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The Forum > Article Comments > The Age of Consciousness > Comments

The Age of Consciousness : Comments

By Caryn Cridland, published 14/9/2011

In the new Age of Consciousness,

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It's precisely because people now have access to much more information -- about, say, the actual state of the climate -- that we can work out the truth for ourselves, and oppose most of the mystic nonsense embraced by this article.

Let's say, instead, that we live in an age of evidence. Provide some actual evidence for your claims, Caryn, rather than simply anecdotes and received wisdom, and you might get a better hearing.
Posted by Jon J, Wednesday, 14 September 2011 7:34:23 AM
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Oh god, the fairies have entered the "Age of Aquarius".

Run for the trees before you are contaminated.
Posted by Hasbeen, Wednesday, 14 September 2011 8:19:13 AM
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"A few weeks ago a client forwarded me a brochure for a Mindful Leadership program advertised to the public sector. Is mindfulness moving into the public sector too?"

No, it's just some in the private sector taking advantage of frivolous, wasteful, spending of taxpayers' money by charging large fees to talk gobbledygook to highly paid bureaucrats holding down sinecures.
Posted by L.B.Loveday, Wednesday, 14 September 2011 8:38:10 AM
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One has to wonder whether organizations such as that which Ms Cridland represents are part of the problem, rather than part of the solution as they so clearly believe themselves to be.

Preying upon the fears of others is a tried and tested formula, one that stretches back into history. Once upon a time, it was the sale of indulgences, which at least had the benefit of being simple: give me your money, and you won't go to hell. The donor, previously anxious about the state of their soul, relaxes, stress-free and thankful for the remedy.

Until the next vendor of emotional snake-oil.

The modern equivalent is the sale of "solutions to workplace problems" through the medium of pseudo-spirituality and "emotional intelligence" quackery.

Same old formula: create the fear, offer the solution, take the money, walk away. Making sure, of course, to get the punters to fill in the form at the end that says "I feel better now".

Just like the indulgence recipients of old.

Plus ça change.
Posted by Pericles, Wednesday, 14 September 2011 8:54:31 AM
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Caryn
Due to the excesses of Capitalism there is a growing counter-reaction and consciousness about consumption, environmental damage, poverty and as you note this is displayed in the goals of some ethical businesses. I can't help wondering though if some of the more philanthropic programs would also be enhanced by business making better decisions in their own business practices. Giving is one thing, acting with ethics in making money is also a way of ensuring wealth is not created on the back of poor industrial practices, child labour, unfair trade practices, environmental damage, price fixing, planned obselescence etc.

However there is a risk when there are 'Coaches, counsellors and psychologists' become formally involved in more contrived training on 'mindfulness and conscious-based practices' it might dilute the impact of grass roots change.

Sometimes when something becomes a fad it distorts into something else. I still remember the Assertiveness Training courses of the 80s/90s which basically taught people to be rude in a 'nice' way. Some people (women mainly) took it all on-board and conversations began to resemble those only imagined at a robot convention. My favourite is the modern 'Emotional Intelligence' courses - if nothing more these sorts of courses provide some light comic relief.

I tend to be cautious about these forms of social engineering as there is often the risk of too much talk and discussion giving a false impression of change but in reality more talking, less 'doing'.
Posted by pelican, Wednesday, 14 September 2011 9:01:19 AM
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I think you must move in very different circles to me.

'It is not uncommon to have deep, connected conversations with strangers about the raised awareness of many people on the planet.'

The last time I did that I was at an underground trance club called The Fridge in London for Escape From Samsara.

Escape From Samsara - the name being a reference to the Hindu concept of Samsara - held its first event at The Fridge on 15 September 1995. Formed from the club Megatripolis, they also held occasional events at the Brixton Academy & Bagleys in London; Spain, Morocco, Germany, Czech Republic, Egypt, Israel and Australia. The resident DJs at their events were Beamish and Oberon and there was usually a live performance by an electronic music artist or group, the most frequent appearances being by Cybernaut, Lab 4, The Secret and Audio Pancake. The upstairs balcony area was home to a market which sold fluoro clothing accessories, chai tea, etc. Also noteworthy is the admission and pricing policy where clubbers paid only £3 for entry (compared to the standard price of £10 or more) if they brought a "drum or didge", thus encouraging punters to contribute musically and supporting those who could not afford the full price.

Another lifetime ago.

I am very skeptical that the general populace is roaming around on ecstacy like this in the cold light of day.

Though I'm all for it if it ever happens!
Posted by Houellebecq, Wednesday, 14 September 2011 9:03:32 AM
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This morning at the pool a man told me that his son was going to Bible College in Colorado to train to be a missionary. Presumably in Africa or other places where there is a shortage of superstition.

Then we have those on this list who rail against capitalism appealing to a failed ideology which has been responsible for millions of corpses and a series of tyrannies.

Then there are those who support cancer economics and see growth and increasing population as healthy and possible without ever reaching a limit.

The search for meaning and purpose in life? Is there any beside the living of life?

We might do well to apply common sense and compassion to the human condition.
Posted by david f, Wednesday, 14 September 2011 9:32:39 AM
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My the usual intolerant barbarians are predictably out in force again today.

I found it to an interesting essay with some interesting points.

Her heart is definitely in the right place. And speaking of the feeling Heart and how everything is inter-connected these references affirm what she has to say.

http://www.dabase.org/tfrbkyml.htm
http://www.dabase.org/embrace.htm

These two references point out that Consciousness is our True Nature and Condition

http://www.adidam.org/teaching/aletheon/consciousness-experience.aspx
http://global.adidam.org/books/ancient-teachings.html

As does this reference re the non-humans

http://www.fearnomorezoo.org/literature/observe_learn.php

Pelican writes about the dangers of social engineering.
But social engineering is exactly and precisely what ALL human cultures are about and do.
They are mind created memes, mechanisms or towers of Babel the purpose of which is to relentlessly CLONE all of the human beings that are either born into that culture, or migrate there for whatever reason.
What do you think the REAL purpose of conventional "education" is?

This is also what the culture wars arguments re multi-culturalism are about.

This reference describes the baneful limitations of the now world dominant method of SOCIAL ENGINEERING or mind-and-body control in which we are now ALL trapped - our normal dreadful sanity

http://www.aboutadidam.org/lesser_alternatives/scientific_materialism/index.html

This reference describes how even those that presume to be religious are also trapped in the anti-psychic and anti-Spiritual paradigm/ideology of scientism

http://www.adidam.org/teaching/gnosticon/universal-scientism.aspx
Posted by Ho Hum, Wednesday, 14 September 2011 11:07:50 AM
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'And speaking of the feeling Heart '

Oh! I get it now. It's like the Care Bears. My 4 year old is really into that!

I find it amazing people can immerse themselves so much in this kind of 'movement' to think it really is happening everywhere.

It reminds me of a Gerard Henderson column describing how people get surprised and confused at election results. Reading the one newspaper, and living in the trendy suburbs, perhaps even calling everyone outside of their little circle 'intolerant barbarians'.

Hmmm.

Still, nothing funnier than watching people think they have found their 42, and then having their spirit crushed by the cold hard realities of life. Or is that just me?

Upsy Daisy!

Upsy Daisy!

I can honestly say I'm not jealous of childhood innocence. Love watching it though!

'we are now ALL trapped - our normal dreadful sanity'

Please yourself, but I reckon everyone chooses 'sanity', or insanity, or their own version thereof. I worry about people who seem to think they have so little choice in their lives. Maybe they're not 'self-actualised'.

Must be a course they can go on for that.

IN the end, I'm not really a believer in new ages. Well maybe just not new ages inspird by books like 'The Secret', Scientology, Secular Huminism, 'New' Hahaha Athiesm.

I think guns are much more effective for that sort of thing.

Still, the chick in the photo must be at least 25, that's old enough to have your own and everyone else's life worked out isn't it?

'The search for meaning and purpose in life? Is there any beside the living of life?'

Nope. Looking for meaning and purpose is a sure sign of Narcissism. I mean, come on, delusions of Grandeur!

We are but mammals, and Happiness is just a chemical. Indulging the senses is all that is required to make bloody good use of this gift of life.
Posted by Houellebecq, Wednesday, 14 September 2011 1:06:12 PM
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HoHum
To some extent you are right - when 'education' is used to raise awareness about certain issues whether it be about the dangers of smoking or importance of regular pap smears, breast and prostate checks etc it is some form of social engineering. That is a reality.

However, there comes a point where some programs become dogmatic at the expense of giving 'space' (sorry) to other views.

Caryn's heart is in the right place and I get the positive message but..courses in Mindfulness and Consciousness Raising?

If they were being conducted in government departments all the participants would get a half day off and it would have minimal effect. Career procession depends on adherence to the prevailing entrenched culture no matter how many courses you attend to encourage you to be a better person.

Houlley
For some reason I really do enjoy your posts but I have to ask is there anything that you really do believe in other than the futility of man. Mindfulness and consciousness raising is not really new it has just come around again and has a new name.
Posted by pelican, Wednesday, 14 September 2011 1:55:40 PM
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Thanks for the contribution, Ho Hum.

>>My the usual intolerant barbarians are predictably out in force again today.<<

Perhaps at some point in the future you might give us the benefit of your own thoughts on the topic. Simply cutting and pasting a whole truckload of URLs doesn't give much of a clue, especially as such intervening words as you do grace us with, do not provide any incentive to open up the links.

Incidentally, what would be your description of someone at the opposite end of the scale to an "intolerant barbarian"?

I can manage tolerant for intolerant, of course. But what would you suggest is the opposite of barbarian?

Would "over-evolved" cover it, do you think?
Posted by Pericles, Wednesday, 14 September 2011 2:32:32 PM
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Thank you Caryn. I enjoyed your article. I consult to a variety of different organisations throughout Australia and have noticed a gradual shift in thinking and the way people are doing business. The changes are small and gradual, however, they are there. I have attended a number of conferences recently and a few speakers have had the same message: “People don't care how much you know, until they know how much you care.”

Recently I heard a presentation by Dr Michael King, Magistrate for the East Kimberley region of Western Australia. He indicated that there has been a significant development in the legal system of Australia towards more complete, inclusive, therapeutic and humane methods of dispute resolution in common law jurisdictions. This, he argued, reflected a broader social trend toward the application of psychological and leadership principles in society generally.

Drug Courts, Community Courts and Indigenous Courts are examples of moves toward therapeutic jurisprudence in Australia. Recent US research indicates that this approach, not only produces better outcomes for clients, but also for the professionals involved. It makes sense.

If it’s happening in the courts, it must be happening outside the courts. The legal profession is often slow to move.

Michael King’s papers can be accessed:

http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1498923

http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/cf_dev/AbsByAuth.cfm?per_id=879284
Posted by DrJo, Wednesday, 14 September 2011 3:50:43 PM
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LB Loveday...I think you'll find that most government departments, at least the ones I have worked in, have long ago run out of money to send anybody to conferences, training courses, or anything else for that matter. The fees are extortionate, unreasonable even, the speakers are the same old mediocre consultants, spouting the same of drivel, and we have certainly got better things to do with our money.

You conventiently fail to mention that many of these leadership courses are frequented by the private sector as well. I'm not sure what what anybody gets out of them other than more meaningless jargon to use the next time they go to a conference.
Posted by Phil Matimein, Wednesday, 14 September 2011 5:03:49 PM
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pelican,

Ah pelican, for there to be futility, there would have to be some goal, or ideal or something concrete that matters. Universally. In and of itself.

In my blissful cosy existance of de-facto bliss and todlers, there is not much that really matters. My and their health, and time to enjoy it together.

I suffer from terminal cynicism from long observing the self-deception of others, and the 'meaning' they attempt to attach to their lives, and some search for universal truth, or some 'shared humanity' or shared goal or civil utopia.

Perhaps I have no need to 'find' anything, I see the world as a reality that I have constructed anyway. I have it all. The world is endlessly amusing, and I won the lottery being born in this time and place and country.

All this earnest discussion is very entertaining, especially that I get to be tirelessly contrary and shoot everything down without offering any sort of 'contribution', and that is in itself a metaphor for my thoughts on life in general. I don't feel obligated to make the world a better place, even if I though it within my power. I am what I am, the world is what it is, human is as human does.

Some here seem to celebrate virtuous idealism, but I celebrate the frailties of humans. The world just happens. I am flawed and inconsistent, the world is flawed inconsistent, and I enjoy finding inconsistencies and flaws in others. Pointing them out and laughing is the best part.

Sometimes I think people, instead of arguing about the ethics of who can afford the rollercoaster, whether it is headed for doom, whether it was made in an environmentally sustainable way, more people should just enjoy the wind in their hair, quietly, without expressing it to every tom and dick, and enjoy the ride. And smile. Quitely. The quietly part is important.

BTW: Not much IS new. That's why I laugh at 'new athiests'. You're not the first to think, that everything has been thought before...
Posted by Houellebecq, Wednesday, 14 September 2011 5:10:45 PM
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As a psychologist, and member of the Australian Psychological Society for many years, I have, of late, noticed an increasing number of evidence-based workshops and courses in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Mindfulness-based practices. These are promoted by the APS for our Continuing Professional Development. There is certainly a shift towards different ways of working with clients.

We get brochures every few months advertising courses in a variety of mindfulness-based practices, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. There is a whole conference dedicated to the latter. The 5th annual conference is about to be held in late September, early October. The conference hosts a variety of speakers that are applying ACT in a variety of ways from promoting highly effective workplaces to assisting with trauma.

http://anzact.com/planned_conference_workshops_and_talks

These are some of the leading psychologist / neuroscientist researchers in the area – they have found evidence for the benefits of meditation and mindfulness on the brain and mental health and well-being:

Dr Barbara Fredrickson: http://www.unc.edu/peplab/barb_fredrickson_page.html

Dr Dan Segal: http://drdansiegel.com/

Dr Richard Davidson http://psyphz.psych.wisc.edu/web/personnel/director.html

A number of my peers now use ACT and mindfulness practices. The APS report (Evidence-Based Psychological Interventions – under professional resources) indicates that evidence has been found that Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy has led to a reduction in depressive symptoms.

Numerous articles have been published in psychological journals describing the benefits of mindfulness, and meditation practices for individuals in a variety of ways.

Johnson, D. P., Penn, D. L., Fredrickson, B. L., Kring, A. M., Meyer, P. S., Catalino, L. I., & Brantley, M. (2011). A pilot study of loving-kindness meditation for the negative symptoms of schizophrenia. Schizophrenia Research, 129.

Fredrickson, B. L., Cohn, M. A., Coffey, K. A., Pek, J., & Finkel, S. M. (2008). Open hearts build lives: Positive emotions, induced through loving-kindness meditation, build consequential personal resources. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology.

Otake, K., Shimai, S., Tanaka-Matsumi, J., Otsui, K., & Fredrickson, B. L. (2006). Happy people become happier through kindness: A counting kindnesses intervention. Journal of Happiness Studies.
Posted by BarbaraS, Wednesday, 14 September 2011 6:03:33 PM
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In this article, as well meaning as it is, I hear the familiar strains of the 60's and 70's counterculture movement which eventually failed due to its naivity about the people and the world. The dawning of a new age, the glorification of mind based psychological therapies which are really seen, not a treatment for emotional distress as much as a way to 'raise consciousness', and the unification of man around a new interpersonal respect have all happened before in the 1960's.

Many famous people of the time eg the Beatles, sought out Transcendental Medititation and Psychologists were into relaxation therapies of various sorts.

The main difference this time is that Politicians don't see these ideas as much of a threat then they did then and now use them to their own ends.

Its not a raising of consciousness though, its the return of a naive Utopian vision of the 1960's.
Posted by Atman, Wednesday, 14 September 2011 8:40:14 PM
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Every discussion we have is a conversation about the "Meaning of Life", we are the meaning of life.
Posted by Jay Of Melbourne, Thursday, 15 September 2011 6:49:56 AM
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I agree with Atman - and any raising of consciousness is a reaction to the stress of industrial society.
Only people who live their lives to the wind-up mechanism of modern consumer society would consider that they have the need for another dimension of consciousness. It's the price we pay for having it so good in a material sense. Somehow, I don't think the average third world subsistence farmer has the need for such a recourse - he's probably fairly centred in his consciousness.

I agree with Houellie too - and I think his singular outlook helps him to enjoy life as it comes to him. It's wonderful "therapy" to simply value what's around you.
Posted by Poirot, Thursday, 15 September 2011 7:39:06 AM
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Well, what's not to enjoy. I've been around and I've seen some very happy people who don't even know where their next meal is coming from.

It does confuse me this yearning search for improvement and utopia. I see all parts of life as essential to the experience. These idealists would make boring movies. All the interesting parts would be cut out. There would be no dysfunctional relationships, no bullys, no adversity, no tears, no fear, no intriguing corruption or duplicity. It would just be a bit of happily ever after on repeat, with no struggle or contrast or anything to put the utopia in perspective. Utopia is selling the experience of life short. Be careful what you wish for.

I don't want all the 'answers'.

How boring.

I want to be lost and confused.

You know that next big thing this young chick is selling, why do you need it? I'm happy for people *not* to think like me. I *don't* know what's better for other people.

Some Hindu painting in a bank is about as profound a sign of some new age as the Madonna poster on the wall of a teenager in India.

Anyway I would have thought the commercialisation of a religion of another culture, into a kitsch trendy decoration for a bank, the great symbol of capitlist exploitation, would be against the principles of this new age chick.

'People want to know that businesses care.'
They do care those banks, they're always telling us in those adverts. I know I believe them.

'And surely, in time, as the power shifts to those more consciously aware, as one day it will, so too, these destructive patterns of human behavior will cease or minimise.'

Chilling sentiment:-)

Glad they don't have guns!

Nothing to worry about though, it's actually quite Cute.
Posted by Houellebecq, Thursday, 15 September 2011 9:49:03 AM
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The age of deception is a lot more evident than the age of consciousness. The activist judges Caryn wants us to get use to are among the most deceived. Some Judges are not healers but rather social engineers often with a very narrow view of history and an inaccurate view of human nature.
Posted by runner, Thursday, 15 September 2011 10:06:08 AM
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One of my favourite tv programmes is the Gruen Transfer, these
advertising guys spend their lives analysing human behaviour and
what pushes emotional buttons. The last one was about hair shampoo.
What it came down to is that the ingredients in shampoos are pretty
much all the same. But if the marketer can convince the consumer
that their particular brand is suited exactly to their kind of hair
and make it look fantastic, its a win win. The manufacturer gets
a better margin and the consumer gets feelings of wellbeing from
the thought of having wonderful hair! That kind of sums up the
Kumbayah culture which the author is promoting. Its very profitable.
Posted by Yabby, Thursday, 15 September 2011 12:29:02 PM
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What we truly need today is some way of funding people having real world experiences.

If we could send them for a 10 mile run down the coast, in a reasonable Hobart racing boat, in a freshening north easter or;

A 10 lap squirt around Bathurst in a V8 or;

A 5 Km run on skis down one of the steeper runs in the Snowy, or 10Km behind a bridge to bridge water sky racer or;

A trail ride through the snowy mountain country, with a 5 mile gallop down a steep log strewn slope or;

A couple of scuba dives on a good part of the reef, they would really know what adrenaline was.

There would no longer be a need for all this hocus pocus stuff, to try to replace the real world.

This sort of rubbish highlights how meaningless the inner city life style has become
Posted by Hasbeen, Thursday, 15 September 2011 12:37:23 PM
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Hasbeen I now picture you as Alf Stewart. Ya flamin' gallah.

'This sort of rubbish highlights how meaningless the inner city life style has become'

That's the funniest line this month. Bravo!

For those who feel left out and are fascinated, I'm sure you are, in my reality Yabby to me looks like Mungo Maccallum, pelican looks like Tanya Plibersek (I suspect she actually IS sometimes), and Poirot is a sort of Noni Hazlehurst or Jessica Hecht type.
Posted by Houellebecq, Thursday, 15 September 2011 1:32:14 PM
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Houel, you must have an exquisite navel, that or some sort of complex.

You lot, who's only life is gazing at your own navel, [as distinct from someone else's] really do have a problem with reality.

Much of what we read here is a product of navel gazing.

I recently was unfortunate enough to witness a discussion on the best cheese shop in the inner northern Sydney suburbs, which became quite heated. I was a little surprised at first, but realised it is a factor of the meaninglessness of the lives these people live.

If the discussion had been about something more meaningful, like the best brand of horse shoes for example, I would have understood the heat, but cheese, really.
Posted by Hasbeen, Thursday, 15 September 2011 2:05:05 PM
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Actually Houllie, I think that with very little effort, you'd
certainly have the brains to become another Bagwhan. I don't know
if you are a bit young to remember him or not.

I found the old Bagwhan hilarious. The Kumbayah culture, who were
hippies, doctors, teachers, public servants and all the rest,
turned to him in their hundreds of thousands, as he preached his
philosophies and told them about the meaning of life, as they
searched for some meaning.

He'd sit there and have them all enthrawled, only ever claiming to
be a philosopher. But they turned him into a guru, showered him
with 200 Rolls Royces and the old boy could never keep up with
all the sex, but just picked his fancy from the devout followers.

They called them the Orange people. If you ever can get hold of
some of his sayings, I'm sure they would amuse you.

The author of this article would have fitted in perfectly with the
Orange people culture, IMHO.
Posted by Yabby, Thursday, 15 September 2011 2:15:19 PM
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Houelie,

I'm glad you don't picture "me" as Mungo Maccallum : )

Who's Jessica Hecht?

Yabby,

The Bagwhan was a hoot.
Posted by Poirot, Thursday, 15 September 2011 2:48:48 PM
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Houlley
It is funny the mental pictures one envisages of fellow posters. To be fair to Tanya Plibersek, I am not she. Tanya Plibersek is better looking and a bit younger.

It is difficult not to be too cynical. Finding 'meaning' either comes naturally or not. I reckon when one stops looking you have probably found 'it'. Whatever 'it' is. People are really looking for happiness. The happiest people in my experience are those who don't waste time looking but are just doing and living.

One of the worst books I read of late was Eat Pray Love. An exercise in self-indulgence and a bit 'me me' for my liking however it seemed to work for the author and maybe she did find her happiness. Religion relies on the premise of the human need for happiness in finding meaning. At least in one way religion solves the issue for many and then they can just get on with it.

As for utopias, in the political sphere there is always room for vigilance against extremes of one 'ism' or another and while 'extreme' can be ill defined I reckon most of us know it when we see it.

PS: There is no such thing as "New Atheist" there are only more vocal non-theists.

My only problem with the idea of 'age of consciousness' is that there have been many of them but if we start teaching it I reckon that means we haven't found it.
Posted by pelican, Friday, 16 September 2011 9:18:39 AM
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As far as enlightenment from "books" is concerned, I reckon you're better off to snuggle up with a copy of " The Wind in the Willows"...or some such font of wisdom....there's much enlightenment to be gained in places that we wouldn't think to look.
Posted by Poirot, Friday, 16 September 2011 9:31:39 AM
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Poirot
I have memories of my mum reading Wind In The Willows to us while snuggled up in bed. Books like Animal Farm or Brave New World can teach more than many a political text.

(My take: Yabby - Ernest Hemingway, something to do with the sea and a beard; Houlley - better looking than your namesake, the looks of Che Guevera and a bit Bernard Keane-ish; Hasbeen-Gerard Henderson with a bit more fire; Squeers-Ralph Nader if a bloke; Ammonite-Anne Heche; Poirot-Noni was a good choice).
Posted by pelican, Friday, 16 September 2011 10:16:34 AM
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*At least in one way religion solves the issue for many and then they can just get on with it.*

Pelican, I think you have a point there, for alot of people prefer
to actually live with perceived certainty and a set of rules.Its
why IMHO humans evolved to invent some kind of religion or belief,
no matter where on the planet. Sun gods, moon gods, you name it,
people believed in them.Its also why people like Deepak Chopra and
the old Bagwhan did so well, even amongst so called educated people.

To me it comes back to how brains function. There are feedback loops
operating at all times to keep the brain in a state of homeostasis,
IIRC is the term. Its not happy, not sad, but balanced. Yet our
uncertainty leads to anxiety in many people, so at the unconcious level the brain
will find a solution. Perceived certainty gives
you exactly that.

Now just imagine if we took religion away from a bloke like runner,
what a miserable and anxious fellow he would be.

Not everyone wants to think about life and question too much, as some
of us do.

I don't normally put a face to posters, but for some reason I see
Pelican as a younger version of Felicity Kendall.
Posted by Yabby, Friday, 16 September 2011 10:59:33 AM
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Oh, Great Cthulhu's tentacles, this has it all: misuse of quantum physics, name-checking quacks like John De Martini, the fairy-floss 'philosophy' of Eckhart Tolle, all wrapped up into a Ned Flanders, happy-clappy, 'joy in my heart' barrel of of pseudo-mystical horseshit.

Enjoy your soma, Gammas.
Posted by Clownfish, Friday, 16 September 2011 5:58:45 PM
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Yabby you write

'Now just imagine if we took religion away from a bloke like runner,
what a miserable and anxious fellow he would be.'

I actually think the suicide rate among God deniers (except for suicide bombers) would be considerably higher than believers.
Posted by runner, Friday, 16 September 2011 6:35:29 PM
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*I actually think the suicide rate among God deniers (except for suicide bombers) would be considerably higher than believers.*

Runner, that is quite possible and IMHO highly probable, but I have
never checked the stats. It would also make my point for me. Give
a fellow like Runner perceived certainty and he's a happy fellow.
Posted by Yabby, Friday, 16 September 2011 6:58:06 PM
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Caryn in her role as a Psychologist, Lawyer, Mediator and Leadership Consultant shows us that we are living in an Age of Consciousness. She is more than coming from a role. She has become aware of these things by becoming a better person that cares about other people. I think we are coming out of an Age of Unconsciousness. The roles she has experienced in her life have allowed her to experience interconnectedness. I would say that she probably found these roles as a result of finding herself. This is not only true for Caryn but for each one of us. As we individually become more conscious we become more aware and responsible for what we do and accomplish. This starts on an individual basis and then spreads to a collective consciousness that can accomplish even more. As we develop our power of becoming more aware and alive we become happier. To me, Being Happy is a state of higher consciousness. I think it is a great sign of the times to see a human being like Caryn to get us all to think about these things. The roles she has in life are better served from the perspective of these questions and what it connects us to. We will become what are best choices will allow us to become. Our best choice can only come from greater awareness, expanded consciousness and interconnection. The peace, prosperity, freedom and happiness we all seek must be found within ourselves. This is as much a part of the universe as what is "out there." What lies within is not only of great benefit to yourself but to everyone. I thank Caryn for expressing our development in consciousness
Posted by Happy1, Friday, 23 September 2011 7:05:39 AM
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