The “Explanatory Gap” is a reference to the space that exists between the mind and consciousness. It is somewhat of a label placed on the idea we cannot explain consciousness, at least not purely through the science of brain activity. Some would argue that the only thing you would find in the explanatory gap is the absence of a deductive explanation. (tee hee)
Remember the cameras that used a flash bulb? When the light would flash, you would experience seeing a red blob of light floating in the room. There was no red blob, yet we did experience the phenomenon. Were we conscious of having the experience of an illusion, or was the illusion a conscious experience? The problem is how we explain our experiences in a way that is consistent with reality. Our brains are trying to know the world around us as we explore the gap between the physical and the non-physical.
At the core of our thrust for knowledge is a contrast. How do two people reach completely different conclusions when presented with the exact same information? Is there interference from memories that create different sensations? I might look at an apple on the table and feel happiness because of emotions triggered by the experience. Another person might feel sadness due to a different way of processing the experience.
We cannot help but try to explain the explanatory gap using a dualistic approach. Is this the influence of things we cannot possible know about the mysteries of life? It might be that the explanatory gap must be there in order to have the opportunity for spiritual growth. Let’s cross the gap together into a space where spirit whispers on the subject at hand:
Consciousness energy is in perpetual motion. You experience color, light, vibration and sensory stimulation on many levels and in multiple dimensions. Various channels of energy fill the gap between the conscious and the unconscious mind to create higher states of being. Any experience brings the opportunity to accept or reject reality.
The strong desire to know is a form of control that adds resistance. When the focus is on a detail that cannot be explained, mental perception becomes unclear. The mind requires energy in the effort to explain one aspect of a broader experience. An entire conceptual apparatus is overtaken by the brain working to understand what lives is in the mystery. Working hard to explain what cannot be explained, defines the relationship between consciousness and the physical reality.
Function takes form in the sensory system through patterns of thoughts and behavior. Identity is created by the different types of thinking that give perspective to life experiences. Every individual creates their mental state. Closed mental loops restrict expansion of consciousness. Illusion becomes the reality when the mind cannot adequately account for the experience.
Intuition breathes intention into the mental process. With more intent, the mystery is accepted as part of the human experience. Consciousness expands when the brain does not demand an explanation. In the gap challenged by duality, one can move beyond misguided focus into areas with synergistic qualities. This is where energy flows through openings into the magic of life.
Bring joy, ease suffering and create beauty, then dance like you mean it!
Blessings, Russell
“The head spins in theoretical disarray; no explanatory model suggests itself; bizarre ontologies loom. There is a feeling of intense confusion, but no clear idea about where the confusion lies.”
Colin McGinn
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