Cosmic Consciousness: A Study in the Evolution of the Human Mind

Cosmic Consciousness: A Study in the Evolution of the Human Mind is Richard Buckes theory that our mental states are evolving and that to date we have experienced three stages in the development of consciousness: the simple consciousness of animals the self-consciousness of the vast majority of humans (reason self awareness imagination etc.) and in some cases cosmic consciousness; a mystical state of being beyond self consciousness and the next stage of human development. Bucke hypothesized that cosmic consciousness is slowly beginning to appear in humans and will eventually spread widely throughout the human race. He posited that certain notable individuals throughout history have demonstrated that they have attained cosmic consciousness. In the book he cites examples such as Jesus Buddha Mohammed Dante St Paul Francis Bacon William Blake and his close friend Walt Whitman. Whitman an American poet and journalist described cosmic consciousness as ineffable light light rare untellable light beyond all signs descriptions and languages. At the age of thirty-five Bucke found himself in this elevated mental state and he describes (in the third person) the manifestations leading up to it; 1. The person suddenly without warning has a sense of being immersed in a flame or rose-colored cloud or perhaps rather a sense that the mind is itself filled with such a cloud of haze. 2. At the same instant he is as it were bathed in an emotion of joy assurance triumph salvation. 3. Simultaneously or instantly following the above sense and emotional experiences there comes to the person an intellectual illumination quite impossible to describe. Like a flash there is presented to his consciousness a clear conception (a vision) in outline of the meaning and drift of the universe. He does not come to believe merely; but he sees and knows that the cosmos which to the self conscious mind seems made up of dead matter is in fact far otherwise-is in very truth a living presence. He sees that instead of men being as it were patches of life scattered through an infinite sea of non-living substance they are in reality specks of relative death in an infinite ocean of life. He sees that the life which is in man is eternal as all life is eternal; that the soul of man is as immortal as God is; that the universe is so built and ordered that without any peradventure all things work together for the good of each and all; that the foundation principle of the world is what we call love and that the happiness of every individual is in the long run absolutely certain. He goes on to say The person who passes through this experience will learn in the few minutes or even moments of its continuance more than in months or years of study and he will learn much that no study ever taught or can teach. After reading Buckes writings P. D. Ouspensky the respected Russian Philosopher echoed his comments in his book Tertium Organum; Cosmic Consciousness is a third form which is as far above Self Consciousness as is that above Simple Consciousness. The prime characteristic Cosmic Consciousness is as its name implies a consciousness of the cosmos that is of the life and order of the universe. Along with the consciousness of the cosmos there occurs an intellectual enlightenment or illumination which alone would place the individual on a new plane of existence-would make him almost a member of a new species.