An effort to differentiate between little c consciousness and big C conscious has generated more than its fair share of questions. "Little c" and "big C" are relatively new metaphors I started using in the California workshops to reduce confusion between our local awareness which we call consciousness and the larger system AUM or LCS (with all its interface metaphors higher self, over soul, etc.) that we also call consciousness. Explaining the MBT model of consciousness in terms of commonly spoken and understood English leaves us with two very different things with different functions but also with the exact same name (though from a bigger perspective they are all subsets of one thing) . That is bound to be confusing and the little c, big C terminology was meant to untangle these two different concepts traveling under the same name. What follows is a little clarification:

What we see, hear, think and feel from the perspective of our physical selves, is our personal interpretation of data that comes to us by way of our little c consciousness (our local awareness within physical reality). “Little c” consciousness represents the personal awareness of a virtual player within the PMR reality frame. It exists as a limited subset of our “big C” consciousness. Big C consciousness is analogous to you when you are playing in an advanced virtual reality game and little c consciousness is analogous to the awareness of the character you are playing in the game. Little c consciousness is a subset of big C consciousness.

A rough analogy using the video game metaphor:

As game play progresses, the actions, motivations, and perceptions of the character you are playing are evaluated by you (big C consciousness). You assess the possibilities and probabilities of what your character might do next to progress in the game. However what you character ends up doing is limited by your experience (or lack thereof), the degree to which you have evolved your skill and understanding of how to succeed in this game, and by the limitations of your character, (his quality, knowledge, experience, and understanding, as well as his limited abilities and decision space). In other words, what you determine to do next must be constrained to express your intent and limitations within the bounds of the games rule-set (historical consistency, psi uncertainty and acceptable probability) and your characters situation and ability. Your decision is sent to the buffer (subset) called “little c consciousness” which is your interface with your character. Your character takes that information and does the best he can with it. In the process of interpreting your intent, and interacting within the game play, the character, operating with the constraints of his little c consciousness, collects data, perceives relationships, and makes choices. This data is uploaded to Big C consciousness and one begins again with the first sentence of this paragraph.

Tom

Got it Chief,


But what's up with this numbers thing you're always doing to us?

Posting this on
11,10 20010

TWCJR
Joined: Tue Nov 12, 2002 12:00 am
Posts: 1212

Crikey, it's starting to creep me out a bit...lol

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Shut up and meditate

Thanks Tom, great post.

Am I correct in assuming that (in other circles) this would be analogous to the relationship between the "higher self" and the "lower self"? Perhaps the Big C Consciousness would be the ego upon the Mental plane and the little c consciousness would be the ego expressing itself upon the physical plane?

This is actually something I am currently grappling with during my current stage in my journey. I have recently been requesting clarity about what it is my "higher self" knows would be the best actions for me to take in order to achieve the highest good and best result during this life. I feel i am at a kind of cross roads at the moment, where there are various different paths I may take from this point, each leading to very different conclusions. I am trying my very best to choose where I go from here very carefully and make the best choices I possibly can. But as you said, my little c consciousness has various constraints and limited knowledge and abilities...

If I may ask... What would be the best way to clarify the difference between the choices my "higher self" knows is best, and the choices my "lower self" (or little c consciousness) is merely convincing itself are the best choices? Do you have any advice on how to go about strengthening the the connection between Big C and little c, and lessoning the distortion that occurs at the "buffer"?

Thanks a million.
Namaste

prodigy,

You should reconsider the things you are trying to understand. Tom did not say that we are here to experience the ideal and highest good that is possible. We are here to experience interactions with other beings on the best basis that our limitations will allow. It is these interactions that are the purpose of our life here in PMR. It is these interactions that very gradually train our higher self as it exists as a digital individuated consciousness within Consciousness Space to experience a higher Quality of Consciousness and reduce our entropy. Stop seeking the ideal as fact and get on with 'good enough for getting along with', the best you can do under the limitations of this PMR lifetime.

Ted

Hi Ted, good to speak with you again.

When I speak of making decisions that will lead to the "highest good", I mean the "highest good" of others; those I interact with. Which I gather is a part of lowering one's entropy, and in turn could also be considered my "highest good". Correct me if I am wrong, but it is my understanding that lowering one's entropy involves becoming more loving and cultivating a desire to help others rather than the self. It is my wish to make decisions that lead to the "highest good" of those whom my decisions will effect. I am assuming that this is the wish of my "higher self" as well, and he/she will be sending the intent to do so. (as the path that leads to that result will be very clear to "higher self") What I am saying is that I currently feel as though I am at a cross roads in my life. I see many paths branching in different directions out in front of me, each as easy to go down as any of the others. If I wanted to go down the path that was "best" in the eyes of Big C consciousness, my question is how would go about clearing up the communication between he/she and I?

If we go back to the video game analogy: I gather it would be in the best interest of the video game character to work on better receiving and interpreting the intent of the man who is playing the game and controlling the character. Am I wrong?

I realize I could be way off base here, so if I am please correct me. I am only trying to improve my understanding so that I may work more effectively towards lowering entropy and helping others to do so.

Thanks

Prodigy,

I would be inclined to say still that trying to make decisions on the highest good of another or yourself is going to lead to much uncertainty. I think a much more readily discerned path is to think in terms of not violating the free will of others except as necessary to protect those who cannot protect themselves or to maintain your own free will to the point that it does not impinge on that of others. Still a matter of balancing act and requiring judgment, but not so open ended and uncertain as seeking the highest good. We are mostly not in a position to judge what the highest good, even for ourselves, actually is.

Expect that if you can make yourself better aware of guidance, that guidance will be directing you towards the highest good at whatever level that currently applies. You can act appropriately without having to be conscious of all aspects. Unless you can see that you are being given bad guidance, trust the system.

Ted

I just try not to be a jerk.
Love
Bette

_________________
All That Is
what is?
Consciousness.

I'm with Ted and have nothing to add but a nod.

theprodigy,
It seems to me that your approach is honest and humble, which in any case seems to be solid and open to growth.

This idea of finding the proper approach to PMR growth has stumped me for a while now, but I think I am starting to see the light.

At certain times while OOB, lucid in a dream, or experiencing full presence in waking life; it seems that I am existing as a less limited version of myself. The most notable example is that I do not seem to experience fear while existing in these states. There is anticipation and excitement, but not the PMR type of fear that I know and experience in waking life. Another example of this difference is during times of clarity and presence. In these cases it seems as though I suddenly get a taste of my higher self (big C?). I get a serge of clarity and insight about myself as I exist in PMR. Without meaning to sound egocentric, I feel a great sense of power in these instances (in relation to what I feel in waking life). I do not sense that I am perfect or all knowing in these cases... just less limited... somehow more real or functional.

Tom and Ted, in attempting to apply what you have said... it seems that the point is not to try and exist as this "better" and less limited version of us (Big C, higher self, etc), but instead to take what guidance we do get from big C us and head back to the PMR trenches and keep on keeping on as our little c self.

This makes a great deal of sense. Even though I have had some amazing moments of clarity and insight, I return to my “normal” PMR life and quickly find myself in the same ruts and repetitive loops. This seems to support the notion that I have to really experience something (get my hands dirty) to learn it. Sitting in a classroom while an ambiguous and robed figure lectures about how to grow toward love simply would not cut it. The concepts can only be fully understood through direct experience.

The approach to PMR growth seems to be a balance of honest introspection (acknowledging and recognizing our own flaws), being open to guidance and nudges from big C (pudding tasting with open-minded skepticism), and good ol’ hard work as experienced through our PMR self (doing the bests that we can in the PMR trenches).

I may be mis-interpreting my experiences, but it is very strange to realize that I am and can experience being both the dog and the owner (as an analogy). Honestly it often feels as though I am wiser and more capable than my PMR self will let me be. This is perhaps similar to the dog having a moment of clarity and realizing that he is in fact the owner as well, but then retuning to being his full dog self. So now, as the dog, he realizes the importance of going outside to pee, but he is somehow still stuck in his dog body/reality and can’t seem to stop peeing on the rug.

I suppose the point then, in relation to the dog/owner analogy, is that the dog and owner just keep working it out together and making little baby steps of progress along the way.
As apposed to trying to exist without these PMR limitations (ie: brain, PMR ego, PMR rule set), it seems that perhaps I need to hold them against the wall and stare them in the eye. A practice of embracing the problem instead of trying to shake it off.

Anyway, just some thoughts from my limited perspective. I'm grateful for any insight or input.

_________________
-"You can't always get what you want, but if you try sometimes, you might find... you get what you need"

Exactly so, Justin.

You signed up for the duration and no matter how high you fly at times, you must still remain in the trenches until it's 'over over there'. The time is not wasted. It takes many iterations to fully modify the digital reality of your mind to a higher state.

Ted

Thank you Ted, this one sentence answers the entirety of my question by getting to the source of the error.

I always appreciate your eagerness to clarify things for myself and others. Thank you once again.

Namaste

P.S. Also, thanks to Justin for recognizing the honesty of my inquiry. I too believe honest introspection and humble willingness to admit ignorance is an important part of growth. One thing that has always stuck with me from Tom is the phrase "open-minded skepticism".


I think I will re-read the entire MBT trilogy sometime soon. I think I need a refresher course. ; )

You may find yourself finding new information in it with each reading.
Love
Bette

_________________
All That Is
what is?
Consciousness.

Ted, thank you for your input.

This is really starting to change my perspective a great deal.

It seems good to acknowledge that we are here to help reduce the entropy of big C (et all), but it is important for us (our intended job) as little c PMR inhabitants to focus on our experiences and struggles while working on our PMR selves... ego, choices, relationships, etc.

It would not make much sense to say, "okay, I want some hands on experience in the trenches of PMR. let me be a perfect human so that I will be able to make some good love-based choices and grow." This of course is rough speculation... but it would make more sense to say, "Okay, I want some hands on experience in the trenches of PMR, to support growth item 33425.29, I will give myself a dose of mild depression, a tendency toward addiction, and various situations that will support me having a violent nature. Within these limitations, I will make choices." Clearly it would seem that this preparation process... this life set up is beyond my level or need of understanding. The point for me is to realize is that I am intentionally limited.

To say something like, "Once I pull myself out of this depression, then I can do some growing up" or "I have failed spiritually because I drink too much" or "I can't stop being mean to people" or "nobody seems to get the point of being here" or "better luck next life" or whatever.... all of these struggles and errors are not necessarily the direct result of poor choices (though surly some are). Our imperfections and struggles are the stage upon which we need to make choices and the stage upon which growth takes place. It is all happening right now as I type. These struggles and experiences are little c's "work order" and big C's tools for little c's growth (and thus its own... and thus the whole).

I have been seeing my own struggles as limitations that prevent me from making more love based choices and from getting any real growth done. I had a list of things to fix about myself so that I would be better, so that I could think more rationally. However, to try and get rid of or "fix" these things is like throwing away my work order. The purpose of me as little c is not to become perfect (If that was the purpose, then Earth PMR is clearly failing). The point of me being here is so that I can make choices while I am flawed and limited. A transient alcoholic living drink by drink on the street has not necessarily dropped out of the process, he might actually in some ways exemplify the the point of being here.

My PMR foolishness and struggles have great purpose! My direct purpose is not to rid myself of these PMR "limitations", my purpose in to make choices within the confines of those limitations. Growth does not need to occur before we can make "good" choices. The choices we make within the confines of those limitations come before growth. That is the process of a learning environment involving direct experience.

The feeling that I sometimes have toward existing here... the saddening joy, and the joyful sadness (A good blues song that makes me shed an unexplained tear of joy) ... thees feelings would seem fitting for a little c like myself in the trenches of PMR. It is just the good sting of evolution.

I know I am missing some pieces in here, but wow.. Eureka!

Sorry for the rambling. Tom's big C little c explanation came at just the right time for me.

Input always appreciated.

_________________
-"You can't always get what you want, but if you try sometimes, you might find... you get what you need"

Very good observations Justin. In fact, these observations point exactly to why the 11-11-10 manifestation idea, while very loving and seemingly well intended, is fundamentally flawed in the MBT philosophy. As Tom has said, you don't get $200 automatically for passing GO and there is no free lunch. If the world was suddenly "enlightened" all at once, the value of this PMR as a learning lab would be short-circuited. The discovery is up to each and every individual working their way through the difficult situations they find themselves in, choice by choice. The world would be a wonderful place to exist if collective enlightenment were to occur, but it would be a place devoid of real, solid growth potential. Perhaps, then we would enjoy it for a while and, inevitably, the fundamental process would urge us, at the being level, to seek another place to incarnate where the going was tough so the tough could get going.

I didn't post this in the other thread because I didn't want to "rain on the parade," so to speak and I think it is very good and well to send love and light to every corner of PMR if you so choose. I feel sadness out of love and caring for every creature suffering here and sincerely desire to see us succeed. But we will have to earn it.

Ramon

This is what it is about, all of us supplying pieces which may or may not fit, but if they do not get supplied there is no way to see. Everything matters, you could be telling someone what some ahole said the other day, and that information could completely change an others view. Isn't this fun? :)
Love
Bette

_________________
All That Is
what is?
Consciousness.