A Joy in the Mystery...

Folk #1: Finished reading Michael Pollan's book on consciousness: A World Appears. Yes. It's very good. Turns out that consciousness is quite the "hard problem," and hard nut, to crack. The more we all focus on  the phenomena, and all it encompasses, the less we all seem to know. Consciousness is quite mysterious. I think it is safe to say we all sort of know what it is, we are living with it, experiencing it, manifesting it, but how it is, where does comes from, how does it work is all quite hazy, strange, & who knows, maybe unknowable? So, yes, just as Michael states towards the end of the book, you may finish reading this book and actually be less sure about what consciousness is and how it works. Which, I think, makes it a pretty damn interesting book. Funny, the early chapters spent with the Scientists are sort of a slog. Those studying & researching the mechanics of neurons and brainwaves, various lab experiments, come across as a bit mind-numbing, and often  these science folks and their many competing theories are just contradicting each other, and the AI folks building robots & models of consciousness, just seem over-amped, silly and out of their heads with their shiny new toys. For me, it's the Psychologists, the Philosophers, the Poets, the Novelists, the long-time meditators, the Zen Buddhists, the Psychedelic Explorers who resonate most deeply.  They represent our great explorers of consciousness. Also I loved when one of the "hard scientists," one devoted to the mechanics of the problem, was totally undone by a majorly-disorienting psychedelic experience. This scientist was brought to tears & an existential crisis, when he experienced a Universal Consciousness "out there." Mind-blown. Nice. Do you want to explore consciousness? Turn to LSD or the magic mushroom, or read a poem, or a great play or a fabulous novel. Spend time in deep meditation. It is in the realms of Psychology & the Humanities where we best highlight and amplify, the wonderous nature of consciousness. Of course, we are left with the hard problem of consciousness being explored by human beings using their own unique consciousness. How can we measure & quantify a shadow, cloud or dream?We all reside in a quaint little hall of mirrors. Yes,  a thorny, gnarly, field of inquiry, which leads to lots of theories, arguments & uncertainties. I think that's a good thing. It's ok. More than ok. And, well, I actually find pleasure in knowing that when it comes to the most important topics: Consciousness, Self, Life, Love, the mystery abides.