Page 182 - Spirit and Mind. Vol 1

Nicolai Levashov. Spirit and mind. Vol.1

Chapter 6. The nature and origin of consciousness

Consciousness — mind — what are they? How do atoms and molecules,
conjoined in a particular sequence, come to realize their own existence in time and
space? How do they start contemplating the vastness of an infinite universe and

pondering whether matter or consciousness was first to appear?
Did each and every particle, like some weary traveler, traverse endless realms of
creation — God-forsaken, buffeted by His Majesty, CAPRICIOUS FATE, lost in
infinite space - until, finally, respite and a chance to share the mystery of their
pursuits were granted? And even before joining in a single unit as living matter —
that true miracle of nature -these particles came together over and over again, only to

disintegrate into dust within a life span ordained by nature — like a phoenix rising
from the ashes, to be reborn in a new likeness — a process repeated countless

numbers of times.
So, again we may ask — what is consciousness — what is mind? Is it merely the
memory of the particles that carry it, or is it a manifestation of "Infinite Mind?" If so,
what is it all really and where did "Infinite Mind" spring from? Perhaps the answer to
this miracle is not so far away but resides right in front of our very eyes. Perhaps the
only thing we need is a little more attention and watchfulness, and quite possibly the
clue will appear, like Ariadne's guiding thread, to lead us out of nature's Minotaurian
labyrinth — the mystery of CONSCIOUSNESS.

So let us try to journey to — we know not where and discover — we know not
what. Perhaps not only in myths and fairy tales can such things be accomplished.
Most of all, we must not throw up our hands in despair of ever achieving a seemingly

impossible task.
Indeed, the riddle of what consciousness really is has not changed one iota since
the Greek philosophers hotly disputed it. And like the blind men describing the
elephant, the philosophical direction of mankind's thinking — from objective and
subjective idealism to metaphysical and dialectical materialism — has not budged
this mystery of nature a single inch. And, as a new millennium approaches, this

question remains as open as it was at the dawn of civilization.
So what, then, is CONSCIOUSNESS, what is MIND...?
To answer this question, we need to define the qualitative differences in
processing that un-fold inside the brain of an intelligent being, who, we may rightly
say, shows reason, UNDER-STANDING. And, what is the distinction between
purposeful and unwitting behavior? To begin with, let us define the qualitative
processes occurring in the brain of a living being who, in our view, is exhibiting
conscious activity. In such a brain, the surrounding world is constantly being
reflected through functions of the sense organs.
At the same time, as we have noted extensively in the previous chapter, any
outside stimulus creates an imprint upon the etheric and astral levels of the brain

neurons.
Temporary imprints on the etheric level of the neurons are a manifestation of
short-term memory, the major role of which is concerned with the mechanism of

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