Related to this topic. I find the theory that we are all one consciousness reflecting back on ourselves through human experience fascinating. It’s like we’re all waves in the same ocean, thinking we’re separate but actually part of one continuous body of water.
What I find incredible is how this shows up everywhere once you start looking. Eastern philosophy has been saying this forever - the Upanishads literally say “You are That,” meaning you are the universal consciousness you’re seeking. Even some Western thinkers like Spinoza and Schopenhauer picked up on this. And now with quantum physics and theories about consciousness being fundamental rather than just a brain byproduct, science is starting to flirt with these ancient insights.
The practical implications blow my mind too. If we’re really all the same consciousness experiencing itself from different angles, then treating others with compassion isn’t just nice - it’s literally taking care of yourself. It completely reframes empathy and ethics.
Plus, anyone who’s done serious meditation knows that feeling of boundaries dissolving, where “me” and “everything else” start to blur together.
I work in AI and this perspective is fascinating when you think about networked intelligence. If individual minds are like nodes in a universal consciousness network, what happens when we create artificial networks that start exhibiting emergent behaviors?
Are we recreating on a digital level what already exists naturally?
If this interests you, definitely check out “I Am That” by Nisargadatta or Alan Watts’ “The Book.” Sam Harris also explores this beautifully in “Waking Up,” especially how meditation can give you direct glimpses of this reality. It’s one of those ideas that’s both ancient wisdom and cutting-edge science rolled into one.
Great points. Regarding AI, what I find as I study and try to compare it to humans is how little we really understand ourselves and how much we project things that aren't real, like that individuality you mentioned. Sam Harris makes an argument against free will that's interesting. I think he takes it too far, but we certainly have less independent free will than we think.
I like how you wove together Thomas Campbell and the soul journey. That makes so much sense.
Thanks, the simulation theory is really interesting and not at all at odds with Journey of Souls.
No idea about Peterson, but the idea is ancient.
"One way or another: atoms or unity. If it’s God, all is well. If it’s arbitrary, don’t imitate it.” — Marcus Aurelius
I love it. I'm going to add that to the footnote now.
Related to this topic. I find the theory that we are all one consciousness reflecting back on ourselves through human experience fascinating. It’s like we’re all waves in the same ocean, thinking we’re separate but actually part of one continuous body of water.
What I find incredible is how this shows up everywhere once you start looking. Eastern philosophy has been saying this forever - the Upanishads literally say “You are That,” meaning you are the universal consciousness you’re seeking. Even some Western thinkers like Spinoza and Schopenhauer picked up on this. And now with quantum physics and theories about consciousness being fundamental rather than just a brain byproduct, science is starting to flirt with these ancient insights.
The practical implications blow my mind too. If we’re really all the same consciousness experiencing itself from different angles, then treating others with compassion isn’t just nice - it’s literally taking care of yourself. It completely reframes empathy and ethics.
Plus, anyone who’s done serious meditation knows that feeling of boundaries dissolving, where “me” and “everything else” start to blur together.
I work in AI and this perspective is fascinating when you think about networked intelligence. If individual minds are like nodes in a universal consciousness network, what happens when we create artificial networks that start exhibiting emergent behaviors?
Are we recreating on a digital level what already exists naturally?
If this interests you, definitely check out “I Am That” by Nisargadatta or Alan Watts’ “The Book.” Sam Harris also explores this beautifully in “Waking Up,” especially how meditation can give you direct glimpses of this reality. It’s one of those ideas that’s both ancient wisdom and cutting-edge science rolled into one.
Great points. Regarding AI, what I find as I study and try to compare it to humans is how little we really understand ourselves and how much we project things that aren't real, like that individuality you mentioned. Sam Harris makes an argument against free will that's interesting. I think he takes it too far, but we certainly have less independent free will than we think.
Just cause you can't see Christian polymaths didn't mean they don't exist. Penrose.
I see a lot of Christian polymaths. Not sure I understand this statement.
https://substack.com/@jonjmoss/note/c-132582502
Well this what I got on this.
See what you think.