Welcome and Startup

Hi Friends,

Thanks for the suggestion of using this site and format to plan our topics and allow for followup afterward. Our next meeting will be this Thursday, 9/10/2009, and I hope you are looking forward to it as much as I. :-)

Last time we discussed states of consciousness and multiple perspectives and the names and definitions sometimes associated with these. For example, on the varieties of consciousnesses we talked about...

gross - physical - material
subtle - vibrational - emotional - dream
causal - deep sleep/meditation - formless

and for names associated with various perspectives and positions from which those various layers/states of consciousness might be said to be seen/perceived, such as...

mind
body
spirit
soul
emotional body
subtle energy body
etc.

My purpose in this discussion, and conclusion at the end of the night, was that most cultures and schools of thought are largely in agreement on the existence of layers and states of consciousness and the aspects of our selves which perceive and/or inhabit them, but that misunderstanding and and conflicts often arise merely due to differing or vague definitions of the terms. For instance, I heard two very intelligent and, one might say "enlightened", people arguing about what was "higher or deeper" spirit v. soul when it seemed clear to me that they both meant the same things but were using different words, each from his and her own traditions.

So, I encourage you to keep thinking about these things, and to keep open minds as you read others' works, realizing that many different sounding words might be describing the same things, which you yourselves can know in your own experiences, by yet different names. Furthermore, I think thyat this whole notion is largely undeveloped and ripe for a meeting of the minds where experts from all traditions might do well to get together and define a glossary of terms sort of like international standards bodies do with technologies such as the internet and telecommunications.

Anyhow, I would be happy to consider continuing where we left off or picking up a new topic. Hopefully one or more of you will see this in time to chime in with your thoughts. If not, fear not, we will have plenty to talk about, we always do.

Cheers,
Joe