(3) Consciousness

As a scientist, at first I didn't consider these additional approaches
to be proper--so to speak. However, I was in for a bit of a surprise.
There were reputable scientists examining non-local consciousness.
Basically this was about morphogenetic fields, about telepathy, even
about prayer. Non-local consciousness extends from one individual's
consciousness outward to other conscious persons!

And beyond even this, scientists at well-known universities, as well
as reputable psychologists, are moving even further. In connection
with Consciousness, they are probing what used to be considered
very, very esoteric phenomena: the Out-of-Body Experience, the
Near-Death Experience, Past Life Visions, and even Reincarnation.

These additional approaches were very new, but another approach
was very old: PanPsychism. Adherents of this approach believe that
"psyche--the essence of consciousness--is a universal presence in
the world; and that this PanPsyche is evolving through the living
organisms who live on this planet. In other words, Mother Earth is
becoming more conscious.

Well, it's somewhat easy to think this way. It's obvious that we humans
are becoming fast more conscious. As for other living forms, at last
we are beginning to take note that some are starting to follow suit--
albeit at their own pace, in their own way.

I had to smile at myself, in that while reading about PanPsychism I
was constantly reminded of Teilhard de Chardin's Cosmogenesis
Theory that talked about reaching towards higher and higher levels,
via consciousness development, ultimately building the Noosphere--
a planetary Mind of sorts.

Yet I landed on another step when it came to Consciousness Theory.
Cosmic Consciousness! Maybe it was Teilhard extended, assuming
that there *is* a Consciousness that underlies all of the universe.
There are "thinkers" thinking this way.