The Library of Consciousness

Evolution isn't done yet, it's just getting started.

The universe is aware of itself through all of us. Come get lost in The Library’s virtual aisles to find out more about this astounding revelation.

But I soon found that I was seeing the aura of the flowers. A wonderful light shone out from every little petal and flower, and the whole was a blaze of splendor.
Portrait of the author

Richard Maurice Bucke

Cosmic Consciousness

1901

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Hominization

11 documents

The evolutionary process by which matter becomes increasingly organized until it produces self-aware, reflective beings—the universe “waking up” to itself.

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Autopoiesis

37 documents

The concept that living systems self-organize by creating their own components and subsystems such that the network of production processes recursively generate the system’s identity.

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Cosmology

110 documents

A field studying the birth, layout, development and potential end states of the physical universe encompassing all matter and energy through scientific models and observation.

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Overview Effect

8 documents

A cognitive shift in awareness and perspective reported by some astronauts while viewing the Earth from orbit, often leading to profound changes in how they understand and relate to the planet and humanity.

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Systems Theory

116 documents

An interdisciplinary field that studies complex systems in nature, society, and science, analyzing the relationships between the parts and how they give rise to the collective behaviors of a system as a whole.

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Omega Point

88 documents

A spiritual concept describing the maximum level of complexity and consciousness which the universe is evolving towards.

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Information Theory

36 documents

The study of how information is measured, transmitted, and preserved, focusing on optimizing communication by addressing uncertainty, noise, and efficiency in data exchange.

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Entropy and Syntropy

48 documents

The inevitable progression towards randomness and disorganization, and the counteracting emergence of order, complexity, and structured systems from chaotic states.

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Economics

32 documents

The study of how people and systems manage resources, make decisions, and balance needs with scarcity, focusing on production, trade, and the flow of goods, services, wealth, and energy.

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Ontology

183 documents

The philosophical study of being, existence, and reality.

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Memetics

19 documents

The study of how ideas, behaviors, and cultural phenomena spread and evolve through communication, imitation, and social networks, much like genes or viruses in a biological system.

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Numinous

73 documents

An overwhelming encounter with a presence or reality that is both awe-inspiring and beyond human understanding, evoking reverence, wonder, and an unsettling awareness of the divine.

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Psychedelics

103 documents

Psychoactive substances that profoundly alter perception, mood, cognition, and other mental processes by activating brain receptors and causing changes in cognitive functioning and connectivity.

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Epistemology

134 documents

A branch of philosophy focused on the nature and justification of knowledge, including the study of its scope and validity.

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Astronomy

17 documents

Scientific study of celestial objects, space, and the physical universe as a whole.

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Eastern Philosophy

157 documents

Philosophical traditions originating in Asia and the Indian subcontinent, characterized by concepts such as nondualism, enlightenment, karma, and the transitory nature of the world.

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Noösphere

106 documents

The sphere of human thought and collective consciousness that emerges from the interaction of minds on a global scale.

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Neuroscience

27 documents

The scientific study of the nervous system, encompassing its structure, function, development, and the relationship between brain and behavior.

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Technology

155 documents

The practical application of aggregated scientific knowledge and tools by organized human enterprise to leverage control over aspects of reality for solving problems and achieving desired outcomes.

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Cosmic Consciousness

186 documents

An intuitive sense of the universal order, unity, and connection which arises through elevated spiritual awareness and mystical experience of the cosmic whole.

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Virtual Reality

17 documents

An immersive experience that simulates presence in interactive, computer-generated environments, extending human imagination into virtual spaces.

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Global Brain

112 documents

The emergent network of information and communication technologies linking humans and machines into an integrated, collective intelligence.

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Architecture

13 documents

The art and science of designing and constructing buildings and other physical structures to serve human needs and purposes.

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Futurism

152 documents

A philosophy focused on envisioning, articulating, evaluating, and guiding the current epoch towards generating maximal thriving for the whole of humanity and nature across all time horizons.

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Zen

72 documents

A school of Mahayana Buddhism that aims to awaken enlightenment by directly pointing to the inherent wakefulness of the mind through meditation, practice, and transcendental wisdom passed from master to disciple.

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Emergence

115 documents

Novel and coherent structures, patterns, and properties arising during the process of self-organization in complex systems.

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Metaphysics

220 documents

A branch of philosophy concerned with the fundamental nature of reality, being, and existence.

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Identity

120 documents

The sense of who you are, shaped by your thoughts, feelings, experiences, and how you see yourself in relation to the world and others.

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Artificial Intelligence

57 documents

Engineered non-biological systems which can perform functions and behaviors typically requiring intelligence when performed by humans, such as reasoning, planning, learning, perception, creativity, and problem-solving.

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Accelerating Change

124 documents

The observed exponential nature of the rate of technological and social change over time.

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Telepathy

31 documents

Linking multiple minds to share thoughts and subjective states amongst each other, both indirectly through spoken and written language, as well as directly with various sophisticated technologies.

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Extended Mind

39 documents

A theory that cognitive processes extend beyond the brain and skull, incorporating external items such as computers to multiply the mind’s abilities.

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Mythology

75 documents

The collective narratives, symbols, and beliefs of a culture or civilization, often explaining natural phenomena, origins, and societal values through symbolic storytelling.

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Meaning

132 documents

The guiding thread that connects experiences, choices, and aspirations into a coherent direction, shaping one’s role in the greater whole and offering a sense of fulfillment in the journey of existence.

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Transhumanism

91 documents

Enhancing human capacities through technology to transcend biological constraints and evolve into a superior, post-human state.

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Consciousness

234 documents

The subjective experience of internal and external existence as processed by the mind, marked by awareness, perception, reasoning, knowledge, and judgment arising from sensory input and sophisticated brain functions.

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Superorganism

97 documents

A highly interconnected and organized community of individuals functioning as a single organism.

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Abiogenesis

10 documents

The process by which life arose from non-living matter on early Earth, marking the transition from chemistry to biology.

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Ecology

89 documents

The scientific study of the interactions between organisms and their environment.

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Social Science

97 documents

A branch of science devoted to the study of societies and the relationships among individuals within them.

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Evolution

200 documents

The process through which biological populations undergo transgenerational genetic change over time through mechanisms like natural selection and genetic drift.

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Mindfulness

114 documents

Focusing conscious awareness on the present moment non-judgmentally, observing sensations, thoughts, and feelings as they unfold to gain greater clarity, insight, and self-understanding.

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New Additions

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Reflections on the Scientific Probability and the Religious Consequences of an Ultra-Human

Pierre Teilhard de Chardin

Reflections on the Scientific Probability and the Religious Consequences of an Ultra-Human

1951

Evolution as a cosmic drama: matter rising through life into reflective humanity, converging toward a planetary mind. Teilhard says this “ultra-human” destiny fuses science and spirit, where God is not above but ahead—emerging as love at the core of creation, and igniting the world into a conscious fire.

Essay
3,146 6

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The Coming Technological Singularity

Vernor Vinge

The Coming Technological Singularity

How to Survive in the Post-Human Era

1993

Within thirty years, we will have the technological means to create superhuman intelligence. Shortly after, the human era will be ended. Is such progress avoidable? If not to be avoided, can events be guided so that we may survive? These questions are investigated. Some possible answers (and some further dangers) are presented.

Essay
4,924 14

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Satori Before Singularity

Murray Shanahan

Satori Before Singularity

2012

What if future AIs achieved enlightenment before world domination? Shanahan suggests a truly advanced AI might transcend the human ego, dropping our obsession with the “self.” Instead of triggering a runaway intelligence explosion, such a being could attain satori: a Zen-like peace that halts the singularity in its tracks.

Article
6,055 5

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All Else Is Bondage

Wei Wu Wei

All Else Is Bondage

Non-Volitional Living

1964

These thirty-four powerful essays, based on Taoist and Buddhist thought, constitute a guide to what the author calls “non-volitional living”—the ancient understanding that our efforts to grasp our true nature are futile. Wei Wu Wei explains these venerable spiritual traditions in the context of modern experience, using wit and considerable precision to convey their profound insight into the very nature of existence.

Book
14,102 41

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A Masterclass from the Pioneer of Artificial Intelligence

Jürgen Schmidhuber

A Masterclass from the Pioneer of Artificial Intelligence

2024

Jürgen Schmidhuber shares his insights on the evolution and future of AI. He discusses the development of self-improving AI systems, the concept of artificial curiosity, and the potential for machines to achieve creativity akin to humans. Schmidhuber also explores the implications of advanced AI on society, emphasizing the importance of aligning AI goals with human values to ensure beneficial outcomes. He envisions a future where AI contributes positively to various fields, including science, art, and technology.

Lecture
01:01:56 8,595 8

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Hominization

Pierre Teilhard de Chardin

Hominization

Introduction to a Scientific Study of the Phenomenon of Man

1923

In one of his earliest writings on the topic, Teilhard de Chardin explores humanity’s unique place in evolution. He argues that humans represent an entirely new phase of life on Earth—the noosphere, or sphere of conscious thought. While physically similar to other primates, humans are revolutionary in their ability to use tools, form global connections, and reflect on their own existence. This self-awareness comes with both great power and great risk, as humans can choose to either advance or resist evolution’s push toward greater consciousness and unity.

Essay
10,401 31

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The Natural Environment and Religion

Alan Watts

The Natural Environment and Religion

Watts critiques our scholastic obsessions and urges an experiential approach to life, blending the spiritual and concrete like a Zen gardener planting mysteries among truths. He laments our sterile materialism and bureaucratic rigidity, championing a dance with risk, creativity, and nonverbal wisdom. With tales of mystics, scientists, and madmen, he celebrates the spice of oddballs, the necessity of nonsense, and the ineffable richness of being alive.

Seminar
59:09 8,156 11

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The Old and the New Vision

Herbert Günther

The Old and the New Vision

1981

Herbert Günther reveals how ancient Tibetan Buddhist texts offer insights into consciousness that parallel modern scientific discoveries. The Tibetans viewed humans not as isolated beings, but as expressions of universal intelligence, describing three levels: the physical body, an experiential “phantom-like” body, and a mysterious deep structure. Their texts suggest that the universe itself is conducting a grand experiment through human consciousness—playfully creating new possibilities and evolving toward higher forms of order.

Essay
4,293 9

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A Beautiful Loop

Ruben Laukkonen and Shamil Chandaria

A Beautiful Loop

An Active Inference Theory of Consciousness

2024

Laukkonen and Chandaria propose that consciousness arises from a recursive brain process involving three key elements: a reality model, competitive inferences reducing uncertainty, and a self-aware feedback loop. This framework explains various states of awareness, including meditation, psychedelic experiences, and minimal consciousness. It also offers insights into artificial intelligence by connecting awareness to self-reinforcing predictions. The authors’ theory suggests that consciousness emerges when the brain’s reality model becomes self-referential, creating a “knowing itself” phenomenon. This recursive process underlies different levels of conscious experience and potentially informs AI development.

Research Article
11,708 20

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The Living Machine

Warren McCulloch

The Living Machine

1962

Warren McCulloch, a pioneering neurologist and mathematician, discusses his lifelong quest to understand the nature of numbers and human cognition. He explores the parallels between the human brain and complex computing machines, emphasizing the brain’s unique “anastomotic” structure. McCulloch ponders the future of artificial intelligence, suggesting that machines might one day surpass and outlive humans. His ideas blend mathematics, theology, and neuroscience, painting a thought-provoking picture of consciousness, technology, and the potential evolution of intelligence beyond human form.

Discussion
09:35 1,134 3

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I Am That

Nisargadatta Maharaj

I Am That

1973

In the heart of Mumbai’s bustling streets, a humble beedi shop owner named Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj delved deeply into the nature of existence, emerging with profound insights that have since captivated spiritual seekers worldwide. I Am That is a collection of his dialogues, where complex metaphysical concepts are unraveled with startling clarity and simplicity. Through conversations steeped in Advaita Vedanta, Maharaj guides readers beyond the illusion of individuality to the realization of their true, unbounded self. Each page invites you to question, reflect, and ultimately transcend the confines of the mind, offering not just philosophical musings, but a transformative experience that promises to change the very way you perceive reality. If you’re seeking a profound spiritual awakening, I Am That is not just a book—it’s a portal to understanding your true nature.

Book
4

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Physics of Life, Time, Complexity, and Aliens

Sara Walker and Lex Fridman

Physics of Life, Time, Complexity, and Aliens

2024

Sara Walker and Lex Fridman explore life’s grand mysteries, touching on the nature of existence and the origins of life to the potential of artificial intelligence and the future of consciousness. Walker’s unique perspective challenges conventional wisdom, inviting us to reconsider our place in the cosmic dance.

Discussion
02:51:58 28,330 32

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