Axiomatica: Cosmic Consciousness was coined by the Canadian psychologist Richard M. Bucke, in his book "Cosmic Consciousness" (1902) . He describes Cosmic Consciousness as a transpersonal mode of consciousness, an awareness of the universal mind and one's unity with it. Cosmic Consciousness prime characteristic is an awareness of the life and order in the universe. An individual who at attains the state of Cosmic Consciousness is often described as 'Enlightened' and such a person is also said to have a sense of immortality, not of attaining it but of already having it. Burke saw this state of consciousness as the next stage in human evolution, very much as spiritualists have always seen it.
Bucke argues that during the course of humanity's evolutionary development there are three forms of consciousness.
* Simple Consciousness, our instinctual consciousness.
* Self Consciousness, that self-awareness that allows a human to realize hirself as a distinct entity.
* Cosmic Consciousness, a new developing faculty at the pinnacle of our evolution.
Bucke outlines the evolutionary struggle on our planet which has produced self-consciousness and then describes the appearance of a new species that possesses cosmic consciousness, a consciousness that expands to become one with all. Bucke theorizes that, with increasing frequency, persons like Buddha, Christ, Mohammed, Walt Whitman and others are making their appearance on our planet and by their teaching are helping to transform life on this planet. This evolutionary process continues up until today ... read more>>>...