Many teachings do not appreciate that the human being is important for realization and liberation. That there is no awakening without humans. But some do, and it is a different kind of appreciation than the scientific exploration of the mystery of being human. We discuss what is it to be a human being, both biologically and spiritually, and we come to value who and what we are, and the necessity for the world we experience and know. A discussion facilitated by Zaya Benazzo.

The Nature of Human Consciousness

•  The highest purpose of human life may be to understand, experience, and perceive the generosity, beauty, and intelligence of reality, which extends beyond physicality and materiality.
•  Humans possess a unique capacity for self-reflection and consciousness, allowing them to reflect on their experiences, make theories, and gain insights.
•  Recognizing ourselves as consciousness opens up a whole other universe of reality and being, which is as vast as the physical universe but often goes unnoticed.
•  Our most precious experiences in life are internal and invisible, such as love and caring, even if they may contradict our survival instincts.
•  "You can't throw that many neurons together into a brain without coming out the other end of it with enough quantity you invent quality, you invent subjectivity."
•  The most important knowledge is often received from something higher, transcending the limitations of the human brain and potentially lacking words to fully express it.
•  The development of the human mind allows us to appreciate beauty, love selflessly, and be excited about discovery and insights.
•  The potential of the human experience encompasses both consciousness and the physical body, which are intricately connected and intertwined.

Interconnectedness and Empathy

•  The behavior of baboons showing empathy and comforting others indicates that spiritual attributes may exist in other creatures, challenging the idea that these qualities are unique to humans.
•  Training people to have empathy and understand different perspectives is crucial for a better functioning planet.
•  The Anthropocene era highlights the need for contemplative practices to overcome the "us versus them" mentality and realize the interconnectedness of all species on Earth.
•  The finding that flashing up the face of someone from a different race activates the amygdala, a part of the brain associated with fear and aggression, is incredibly depressing and highlights the deep-rooted biases in our society.

Evolution of the Human Mind

•  Hameed Almaas, a spiritual teacher, explores the question of what it means to be a human being from the perspective of Western psychology and mysticism.
•  The neurobiology of our internal lives, shaped by experience and emotion, plays a crucial role in making sense of complex phenomena like empathy.
•  Just like how a single ant on a table makes no sense, but thousands of ants together can create a complex colony, human brains function in a similar way, with individual neurons following simple rules to create complex behaviors and thoughts.
•  The evolution of the human being is primarily the evolution of the inner side, accessing realms of experience that help us understand what it means to be a mature human being and custodian of the whole universe.