The Origin of Consciousness

Memories of Illusion in the Old Testament

Let us assume that the debris cast off when humans were alienated from nature is collectively called “the unconscious.” Then, how does the true image of the world, which we assume we know without thinking, actually appear? Or can the existing image of the world be maintained in that moment? Shifting perspective, I wish to consider the impact on our existence if we reach a stage of deeper understanding regarding the form of the unconscious.

Because answering this question feels like an approach to the essence of existence that is unavoidable for each of us, especially amidst the rising tide of medical psychedelics. I particularly believe the world psychedelics cannot fully elucidate is the final territory we must challenge by erasing the separation between West and East, uniting in cooperation. Unless we do so, this kind of world will always remain hypothetical. However, we can surmise the approaches will differ: a Western approach cutting in scientifically, and an Eastern approach cutting in spiritually. The issue is not how to integrate them, but rather that an unprecedented, high technique of interfusion is required. Interfusion is not something that invites confusion, but a new era technique producing certain discernment within the blend. Broadly speaking, the issue can be positioned as consciousness and the unconscious. That is, the Western approach challenging the unknown domain consciously using advanced technology, and the Eastern approach challenging the unknown domain unconsciously using ancient spiritual wisdom.

First, a premise should be shared for such inquiry. I place this on the fact that an originary event of alienation from nature existed at the moment human consciousness was born. When we gouge out alienation from nature as the primal origin of consciousness based on this premise, a figure that can only be described as “that world” revealed by psychedelics crosses the mind at high speed. So to speak, when humans were originally alienated from nature, consciousness arises in the void of the torn tension between nature and existence. But this void is not empty; it is filled from the start. Meaning, consciousness was born to fill the anxiety of existence torn off by alienation. Because the void torn off at this time was not empty but filled with something, translated as anxiety for the primal human existence. Since then, humans formed history to cover up this anxiety. The investigation of psychedelics becomes equal to approaching this state where “something is filled.”

However, the problem of illusion is not that simple. If what I just said is valid, the origin of consciousness arising in primal alienation would be an inherent internal problem occurring individually, and it should be born as an individual illusion. But the actual circumstances differ. Considering the solid fact that this manifestation of consciousness occurs commonly even with humanity exceeding 8 billion, it appears more likely that alienation in the sense discussed here, and the response to it, occurred collectively at some point. No one can elucidate whether it derived from a specific individual, occurred in a group, or happened simultaneously on a global scale. The Stoned Ape Theory proposed by Terence McKenna attracts great curiosity, but it should remain merely curiosity. At least, the only certain thing we can say is that if humans acquired this consciousness simultaneously on a group scale, it likely was born from communal illusion—to the extent we can say without confidence. To criticize in advance, asking whether individual illusion or communal illusion came first as a human form of illusion is a modern attitude and completely meaningless. Rather, it is more accurate to grasp that illusion was also undifferentiated and interfused due to the lack of differentiation between individual and communal at this time. It is not science but religion that has actively spoken of this undifferentiated figure. Conversely, if we consider the beginning religion has spoken of from this perspective, a hint of that origin may surface. Among these, the Old Testament myth is personally interesting.