Journey of the Mind: How Thinking Emerged from Chaos

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Two neuroscientists reveal why consciousness exists and how it works by examining eighteen increasingly intelligent minds, from microbes to humankind―and beyond. Smell– to sense how God’s words can have fragrance like flowers, aroma like natural oils, the strength of a lion’s roar and the sweat of a hard day’s work. I find this view of the mind, consciousness, language, and the self to be infinitely more poetic, inspiring, useful, and scientific than the blasé statement you repeatedly hear from Buddhists of various stripes that “the self is an illusion” or that “the self doesn’t exist.” Of course there is a self, but the self is more dependent on and connected to others than is typically recognized. In 2001 I recorded Volume 1 of The Music of Christ, and the writing/recording process continued until by 2008 there were a total of 231 songs in thirteen volumes. grounded in a prodigious mathematical theory created by Stephen Grossberg over more than a half century.

I also fault the book for trying to make such sharp distinctions between humans and other animals. Other animals do learn by imitation, even as to what foods to eat and to avoid, and of course how to use tools. Parrots can employ language in creative ways, albeit they first need to be taught by humans (see books, journal articles by Irene Pepperberg). Currently, “a number of disciplines are being used to determine if sperm whales do, in fact, utilize something humans can classify as language." (story in Jerusalem Post, link provided to Project CETI which has representatives from many universities and other institutions). The experience of the color red might “emerge” out of the flurry of electrochemical activity in my brain, but in this case, saying that consciousness “emerges” out of physical processes is equivalent to saying, “it happens, but it beats the hell out of me how.” I know that a basketball game emerges from the activities of all the players because I know the rules of the game and the purpose of all the activities. But with consciousness, we’re talking about a different category altogether. I don’t know how the mathematics of wavelengths of light results in me seeing or experiencing red, other than that it does. It is therefore far more mysterious than interpreting the rules of a basketball game. Douglas Rushkoff, professor of media theory and digital economics at CUNY/Queens and author of Team HumanJourney of the Mind shares the wisdom of these texts, including excerpts in the original Gurmukhi, Punjabi. Digital paintings by world-renowned Sikh artist Kanwar Singh illustrate the stories of those who attained the highest spiritual levels, which gave them the clarity and foresight to see all as one. A fascinating map of intellectual debts, of unexpected twists and turns . . . and of academic friendships across most of the globe. . . .[A] brilliant book."—Mary Beard, Times Literary Supplement Journey of the Mind combines Sikh teachings with new forms of storytelling to encourage visitors to think about their own minds to help improve mental wellbeing. Featuring figurative drawings and digitally created paintings by world-renowned Sikh artist Kanwar Singh, and short films by British animator Christian Wood, the exhibition explores the stories of those who historically attained the highest spiritual levels. Science enabled the sapiens supermind to model physical reality at a scale and accuracy far beyond what individual minds could ever hope to achieve. The ancient Greeks measured the circumference of the Earth, the ancient Chinese created massive earth-rearranging canals and dams, the ancient Mayans created fine-tuned astronomical calendars. No human growing up in isolation could’ve accomplished these feats any more than a gorilla could.”

Brown] delivers an insightful and detailed chronicle of his life and academic career. . . . A rewarding combination of the personal and the scholarly, this is a valuable resource for students of the ancient world and the early Middle Ages."— Publishers WeeklyLet us, then, die and enter the darkness; let us impose silence upon our cares, our desires and our imaginings” are some of the final words of The Soul’s Journey into God, which remind me of Psalm 46:10 “Be still and know that I am God”. Today this Psalm is often used in Centering Prayer to help quieten intellect and emotionally build up our relationships with God, in centering prayer the mind can be helped to relax and the body to emotionally feel by slowly saying and feeling: