Crack in the Matrix Solutions

May term 2010 this course will be offered again at ETBU.

Contact Bob Benefield at rbenefield@etbu.edu for more information.

General course objectives

• To differentiate hypothetical concepts and physical concepts

• To understand the role of critical thinking skills in scientific inquiry into consciousness

• To gain insight into the research methodologies used in consciousness research

• To apply the concept of operational definition to consciousness

• To examine the role of ego, personal identity, and self-concept as it relates to consciousness

• To understand the concepts of observer consciousness and subjective personal consciousness

• To experience the nature of observer consciousness or stand back awareness

• To examine the roles of awareness and attention as they relate to consciousness

• To discover the technique of meta-analysis of conscious processes

• To understand consciousness as awareness of awareness

• To examine cognitive behavior analysis as a metaphysical self-management technique

• To operationally define meta-attention and meta-awareness

• To differentiate metaphysical consciousness and mystical consciousness

• To differentiate monism and dualism as they relate to consciousness

• To survey examples of mystical experience as conscious union

• To illustrate metaphysical conscious processing as the analysis zone of consciousness

• To understand the ppp-matrix as metaphysical processing in the analysis zone

• To examine bi-polar pairs as a way of knowledge in the analysis zone

• To understand the perceive-believe dilemma in metaphysical consciousness

• To examine cognitive behavior analysis as self-managed metaphysical processing

• To discover applications in self-management as metaphysical awareness and control

• To utilize critical thinking and meta-thinking as self-management tools in consciousness

• To define and measure personal metaphysical processing

• To apply the “what makes me think that…?” technique of metaphysical processing

• To understand the relationship between the analysis zone and personal freedom

• To understand the relationship between the neutral zone and creative thinking processes

• To discover and apply the concept of flow in the neutral zone

• To illustrate the role of self or ego in the analysis zone of metaphysical processing

• To discover the role of self-diminution or ego-reduction in the neutral zone

• To become aware of the mysteries of mystical union

• To understand and operationally define the concept of kingdom consciousness

• To discover the metaphysical correlates of kingdom consciousness

• To examine forgiveness and not-judging by appearance as kingdom choices

• To understand and experience the mystical correlates of kingdom consciousness

General course outline.

1. An introduction to research in spiritual discernment and the movement toward the science of consciousness
2. Spiritual seekers inside of religious groups
3. Spiritual seekers outside of religious groups
4. Spiritual profiling: discovering the correlates of discernment
5. Consensual validation and spiritual experience
6. Consciousness as the common ground of spiritual seekers
7. The role of scientific inquiry into consciousness
8. Metaphysical processing and the ppp-matrix
9. The intolerance of ambiguity and the power of making sense in the matrix
10. Critical thinking and research methodologies in consciousness studies
11. Levy’s errors in critical thinking applied to consciousness
12. Operational definitions and obtaining measurable data in consciousness research
13. Consciousness defined
14. The concept of personal identity and the pursuit of consciousness
15. Thinking as a data source
16. Personal identity outside metaphysical processing
17. Subjective personal consciousness and qualia
18. Observer consciousness:  Stand back awareness and the hidden observer
19. The state of sensed presence and hypnogogic imagery
20. The roles of attention and awareness in consciousness
21. The binding problem in consciousness
22. Meta-analysis in consciousness
23. The mechanics of metaphysics and mysteries of mysticism
24. Meta-analysis of awareness and attention
25. Metaphysical self-management:  management of covert behaviors
26. Metaphysical consciousness contrasted with mystical consciousness
27. Operational definitions of the metaphysical domain
28. Cognitive behavior analysis as applied metaphysics
29. The mystical message and consciousness
30. Cognitive Behavior Analysis and Metaphysical Insights
31. Operational definition of covert processes
32. Metaphysical processing and the analysis zone
33. The fundamental attribution error and the plank in your eye
34. Reduction of ambiguity and the analysis zone
35. The power of illusion in the analysis zone
36. Automatic pilot versus conscious choice
37. Knowledge and the bi-polar pairs
38. The perceive-believe dilemma in consciousness
39. Applications in Cognitive Behavior Analysis
40. Metaphysical management of covert behaviors
41. Cognitive behavior analysis illustrated in applied settings
42. Operational definitions and functional analysis in metaphysical processing
43. Bias detection in the analysis zone
44. Needs analysis in the analysis zone
45. An introduction to metaphysical self-regulation
46. Applications of critical thinking skills in the analysis zone
47. Bi-polar pairs and the analysis zone
48. A framework for applying critical meta-thinking skills
49. Defining and measuring metaphysical processing
50. Personal application of applied critical meta-thinking
51. Metaphysical slavery and the matrix
52. Metaphysical choice and freedom
53. Personal metaphysical practices
54. Beyond metaphysics:  mystical union
55. Creative thinking and the neutral zone
56. Comparing the analysis zone and the neutral zone
57. Ego-reduction and creative flow
58. Correlates of the neutral zone
59. Barriers that prevent creative flow
60. Mediation and meditation as examples of application of the neutral zone
61. The mysteries of the neutral zone
62. Consciousness expanded:  Kingdom consciousness
63. Operational definitions of kingdom consciousness
64. Behavioral correlates of kingdom consciousness
65. Metaphysical correlates of kingdom consciousness
66. Balance: Living between the metaphysical and mystical
67. Further correlates of kingdom consciousness
68. Expanded self-awareness and kingdom consciousness
69. Consciousness defined in light of the metaphysical and mystical correlates
70. The illusion of control and the matrix
71. Explorations in consciousness: Self-management and spiritual pursuits
72. Freedom and metaphysical choice
73. Love and mystical union
74. Contrasting mystical union and metaphysical choices
75. Metaphysical control and mystical surrender
76. Forgiveness and not-judging by appearances
77. Mystical correlates of kingdom consciousness
78. Mysticism the common ground of religious traditions
79. The profundity of spiritual writing
80. Mystical correlates of change
81. Mystical oneness or mystical union
82. Mystical oneness as foolishness to the analysis zone
83. Flow and prayer
84. Silence and the flow
85. Commonly cited correlates of mystical experience
86. Mystical versus metaphysical consciousness
87. Mystical union in consciousness
88. The phenomenon of spiritual growth