Universal consciousness then the consciousness that lives through each of our memories. Zen Buddhism refers to this as big mind and small mind. It’s all one – or what buddhism refers to as non-duality (so not two, but one). Our memory which is our past prevents most of us, most of the time from expanding consciousness. Our memory is what divides us from pure consciousness. Our memory is what creates duality. Drug Addictions are the result trying to escape memory. Your consciousness and my consciousness is the same. Our memories are different. Your memory influences your consciousness — because it can direct you to it or away from it. If you’re directed to it, your memory for that moment will disappear. If your directed away from it, you’re in your memory. Most people live in memory most the time. Every day feels the same to them. They are not fully conscious. Your thoughts are illusions and so is memory of your consciousness. So what your consciousness remembers is an illusion. Those illusions come from your memory which establishes your self image. That’s why physical death is an illusion. Your image of yourself is not real, it’s built up. But when your self image / memory / illusion cease, then there’s pure consciousness. This is heaven, God, love and all those things. This concepts only have real value only if they can be applied religiously.
Now of course we need our memory, I hope that goes without saying. But can we see things without memory, for a moment. Can we feel without memory for a moment? Or hear without a trace of memory?
A baby is mostly conscious, little build up of memory. The baby starts to form memory in her consciousness. But now she’s mostly consciousness. The baby will learn very quickly because of this. There’s little or no memory or idea of herself to get in the way of her consciousness. When you watch the baby you get a feeling of pure consciousness, since she’s radiating that, and that puts you in a state of love or also pure consciousness— for moment or two. Then your memory will come back. And draw you in the past or project in the future. So as you watch the baby she is teaching you about consciousness and as she watches you, you are teaching her about memory.
Steve K
