In Search of a New Consciousness

Is it possible to develop a new and better kind of consciousness in this lifetime, or even this week? Perhaps people are doing it all the time when they meditate over an extended period of time. Meditative practice has been known to make people calmer, less stressed, and even more creative. In other words meditation has some ability to transform personality or what we might refer to as the consciousness of a person.

Consciousness is roughly defined as the quality or state of being aware, whether that awareness is of what's going on internally or of external reality. But the level of conscious awareness and the way in which we exhibit it is to some degree personal and unique for each one of us. And the experiences claimed by some, such as being "born again," raises the question of whether we can recreate our own consciousness in a quicker and more active way than the usual slow process by which it develops or changes over the years.

To begin to understand our own minds we can look to nature and see the difference between our human consciousness and that of other animals. Many people claim that our consciousness makes us superior to other animals, while some might say it gives us no advantage over animals in terms of happiness, peace of mind, spirituality or even long-term survival as a species. But whether either of these propositions is true or false is a separate issue from the differences themselves. With or without any value judgments -- without calling it superior -- we can observe that our conscious life is very different from that of a chipmunk or a lizard, for example.

What is the reason for that difference? How did this human consciousness evolve to become what it is? If we can answer this, even in part, we have some clues as to what we can do to develop our consciousness even further. So let's risk the assumption that a worm is less mentally developed than us, and start there.

A worm feels its surroundings, perhaps tastes them as well, and senses vibrations. All of these ways of relating to the world cause it to react in a pre-programmed kind of way. Wetness causes it to crawl out of the ground, for example, but it cannot learn that crawling onto pavement makes it likely to be run over or stepped on. It cannot reflect on how that happened to other worms, and so choose to do something different next time. If we can say that it is conscious at all in the sense of awareness and ability to learn and reflect on what it learns, we certainly would ascribe a very limited kind of consciousness to it.

A mouse, on the other hand, has a less limited consciousness. It can learn where danger is and avoid it. It has a much more developed nervous system. It certainly feels pain, and probably has rudimentary emotions.

A dog certainly has emotions, as anyone who has had one for a pet can tell you. It is able to learn a wide range of things. It can keep track of people and their “reputations” (I hurt my mothers dog by accident once, and it avoided me for weeks). Dogs dream, and though we do not know what their dreams are about, it does indicate a basic ability to imagine things. The consciousness of a dog is different and less limited than that of a mouse or a worm.

Then there are the apes and other primates, our closest cousins in the animal world of which we are a part. One famous one, Koko, has been studied for over 30 years, and has learned to speak American Sign Language. In addition to the 1,300 signs she knows, she also understands 2,000 words of spoken English. She does not merely recognize words, like a dog responding to commands, but invents new sentences on her own.

If we look at all of the examples in nature, we see a kind of evolution of consciousness, which culminates in humans. I say that it culminates in humans because our particular type of consciousness appears to be the most complex and the most adaptable. Although we are clearly still animals, no other animal has as many ways to respond to circumstances, to interact with the world. Of course we could someday discover other animals which are even more advanced than us, perhaps on other planets.

This intelligence and consciousness is not a function of our opposable thumbs, nor even of our brain capacity. Large brains alone do not guarantee the kind of conscious relation to the world that we are capable of. Other animals with large brains do not think like we do (as far as we can tell). They do not reflect on their lives and change their plans for the future. It is not just what we have for a brain, but how we use it.

Now, it is true that a dog, or even a lion can be raised to be gentle with smaller animals, rather than trying to kill and eat them. This shows that they are adaptable to new circumstances, and can even develop behaviors that seem to go against their instinctive ones. But there isn't much evidence that this is a result of a conscious decision made by the animals. Humans, on the other hand, can choose to change. This process can be manifested in changing of habits of body and mind over time. For example, even if you did not initially feel generous to others you could choose to be more kind and giving to people until this became your habitual response to strangers and friends alike.

But we return now to the initial question of whether we can make such changes more "instantaneously" as a result of new knowledge and awareness. I don't have an answer, but it seems that if we can at any moment decide to choose a better thought or action rather than a worse one, there might be hope that seeing clearly what is needed and being aware of what is possible could lead to a sudden transformation in perspective and so (maybe) even character.

By the way, the limited evidence for this hypothesis comes from studies of people who have had near-death experiences and those who have psychedelic mushroom "trips" that changed their lives. (I have a page that covers research on the positive effects of magic mushrooms.) In both types of cases people have reported positive life changes from their experiences. It is true that the positive effects seem to slowly diminish in time, but that just suggests that we are forgetful in some fundamental way, and so might need regular reminding of some sort in order to sustain a new and useful perspective or consciousness.

It is also possible that those of us who are too intellectual in our approach to what might be called "spiritual" matters find it more difficult to have enlightening or transformative experiences. Just as there is a difference between a scientist's explanation of flight and the actual experience and sensation of flying, analyzing the possible perspectives might be a poor substitute for exploring them more directly. Should we talk about the mountain or climb it?

Effective Learning Using Imagination

You can learn by simply spending more time memorizing and reviewing information, but the problem with this approach is that you have only so much time to devote to any one pursuit. Here are several special techniques that make learning easier, and make it possible to learn something in less time.
Learn by Teaching

Suppose you are trying to learn about economics, and specifically about the way that the money supply affects the economy. You have read the books and materials, but it just doesn't stick in your mind. Then a friend asks you about what you are studying. You start to explain, and you have a book or some of your other study materials in front of you. You refer to these and tell him how the "velocity" of money, which has to do with the number the number of times money is loaned out, deposited in banks and re-loaned, can increase the money supply.

Soon it is starting to make sense to you. The more you explain what you are learning, the more of the material you start to recall. This is normal. One of the most effective ways to learn something is to teach it or explain it to another person.

However, there are some problems with this learning technique. First, you have to find someone who is willing to listen to you. These victims or students may be tough to come by. The second problem is the time this takes. You not only spend time to find your listeners, but then you have to spend a fair amount of time teachingg" them the material. So here's another technique that goes a step further...
Learning Using Imagination

You may have read about experiments done with basketball players who visualized making free throws. Some actually practiced their free throws, a second group did nothing, and a third group practiced the shots mentally. Not surprisingly, the first group improved the most. Practice does help. But the last group of players who did mental practice did almost as well, and they did substantially better than those who did not practice. They were learning using imagination, and developing a skill through conscious mental practice.

You can do this in many areas of life, but it has to be more than just daydreaming about whatever skill you hope to develop. It has to be carried out with a true focus on "seeing" the activity happen in your mind's eye. That brings us to a simple technique that will help you learn about any new subject, and remember what you study. It is to imagine yourself teaching what you have learned to another person.

But don't just see yourself standing in front of a class full of students for a moment. You have to actually imagine the words you would say if you were explaining the subject to someone. This kind of mental practice is especially powerful, because for any given subject there is so much information, and yet so little of it is the "important stuff," and by imagining how you would pass on that new information you tend to automatically focus on the things you really need to know. Of course any repetition of knowledge, whether done aloud, on paper or in your mind, aids in retention.

So, as you study, imagine how you would teach what you're learning. Vividly imagine how you would explain it. Suppose, for example, you are studying evolution. You might see yourself writing an example on a chalkboard. Then you would look at your imaginary student or students (whichever scenario seems to work better for you) and hear yourself explaining how natural selection isn't about individual animals adopting to their environments, but about those that are not already suited to it dying out, leaving the more suited ones to reproduce.

You'll probably find that these imagined lessons go much faster than real ones. Your students will (we hope) only interrupt you with relevant questions. You'll should notice that you can remember the material better when you use this exercise in imagination. Why not try this powerful and effective technique for learning more quickly?
Another Way to Use Imagination for Learning

Other research found that students who were told to pretend to be soccer hooligan for a while before a test did worse on academic exams than those who did not engage in this role-playing before the exams. Meanwhile, those who pretended to be college professors for a while before the tests began scored higher than either the "pretend soccer hooligans" or the control group. It's another example of using imagination for more effective learning.

This and other research suggests that you may gain an edge in learning new skills or knowledge just by carefully pretending to be more competent in whatever area of study in which you want to see improvement. But again, the specifics matter. If you want to do better at math, imagine that you are a world-famous mathematician, and imagine being a guest lecturer, explaining various concepts. The key is to imagine being a person who would be an expert at whatever it is you are trying to learn.

DIY Guided Meditation Audio

You may be familiar with the concept of guided meditations, during which a voice (live or recorded) helps you get into the proper state of mind. Some people find this continual guidance very helpful, especially if they have had difficulties with maintaining concentration during their sessions. Perhaps you have considered trying this, but have you thought about making your own guided meditation audio recordings? That's what this page is about.
Before we get into how to make your own, lets look at what a traditional guided meditation recording has on it. Normally you listen while seated in a traditional meditation posture, although you can do so lying down or sitting in a chair as well. The monologue you hear might go something like this:
This can be a time of complete relaxation... (pause)
Let your eyes close now and take a deep breath through your nose...
Now let your breathing fall into a comfortable pattern as you feel the tension draining from your head and face and neck...
The voice might go on with specific steps to take to relax, and then it will commonly tell you to begin observing your breath as it comes and goes. Many guided meditations use imagery as well, so, for example, you might be encouraged to imagine a scene like a beach, and to hear the waves breaking on it as you walk barefoot on the sand. Background music is occasionally included as well. A session might be as short as ten minutes or as long as an hour, with somewhere between twenty and thirty minutes being typical.
Making Your Own Guided Meditation Audio Recording
We will not have too much to say about the technological part of this process, but here is a short outline. Essentially you can use many different recording programs and your computer. You probably already have one installed. Otherwise, search online for "free programs for making MP3 recordings" and you'll find some good options. Audacity, for example, works well and is fairly easy to understand. Play around with what you have to see if you can save and load a ".wav" file to your player, or if there is a more specific MP3 format that your software creates. After creating the recording on your computer you also have the option of putting it on a CD, but an MP3 player is a better choice, for reasons we'll get to in a moment. Of course, you will have to buy a microphone if you do not already have one, but any one that is sold for around $20 should work fine.
If you want background music there are some technical ways to add it to your audio tracks, but there is a simpler way as well. It is to just have music paying in the background while you record your voice. Make sure the speakers are close to your microphone, of course. Experiment to see if the quality is decent enough or if you might be better off without the music.
A script is a good idea, because ideally you want to produce your meditation recording without breaks, which can cause clicks and other distracting noises. In general you will want to follow this pattern:
1. Say something descriptive and suggestive (you are sitting at the base of a waterfall...).
2. Allow some time for the listener to visualize and otherwise take in what has been said.
3. Repeat steps one and two.
At some point you might even want to have total silence for up to several minutes, depending on the nature of the meditation you are trying to create.
Naturally you want to tailor the monologue to suit the type of experience you want. If you plan to use it during a walking meditation, for example, you might start something like this:
As you are placing your foot, you are feeling the connection between yourself and the earth you walk on...
With the next step you are becoming relaxed yet alert...
With each step now you are beginning to feel more strongly the sensation of blissful tranquility...
You are noticing this sensation, but allowing it to come and go as it wishes...
You are sensing the movement of your muscles as they work together to lift and place your feet...
You can wrap up your recording with instructions to open your eyes, and perhaps the suggestion that you will bring the peace you have felt into the rest of the day.
Some people find that a countdown helps at the start. You might say, "As we count down from ten to zero you will notice that you are going deeper within yourself and getting closer and closer to complete relaxation." Then you would slowly count; "10... 9... 8... " and so on. You can also add something between the numbers, like, "10... your eyes are closing. 9... your shoulders are letting go of all tensions. 8... You are feeling the tension drain away from the rest of your body." You can also count up at the end of the session to end it.
The timing of the count and of all elements is up to you. One of the advantages of making your own guided meditation audios is that you can make them to suit your own needs. Some people prefer a slower start, for example, while others respond better to a faster countdown or introduction. Experiment to see what works best for you.
If you happen to be more technologically savvy you might try buying a good brainwave entrainment product and combining it with your own recording for a more effective session. This is the product we recommend for those who want to meditate using this kind of powerful technology: The Meditation Program.
Another Way
Note: The following practice has not scientifically proven to have any particular benefits, but if you have ever read much about the power of suggestion, you will understand why you might want to try it.
The basic idea of a guided mindfulness exercise for daily life is that you can develop a more relaxed and productive state of mind even as you go about your everyday tasks. One of the great advantages of using an MP3 player for this is that it can be worn almost anywhere (even workers in the post office and many factories are allowed to use their players during work hours). That means you can have powerful suggestions spoken into your ears even as you work, clean the house, or mow the lawn.
For this purpose you do not want to encourage a deep meditative state. That might cause drowsiness, and so could be dangerous. On the other hand, there is nothing wrong with having reminder to "take a deep breath and let your anxieties flow out of you as you exhale." You can imagine many other suggestions to include. You might use this as a "trigger" (see the page on mindfulness exercises for more on this) that just periodically reminds you to breath deep and become aware of your body and surroundings. In that case you could have silence for five minutes between each reminder.
Another option is to have suggestions that are aimed at specifically altering how you habitually think about and respond to events and the world in general. For example, you could include the suggestion to "Stop right now to consider all the things and people around you for which you are grateful." Done often enough this gratefulnesss practice" might change how you feel about life. Some consider it to be more powerful to make suggestions in the form of questions, because our normal desire to answer guarantees more participation. So you might have this on your recording; "What can you do right now that will be good for someone else and yourself?" Or your audio voice might ask, "What do you need to be doing at this moment?"
You can probably think of dozens of suggestions and/or questions that would change your perspective and eventually make new healthier patterns of thought habitual. You can make this a guided meditation or simply an audio voice that guides you toward a better mental state as you go about your day. You can have a theme to your creation or include all sorts of different useful suggestions. As we often recommend, experiment to find out what works best for you.

Do You do right work ?

We all like the idea of being creatively inspired, of having wonderful new ideas suddenly pop into our heads. Such bursts of creativity do happen, of course. Albert Einstein is said to have had such creative inspiration come to him while shaving in the morning. The chemist Friedrich August Kekulé discovered the ring structure of benzene in a dream about a snake biting its own tail. Here is how he described the experience:

I turned my chair to the fire and dozed. Again the atoms were flitting before my eyes. This time the smaller groups kept modestly in the background. My mental eye, rendered more acute by repeated visions of this kind, could now distinguish larger structures, of manifold conformation; long rows, sometimes more closely fitted together; all twining and twisting in snake-like motion. But look! What was that? One of the snakes had seized hold of its own, and the form whirled mockingly before my eyes. As if by a flash of lightning, I awoke.



He suddenly understood what the structure of the chemical benzene had to look like. But it is important to note that he had been studying the matter and thinking about it. This is an important clue about how to have these creative inspirations yourself. Such an "aha" moment is only possible because of the work you have already done.

In other words, these creative insights don't come from nowhere. Friedrich August Kekulé was a chemist, after all, and not an plumber. If he had been the latter, he might have had a dream about a whirlpool and awoke with a new idea for a toilet. Creative ideas come from knowledge and the mental work done with that knowledge. While these two elements aren't always sufficient, they are necessary. A final element which can help is the use of special techniques for generating ideas.



Knowledge + Work + Techniques = Creative Inspiration
What if you have spent some time gathering knowledge in an area, worked with that knowledge, thought about its relation to other things you know, and considered the implications. What else can you do to have more creative ideas, to have one of those moments of creative inspiration? You can train yourself to think more creatively, by asking certain questions and using certain techniques until they are a normal part of your thinking. The following three example will get you going.

1. What other perspectives might be useful?

Ask yourself this question from time to time or, better yet, simply systematically consider any other perspectives you can think of without assumptions about which ones might be useful or not. If you design air-conditioning systems, for example, you might think from the perspective of environmentalists, electric companies, the stores that sell them, or of course, the final consumer. An environmentalist perspective might lead to ideas for making them solar-powered. An electric company perspective second could lead to a design that cooled water at night when electric demand is low, so the water could cool the building during the day.

2. Play with the attributes of things. For example, a baby carriage has wheels, a bar that you push it with, and a sun-cover. Play with these things and you might imagine a carriage which is pulled instead of pushed, or with skis instead of wheels, for winter use. If you imagine bigger wheels, or two wheels instead of four, what creative ideas come to mind?

3. Give your mind a break. After trying to consciously think of new ideas, take a break or a nap even. It's what Kekulé was doing when he fell asleep in chair and had his creative dream/idea. Conscious thinking can, at some point, get in the way of creativity. Let your unconscious mind know that it's on its own, then take a nap or do something that is mentally non-taxing, like walking or listening to your favorite CD. You may have one of those classic "aha!" moments of inspiration.