There are significant practical consequences of the nature of consciousness and the attunement to it that we can develop. These consequences span relationships with others, decision-making and accountability, and even the notion of evil.
Relationships
When we understand that we all share one consciousness, a variety of practical applications begin to apply to our relationships with other people. Notions of empathy, conflict, generosity and love are all affected by this realization and practice.
Empathy is the ability to understand and share others’ feelings. Some of us are more empathetic than others. But cultivating one’s connection to consciousness also cultivates a deep realization of togetherness that fosters not just more empathy, but perhaps even a different kind of empathy. The difference lies in the identification of the “self” with the “other.” We see glimpses of this in parent-child relationships. Often, we can understand others’ feelings, but sharing them can be challenging. But if a child is feeling sadness or joy or any other strong emotion, it is not just easy, but automatic, for most parents to feel the same way in their own hearts. But with the expansive definition of self that increased attunement to consciousness brings, it becomes more natural to share others’ feelings.
Conflict for the less attuned is a zero-sum game. Whatever I win, you must lose. If we are in a debate, the objective is to win, to defeat the opponent, maybe at best to convince them that our view is correct and theirs is wrong. Connection to consciousness does not magically erase debates or conflicts. They will still arise, but with greater attunement, these disputes become opportunities to be curious about others’ perspectives and to see what knowledge we can gain.
I know that, for myself, much of my journey down this philosophical path originated in Mama Saw’s debate club. We were assigned a topic for the year, for example, “The Federal Government should reduce prison overcrowding.” It was not enough to effectively advocate only for, or only against, the proposition. You had to master both sides of the topic to win a tournament. This experience not only taught me about critical thinking, but that I can be very curious about opposing perspectives, regardless of my initial reaction.
How we treat others evolves with greater attunement to consciousness as well. What we used to see as “generosity” is simply a more enlightened application of self-interest. When we cause harm to others, we begin to feel that we are harming a part of our own selves. In Chapter 3, I asked, “Who are you?” You can see that, the more expansive your answer to that question becomes through connection to consciousness, the more you will peel back modernity’s relentless drive to isolate and reclaim unity with mankind.
We most often read Jesus’ “Golden Rule” as an instruction to treat others how we would like to be treated. But something is off here: as usually translated and understood, this rule tells us to apply what we want to others. What if someone else would not want to be treated as we would like to be treated? So a so-called “Platinum Rule” was coined in 1979 by Milton Bennett, “Do unto others as they would have you do unto them.” But I contend that the only problems with Jesus’ original are weak translation and a narrow understanding.
A more accurate translation of Matthew 7:12 would be: “Therefore, whatever you want others to do for you, also do the same for them.” If “whatever” includes the desire to be understood, respected, and treated according to your own values and perspectives – and undoubtedly, it does – then the Golden Rule is actually a broader and more fulsome than the Platinum. But certainly, both encourage active empathy and intentional kindness.
And indeed, to be with others while connected deeply to consciousness will look almost indistinguishable from loving them. This may be the secret to another of Jesus’ famous commands: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Mark 12:31)
Decisions
Just as greater attunement allows for reconnection to other people, it also affects how we make decisions and how we view our responsibilities.
As we increase our connection to consciousness, our decisions become more strategic: much longer term (even generations) and considering wider effects. Can you imagine if the CEOs of publicly traded companies started waking up to consciousness? Instead of mortgaging the well-being of others, say by making fast food addictive, they might consider that a profit motive can be consistent with a requirement to do the right thing. And instead of worrying about beating growth expectations for the next quarterly earnings report, no matter what damage they do today, they might consider the longer-term ramifications for society, or the environment. How many types of institutions – governments, companies, universities, families, religious sects – are shaped by reactive, disconnected leadership? And how powerful would it be if these leaders took responsibility and began to awaken?
Decision-making clearly changes with greater attunement. But the root cause of this change is an evolution in a sense of accountability and responsibility. We take ownership not just of how well the outcome works for our narrowest selves, but how well that outcome works for others, for the whole system around us, now and into the future. And we begin to internalize a responsibility to take all of that into account when we make decisions. Ethics emerge from coherence, from whatever honors collective well-being, not from rules or fear or greed.