Namaste, Welcome to SAM-VAD (Together In Conversation), This week let me bring to your attention an interesting excerpt from this thought provoking & an important work, by Dr. Robert Ornstein & Sally Ornstein. Robert Ornstein was a noted psychologist and a leading expert on the brain. Founder and president of the Institute for the Study of Human Knowledge, Ornstein wrote more than 20 books on the brain, mind, and consciousness emphasizing our urgent need and ability to develop perceptions beyond our biological inheritance. Sally M. Ornstein is the editor of \u201cIdeas That Shaped Our Modern World,\u201d a comprehensive overview of the role of religion throughout human history.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Awe, Some (And Belief)<\/em><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Whether strongly positive or threatening (as in a huge storm), experiences of awe decreases our tolerance for uncertainty<\/p>\n\n\n\n This blend of fear and wonder increases our tendency and motivation to look for patterns, to make sense of the world around us. It stimulates and increases the belief that there is a purpose in everything, which we may not understand or see.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Awe involves a sense of perceptual vastness and a jump outside our usual frame of reference. Psychologists Dader Keltner and Jonathan Haidt propose that we feel awe in the presence of vastness in nature \u2013 mountains, vistas, storms : \u201c\u2026.nature produced awe involves a diminished sense of self, the giving away of previous conceptual distinctions and the sensed presence of a higher power \u2026 Natural objects that are vast in relation to the self \u2026. Are more likely to produce awe\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Experiencing awe slows our personal sense of time and, as a result, increases our perception of how much time is available, a step in the direction of believing in eternity. It can result in diminishment of the individual self and its concerns, and an increase in pro-social behaviours such as generosity and compassion. It also reduces impatience, which can lead to more pro-social and other positive behaviours, such as willingness to volunteer our time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n God 4.0 \u2013 Dr. Robert Ornstein & Sally Ornstein<\/em><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n This book is a stunning unification of science and tradition. It presents a concept of spirituality to address the challenges of the modern world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It explores how our \u201ceveryday\u201d mind works as a device for selecting just a few parts of the outside reality that are important for our survival. We don\u2019t experience the world as it is, but as a virtual reality \u2013 evolved to keep us safe and to ensure our survival. This system, though essential for getting us safely across a busy street, is insufficient for understanding and solving the challenges of the modern world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You can buy your copy from any of the bookstores near you or via any on-line portal selling books or also by clicking the following link: <\/p>\n\n\n\n