Consciousness Is A Big Problem For Science
Can Science Explain Consciousness?
Science has provided humanity with an incredible understanding of our physical world. But when it comes to the issue of the human mind, progress has been slow and littered with issues. Materialist science is attempting to prove that consciousness is merely a byproduct of the complex processes in the brain, and inseparable from the physical body. In simpler terms, your “mind” is the resulting process of neurons firing in your brain, nothing more and nothing less. Unfortunately, there is no actual neurological proof to support this idea, and for many who are deeply studying the question of the mind, these scientists are not looking in the right place, or using the right methods.
Alternative theories propose non-local consciousness: the idea that our brains are merely the physical conduit for the mind, not the source of its origin. These theories often explore fringe cases, such as near-death experiences, precognition, and psychic phenomena, in hopes that they can provide a more complete picture of the human mind. Of course, the majority of this evidence is not measurable to the extent that most mainstream, materialist scientists would accept. Responding to eye-witness accounts describing near-death experience, Neil DeGrasse Tyson said:
“Give me something that does not have to flow through your senses, because your senses are some of the worst data taking devices that exist, and modern science did not achieve maturity until we had instruments that either extended our senses or replaced them.”
Indeed, from the simplest microscope to the large hadron collider, it is impossible to imagine scientific progress without such instruments. But, if our senses are considered fallible as scientific instruments, what should we make of the mind we use to process and interpret this collected data? Human consciousness must be considered as unreliable as our senses, perhaps even more unreliable, as we know far less about the mind than we do about our sense organs.
This paradoxical reality is a serious issue for science: how can we study the human mind if the only tool we have at our disposal is the human mind itself?
In his book, Why Science Is Wrong, science podcaster Alex Tsakiris sums up the problem: “If my consciousness is more than my physical brain, then consciousness is the X-factor in every science experiment. It’s the asterisk in the footnotes that says, ‘We came as close as we could, but we had to leave out consciousness in order to make our numbers work.’”
Does Consciousness Exist Outside the Brain?
Part of this “consciousness problem” in scientific study is the “observer effect”: the theory that simply observing a situation or phenomenon necessarily changes that phenomenon. On a quantum level, physicists found that even passive observation of quantum phenomena can change the measured result, leading to the popular belief that a conscious mind can directly affect reality.
According to physicist John Wheeler, quantum mechanics implies that our observations of reality influence its unfolding. We live in a “participatory universe,” in which mind is as important as matter. Our belief in what is possible might actually create those possibilities, and it might reinforce the physical nature of our entire universe. If we do, in fact, co-create a shared consciousness, then our beliefs would necessarily influence our science.
Dan Siegel, a professor of psychiatry at UCLA School of Medicine, has argued for decades that we can not simply look inside the brain when trying to understand the mind: “I realized if someone asked me to define the coastline but insisted, is it the water or the sand, I would have to say the coast is both sand and sea,” says Siegel. “I started thinking, maybe the mind is like the coastline. Your thoughts, feelings, memories, attention, what you experience in this subjective world is part of mind.”
Those exploring the outer frontiers of consciousness study are willing to take this idea much, much further. Ervin Laszlo, PhD is one of many thinkers who proposes the idea of a cosmic consciousness, describing it as a web that connects the entire universe. This field manifests locally in the human brain, theoretically meaning that the brain is able to connect to the consciousness of the entire universe. He calls this deep dimension of consciousness the Akashic Field, borrowing the term from ancient Hindu philosophy. In support of this theory, he presents numerous case-studies of near-death experiences, after-death communication, and recollections of past lives.
Laszlo writes:
“We are beginning to see the entire universe as a holographically interlinked network of energy and information. We, and all things in the universe, are non-locally connected with each other and with all other things in ways that are unfettered by the hitherto known limitations of space and time.”
Those “known limitations of space and time” are the border walls of materialist science, and in the last century, quantum mechanics has begun to tear that wall down, one brick at a time. Quantum entanglement proves that tiny particles can communicate instantaneously in defiance of our known rules governing space and time. Many have hypothesized that if these tiny particles can remain connected outside of standard physical means, than the entire universe is inherently connected, as Laszlo and others have suggested. And while that may someday be proven true, we have barely scratched the surface when it comes to the quantum implications of the mind.
Although there is extensive evidence for non-local consciousness, it is rarely embraced by mainstream scientists because it can’t be measured using currently available technology, and that makes significant progress challenging. Accepting non-locality forces the rejection of a purely materialist worldview, and that is a huge disruption for our current scientific paradigm, which dominates consensus thinking on how we understand the world. Yet, the study of consciousness is slowly forcing materialistic science to admit it may not be able to explain everything.
As Nikola Tesla famously said, “The day science begins to study non-physical phenomena, it will make more progress in one decade than in all the previous centuries of its existence.” The study of human consciousness could be the motivating factor pushing us towards that new frontier.
Joe Dispenza, the Doctor Who Teaches How to Reprogram the Mind
The ability to transform our lives through the reprogramming of our minds is an idea that has gained popularity in recent years, and Dr. Joe Dispenza is one of the leading proponents of this philosophy. With a personal story of overcoming adversity and a solid scientific background, Dispenza has become an influential figure in the field of personal development. In this article, we explore his life, his teachings, and the experiences that led him to this position.
Table of Contents
- Who Is Dr. Joe Dispenza?
- The Accident That Changed His Life
- Dr. Joe Dispenza’s Core Teachings
- Three Books to Understand Dr. Joe Dispenza
- The Global Impact of Dr. Joe Dispenza
Who Is Dr. Joe Dispenza?
Joe Dispenza is an American author, speaker, and chiropractor known for his research and teachings in the field of neuroscience as applied to personal development. He has written several books and offers seminars and workshops around the world, teaching people how to change their thinking to transform their reality. His approach combines neuroplasticity, epigenetics, and quantum physics to provide a practical guide to self-transformation.
Dispenza gained recognition after appearing in the 2004 documentary “What the Bleep Do We Know!?”, where he presented his ideas about the mind-body connection. Since then, he has continued researching and expanding his methods, helping thousands of people through his programs and publications. His ability to integrate scientific concepts with practical techniques has resonated widely, attracting a global audience interested in personal growth and healing.
In addition to his books and seminars, Joe Dispenza is known for his series Rewired on Gaia, where he explores how to reprogram the brain and the body to achieve a fuller, healthier life. Through 13 episodes, Dispenza guides viewers through practices like meditation, visualization, and other techniques to activate their potential and experience meaningful transformation.
The Accident That Changed His Life
In 1986, Joe Dispenza suffered a serious bicycle accident during a competition in Palm Springs, California. He was hit by an SUV, resulting in multiple fractures in his spine. Doctors informed him that he would need high-risk surgery to stabilize his spine—with the possibility that he might never walk again.
Faced with this situation, Dispenza decided to reject surgery and embark on a journey of self-healing. He used visualization and meditation techniques to imagine his spine healing and fusing together again. He spent hours each day focusing his mind on reconstructing his vertebrae and fully recovering his mobility.
Over nine weeks of intense mental practice, Dispenza began to notice significant improvements in his condition. Against all medical predictions, he was able to stand up and walk again without surgical intervention. This transformative experience solidified his belief in the power of the mind to influence the body and motivated him to share his discoveries with others.
Dispenza’s recovery process not only restored his mobility, but also gave him a completely new perspective on the mind’s ability to affect physical reality. Determined to understand and explain this phenomenon, he committed himself to studying neuroscience, epigenetics, and related fields in depth.
Since then, Joe Dispenza has dedicated his life to researching and teaching how people can use the power of their minds to heal and transform their lives. His methods, rooted in both science and spirituality, have resonated with a global audience, attracting thousands of followers to his seminars, workshops, and online programs.
Dr. Joe Dispenza’s Core Teachings
Joe Dispenza teaches that our thoughts and emotions have a direct impact on our biology and on the reality we experience. According to Dispenza, changing our thought patterns can alter our physical reality. This idea is based on neuroplasticity—the brain’s ability to reorganize itself and form new neural connections in response to new thoughts and experiences. By adopting positive thoughts and emotions, Dispenza suggests we can transform our lives and overcome self-imposed limitations.
Another key teaching from Dispenza is the importance of living in the present moment to create a new reality. According to him, many people are trapped in the past, repeating the same thoughts and emotions that perpetuate the same experiences. Dispenza promotes the practice of meditation and mindfulness to free the mind from these repetitions and open up to new possibilities. By focusing on the present, one can shift the energy of both body and mind, facilitating a state of creation rather than reaction.
Dispenza also emphasizes the connection between body and mind through heart coherence. He teaches that by achieving a state of heart coherence—where the heart rate synchronizes with positive emotional states—healing processes in the body can be activated. Through breathing and visualization techniques, individuals can reach this state of coherence, improving their overall health and well-being. This interconnection between the mind, heart, and body is fundamental to the self-transformation that Dispenza advocates.
Three Books to Understand Dr. Joe Dispenza
To fully understand Joe Dispenza’s approach, it’s essential to read his most influential books: “Breaking the Habit of Being Yourself,” “You Are the Placebo,” and “Becoming Supernatural.” Each of these works offers a unique perspective on how to reprogram the mind and transform life through neuroscience and epigenetics.
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Breaking the Habit of Being Yourself
In Breaking the Habit of Being Yourself, Joe Dispenza explains how to change our thoughts and emotions to create a new reality. This book combines theory and practice, offering exercises and meditations that help readers break free from limiting habits and develop a new state of being.
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You Are the Placebo
You Are the Placebo delves into the mind’s power to heal the body. Dispenza presents case studies and scientific evidence showing how beliefs and expectations can activate the body’s healing power. The book includes practical guides for using meditation and visualization as part of the healing process.
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Becoming Supernatural
In Becoming Supernatural, Dispenza goes beyond physical and mental healing, exploring how to access elevated states of consciousness to transform reality. This book presents advanced meditation and visualization techniques, demonstrating how to apply these principles to achieve transcendental experiences and manifest extraordinary life changes. It’s complemented by a Gaia original series of the same name, which expands on the book’s teachings and goes even further.
The Global Impact of Dr. Joe Dispenza
Joe Dispenza’s innovative approach has had a significant global impact, transforming the lives of thousands of people. His seminars and workshops have expanded worldwide, creating a diverse and dedicated community that shares a common goal: self-transformation. Through his teachings, Dispenza has shown that it is possible to overcome self-imposed limitations and reach a state of physical, emotional, and mental well-being.
Dispenza’s influence extends across various platforms and formats, allowing his methods to reach people of all ages and backgrounds. His unique combination of science and spirituality continues to inspire many to explore the power of the mind and live more fulfilled, conscious lives. This global movement toward healing and personal growth stands as a testament to the transformative power of Joe Dispenza’s teachings.
