Inducing Consciousness

Why use the expression "inducing consciousness?" It is meant to be provocative. Normally we think of inducing a trance or an alpha state, or anything else, while consciousness is assumed to be here already, any time we are awake. Is it really? Perhaps partly, at best, but much of the time we are "running on automatic," meaning we operate in a state of unconscious habit and mindless reactivity.

Are you more conscious than an animal? Certainly there are times when our animal nature seems stronger than our conscious humanity, but we are something else too. So if we have moved in the direction of consciousness as a species, and we see this is a good thing, how do we move further in that direction? How do we induce consciousness? We start by understanding the mind.

Thinking Is Mechanical

Is your thinking consciousness? Or is it mechanical, like a machine or computer? When we simply see a thing and are aware of seeing it, we are conscious. Thinking about it can be useful, but it happens with or without our conscious participation. (Consider those "ah ha" moments, when you suddenly see a solution to a problem - even though you weren't consciously thinking about it.). So thinking isn't consciousness. It may even get in the way of higher consciousness.

Imagine what would happen if your legs never stopped moving. Legs are good things to have, but there is a time and place for their use, isn't there? The same is true of our reasoning mind. It's not that reason is a bad thing. On the contrary, it's a powerful tool of great value, but also dangerous, like a computer that continues to run our lives, even when we don't oversee the programming. So how do we oversee the programming and live more consciously?

See The Process

When you were a child, you saw as a child. You were narrowly selfish - all of us were. Your awareness expanded as your experiences in the world did, and you came to have a genuine concern for others (perhaps just "enlightened" selfishness, which is great). Your consciousness expanded as you went from "I am hunger" to "I am this body" to "I am this body and mind" to "I am part of this family" to "I am part of humanity."

To further the process, to induce a higher consciousness, continue to expose yourself to new ideas, experiences and people. Watch animals, even, to see how much like you they are. Escape your "mental ruts." Imagine yourself in other's shoes. Find a way to understand how a person came to a certain belief - even if you don't share it.

Why not escape the net of your opinions and ideas through meditation? One of the benefits of meditation is that it slows down that busy mind, and brings you to a state of quiet awareness that allows for a more direct experience of reality. Get to a place where you see things more directly, then bring that into your daily life. Some wait for their practice to bring that one moment of "enlightenment," but it can be a more active pursuit. You can begin inducing consciousness. Why not start today?

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