Consciousness is not mere “self reflection”, as dismissed by Professor Raymond C. Tallis on Closer To Truth.
Real consciousness is the Reality the mystics have revealed to them through the brain.
Consciousness Itself is the spiritual energy, creator and developer of all things known and unknown.
So anything to do with human self is anathema to Reality’s purpose.
Any sense of self is a spiritual dead end to the true Seeker.
Self is mind. It contains lust, anger, greed, attachments, ego, memories, thoughts and feelings that isolate us from our true nature in Reality.
Even happiness is mind stuff. It comes and goes. But contentment in Reality is real, lasting spiritual existence. It goes deep and stays forever.
Contentment is the only true self. ‘Reflection’ doesn’t come into it.
But first comes the unshakeable passion, ambition, that is chosen by Reality to drive the lives of agnostics, atheists, the spiritually awakening and mystics into Its consciousness.
Professor Tallis’ “self reflection” comes nowhere near to being an experience of the historical existential activity that is Reality that is the root of all existence, including human existence.
So from his remark we can reasonably assume the good professor has not had the mystical experience of Reality, (MER).
Ergo, with true respect, he doesn’t know what he’s talking about!
Professor Tallis, FMedSci FRCP FRSA (born 10 October 1946), a philosopher, poet, novelist, cultural critic and a retired medical physician and clinical neuroscientist.[2] Specialising in geriatrics, Tallis served on several UK commissions on medical care of the aged and was an editor or major contributor to two key textbooks in the field, The Clinical Neurology of Old Age and Textbook of Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology.
Mystical Experiences of Reality 