The origin stories of many belief-systems (including evolution) have us starting out as very “unconscious” creatures — as in, unburdened by self-consciousness. Very young children exist in this state.
But then a degree of consciousness arises, and from it comes all of these complexities, expectations, responsibilities, obligations that can cause great suffering.
And “the medication” we tend to reach for to alleviate this suffering, are things that make us more unconscious.
But paradoxically, the “cure” to the disease of consciousness, is heightened consciousness. Because in this one finds the ability to integrate the myriad of complexities that simple consciousness makes us aware of, into sufficient purpose to offset any suffering. Fuller awareness becomes the cure for suffering of just partial awareness.
Both Western psychology and various spiritual disciplines (including Judeo-Christianity) advocate an embracing of suffering. Don’t hide from that terrifying or painful thing. Turn around and confront it. Don’t hide from the boggart! Examine it and the hold it tries to exert on you. One hears phrases in some Eastern disciplines like “go into the pain; look past the pain; become one with the pain; the pain doesn’t exist/isn’t real/is unimportant”.
It seems highly paradoxical advice. But evidence is that it works.
If simple consciousness causes you pain and suffering, don’t try to hide from it or retreat back into unconsciousness. Go the other way, even deeper into heightened consciousness.
That is the cure.
© 2026 – SoulSequel
3 responses to “Consciousness as a disease”
Interesting theory, especially by throwing in various origin mythologies around the world. Albeit, I have always been a big fan of Joseph Campbell and Milton H Erickson. And had studied the “evolution of consciousness” as a kid.
But, the Adamic stories, “mythologies” are the purest, be they about the tower of babel, or Noah and the flood, or Adam and Eve.
The modern, “free” world is the product of two thousand years of anti-christ propaganda and false miracles, with some Christianity and other religions thrown in.
It is not a true story.
Flesh is opposed to Spirit, and Spirit opposed to flesh.
Without routine mortification of the flesh, you will only remain lost. You will embrace spiritual and be spiritual, but have your spiritual eyes and ears closed by the closed nature of flesh eyes and ears. You have a spiritual brain and heart, but they are closed because of your flesh brain and heart.
Adam did not have his DNA taken to make Eve. Adam literally lose huge components of who he was in the flesh to make Eve.
They were fine until they had sex.
The origin story is simple: you see it with kids. Kids are innocent until they start to hit puberty. This is why we have modern rating systems. Why we keep silent and conspiracy on sex from kids.
Sex as the hard penis and the hard penis as the snake… pretty obvious.
It could be a santa claus story for Adam and Eve’s kids.
Otherwise, the science of understanding the unconscious is far behind our own discoveries which remain obscure, such as in Erickson’s work. Hypnosis and studies of the unconscious via fMRI are in their infancy. Such studies exist, but too often you see such scientific research entirely unaware of the basic studies of “hypnosis” and the unconscious of the 20th century. (Though the unconscious influence is super massive — and part of the reason science doesn’t think hypnosis is cool. It has too many incarnations that are pseudo-science seeming due to the very subjective nature of the field. Even if quantum physics has similar subjectivity observations, such as on the observations regarding light as a wave or mass.)
Science is currently under the illusion that subjectivity is false and an enemy, and anything beyond the false jar of the definition of “the natural” is not real. How do you test when the very core concepts are false, as objectivity is false and subjectivity is true? You have to break the assumptions of the scientific method entirely.
People are, therefore, too dumb.
They underestimate the intelligence of the gods, and even their existence. Even if such a god is Rick of Rick and Morty.
:/
They overestimate their own intelligence.
They are conceited, because their lives are short. They are biased towards personal acclaim over truth, because they are mortals unspinning quickly.
i feel like maturity and acceptance are ‘cures’ as well. if we accept that a something exists, this doesnt mean we have to accept it for ever. but dropping the binds of expectation always lighten my load. what is wrong with awareness i wonder? sure it isnt easy breezy. but knowing something exists also means knowing the possibilities of change maybe?
i dont want to be unconscious. but i dont have to be cynical either. there are inbetweens. and i might on occasion miss the carefree existence i had for a brief period when i was maybe 7, but i wouldnt trade my awareness for that. im definitely more for fuller awareness than unconsciousness.
@BelleMadre
I think that’s a good observation.
But the caution is that “acceptance” in many simply spins into nihilism and epiphenomenalism . . . and that many achieve “maturity” without finding a truly functional cure against the pains growing consciousness always brings. Have they resolved them . . . or just locked them up within?
Children present a good model. As their consciousness develops and innocence drops away, their first awareness is often of dangers and monsters to be found everywhere — in the dark, in the closet, in the basement, under the bed, in the woods, in the chaos of the unknown (Their very active imaginations propel this process!).
But as they mature, a fuller consciousness (awake-ness) enables them to confront and de-fang many of the monsters they feared as a child. And those they don’t effectively address, most adults tend to lock in the most inpenetrable prisons-of-the-mind they can construct. But maintenance of these prisons becomes more and more psychologically expensive over time. And should their proverbial balloon become over-stressed, it will pop at the weakest point — unleashing these demons to prey on them at their weakest moment.
I shared a Carl Jung axiom in another thread recently — along the lines of ‘That which you most need to find [and resolve] will be in the last place you want to go looking for it’.
When we are stressed and demons jump out and go “boo”, we tend to reach for things that numb the consciousness. But the best resolution will come from going right into the eye of the hurricane. And far better to do this when we are strong and in control . . . than when our balloon has popped!