Jim
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Given the assumption that expanded consciousness experience has great potential for gathering information, expanding our view, and revelation: How do we determine the validity of these experiences in ourselves and others? How do we know whether the material is coming from outside spirit sources, or is coming from our own wishful projection or just “making it up.”
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joe
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I admit to wondering about the nature and identity of the sources from which such data comes–it’s an endlessly fascinating and fun project, and I do think there are ways of discriminating between mere wishful thinking and other possibilities. But on the other hand, it is an ultimately impossible task to say with any definitiveness, and doubly impossible to convince someone else who isn’t having the experience. So I say shift the measure of validity from origins to consequences. As William James declared, it is by its fruits, not its roots, that an experience of non-ordinary (or ordinary) consciousness is validated. That’s the true empiricist criterion. If the information proves useful–if consciousness or one’s point of view (or level of emotional maturity) is expanded rather than contracted– then this is evidence in favor of the validity of the experience. If the information proves false or not useful, if the experience makes us smaller rather than larger in our ideas, attitudes, and behavior, then that weighs against its validity.
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Jeff
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Not long ago I was in a lucid dream state and I saw a spirit-being in human form. I asked it: “ Are you real?” It responded to me by saying: “ Is your mind real, is your imagination real, ARE YOU REAL?”
I was not really surprised to hear this so I said to it: “I just want to know what is real, that’s all!” To which it replied: “ Therein lies your problem!”
I have no way of knowing for sure if this was a real spirit-being or a product of my imagination. It’s answer to me seemed to indicate something outside of myself.
To me whether that spirit being was actually real is not what is important. My experience of it was very real. I could say that it’s answer was actually spot-on and that it was a message for me to just let go of the minds need to “define reality” and get out of my own way as they say.
I have met a lot of bizarre beings in my dreams and shamanic journeys , some of which I don’t think I could have made up, but then maybe my imagination is better than I give myself credit for? If my imagination is that good or my wishful thinking makes up something useful then I just accept if for what it’s worth and let go of the rest.
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