Thought, Intuition, and Perception

Introduction

During the past three decades, much attention has been given to the bi-polar thought process, involving the left- hemisphere and right hemisphere of the Cerebrum. The thought processes which are associated with the left hemisphere have been fairly well understood, and thus reasonable well defined. Unfortunately the same is not true of the right hemisphere.

The approach has generally been to make a list of all of the thought processed that are believed to be associated with our human mind. Then, those processes which are believed to be associated with the left hemisphere have been crossed off the list, and all of the remaining processes have been associated with the right hemisphere. This approach has led to some significant misunderstandings. For example, using this approach, intuition is usually associated with the right hemisphere. In reality, however, intuition should appropriately be associated with the Cerebellum, rather than either of the Cerebral hemispheres.

In the section entitled, "Extended Chakra System and the related Endocrine-Sensory Glands", we explore in considerable depth the sensory function of the endocrine glands and associated chakras. This sensory information is transmitted to the brain, usually at a supra-conscious level, and this input to our thought processes -- these perceptions -- also are usually associated with only the right hemisphere -- again, an inaccurate perspective.

In this section, we shall discuss left-brain and right-brain thought processes from a new perspective. And we shall explore the nature of intuition -- the communication from our soul. And finally, we shall consider the information that comes to us through our chakra system in the form of various types of perceptions.

Before proceeding further, however, a note of clarification would be appropriate. It is important of make a distinction between "brain" and "mind". For the purpose of this discussion, our brain is considered to be like computer "hardware", and our mind is similar to computer "software". In other words, our brain is the mechanism through which the programs and information in our mind are processed. Although in reality our mind functions through every cell in our body, our focus for this discussion will be limited to the various units of the brain, and the associated sensory units.

The Triune Brain and Associated Thought Processes

Let's begin by considering the 3 primary units of the brain, and the associated thinking and intuitive processes.

Cerebrum:

Following are the processes which I believe can appropriately be associated with each of the two hemispheres:

Left Brain:

The so-called left-brain functions involve thought processes such as analysis and deductive reasoning; in other words, processes which start with a whole and break it up into parts. A symbol that might best represent the functioning of the left brain would be a microscope. The virtue within the human psyche which tends to motivate left-brain activity is that of " curiosity".

Right Brain:

The right-brain functions involve our associative and inductive reasoning processes. Envisioning also could appropriately be associated with the right brain. These tend to be processes which start with parts, and then synthesize a whole. An appropriate symbol for right-brain thinking might be a wide-angle lens. The virtue within our psyche which tends to motivate right-brain activity is " imagination".

Cerebellum:

Next, let's consider the Cerebellum. Current medical science generally considers its functions to be related to our spacial orientation, and the refined levels of muscular coordination. However, this is akin to observing that if we press down at certain places on a steering wheel, the horn sounds; and then concluding from this observation that the purpose of a steering wheel is to be able to sound the horn. I would acknowledge that there may be some taxi drivers in New York City who indeed seem to have come to that conclusion. But for most of us, the purpose of a steering wheel is much more extensive and vitally important than just sounding the horn. Likewise, the function of the Cerebellum is much more extensive and important than just refined muscular coordination.

The Cerebellum has an extensive role related to the interface with our soul. In the section entitled, "Extended Chakra System and the related Endocrine Glands", we indicated that this communication with our soul takes place through the Crown chakra, and the associated Pineal gland. However, since modern medical science does not yet openly acknowledge the existence of a soul, one obviously is not going to find this function of the Cerebellum listed in a medical reference book.

In actuality, there are two primary functions of the Cerebellum: communication with the soul, and artistic expression of the soul. Let's consider each of these in more detail.

Communication with the Soul:
Our soul is in charge of our incarnation, and there are various ways in which our soul communicates with our human consciousness to provide guidance and inspiration. Following are a few of the more common methods of communication:

• Intuitive Knowingness:

  Let's consider an example. Perhaps we are faced with a difficult decision in our life. Let's assume that the two hemispheres of our Cerebrum have gone through various reasoning processes, but the results of this still have not pointed us firmly in one direction or the other. So we decide to "sleep on it" during the night, and not make a decision until morning. In many such cases, by the next morning when we awaken, we know immediately what our decision will be. Nothing has changed in all of the rationale that we were sifting through the previous day. But somehow we just "know" what the best decision would be. This is a typical example of how intuitive knowingness flows into our Cerebellum from our soul. All of the processing (thinking) which takes place within the Cerebellum takes place at a supra-conscious level, and only the "output" is transmitted to the Cerebral hemispheres. Thus we do not have memory of the reasoning which took place between the soul and the Cerebellum; we only know the conclusion.

• Visions:

  Some people are visually oriented. For such people the communication from their soul may be provided in the form of visual images. A good example of this was in the work of Nikola Tesla. He would simply see a vision of a concept, and an associated operational device, and then go into the lab and build it. Many of the ancient, as well as modern day prophets, receive information from their soul in the form of visions.

• Dreams:

  Dreams are another way in which our soul communicates with us. Dreams and visions are a cooperative effort between the Cerebellum and the Cerebrum. One might consider the analogy of a movie projector. The film with the imagery would come from the soul. The Cerebellum would serve the function of the projector. And the Cerebrum would serve the function of the screen, receiving the images so that they can be brought to conscious awareness.

Artistic Expression:

Next, let's consider artistic expression. The soul has an innate desire to express its qualities through various forms of creative artistic expression. We indicated earlier that one of the functions of the Cerebellum relates to the finer levels of muscular movement. When a sculptor is creating an image, it is the Cerebellum that is guiding the hands. When a musician is playing a piano, it is the Cerebellum that translates the feeling of the soul into the muscle movements of the fingers. When Michael Jordan is hanging in the air, finding creative new ways to get the ball around a defender and through the hoop, it is the Cerebellum that is guiding the muscles of his body.

However, even if a particular form of creative expression does not require refined muscle movements, the Cerebellum is still involved. For example, in the case of a poet, the Cerebellum translates the feelings and wisdom of the soul into thoughts, which are then sent to the Cerebral hemispheres for expression through words.

Anatomy of the Brain

As previously indicated, there are three primary "processing" units within the structure of the brain. These are the two hemispheres of the Cerebrum, and the Cerebellum. The following illustration shows this basic configuration, along with the important interconnecting communication channels. Let's briefly consider each of these.

Cerebrum:

The research work of Roger Sperry, and his colleagues at the California Institute of Technology during the early 1960's, demonstrated that the two hemispheres of the Cerebrum tend to function relatively autonomously, communicating with each other through the Corpus Callosum.

Each hemisphere is made up of 4 primary lobes, which correspond to the basic bone structure of the skull.

• Frontal Lobe: is in the upper front part of the head.

• Parietal Lobe: resides in the upper back part of the head.

• Occipital Lobe: is in the lower back part of the skull.

• Temporal Lobe: is located along the sides of the head.

Cerebellum: The Cerebellum is about the size of a fist, and resides in the lower posterior of the cranial cavity. Although it, like the Cerebrum, has bilateral symmetry, it functions as a singular unit. Up to this point in time, the Cerebellum has received much less attention be researcher than has the Cerebrum. There is a primary interconnecting link between the Cerebellum and each of the two Cerebral hemispheres. This is very similar in structure to the Corpus Callosum, and is known as the "Cortico-Ponto-Cerebellar Tract." In computer terminology, this is like a high-speed data communication link.

Gateway to the Brain

(Note: In the information to follow, numerous references are made to the various chakras, and their associated endocrine- sensory glands. Thus, before reading this section, if would be helpful to have some understanding of the concepts included in the section entitled, "Extended Chakra System and the related Endocrine-Sensory Glands".)

The two hemispheres of the Cerebrum function primarily in response to sensory stimuli; involving either the familiar five senses, or the chakras and associated endocrine-sensory glands. The Cerebellum functions primarily in response to stimuli received through the Crown chakra, via the Pineal gland. The following functional diagram illustrates the basic flow of information into the units of the brain.

The "Gatekeepers":

Referring to the left side of the diagram shown above, it may be noted that the sensory nerves coming from the brain stem connect to the Thalamus. On the right side of the diagram, it may likewise be noted that the sensory nerves associated with 8 chakras, and their related endocrine-sensory glands, connect to the Hypothalamus. These two units, the Thalamus and Hypothalamus, may appropriately be considered as the "gatekeepers", guarding entry of sensory information to the cortex areas of the Cerebrum.

As may be noted at the top of the diagram, the gatekeeper for input coming in through the Crown chakra is the Pineal gland. This is the only situation in which incoming information can get directly to the cortex areas of the brain, in this case the Cerebellum, without passing through either the Thalamus or Hypothalamus.

Let's consider each of these units in more detail.

Thalamus

The Thalamus is a pair of connected lobes, with each lobe forming the lower part of the Cerebral hemispheres. Together, they form the two upper sides and top of the third ventricle of the brain.

The sensory inputs associated with our familiar five senses operate at a conscious level of our awareness. In other words, if our ears hear music, we are conscious of hearing music. Or if we bite into a lemon, we are conscious of the taste associated with a lemon.

• Reticular Activating System (RAS)

  One of the important functions of the Thalamus is a system known as the Reticular Activating System (RAS). The purpose of this system is to filter out "background" sensory information so that our conscious awareness does not become overloaded. For example, if we are in a restaurant with a friend eating dinner, the Reticular Activating System tends to filter out the background sounds of dishes clattering in the kitchen, other people's conversations, and a host of other sounds, so that our hearing can focus on the conversation we are having with our friend. Likewise, if we are driving along a road, approaching an oncoming car, the Reticular Activating System tends to filter out most of the visual sensory inputs so that only the visual data associated with the oncoming car is brought into focus within our conscious awareness.

  Once the Reticular Activating System determines that particular sensory information is worthy of being transmitted on to the brain, the Thalamus distributes the associated nerve impulses to the cortex areas within the appropriate lobe of the Cerebral hemispheres. As indicated in the foregoing diagram, the touch and taste impulses are sent to the Parietal lobes, the optic information to the Occipital lobes, and the auditory and olfactory information to the Temporal lobes.

Hypothalamus

The Hypothalamus also is a pair of connected lobes, located just below the Thalamus. Together, they form the lower sides and floor of the third ventricle.

The Hypothalamus serves a dual role. In the section entitled, "Extended Chakra System and the related Endocrine-Sensory Glands", we considered its role as one of the endocrine-sensory glands, which functions in conjunction with the Forehead chakra. Now let's consider its role as a gatekeeper.

The structure of the Hypothalamus includes a very extensive neuro-network. In fact, Grays Anatomy refers to this network at the "head ganglion" of the Autonomic nervous system. As indicated in the foregoing diagram, all of the sensory nerves from the Endocrine-sensory glands which are associated with the 8 chakras connect to the Hypothalamus.

At our present stage of evolutionary development, the vast preponderance of the sensory input from these glands operates above our conscious level of awareness, or at a supra- conscious level. Because of this, it is not necessary for the Hypothalamus to perform a screening function comparable to the Reticular Activating System in the Thalamus. In other words, since virtually all of this sensory input is above our conscious awareness, the problem of overloading our awareness with sensory information received through the chakras does not exist. Later in this section, we shall discuss the role of the Hypothalamus in shifting our threshold of conscious awareness.

Referring again to the foregoing diagram, it may be noted that all of the sensory input received through the 8 chakras is conveyed on to the cortex areas of the Parietal lobes of the Cerebral hemispheres.

Pineal Gland

The Pineal's role as a gatekeeper is relatively simple. It simply senses the information received through the Crown chakra, and passes all of it directly on to the Cerebellum in the form of nerve impulses.

Brain Stem:

Although not included on the diagram, the brain stem is located on top of the spinal column. It extends up just in front of the Cerebellum, to about the midpoint of the head. The brain stem consists of three sections, all of which are primarily points of interconnection for the cranial and spinal nerves. The top section is known as the "Mid-brain". Just below that is a gentle protrusion referred to as the "Pons". And below that is the "Medulla Oblongata", which is a point of transition between the spinal cord and the brain. Within the Medulla Oblongata are many important synaptic connections, including the vital centers which control the heart rate, blood pressure, respiration, and other life-support systems. The Medulla Oblongata also has an important functional relationship with the Sacrum, and the associated Base Chakra. In that role it serves as the entry channel for life force energy into the brain.

Thresholds of Conscious Awareness

We have previously indicated that communication from our soul takes place at a level above our conscious awareness -- a level that we have referred to as "supra-conscious". Furthermore, any processing of this communication within our Cerebellum also takes place at a supra-conscious level. Essentially, the Cerebellum sends "outputs" to the Cerebral hemispheres, and the Cerebral hemispheres are then able to translate these "outputs" to a conscious level of awareness.

Within the Cerebral hemispheres, the outputs from the Cerebellum may be further processed through our left-brain and right-brain thought processes. However, we still would not have conscious accessibility to the specific communication which came to the Cerebellum from our soul, nor would we have conscious access to any thought processing which may have taken place in the Cerebellum before the outputs of this unit were sent to the Cerebral hemispheres.

We also indicated that at our current stage of evolutionary development, virtually all of the sensory inputs from the 8 chakras and related endocrine-sensory glands enter the Cerebral hemispheres at level above conscious perception. Thus we have the potential for vast amounts of information to be coming into the Cerebral hemispheres at a supra-conscious level.

In the earlier stages of our life, most of our chakras were only at a minimal level of activation. The lower chakras of the body tend to activate first, and then eventually, the chakras of the head. It is a gradual aspect of our spiritual awakening process. So during the early stages, our Cerebral hemispheres functioned primarily in response to stimuli coming through the 5 familiar senses. Since most of this sensory information comes in at a conscious level of awareness, and since most of the thinking processes of the left and right hemisphere take place at a level accessible to our conscious awareness, at the early stages of life we tend to feel pretty much self-aware, and "in control".

But just what does it mean to be conscious, and self-aware? Rene Descartes, the 17th century philosopher-scientist, is well known for his statement, "I think, therefore I am". I believe that the question he was attempting to address was, "who, or what, is the 'I' that is myself?" And he thus associated that "I" with our ability to think. Thinking, in this sense, implies thinking on a conscious level. In other words, we are "conscious" that we are thinking. Thus, this type of thinking involves the thought processes which go on within the two hemispheres of the Cerebrum.

Now, let's consider what goes on within the Cerebellum. In our discussion of the Pineal, we indicated that our soul communicates with us through a language of light, which is channeled through the Crown chakra to the photoreceptor cells in the Pineal. Here the information is translated, and transmitted through the nerve fibers to the cortex area of the Cerebellum. Then the Cerebellum processes this information through various thought processes. However, as previously indicated, the thought processes which take place within the Cerebellum take place at a supra-conscious, rather than conscious level. Taking this a step farther, the "I" which is associated with our supraconscious level of awareness is our soul-self.

We know that as our spiritual awakening progresses, we gradually become more consciously aware of perceptions which we receive through our various chakras. The mechanism which enables this shift in our conscious awareness is the Hypothalamus, functioning under the direction of our soul, through the Pineal gland. Let's explore this a bit further.

In the above illustration, our supra-conscious level of awareness is depicted by the shaded area in the upper part of the diagram. And our conscious level of awareness is depicted by the unshaded area in the lower part of the diagram. In between the two, we have shown a "border" area, to indicate that the boundary between our supraconscious awareness and our conscious awareness is a "fuzzy" boundary, rather than a precise one.

Depicted at the left side of the diagram are the sensory inputs from our five senses, and from our chakra system. Note that the sensory inputs from the chakras in the lower part of our body are closer to our conscious awareness than those of the chakras in our head. The input from the Crown chakra is the farthest from our conscious awareness.

On the right side of the diagram we have depicted the hypothalamus as the mechanism that controls where the border zone is between our conscious and our supra-conscious level of awareness. The biochemical process through which this is accomplished involves the substance 5-Hydroxytryptamine. The more common name for this substance is Serotonin, which is one of the two primary hormones released by the Pituitary gland. As the level of Serotonin released into the Hypothalamus is increased, it changes the bias level within certain neurons, such that the neurons fire more easily. In other words, an increased level of Serotonin "turns on" these neurons, and thus enables sensory information that was previously being processed at a supra-conscious level to be shifted into the domain of our conscious awareness. This is illustrated in the following diagram.

Thus, as the "border zone" is shifted upward, sensory input from the chakras -- especially the chakras of the lower body -- begins to emerge into the domain of our conscious awareness.

But what is it that controls the amount of Serotonin to be released from the Pineal gland? In the section entitled, "Extended Chakra System and the related Endocrine-Sensory Glands", we indicated that the Pineal gland is the "master" gland of the endocrine system. Thus, the activities that go on within the Pineal are controlled directly by inputs from the soul, rather than by other biochemical processes within the body. Therefore, it is our soul that determine where the boundary between our conscious and our supra-conscious awareness is to be located. And as we indicated earlier, as we progress in our spiritual awakening, our soul shifts this boundary such that more and more of the inputs that we receive through our chakra system are in the realm of our conscious awareness.

As an interesting sidelight, we know that through the use of psychedelic drugs, this boundary can be artificially shifted such that our conscious awareness temporarily extends into the realm of our supraconscious. In the case of LSD for example, the lysergic acid diethylamide changes the bias of the neurons in the Hypothalamus in a manner similar to the effects of Serotonin. One of the hazards of this, as we all too well know, is that if the levels of lysergic acid diethylamide are too high, it will permanently damage the neurons, causing them to become dysfunctional.

All of this simply re-emphasizes the point that there are no "shortcuts" to spiritual awakening. By proceeding gradually, under the direction and control of our soul, we can be assured that all of the chakras will be activated progressively in an appropriate sequence, and that we will not encounter traumatic experiences in the realm of the supra-conscious that our human psyche is not yet prepared to assimilate.

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