Comparisons...

AUTISTIC - Mystical

1. Fact based consciousness - Thoughts and experiences organized chronologically or by logical categories (Philosophical thinker; many features of what we commonly call reality cannot be proven as being real) (Are events organized Chronologically or Sequentially? Do logical categories mean by relationship to each other?)
2. Knowledge as the goal, analysis as the tool - The autistic has simple desires, such as to fulfill curiosity and avoid trouble (Desire for peace and exploration; witness consciousness)
3. Emotions are at the edges of consciousness, tying together any unexplainable areas (Similar to how the God concept is used to explain the unexplainable)
4. Thinks in imagery. Audio-visual imagination separated from tactile senses (like watching a movie) (Spiritual Tongue; ability to visualize; pre-language; thoughts without words; poetic pictures) (Some call the state of being this document describes a modabid. A modabid is a dream of colors and spoken images.)
5. Self has an open boundary - tends assume that other people are like them and trusts them equally (I am You, You are me) (Namaste)
6. Consciousness does not "mark" non-verbal behavior as important, thus dismissing them as irrelevant (mind takes precedence over body, the mind may not be in full control of the body)
7. Consciousness experienced mostly through the self as the experiences and thoughts of an individual (Subjective reality)
8. Locus of control weak or missing - the autistic does not experience a strong sense of control over his thoughts, emotions and deeds ("God's will, not mine" Pre-determined universe. Submission of the individual will. Detachment)

(Strict rituals - repetitive ritualistic activity - religious ceremony; sacred rites; structured prayer)


NON-AUTISTIC - Physical

1. People based consciousness - Thoughts and emotions are organized by human archetypes or experiences with people (Stereotypes)
2. Fulfilling desires as the goal, exercising influence as the tool - All thought, words and deeds are aimed to create the right influence among other people to achieve desires (Manipulation)
3. Emotions at the core of consciousness, indistinguishable from other conscious experience (Emotions and desires over mind and reason)
4. Tactile senses complement audio-visual imagination without any separation in one's imagination (Sight and Touch are fused; non-physicality is taken as not being possible; religion over spirituality)
5. Self has a closed boundary - tends to bond with those they feel "comfortable" with; regulates people with different levels of trust & information access (A sense of Separation and Difference; I am not you; you are not me)
6. Consciousness reacts instantly to subtle changes in non-verbal cues: Reactive Predictive Communications (physical hyper-vigilance...? More manipulation...?)
7. Consciousness experienced mostly through one's social circle as the collective impression one has created (not really interested in others but of the impression they have of you) (They tell you what they want you to believe rather than telling you the truth yet still believe they are indeed telling you the truth)
8. Locus of control inherent - the non-autistic experiences his thoughts, emotions and deeds as willed by himself (Individual will rules; concept of free will is firmly established; Master of my own Destiny)

Enlightenment & Schizotypal Personalities

Schizotypal Personality: a mild genetic version of schizophrenia.

Schizotypal personalities are characterized by odd forms of thought, perception and beliefs. They may have bizarre mannerisms, an eccentric appearance, and speech that is excessively elaborate and difficult to follow. However, these cognitive distortions and eccentricities are only considered to be a disorder when the behaviors become persistent and very disabling or distressing.

Shamans, witch doctors, mystics, psychics and clairvoyants - all have schizotypal personalities.

“Enlightenment” is a neurological phenomenon that occurs when an individual is able to simultaneously and accurately comprehend (or utilize) all four cognitive functions - Thinking, Intuition, Sensation and Feeling*. There appears to be some form of cascade effect that causes an alignment of information in all four quadrants. Unconscious memories of seemingly contradictory perceptions are instead understood to be complementary. After enlightenment when not alone with one’s thoughts there is a tendency to live in the moment. I believe this is a result of finding a balance between intuition, which is future oriented, and sensing, which is past oriented. Prior to enlightenment a person with a dominant perceiving preference will tend to be preoccupied with the past or future. Enlightenment doesn’t mean that someone will suddenly acquire facts that they had never experienced, as this is physically impossible. Instead relationships are found between different memories so that a new and more complete understanding of the world is obtained. The first experience is that of tremendous clarity of thought. You wake up and you understand the world so completely and can’t understand why no one else understands because it is so obvious. There is a startling realization of thousands of things simultaneously.

*The difference between the Feeling Function and Emotions can be understood more clearly. The Feeling Function is a cortical capacity to recognize the presence or absence of harmony – between colors, tones, or human beings. By contrast, emotions are a limbic capacity to experience delight, anger, fear, grief.

Source:
timeenoughforlove.org

The Biology of Religion

Enlightenment/Spiritual Awakening vs. Schizophrenia/Bipolar Mania

The Biology of Religion

Prof. Robert Sapolsky Bio 150/250, Spring 2002 Human Behavioral Biology

This is a long, long lecture; but very interesting.