Biocentrism, by Gary

       Biocentrism, book by Robert Lanza MD.
Dr Lanza is a stem cell researcher and has written well respected treatises in his field. But this is his first venture into a book of this nature. He is postulating a paradigm shift in the theory of our universe and of consciousness.
     On this date we spent the first of two sessions discussing and questioning Dr. Robert Lanza's 7 principles of Bicentrism. There was considerable discussion because these  concepts were hard for us to wrap our minds around.
      First Principle of Biocentrism: What we perceive as reality is a process that involves our consciousness. An "exteranl reality, if it existed, would --by definition--have to exist in space. But this is meaningless, because space and timea re not absolute realities but rather tools of the human and animal mind.

     Second Principle of Biocentrism: Our external and internal perceptions are inextricably intertwined. They are different sides of the same coin and cannot be divorced from one another.

     Third Principle of Biocentrism: The behavior of subatomic particles -- indeed all particles and objects -- is inextricably linked to the presence of an observer. Without the presence of a conscious observer, they at best exist in an indetermined state of probability waves.

     Fourth Principle of Biocentrism: Without consciousness, "matter" dwells in an undetermined state of probability. Any universe that could have preceded consciousness only existed in a probability state.

     Fifth Principle of Biocentrism: The structure of the universe is explainable only through biocentrism. The universe is fin-tuned for life, which makes perfect sense as life creates the universe, not the other way around. The "universe" is simply the complete spatio-temporal logic of the self.

     Sixth Principle of Biocentrism: time does not have a real existence outsdie of animal-sense perception. It is the process by which we perceive changes in the universe.

     Seventh Principle of Biocentrism: Space, like time, is not an object or a thing Space is another form of our animal understanding and does not have an independent reality. We carry space and time around with us like turtles with shells. Thus, there is no absolute self-existing matrix in which physical events occur independent of life.

     If you obtain this book to read and better understand these principles, turn to Page 91 and 92 and read a great paragraph that describes this reasoning.

     Gary plans to spend next week in further discussion of this important book.


   

Introduction to Our Group

Whether beautifully slow, gentle and steady,

Or tumultuous and powerful,

May our group support your spiritual journey always accommodating and encouraging learning and advancement during your sojourn in this world.

     The Spirit Mind Body Group of Milwaukee, WI formed in 1991 after several founding members, physicians at Columbia Hospital, decided that both spirit and mind were under considered and unintegrated with much of biological medicine. Through the influence of this early group, speakers were invited to present to the physicians at Columbia hospital, Jerry Jampolski MD in 1992 and Herbert Benson MD in 1996, both funded by Columbia Hospital. As time passed, the group has shifted back and forth and now is not directly related to Columbia Hospital. Members tend to stay unless they develop conflicts with the meeting time or move out of town. This means that members obtain gratification, knowledge, instruction, and spiritual expansion from the group meetings.

     I would characterize our group and our meeting topics as eclectic under a broad spiritual umbrella. Our group consists of our leader a psychoanalyst and psychiatrist; his wife and office manager;  Guiding Instructor of the Milwaukee Mindfulness Center and a pediatrician; two internists; another psychiatrist; a Catholic priest; behavioral and childrens' therapists; former teachers; a consultant on legacy wills; an industrial psychologist; former hospital Jewish chaplain; a cardiologist who was active in the development and now teaches HeartMath widely; instructors in Tai Chi, walking meditation, spiritual movement; an artist; an energy therapist; students of various spiritual traditions, and just in general many seekers. I did not intend to individually and personally identify each member, but if there is anyone who wants more specific information here, please email me. Further identification of members will hopefully come with the maturation of this weblog.

     Meeting time: Thursday mornings: Meditation at 7:40 AM
                                                         Presentation/discussion 8-9 AM
     Pastries and Coffee served before the presentation.

     Meeting place: Milwaukee Mindfulness Practice Center

                            1922 E. Park Place
                            Milwaukee, WI 53211 (between Murray and Cramer)

                            Phone: (414) 962-8678

     Cost: free. A donation basket is present to allow members to help defer costs to the Mindfulness Center.

     Schedule: First Thursday of the month, unless otherwise scheduled, Bake Off is held.
     Members bring pieces of information that pertain to spirituality, or happiness, or in general to furthering the members understanding of the world and our place in it.

                   Fifth Thursday when it occurs: Meeting of the Gunther Pohlman Society in memory of our former and founding member, Gunther Pohlman. Sometimes his writings are discussed. His family members may be present. Or we just imagine what Gunther would have said about a topic of discussion.

                  Other Thursdays: Members take responsibility of doing a presentation or leading a discussion that are loosely scheduled. Such topics might include a religious principle, sacred writings, a spiritual tradition, a new way to meditate, a book, or an article that fits the requirements. A member may just lead a discussion on such a topic.

     Over the years we have done such things as learn HeartMath (google HeartMath); make an art project of paper clips in a box, supervised by our artist member; contemplate some old music magazines from the early 20th century; discuss the current local repertory play with an actor present; learn what Flow is according to author Mihalyi Czikcentmihalyi, look at artistic prints done by artist Alex Grey (google Alex Grey); view a representation of the Dinner Party, an installation by artist Judy Chicago (google Judy Chicago); view photographs that one of our members has taken; travel to spiritual places all over the world via a travelog retreat showing such slides; listen to a talk on emotions and where they come from; and much more. As you can see the topics are varied, and disucssions produce magic.