our great bioputer usually on levels below our consciousness。 Our
receptor organs of sight； sound； touch； taste； and smell； plus the kinesthetic
senses which give information regarding our body are continually sending in
millions of impulses per second toward our bioputer。 The eye alone is
connected to the bioputer with over two million nerve fibers。 The ears
are connected to the bioputer by over a hundred thousand nerves。 This
tremendous mass of data going into our bioputer second by second would
be absolutely overwhelming if it were not for the underlying systems of
organization that automatically abstract； classify； suppress； or distribute this
huge flood of ining sensory information。 Our consciousness operates on
preprocessed； filtered abstractions of abstractions received from various parts
of our bioputer。
THE ABSTRACTING PROCESS
Our universe is made up of matter and energy。 Every material object is
posed of atoms； which in turn are made up of even finer subatomic
particles such as electrons。 These are in an incessant state of zizzy…fast
motion。 Atoms group together to form molecules； which are still too fine to
be registered by our five senses unless special instruments； such as an
electron microscope； are used。 The smooth table that I experience with my
fingers is an abstraction from the table on the atomic level that is posed
of flying atoms。 A characteristic of the abstracting process is that some
aspects are left out each time there is an abstraction。 When our senses report
the smoothness of a table； obviously a fantastic number of characteristics are
left out。 Our senses “manufacture” a smooth sensation by abstracting from
the colloidal； molecular； atomic； and subatomic activity that lies behind the
object reported by our sensory equipment。
Our senses do not permit us to tune in to reality they only pick up that small
aspect of reality that is transmittable through electromagnetic waves。 Further
abstractions take place when these are projected by the lenses of our eyes
onto our retinas and transformed again into electrochemical impulses that
proliferate throughout our brains。 As the circuits of our bioputer are
activated by the huge stream of ining electrical impulses； even more
abstracting takes place。 The tiny portion selected for projection onto the
screen of our consciousness represents a highly processed abstraction of an
abstraction of an abstraction； etc。
Our senses and our rational mind do not tune in to the world as it is。 the
picture of the world that es into our consciousness is mostly a creation of
the human bioputer with its vast memory bank and distorting addictive
programming。 These processed products that reach our consciousness reflect
the limitations and idiosyncrasies of our bioputer and the programming
from which it operates just as much as they reflect the outside energies that
spark the process。 The part that a hen plays in the production of an omelette
is analogous to the part the outside world plays in producing the stuff that is
projected onto the screen of our consciousness。 When we realize how our
minds manipulate； suppress； change； and distort； we begin to perceive the
awesome way in which our heads create our world。
Although the human bioputer works as an integrated system； it is possible
to point out certain neural structures that are especially important to the
student of human consciousness。 These are：
1。 The Cerebral Cortex
The cerebral cortex is a thin outer covering of the side and upper parts of the
convoluted surfaces of the brain which has from ten billion to thirteen billion
cortical cells。 These brain cells and their connections are the structures that
enable our remarkable rational mind to be aware of being aware； to use words
and symbols； and to prehend plex systems of thought； such as
mathematics； science； and art。 Generally； other animals have only a fraction
of the cortical cells that are our birthright as human beings。
Although we possess this remarkable equipment； we are not automatically
experts in how to use it。 Special training （such as the instructions contained
in this book） are required to operate in the higher states of consciousness
which represent the optimal functioning of our human bioputer。
Unless you have freed your bioputer from consciousness…dominating
addictions and demands； your cerebral cortex will continually chew over a
situation in which you do not have what you want。 Your rational mind will
churn away with such questions as； “What did I do that resulted in my not
getting this？ What can I do to get it in the future？ Are people trying to block
me？ Do people really like me？” Every word that is channeled into your
consciousness by your rational mind separates you by a milli…second from the
deepest levels of here…and…now awareness。 To be sensitive to the deepest
levels； your Conscious…awareness must be attuned to the finer energies in the
world outside of you and to the finer energies that arise from the plex
operation of your bioputer below conscious levels。
We can live predominantly at the fourth level without pletely calming our
minds。 But to find the unitive state of mind that is characteristic of Cosmic
Consciousness； it is vital that we control the generation of thoughts that
continue the illusion of separateness。 As long as our cerebral cortex is
continually active in introducing and following one thought after another； our
consciousness will not be sensitive to the finer energies。 A degree of quieting
of the rational mind will automatically occur as you reprogram your
addictions。 But to reach the highest levels of consciousness； the Living Love
Catalyst （explained in Chapter 13） will help in further quieting the activity of
your rational mind。
This quieting process may be measured by an electroencephalograph that
detects alpha waves and beta waves。 The subject…object activities of the first
three Centers of Consciousness generally produce beta waves。 As we go into
the Fourth and Fifth Centers of Consciousness； our cerebral cortex begins to
produce more alpha waves。
2。 The Limbic System
One of the underlying processing systems of the brain is the limbic system
that plays a paramount part in the generation of emotional feelings。 One of its
major functions is to pare the ining stimuli from the body and the
sensory receptors with the programmed instructions that have been put into it
by our experiences to date。 The limbic system interacts with the cerebral
cortex to pick up perceptions and memories； and to use the facilities of the
cortex for analyzing such data。 The hippocampus （which is part of the limbic
system） plays a part in evaluating the ining stimuli in terms of one’s past
experiences。
The amygdala （another ponent of the limbic system） functions to intensify
an emotional response whenever the ining stimuli do not fit the expected
patterns。 In other words； whenever anything new and unexpected happens；
the amygdala may immediately begin to generate an emotional reaction such
as anxiety； fear； anger； etc。 It will send out impulses which travel through the
thalamic area and trigger the release of hormones that cause you to feel upset；
increase the adrenalin in your blood； speed up your heart rate； increase your
blood sugar； and do other things to prepare you for a fight or flight reaction。
Another part of the limbic system is the septal region which plays a part in
toning down our emotional reactions。 The activation of this system helps to
release us from emotional tension。 All of the Five Consciousness Growth
Methods are designed to enable you to activate the septal area。 When you
consciously place your attention on finding the most appropriate method to
use in each situation； you reinforce the functioning of the septal region。 This
results in rapidly quieting uptight feelings； calming the pounding heart； and
reducing the flow of adrenalin pouring into the bloodstream。
The biological function of the limbic system was to help our ancestors survive
the perils of the jungle。 This system that controls emotional feelings does
everything it can （by enticing us with pleasure or forcing us through fear or
anger） to make us follow the pr