Uploaded January 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 hour ago
Peter Russell and Eckhart Tolle explore the nature of consciousness. The conventional scientific view treats it as a byproduct of brain chemistry. Peter claims there are actually two questions here which get confused.
1. Does the brain determine the changing experiences that arise in consciousness – the “contents” of consciousness?
2 Does the brain create the ever-present faculty of consciousness itself?
He proposes that the confusion is exacerbated from our use of the word consciousness as a noun – some “thing” we can know. Instead, it is better to treat it as a verb – "knowing." The permanent quality of being that knows our ever-changing thoughts and experiences.
Eckart Tolle has now written a delightful forward to Peter's latest book "How to Meditate Without Even Trying" (Publ March 24, 2026) peterrussell.com/HMWETbook
See also
peterrussell.com
facebook.com/peterrussellauthor
Q/A with Peter's chatbot: peterrussell.com/PeterBot
Peter Russell and Eckhart Tolle explore the nature of consciousness. The conventional scientific view treats it as a byproduct of brain chemistry. Peter claims there are actually two questions here which get confused.
1. Does the brain determine the changing experiences that arise in consciousness – the “contents” of consciousness?
2 Does the brain create the ever-present faculty of consciousness itself?
He proposes that the confusion is exacerbated from our use of the word consciousness as a noun – some “thing” we can know. Instead, it is better to treat it as a verb – "knowing." The permanent quality of being that knows our ever-changing thoughts and experiences.
Eckart Tolle has now written a delightful forward to Peter's latest book "How to Meditate Without Even Trying" (Publ March 24, 2026) peterrussell.com/HMWETbook
See also
peterrussell.com
facebook.com/peterrussellauthor
Q/A with Peter's chatbot: peterrussell.com/PeterBot
