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The bizarre science of enlightenment

Big Think | June 19, 2026



We created this video in partnership with Unlikely Collaborators.

We often ask how to reach enlightenment, as if it’s a destination. A better question may be: how do we practice enlightened behavior in everyday life? And once we begin, how does our reality evolve?

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What if enlightenment is not a permanent state, but a habit we regularly return to? Andrew Newberg, MD, Robert Waldinger, MD, and Jim Al-Khalili, PhD, explore how moments of awe, unity, and insight can alter the brain and reshape our sense of reality. From neuroscience to Zen practice to the limits of scientific knowledge, they argue that enlightenment may be less about arriving somewhere and more about how we act once we feel connected.

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Comments

This post currently has 29 comments.

  1. @lll3lllLewis

    June 19, 2026 at 9:05 pm

    What must I know? What I ought I do? What can I hope for? These are the three questions that has dawned through multiple grand processions for the diving being creation. It is the Axial Model, and at its core help establish all ancient civilizations that are still explored and studied to this day. These civilizations in ancient, have all the answers to the questions we have to this day in modernity. Whether it be Egypt, Mesopotamia, China, Greece, or Rome the answers remain to the questions that still linger.

  2. @richardg.lanzara3732

    June 19, 2026 at 9:05 pm

    Awe is connected to how well we can understand and control our world. There is new physics here! Many examples from medicine and pharmacology demonstrate that drugs and toxins can alter our consciousness. What about a new understanding of how our biological receptors work? Perhaps the physics of receptors is the missing ingredient for understanding ourselves and creating better AI? At the most fundamental level, we are the summation and interplay of trillions of our cellular receptors. These receptors are poised biochemical balances that interact with our environment and with one another in a grand symphony that has evolved since the universe began. We are currently unique beings who can reflect on the universe and discover our origins within it. We reside upon the cusp of an unfolding creation, like a surfer trying to catch a wave. See the book, Origins of Life's Sensoria, for more.

  3. @bMonsterPro

    June 19, 2026 at 9:05 pm

    It's like going outside and feeling flooded with joy to learn from and about everything around you, especially in a way that's empathetically connected to everything

  4. @chriswhite4531

    June 19, 2026 at 9:05 pm

    Enlightenment – the Big E kind – is not a goal to be achieved, like some kind of prize. I think the Judaeo-Christian tradition has enculturated many people to think of it as analogous to the concept of Heaven; a "reward" at the end of a long period of being "good".
    It's a change of awareness – Shunryu Suzuki wrote a book called "Zen Mind; Beginner's Mind" which sums it up well.

  5. @martine2651

    June 19, 2026 at 9:05 pm

    Beautifully said. I have learned in a powerful experience I have had, that the answer is not hiding in infinite complexity, but in the simplicity. It is not a journey to the periphery, but returning to the centre of the mandala. It has brought me back to life, to empathy, relationships and service. We may not know what the mystery of life, but we can live it here and now. And that's enough. Zen is brilliant.

  6. @gr8sparty

    June 19, 2026 at 9:05 pm

    Neuroscientist talked about correlations, which everyone knows, maybe not the exact sections of the brain, but everyone knows that sthgs up with the brain… Sure u shut down the part of the brain which gives u a sense space and self and there's no self and own space anymore – but there's sthg experienced beyond – missed entirely in his take , atleast he could say "we don't know"

  7. @puddintame7794

    June 19, 2026 at 9:05 pm

    What if in trying to fix the planet you destroy it instead? Is that still enlightened?

    Many are too smart for religion so they reject,
    The profound and so they utterly lack respect,
    An arrogant way,
    That's why I say,
    Science epitomizes the Dunning-Kruger Effect.

  8. @TheAlchemistZero1

    June 19, 2026 at 9:05 pm

    Finite Nature vs Infinite Nature:

    Everything naturally occurring is Nature, which includes plants, microorganisms, humans (all lifeforms), atoms, energy, stars, planets, black holes, cancer, AIDS, space, Dreams, and Consciousness. 

    (Why would Nature be finite?)

    Without Infinity, there is only infinite regress; E.g. String Theory: what caused the strings, where did the strings come from, what came before the strings; E.g. The Big Bang: what caused the initial singularity, what came before the initial singularity, etc. Considering "Nothingness" is an obvious fallacy, there must always be Something. 

    Prove Nothingness, while keeping in mind: Nothingness can only be "proven" in the absence of an observer. If described (observed) by an observer, Nothing becomes something (think hard about this). This would also connote a field of infinite Nothingness randomly formed a spec (our Universe) of somethingness – which is nonsensical.

    Provisional science cannot claim authority over reality, at best it can only provide fuzzy hints. Science is a game of "let’s pretend," played with symbols and sensors. Its power lies in utility, not truth. To mistake physics/maths for reality is to worship the finger pointing at the moon.

    Our cosmological sciences are akin to a microorganism residing within a human (on Earth), actively exploring the Andromeda galaxy. Our nearly insignificant signals bouncing off of fragments of Infinity – the margins for error are "astronomical".

    "So far as the theories of mathematics are about reality, they are not certain; and as far as they are certain, they do not refer to reality" – Albert Einstein

    Why would Nature form brains/minds to exhibit consciousness other than to experience reality; considering experiencing reality is the objective of consciousness?

    It connotes conscious intent, via consciousness (Nature).

    Consciousness/Experiences:

    Disneyland (Reality) – Patrons (Consciousness) = Nothingness = Fallacy.

    Instead, we Patrons (Nature) are the architects of our own theater called Reality.

    All life exists for the sake of experiences (regardless of good/bad).

    A thought experiment:

    On a plain sheet of paper, draw a single dot (.) in the very center.
     
    The paper represents infinite space. Everything beyond the boundaries of the sheet also represents endless (empty) space.

    The dot represents 'The Big Bang'.
    Everything humanity is aware of – exists within the dot (our currently expanding universe).

    If the observers of this singular dot, zoom far enough away – the dot will cease to exist. The dot will be extinguished through expansion/evaporation – wholly consumed by an infinite void (due to cosmic scales/distances). This would prohibit existence from 'being'. (Yet here we are).

    Furthermore this would connote The Big Bang occurred at random, within an infinite void of nothingness – suggesting 'somethingness from nothingness' – which is a fallacy.

    Without considering potential forces being exerted upon our reality/universe (from beyond the boundaries of our observations) – is an incomplete interpretation.

    Clearly the remainder of the sheet of paper cannot be an infinite void.

    The expansion of our universe is accelerating. If our cosmic expansion were occurring within a void, our reality would have concluded before it began (poof). (Yet here we are).

    If we are a facet of Infinity – we are Infinity. Along with everything being intimated.

    Instead imagine the sheet and everything beyond – riddled with infinite dots.
     
    Every universe is a particle, every particle is a universe.

    (Infinity is self-propagating).
               
    Thus Infinity is a superdeterministic preexisting condition.

    Infinity being absolute simultaneity.

    Expresses infinite probabilities – Deterministically.

    Every reality.

    Every life.

    Is an intended narrative.

    (The largest cannot exist without the smallest)

    Although our universe is finite (as evidenced by expansion).
     
    Infinity exists at a fixed maximal size, without borders/boundaries: Infinity is forever in every sense, within which infinite universes/realities are housed – each a distinct experience.

    (Infinity > Multi)

    Infinity accounts for every variation, including variations in thoughts.

    Reality is an infinite fractal consciousness; whereby all realities, every possibility, along with every imaginable and unimaginable thing, is a fragment of said consciousness – which we refer to as Nature. 

    We are Nature. 

    We are "God" (figurative); fragmented into infinite experiences. 

    An Infinity without borders or constraints; with infinite energy.

    We are all the same entity; existing for the sake of experiences. 

    Death Demystified'.

    In order to fully grasp the nature of Death; it is important that we understand Life.

    Reality is an infinite fractal consciousness; whereby all realities, every possibility, along with every imaginable and unimaginable thing, is a fragment of said consciousness – which we refer to as Nature.

    We are Nature.

    We are "God" (figurative); fragmented into infinite experiences.

    An Infinity without borders or constraints; with infinite energy…

    We are all the same entity; existing for the sake of experiences.

    Scenario:

    Individual A is hit by a car, witnesses B, C, and D are present.

    With the following occurring in simultaneity…

    Individual A(1) leaps up, unharmed – (it's a miracle), witnesses B(1), C(1), and D(1) disperse.

    Individual A(1) carries on with their life… (to be continued).

    Individual A(2) dies on impact, witnesses B(2), C(2), and D(2) recant the details.

    With both scenarios, factor the ensuing ramifications on everyone/everything involved, along with the subsequent entanglements (Butterfly Effect).  

    Through each Death endured, Individual A(1-♾) experiences (gradually increasing) fantastic shifts in their personal narrative. Eventually leading to divergent experiences (kidnapped by aliens). These fragmented experiences overlap with all local (Earth) conscious narratives.

    Once an extreme apex has been achieved, reality resets for individual A, a randomized narrative starts anew… Corporeal Birth (simplification).

    Why do some individuals miraculously survive extreme situations?

    Why are some humans living caricatures?

    The Meaning of Life:

    Imagine an endless clear glass tube (representative of Time), within which exists a diorama of life on Earth. The left most section depicting our earliest single-celled ancestors (3.5 billion years ago), leading through our present and into a future yet to be experienced (farthest right).

    Notice the tube (Time) and the diorama of life displayed within – exists Simultaneously; Past, Present, and Future all occurring concurrently. Every life form within the history of existence, an interconnected narrative: as 'Futures' cannot exist without Past events.

    Similarly to reading a book, we can only examine moments of our lives which had already transpired (Past), those pages yet read (Future) remain uncertain until experienced (no cosmic spoilers). We can only surmise possible outcomes based on prior events (pages read), although never guaranteeing accuracy of predicting Future events.

    Without the existence of Conscious experiences, there would be Nothingness. Life experiences, Experiences, simply for the sake of experiencing – which is why Life chronically craves varieties of stimuli.

    Our corporeal forms are assigned avatars, which allows Consciousness to experience material reality.

    Works of fiction (books, cinema, video games, etc.), allows individuals to experience an extended Consciousness, whereby our emotional states carry-over into fictional narratives (frustration, anger, joy, elation…). All of this, despite understanding such events are merely virtual (occurring within said individuals imaginations).

    Books are experienced in chronological order instead of a randomized order; in order to maintain a cohesive narrative flow.  Within fictional works, every character arc has their entire fate sealed; from inception to demise – luck/chance has already been decided throughout.

    This is also why every Life is experienced through a predetermined progression. Reality is a sensory experience, simply for the sake of experiencing a physical Life.

    Regarding Panpsychism: 

    Have you ever dreamed a contemporary dream, one within a major city, buzzing with people? Although the entire dream is constructed from your consciousness, not all objects within are imbued with conscious experiences – only the observable lifeforms are. The buildings, streets, signs, cars, and all inanimate things are purely decorative. Inanimate objects (minerals) provided by reality are not conscious. People attend plays to watch living artists perform, the stage and props are not the stars.

    Time: 

    A seemingly endless cadence of day/night cycles, conducted over the course of the Human epoch. Untold billions of Homo Sapiens Sapiens; generation after generation – conditioned by Nature to accept finality. The circadian rhythm, an innate mechanism, a constant reminder; consciousness an ephemeral experience, fleeting with every moment, through every exhalation. Selene a blanket of night, engulfing all into her dreamy embrace – the analog of Stella, raining rays of warmth, nourishing existence into being; beckoning the vivacity of life to stir yet again. 

    Day into night, night into day – a rhythm to remind us that none of Natures constructs are created without an expiry. Whether measured by 6.62607004 × 10-34 m2 kg / s; or by a Supereon, we are cascading energies, propagating our collective experiences – vainly attempting to elicit a sense of ‘self’ in hopes of staving off oblivion. Not realizing that the only allowable paradox to exist, is existence; a lucid dream conducted by the everlasting artistry of Gaia. 

    Time.

    the Alchemist 

    -Ø1

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