IS CONSCIOUSNESS PRODUCED BY THE BRAIN?

Is consciousness produced by the brain? This question has been debated for decades and for decades science has been saying that consciousness is created in the brain. Because of the fact that science wasn’t able to measure anything outside of the body that could be responsible for our consciousness, the idea of consciousness residing outside of the body was labeled metaphysical and disregarded by science.

But times are changing.

Internationally acclaimed neurosurgeon Dr Eben Alexander always considered himself a man of science. His unwavering belief in evidence-based medicine fuelled a career in the top medical institutions of the world. But all this was set to change. One morning in 2008 he fell into a coma after suffering a rare form of bacterial meningitis. Scans of his brain revealed massive damage. Death was deemed the most likely outcome. As his family prepared themselves for the worst, something miraculous happened. Dr Alexander’s brain went from near total inactivity to awakening. He made a full recovery but he was never the same.

He woke certain of the infinite reach of the soul, he was certain of a life beyond death. In this astonishing book, Dr Alexander shares his experience, pieced together from the notes he made as soon as he was able to write again. Unlike other accounts of near-death experiences, he is able to explain in depth why his brain was incapable of fabricating the journey he experienced.

Being a man of science, he had a hard time coming forward with the experience he had. His experience was so profound that it changed his view on consciousness and what it really is.

He wrote a book called – Proof of heaven-  to share his story with the world, and I must say, if you are intrigued by nde’s and the after life, then this book belongs in your personal library. His story is one of profound beauty and inspiration.

An electronic version of his book can be downloaded from our E-book library under Spirituality. A free registration is required to access the complete E-book library.

In  this touching 7 minute interview he describes his experience with a stunning final.

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A more scientific approach to explain consciousness is made by Dr. Bruce Greyson, Professor of Psychiatry.

In his lecture – Is consciousness produced by the brain – he states the following

” All the evidence suggests that the brain is indeed involved in thinking, perception and memory, but is does not necessarily suggest that the brain causes those thoughts, perceptions and memories.

and

“Thoughts, perceptions and memories could take place in a consciousness somewhere separate from the brain, and the received and processed by different area’s in the brain.

He himself has studied over 1000 people who had several different experiences in which the nature and origin of consciousness is questioned.

In the following amazing lecture Dr. Greyson talks about the effects of near death experiences, out of body experiences, how consciousness seems to be present when there is no brain function, past life memories and evidence of rebirth.  He also gives scientific proof and recounts the numerous inexplicable experiences in which consciousness seems to be released from the grasps of it processing brain upon death.

Is consciousness produced by the brain? We’d like to hear your thoughts on it in the comments….

~ Giri Dayakar Jagamohan