The Seat of Consciousness in Ancient Literature

di Richard E. Lind (Autore)

McFarland & Co Inc, 2006

For early civilizations, consciousness or sense of self was experienced as something located in the center of the body, most often within the physical heart. Enlightenment was understood as the illumination of a centrally located ""spiritual heart."" So united were mind and heart that they represented a single entity: the heart-soul. In contrast, modern culture places consciousness within the brain, resulting in mind/body dualism. This separation of mind and body has recently been emphasized as characteristic of the psychopathologies of the modern self. This volume explores the understanding and experience of consciousness in civilizations existing before about 500 BCE. Beginning with a description of ancient western and eastern heart-consciousness, it summarizes the psychological and spiritual manifestations of the ancient mature heart-soul. Ancestor worship, lineage identity, and the societal significance attributed to the primitive consciousness are also considered, along with the ways in which the external world was mirrored by the inner world. Finally, the work addresses the fundamental change in the perception of consciousness that led to the mind/body dualism of today.

• Autore: Richard E. Lind
• Editore: McFarland & Co Inc
• Anno: 2006
• Rilegatura: Paperback / softback
• Pagine: 363 p.
• EAN: 9780786427536

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