A short essay on the subtle architecture of our inner life

[old3bob]

6 hours ago, Bindi said:

What if the ‘perfect substrates’ of Daoism, Vedanta, and similar systems were simply attempts to explain what was not understandable at the time? Today, other perspectives might offer better explanations, like an evolutionary approach. What if the subtle body is an emergent property of complex systems, arising from the interaction of energy, information, and consciousness? Over time, it naturally self-organises toward coherence, integration, and functional refinement, producing the effects traditions describe as alignment. I agree that the subtle energy body exists, but I prefer to explore how it emerges naturally, rather than relying solely on traditional frameworks to tell me where it comes from or where it’s going.

 

 

good wine put into old bottles does have some problems in our "modern times" then again what do our modern times boil down to?  Is a good wine made better or is it the same just in a different bottle?   The drink of Purity is what counts the most!  I like your sentence of: "Over time, it naturally self-organizes toward coherence, integration, and functional refinement, producing the effects traditions describe as alignment."  although I'd use words more like unfolds or reveals instead of "producing", for a particular light body is woven of light but what is inside that light and where did it come from or what produced it?  (Is it dependent on and created by human means,  btw if said body has been woven at some point will it not also be unwoven at some point - returning into an ocean of light? )

 

Edited yesterday at 12:23 PM by old3bob

[Bindi]

14 hours ago, old3bob said:

 

good wine put into old bottles does have some problems in our "modern times" then again what do our modern times boil down to?  Is a good wine made better or is it the same just in a different bottle?   The drink of Purity is what counts the most!  I like your sentence of: "Over time, it naturally self-organizes toward coherence, integration, and functional refinement, producing the effects traditions describe as alignment."  although I'd use words more like unfolds or reveals instead of "producing", for a particular light body is woven of light but what is inside that light and where did it come from or what produced it?  (Is it dependent on and created by human means,  btw if said body has been woven at some point will it not also be unwoven at some point - returning into an ocean of light? )

 

I think the way we frame “source consciousness” does really shape how we approach it.

 

Here’s my idea. Before the theory of evolution, humans were seen as endpoints, while gods, the Dao, or Brahman were thought perfect and unchanging. But the theory of evolution changes that. Everything, including individual consciousness, systems, and even our assumed ground of being,  emerges, develops, and evolves.

 

Say there is a “point of light” or pure consciousness hidden within, split from source consciousness. What if It’s not fixed, what if it unfolds, grows, and at death returns to contribute back to the whole, showing that the Source itself is dynamic. What if each spark subtly shapes the larger field, demonstrating that perfection isn’t stasis but coherent adaptability.

 

Spiritual striving then isn’t about returning to a pre-existing perfect state. It’s about participating consciously in the evolution of consciousness itself, including source consciousness. By refining ourselves we reveal the latent potential in an ever-unfolding reality. From this perspective, our physical bodies, our subtle energy body development, our awareness, all of it matters so much, because it’s one way source consciousness expresses itself and evolves. 

[old3bob]

9 hours ago, Bindi said:

I think the way we frame “source consciousness” does really shape how we approach it.

 

Here’s my idea. Before the theory of evolution, humans were seen as endpoints, while gods, the Dao, or Brahman were thought perfect and unchanging. But the theory of evolution changes that. Everything, including individual consciousness, systems, and even our assumed ground of being,  emerges, develops, and evolves.

 

Say there is a “point of light” or pure consciousness hidden within, split from source consciousness. What if It’s not fixed, what if it unfolds, grows, and at death returns to contribute back to the whole, showing that the Source itself is dynamic. What if each spark subtly shapes the larger field, demonstrating that perfection isn’t stasis but coherent adaptability.

 

Spiritual striving then isn’t about returning to a pre-existing perfect state. It’s about participating consciously in the evolution of consciousness itself, including source consciousness. By refining ourselves we reveal the latent potential in an ever-unfolding reality. From this perspective, our physical bodies, our subtle energy body development, our awareness, all of it matters so much, because it’s one way source consciousness expresses itself and evolves. 

 

I'd say evolving "soul" is related to all the aspects you are bringing up  (some schools even deny soul and its evolution) But not so for the "Soul of the soul" as pointed to with the term "Self" in the Upanishads and other systems.  Btw. in many schools of Hinduism the causal realm gods are not equated with the Self,  for instance Lord Brahma the creator is said to be an emanation of the transcendent which manifests and expresses through that aspect.  Mind can not wrap its head around the Self for the Self is not of the mind or a thing,  thus with all of minds powers, reasoning and striving it still can not split the Self apart or nail it down.  I'm not an enlightened or empowered master but I'd also say ideas (thoughts) of a static, in some ways lacking or dead like source do not apply in Its case. 

Edited 3 hours ago by old3bob