlds manifested as there are possibilities
  in the wave function.
• Since there is no wavefunction collapse, the
  wavefunction of the universe continues forever.
• A world is manifest over all of its space
  simultaneously, thus, many-worlds is nonlocal.
• Since many worlds is an objective theory, there
  is no explanation for how the consciousness of
  the observer arises, for which objects are
  conscious and which ones are not, and for how the
  branching occurs.

50
Mark Everett (1963-), son of Hugh Everett and
founder of Eels

• My father never, ever said anything to me about
  his theories. I was in the same house with him
  for at least 18 years but he was a total stranger
  to me. He was in his own parallel universe. He
  was a physical presence, like the furniture,
  sitting there jotting down crazy notations at the
  dining room table night after night. I think he
  was deeply disappointed that he knew he was a
  genius but the rest of the world didnt know it.
• Marks father, Hugh died of a heart attack at age
  51. His sister committed suicide at age 39 and
  his mother died two years later. His cousin and
  her husband were flight attendants who died in
  the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks.

51
Bells theorem(John Steward Bell, 1928-1990)

• Bell devised a way to determine experimentally
  whether reality could be described by local
  hidden variable theories, and he derived an
  inequality that was valid only if local hidden
  variable theories were valid.
• The inequality depended only on experimentally
  measured quantities, hence it was independent of
  any specific theory. Any violation of the
  inequality would prove that reality cannot be
  both objective and local.

52
Many experiments have shown that reality violates
Bells inequality

• Thus, reality cannot be both objective and local.
  Furthermore
• Futhermore, Aspect, et al. (1981-82) showed that
  reality is nonlocal.
• And Gröblacher, et al. (2007) showed that, if
  hidden variables describes reality, reality must
  be bizarre and counterintuitive.
• Even before these experiments had been done,
  physicists had largely abandoned the assumption
  of classical particles. Thus, they had abandoned
  the assumption that material objects exist even
  if they not are observed.

53
The mostly subjective interpretationof
Christopher Fuchs (1964-)

• Quantum theory is interpreted in terms of states
  of knowledge of the agent.
• Each time the agent interacts with the external
  system, the agents state of knowledge changes.
• Quantum theory predicts the probability for
  changes in the agents state of knowledge.

54
One mind vs. many minds in a subjective
interpretation

• In a solipsistic interpretation, there is only
  one mind. Logically, this view can be neither
  proved nor disproved.
• In a nonsolipsistic interpretation, there are at
  least two minds. Logically, this view also can be
  neither proved nor disproved.
• In order for there to be communication between
  minds in a nonsolipsistic interpretation,
  agreement on the definition of what is observed
  is required.
• For example, you and I must agree on the
  definition of chair before we can talk about
  our observations of a chair.
• This is the agreement property of the
  subjective interpretation. Thus, even in a
  subjective interpretation, if there is more than
  one mind, agreement is required!

55
Minds may be different from each other, but are
they spatially separate?

• Since any experience consists of a sequence of
  observations, all experiences are nothing but
  sequences of observations.
• Normally, we regard separate sequences to imply
  that there are separate observers making the
  observations.
• However, in a subjective interpretation, space is
  only a concept in the mind, so there can be no
  spatial separation between observers.

56
More questions about a subjective interpretation

• Is it possible that the observer is nothing but
  a mental construct? Does observing really require
  an observer?
• What does the requirement for agreement between
  conscious observers imply about the
  separateness of the observers?
• In other words, if observers really are
  separate how can they communicate? (Remember,
  there is no objective reality in this
  interpretation, so there are no objects that
  different observers can observe and agree on.)

57
We shall use Schrödingers cat to illustrate the
different interpretations

• Erwin Schrödinger (1887-1961)
• Schrödinger invented the cat paradox to show
  that a microscopic wavefunction can have
  macroscopic consequences.

58
Schrödingers cat setup

• Radioactive source of microscopic particles
• Particle detector
• Bottle of poison gas
• Hammer to break bottle
• Cat

59
Schrödingers cat in the Copenhagen interpretation

• Before the observer looks in the box, there are
  no objects in it. There is only a wavefunction.
• At the moment of observation, the wavefunction
  collapses and all macroscopic phenomena are
  simultaneously manifested particle detector,
  poison gas bottle, live or dead cat.
• Wavefunction collapse cannot be described by the
  Schrödinger equation. Thus, consciousness, which
  is not described by the Schrödinger equation, is
  thought to be necessary.

60
Schrödingers cat in the hidden variables
interpretation

• All objects are objectively real and classical at
  all times.
• They are acted on by a quantum force as well as
  classical forces.
• The quantum force is nonlocal and acts on all
  objects simultaneously.
• Consciousness is not part of the theory.

61
Schrödingers cat in the many worlds
interpretation

• There is nothing but a wavefunction at all times.
• It describes all of the objects in the box.
• At the moment of observation, the wavefunction
  branches into two worlds, each described by its
  own wavefunction.
• In one world, the cat is alive.
• In another world, the cat is dead.
• Consciousness creates a branching, but is itself
  a mystery.

62
Schrödingers cat in the solipsistic subjective
interpretation

• There is no objective wavefunction, particle
  detector, poison gas bottle, or cat.
• There is only a mind.
• Everything is an image in the one mind.
• Since there is only one mind, there is no
  question of communication or agreement between
  minds.

63
Schrödingers cat in the nonsolipsistic
subjective interpretation

• There is no objective wavefunction, particle
  detector, poison gas bottle, or cat.
• These are only images in the minds.
• In order for there to be communication between
  the minds, there must be agreement on the
  definition of live cat and dead cat.
• If there is agreement on the definition, there
  can be communication about whether a live cat or
  dead cat is observed.

64
Agreement?Communication

• In any classical theory of objective reality, and
  in both the objective and subjective
  interpretations of quantum theory, agreement is
  required
• in the objective case, agreement on what exists
  or does not exist, and in the subjective case,
  agreement on what is observed or not observed.
• But, agreement requires communication, and
  communication requires agreement.
• Therefore, is it possible that the urge to
  communicate is our most basic need, even more
  basic than the urge to survive?
• And, is it the heart that has the urge to
  communicate, is it the mind, is it neither, or is
  it both?
• Is the urge to communicate a reflection of our
  innate connectedness?

65
The experiments of Benjamin Libet, et al. (1973)

• Subject is told to lift a finger whenever he/she
  chooses.
• The EEG of subject is measured simultaneously
  with the EMG from the finger.

66
The results

• The subject associates his/her awareness of
  the urge to act with his/her observations of the
  time on a clock. No separate muscle action is
  required.
• This process is repeated many thousands of times
  and the results are averaged.
• Result The average EEG signal begins 0.3 s
  before the subjective awareness of an impulse to
  lift the finger.
• Thus The brain begins to process a muscle act
  prior to the subjective awareness of the urge to
  act!

67
The experiments of Soon, Brass, Heinze, and
Haynes (2008)

• Functional MRI (blood oxygen level dependent)
  measurements of the brain showed that the brain
  begins to process pushing either the left button
  (dark voxels) or the right button (light voxels)
  up to 10 s before any awareness of the subjective
  urge to push a button.
• Instead of watching a clock, the subject watched
  letters being flashed on a screen every 0.5 s in
  random order. The randomness guaranteed that the
  subject could not anticipate the letters.

68
General conclusion

• In objective time (time as measured by a clock or
  other instrument), any mental or sensory process
  happens before our awareness of it because the
  brain requires time to process an event before we
  become aware of it.
• Thus, all subjective experiences happen after the
  corresponding objective events. This applies to
  volitional experiences as well as
  nonvolitional ones.

69
Free will

• Free will assumes that we can choose our
  thoughts.
• If we can choose our thoughts, why do we have
  thoughts that we dont want?
• Free will assumes that we can choose our
  feelings.
• If we can choose our feelings, why do we have
  feelings that we dont want?
• Free will assumes that we can choose our actions.
• If we can choose our actions, why do we do things
  that we dont want to do?

70
Exercises on free will

• To choose means to have control over choice.
• Try to stop thinking for 30 seconds. Were you
  successful?
• Try to stop feeling for 30 seconds. Were you
  successful?
• Try to stop perceiving for 30 seconds. Were you
  successful?
• Try to stop all muscle action for 30 seconds.
  Were you successful?
• If we cant control our thoughts, feelings,
  perceptions and actions, what can we control?

71
What can we control?

• We experience thoughts, feelings, perceptions
  and actions but we can see directly that we
  cannot control them.
• We experience will but we can see directly
  that it is not free.

72
Who is doing what?
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74
The cause of suffering according to the sages

• The sages tell us that suffering is a result of
  judging, clinging, and resisting.
• Judging, clinging, and resisting result from
  identification with the sense of doership and
  control.
• We cling to the notion that we can do
  something, and resist the notion that we
  cannot.
• We judge our thoughts, feelings, emotions,
  sensations, and actions to be good/bad,
  right/wrong, virtuous/evil, etc., and
• we cling to the good ones and resist the
  bad ones.
• It is judging, clinging, and resisting that
  comprise suffering, not the thoughts, feelings,
  emotions, sensations, and actions in themselves.

75
Examples of judging, resisting, and clinging

• I should not have these thoughts (I should
  have only pure thoughts).
• I should not have these feelings (I should
  have only pleasant feelings).
• I should not have these emotions (I should
  have only loving emotions).
• I should not have these sensations (I should
  have only pleasant sensations).
• I should not behave the way I do (I should
  always behave compassionately).

76
If we really do have control, why is clinging
to it necessary?

• Perhaps we cling to the idea of having control
  because we are afraid not to.
• In fact, perhaps at some level, we know that
  we have no control but are afraid to know it!
• But, is control necessary?
• Perhaps we would be just fine without it!

77
Nonduality

• Nonduality is the teaching that all there is is
  Consciousness and Consciousness is all there is.
• Symbolically, Consciousness is both the circle
  (Awareness) and everything inside it (objects of
  Awareness).

78
Duality

• Consciousness is always whole and unsplit.
• However, the mind tries to split Consciousness
  into parts (e.g., yin and yang) and then it names
  the parts.
• This process of separating and naming is called
  conceptualization.
• Anything that is thought to be separate from
  anything else is nothing but a concept.
• For example, the separation between yin and yang
  is nothing but a concept.

YANG
YIN

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The basic split

• The mind tries to split Consciousness into
  I/me and not-I/me.
• In the teaching of nonduality, there is no
  separate I
• and you are not really separate from me.
• You and I are only concepts.
• However, the illusion of separation is extremely
  persistent.
• All spiritual practice has the aim of seeing
  through it.
• Clearly seeing through this illusion is called
  disidentification, enlightenment, awakening,
  or nirvana.

80
Is there really a separate I?

• Can I be anything but a separate
• thought?
• feeling?
• emotion?
• sensation?
• or body?
• In other words, is I nothing but a concept?

81
If I am not a concept, what am I?

• In nondualistic teaching, I am Consciousness
  without any separation from anything.
• I am the circle, the yin, and the yang.
• That is my true nature
• and there is never anything else.

82
How does suffering end?

• We notice that when there is clinging to judgment
  and control, there is suffering.
• We notice that this is not what we want.
• We notice that when we notice the clinging to
  judgment and control, suffering disappears (at
  least for a moment).
• We notice that, when we no longer notice the
  clinging to judgment and control, suffering
  reappears.

83
Spiritual practice

• Spiritual practice helps to take us from the
  clinging, controlling mode, in which there is
  suffering into the nonclinging, noncontrolling,
  mode, in which there is no suffering.
• It helps us see that there is no I that can
  cling or control.

84
Spiritual practices

• The paradox of spiritual practice We have to do
  it in order to see that we are not doing it!
• There are many spiritual practices, almost as
  many as there are teachers.
• When spiritual practice helps us to disidentify
  from what we think we are, and to identify with
  what we really are, suffering is reduced.

85
Inquiry One form of spiritual practice

• There are two basic kinds of inquiry
• - self-inquiry (lower case), and
• - Self-inquiry (upper case).

86
What is self-inquiry (lower case)?

• self-inquiry is the investigation of the I
• Ask Who is it that is thinking this? Then, try
  to find the thinker.
• Ask Who is it that is feeling this? Then, try to
  find the feeler.
• Ask Who is it that is doing this? Then, try to
  find the doer.
• Ask Who is it that is observing this?
• Then try to find the observer.

87
What do you see?

• If you find a thinker, feeler, doer, or observer,
  can it be you?
• If you dont find a thinker, feeler, sufferer,
  doer, or observer, can there be one?

88
What is Self-inquiry (upper case)?

• Self-inquiry is the investigation of the true I,
  which is pure Awareness/Presence.
• Ask What is it that is aware and present? Then
  turn the attention inward and look and see what
  it is.
• If you see something, it cant be what is seeing
  it because it is what is being seen. (Anything
  you can see cannot be you.)
• So, if you cant see it, but it is what is seeing
  and is present, then what are you?

89
Meditation

• Meditation is best learned from an experienced
  teacher.
• You may have to try out several teachers and
  several forms of meditation to find one that will
  help you to realize your true nature.
• A widely taught form of Buddhist meditation is
  called Vipassana and consists of two aspects
• Concentration
• Mindfulness

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Concentration

• Concentration enables mindfulness (next slide).
• We start by relaxing and resting easily for a few
  moments.
• From a state of relaxation, we gently bring the
  attention to the breath by feeling it from the
  inside.
• Our attention will wander and we will become lost
  in thought.
• Whenever we notice that we have been lost, we
  gently bring the attention back to the breath.
• We do this a million times.
• Each time we become aware of having been lost, it
  is another awakening!
• We stay relaxed the whole time. The more effort
  we put into it, the less likely it is that it
  will helpful.

91
Mindfulness

• We can practice mindfulness while sitting or in
  activity.
• We notice our thoughts, feelings, emotions, and
  sensations as they arise.
• We don't ignore them or suppress them, nor do we
  analyze or judge them.
• We simply notice them nonjudgmentally, moment by
  moment, as they arise and fall in the field of
  Awareness/Presence.

92
We can add inquiry to mindfulness

• We look to see where the thoughts, feelings,
  emotions, and sensations are coming from.
• self-inquiry If we think that it is we who are
  thinking or feeling them, we look for the we.
• Self-inquiry If we see that there is no we, we
  simply rest in Awareness/Presence.
• Note Activity can happen, and usually does,
  while resting in Awareness/Presence. But, we
  are not doing it!

93
Namaste?

• I as Awareness/Presence acknowledge you as
  Awareness/Presence.