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'''Applied Consciousness Sciences''' (or '''ACS''')
is not a scientific field but the name given to a project or institution founded in  2001 in the Netherlands that claims to guide and teach how to use and develop one's "awareness".


'''Applied Consciousness Sciences''', which isn't considered a science as per the definition of the scientific community, offers an open environment and systematic view that unifies a multiplicity of different holistic approaches that follow their own methods, techniques and theories. It attempts to bring together and systematize these holistic approaches by offering a common basis from where they can be described as a single transparent field. Furthermore, it offers to follow a holistic research method to investigate different aspects of experience, from a greater connection. This article describes a common vision, scope, orientation, point of departure and general approach by which one can recognize an ACS approach.
While there are several institutions involved that advertise ACS and refer to each other,
 
there is no evidence that they, their work, or the field they present are acknowledged by any third-party-reputed expert or institution.
As a field ACS has a systematic ''learning from the subjective'' approach that guides each learner towards contemplative stabilisation combined with liberating discernment or awareness. It therefore connects with practices like [[Mindfulness]] and [[Vipasana]]. Its practice also relates to diagnostic and touch practices in [[Traditional Tibetan Medicine]] and [[Ayurvedic Medicine]]; and its theory relates to amongst others the aforementioned practices, modern [[Systems Thinking]] and [[Systemics]]. In the past decade it has grown into a contemporary 'open' field with a unifying theory that explains the various aspects of consciousness, various diagnostic and feedback practices and a view on how individuals, organizations and society can be guided towards wholeness. Its theory facilitates visualization, interpretation and simulation of the dynamics behind creative, pathological, psychological and physiological processes. Its objective is to create clarity, understanding and to facilitate transformation. 
 
''ACS is a [[Creative Commons]] Share Alike 3.0 development. The use of any aspect of ACS is free. It can be modified to suit different needs and environments and it can be incorporated in any field, discipline or program. It isn't attributed to one person or organization and can therefore not be monopolized. It can be used by academic, research or other organizations to make these developments available to learners and citizens, young and old, irrespective of religious or social background. This takes away any financial burden that might limit people in their capacity to engage in activities that support personal and social transformation.''
 
 
== History ==
The international development of ACS was started in 2001 in The Netherlands and it continues to evolve internationally. Organizations in The Netherlands, USA and India continue to support the research and development of this relatively new field. Amongst the institutes that support ACS are the [[Men-tsee-khang|Men-Tsee-Khang Institute]], which is the ''Tibetan Medical & Astrological Institute of H.H. the Dalai Lama'', Aradne (USA), Stichting Business Universiteit (Netherlands), Stichting-Reis (Netherlands) and my eyes Group (Netherlands).
 
 
== Objective ==
The main objective of ACS is to guide individuals and organizations towards using their own awareness as a basis for personal and social transformation. Individuals can learn how to continually look at the complexity of life from where it originates, in the present moment. Seemingly complex problems lose their complexity when seen from this point of departure. Central in ACS theory and practice are the individual learner's point of departure or point of view; subjective experience and unfolding transformational process. A Science of the Subjective <ref>R.G. Jahn and B.J. Dunne (1997). Science of the Subjective. Journal of Scientific Exploration, 11 (2), pp. 201-224.</ref>.
 
 
== Point of Departure ==
Our capacity to perceive reality as-it-is, largely depends on whether we are capable of perceiving past our own limiting convictions and engrained patterns. That, which makes us assimilate these convictions and patterns as our own, is ''[[Identification (psychology)|identification]]''. This is how our perception of reality is ''filtered'' or ''distorted'' <ref>R.G. Jahn and B.J. Dunne (2004). Sensors, Filters, and the Source of Reality. Journal of Scientific Exploration, 18 (4), pp. 547-570.</ref> and makes us feel separate. Consequently we have a false sense of separation that we refer to as 'I'. This is where we mostly tend to look from! Identification or the lack thereof can respectively limit or free us. Different aspects of consciousness that ACS refers to are:
* '''Roles''' - the [[role]]s and connected experiences, amongst which [[knowledge]] and skills with which we normally identify.
* '''Knowing'''- the (universal) knowing that intently perceives different roles and experiences, local ([[knowledge]]) and [[remote viewing|remote]]; past, present or future.
* '''Witness''' – from a bird’s-eye-view the witness [[mindful|mindfully]] receives all perceptions and is then presented with possibilities to choose from and explore through "knowing".
 
[[Identification (psychology)|Identification]], as opposed to [[mindfulness]], keeps us from experiencing all of these aspects as holistically interconnected or as a ''whole''. Identification ''attaches'' and ''assimilates''. This keeps us from finding balance and is the basis from where we focus on differences and miscommunicate. The countless ''roles'' that we act out, the ''knowing'' and the ''witness'' are different aspects of who we are. Because of ''identification'' we assimilate and become a particular [[role]]. It then appears as though we are constantly shifting between different roles and in and out of ''knowing''. In reality everything happens at the same time. We are the ''witness'' who [[mindful|mindfully]] oversees the totality of what we experience; we are the ''knowing'' that has access to different experiences; and we are the countless ''roles'', connected with particular knowledge and skills that we use in different situations.
 
 
== Aspects of Awareness ==
Different approaches can be used to create more [[awareness]] or [[mindful|liberating discernment]] about those mechanisms that keep people from feeling/being [[Holism|whole]] or [[mindful]]. They aim at guiding individuals, groups and organizations towards using feedback to ''dynamically recognize patterns'' and raise their own awareness. This can allow individuals to let go of limiting convictions and engrained patterns that filter their perception and create adverse effects <ref>[http://www.vimeo.com/18819660/ Adverse Effects] - Dr. Willoughby Britton - Adverse Effects and Difficult Stages of the Contemplative Path.</ref> in mind and body. The following aspects of awareness are enhanced when individuals, groups or organizations start using feedback to dynamically recognize patterns. These aspects of awareness enable them to continually grow, anticipate change, find balance and creatively develop the conditions by which they can cater to their own needs in the present. The aspects of awareness described below are slightly different from how these are described by the Consciousness Quotient Institute (CQI) <ref>Brazdau, O. & Mihai, C. (2011). The Consciousness Quotient: a new predictor of the students’ academic performance. Elsevier Procedia Social and Behavioral Sciences, 11, 245–250.</ref>. In addition to the six (6) aspects of awareness that are described by the Consciousness Quotient (CQ), ACS also describes ''Feedback-Relational Awareness''. We consider this aspect very important in all processes of self-organization. Moreover, ACS goes beyond the challenges of describing consciousness <ref>R.G. Jahn (2001). The Challenge of Consciousness.  Journal of Scientific Exploration, 15 (4), pp. 443-457.</ref> by empowering learners to use these different aspects of awareness to holistically investigate consciousness.   
 
<gallery>
File:ACS CQ2.png|Aspects of Awareness.
</gallery>
 
* '''Mental-awareness''' - clarity about what we think.
* '''Emotional awareness''' - clarity about what we feel.
* '''Physical awareness''' - clarity about what we sense.
* '''Self-relational awareness''' - clarity about how we relate to our individual self.
* '''Social-relational awareness''' - clarity about how we relate to others.
* '''Feedback-relational awareness''' - clarity about the use of information (feedback) for self-adjustment and [[self-organization]].
* '''Meta-awareness''' – opens up the possibility of raising the other aspects of awareness. Meta-awareness (witnessing), the bird's-eye-view, is simultaneous, continuous, un-filtering, simple, authentic, creates clarity and knowing.
 
<gallery>
File:ACS CQ.jpeg|IQ, EQ and CQ.
</gallery>
 
 
== Channels of Perception ==
Different techniques for reading or [[biofeedback]] <ref>''C.G. Monsanto (2011). Applied Consciousness Science, A Reference Guide'', First Edition, ISBN 978-0-557-65237-2</ref> can be used by facilitators <ref>''facilitators'', are trained to use the instruments of ACS to facilitate awareness-raising.</ref> to dynamically create awareness about those mechanisms that keep people from feeling/being [[mindful]]. Within ACS, biofeedback focuses on continually and dynamically reading and feeding back information coming from the ''material substance'' and ''energy-informational substance'' <ref>[http://www.emergentmind.org/gariaev06.htm The Wave Genetics Response] - P.P. Gariaev*, M.J. Friedman**, and E.A. Leonova- Gariaeva*** (2006). Crisis in Life Sciences. The Wave Genetics Response.</ref>, during an undetermined period of time. This is in contrast with differential-diagnosis, which focuses on making before and after measurements to evaluate changes in the ''material substance''. Biofeedback is qualitative and differential-diagnosis is quantitative.
 
A technique of particular interest is the biofeedback pulse diagnosis, which reads the ''energy-informational substance'' at the first (1st) level or the mind-body as a whole. Unlike experiments done by Peter Gariaev and his team <ref>[http://www.emergentmind.org/gariaev06.htm The Wave Genetics Response] - P.P. Gariaev*, M.J. Friedman**, and E.A. Leonova- Gariaeva*** (2006). Crisis in Life Sciences. The Wave Genetics Response.</ref>, this form of diagnosis doesn't look at the regeneration processes at the DNA level, but at the speech-like patterns that emerge from ''high-level'' subjective experiences like the patterns of bio-responses (fearing, saddening and rejecting) that create adverse effects within the mind and body. After interpreting and feeding back the linguistic information that regards the ''energy-informational substance'', the level of discernment of the learner is raised to a level where his/her spectrum of perception is expanded and adverse effects transformed into healing effects. ACS researchers have noticed how the healing effects that can be experienced by learners at the ''energy-informational level'' also positively affect the ''material level''.
 
<gallery>
File:ACS DNA.png|Energy Informational and Material Substance.
</gallery>     
 
In ACS, reading or [[biofeedback]] is primarily used by the ''learner'', to learn to continually witness the speech-like [[feedback]] from the mind-body <ref>R.G. Jahn and B.J. Dunne (2001). A Modular Model of Mind/Matter Manifestations (M5). Journal of Scientific Exploration, 15 (3), pp. 299-329.</ref> and recognize the unfolding dynamic patterns therein. This continually enhances the above mentioned aspects of awareness. When witnessing becomes continuous, learning, awareness-raising and healing continually arise from within. Consequently all patterns of dependency (and connected bio-responses) gradually cease to exist. Most approaches that guide towards wholeness make use of one or more of the following forms of reading or biofeedback.       
* Reading of external psychophysical characteristics, such as facial characteristics, build, movement and posture, makes the ''learner'' aware how the world outside sees him/her.
* Reading the nine forms of facial expression: love, laughter, anger, compassion, aversion, fear, heroic, wonder, peace; allows the learner to be aware how s/he reacts to the world outside.
* Reading information from the sound and rhythm of speech and breathing allows the ''learner'' to be aware how s/he communicates with the world outside.
* Empathic reading allows the ''learner'' to become aware how s/he communicates non-verbally through ''[[transference]]''.
* Inquiry into the subtle psychophysical experiences (actions) in the mind-body allows the ''learner'' to become aware of emerging patterns in the present moment.
* Biofeedback [[pulse diagnosis]], which is different from pulse-diagnosis in Ayurvedic, Traditional Tibetan Medicine and Traditional Chinese Medicine, allows the ''learner'' to become aware amongst others about: 1) traumas and learned/conditioned bio-responses (fearing, saddening and rejecting) from the prenatal period till the present and what events these are connected to; 2) patterns of bio-behavioral responses dynamically act on mentioned [[Psychological trauma|traumas]] and how these can be dynamically recognized; 3) recognize to what extent the transformational process is active; 4) recognize one's [[constitution]]; 5) recognize one's [[personality type]] (Jungian).
* Touch biofeedback of 108 vital points allows the ''learner'' to become aware exactly where in the body subtle bio-behavioral responses at the ''energy-informational level'' <ref>Brian H. Harvey, Carla Naciti, Linda Brand, Dan J. Stein (2006). Serotonin and Stress: Protective or Malevolent Actions in the Bio-behavioral Response to Repeated Trauma?</ref> manifest and how these can be recognized. These can manifest amongst others as 1) ''tension'' (kinetic-electric), 2) ''burning'' (electromagnetic), 3) ''heaviness'' (gravitation), or a combination of the same (''pain'', etc.). The learner can also learn to apply ''touch'' biofeedback practice on him/herself.
 
Using the feedback from the above channels of perception learners are empowered to perceive from a broader spectrum of sensitivity. This enables them to breach their own barriers and raise their own awareness.
 
 
== Communicate & Grow ==
The ''learner'' can learn to witness feedback from the mind-body through his/her expanded perception <ref>R.G. Jahn and B.J. Dunne (2004). Sensors, Filters, and the Source of Reality. Journal of Scientific Exploration, 18 (4), pp. 547-570.</ref> and learn to dynamically recognize patterns therein. The inner need that arises in the learner stimulates him/her to continually readjust the way s/he relates to and communicates with the immediate world outside. The learner can gradually gain more clarity about how s/he can have access to different experiences, the countless ''roles'' that s/he acts out in different situations, including communication and dialogue, but now from a greater connection. S/he can also witness the dynamic mechanisms by which ''witnessing'', ''knowing'' and ''experiencing'' are holistically interconnected. The coherence between the Heart and Brain <ref>[http://www.heartmathbenelux.com/doc/McCratyeal_article_in_integral_review_2009.pdf The Coherent Heart] - McCraty et al. (2009). The Coherent Heart.</ref> is one of the indications of this interconnectedness. When synchronized or interconnected the Heart enhances one's capacity to perceive reality.
 
While through the Brain a learner can perceive the content of ''what'' is communicated verbally, through the Heart the learner can perceive ''how'' this is communicated nonverbally. While the Brain perceives ''form'', the Heart perceives ''presence''. For instance it is through the Heart that we can sense danger or that someone is staring at us. In activities like ''learning'', ''communicating'' and ''dialoguing'' perception through the Heart can allow learners to cognize aspects which would otherwise remain invisible. For example: miscommunication and arguments have their basis in the invisible aspects of communication. Learners can be ''aware'' of reality as-it-is, which goes beyond what they ''think'' about that reality. They can also understand how what they perceive from different points of departure is complementary.
 
The above also applies to becoming aware of those mechanisms that underlie the development of disease and self-healing or homeostasis. The learner can constantly gain more clarity about unresolved trauma's and associated patterns of [[stress response]]s that try to 'protect' one from feeling pain. Learners will therefore be more able to constantly recognize patterns and make use of feedback. They can more effectively find balance and turn ''adverse effects'' <ref>[http://www.vimeo.com/18819660/ Adverse Effects] - Dr. Willoughby Britton - Adverse Effects and Difficult Stages of the Contemplative Path.</ref> that are associated with personal transformation, into a ''healing effects''. In a healing crisis people may feel ill as a result of the mind-body releasing the conditions from the past. There is a notable difference between a ''disease crisis'' and a ''healing crisis''. The learner needs to be able to recognize the patterns associated with both. And only through this dynamic pattern-recognition or discernment, can a learner continually strengthen the mechanisms of healing.   
 
There is a lot more that a learner can discover experientially when learning is based on the trinity of ''witnessing'', ''knowing'' and ''experiencing''. It can also offer an enduring basis from where individuals and organizations can foster the capacity to continually align processes, anticipate change, find balance and live and communicate more compassionately.
 
 
== Theory and Practice ==
While conventional Sciences focus on ''investigating'' and ''manipulating'' the content of experience, the ''Applied Consciousness Sciences'' focus on ''investigating'' and ''creating awareness'' about the ''point of departure'' or ''starting-point'' from where we perceive that content of experience <ref>R.G. Jahn and B.J. Dunne (1997). Science of the Subjective. Journal of Scientific Exploration, 11 (2), pp. 201-224.</ref>. The former departs from the point of view that a third-person can alter the content of experience for us, especially when we suffer, to prolong life and make it more enjoyable. The latter departs from the point of view that when we gain clarity about those mechanisms by which we suffer, we have the choice to refrain from feeding those mechanisms and create the ''enduring'' conditions by which we can enjoy life to the fullest. In the former we are dependent on others and in the latter we learn how to grow beyond our own patterns of dependency. This dissolves our own inner limitations. ACS aims at achieving this through liberating discernment. The basis for investigating one's own subjective experience. 
 
ACS's views, theories and practical instruments for research, which are elaborately described in the ''Applied Consciousness Science, A Reference Guide'',<ref>''C.G. Monsanto (2011). Applied Consciousness Science, A Reference Guide'', First Edition, ISBN 978-0-557-65237-2</ref> start from and aim at bringing individuals, groups and organizations, to a point where they can perceive from the ''witness'', ''knowing'' and various ''roles'', all at the same time. Towards this end it describes a ''meta-awareness'' paradigm as the basis of its theories and practices. Apart from empowering the learner, it also empowers a multitude of different approaches, theories, models and methodologies.
 
 
== Research & Development ==
ACS offers to follow a holistic research method wherein the learner continually observes, senses, experiments, and systematically formulates, tests, and adjusts hypotheses. The learner can achieve this when what s/he perceives is based on the trinity of witnessing, knowing/observing and experiencing. S/he starts at the subjective end of the spectrum of experience, the zeroth-person, which is opposite the third-person perspective assumed by modern scientific inquiry. This allows the learner to perceive and describe experience from a spectrum of sensitivity that may include the zeroth, first, second and/or third-person points of view.
 
The research of the subjective, the formulation, testing and adjustment of hypotheses, have both a personal and general objective. The personal objective is to help raise the learner’s own awareness to recognize those patterns that create adverse effects and that keep him/her from aligning self with the environment. From the inside out. The general objective is to describe and formulate general recognizable patterns and characteristics, a ‘language’, by which these patterns can be recognized. Understanding this ‘language’ can enhance the learner's level of discernment and capacity to recognize patterns, which is the basis of self-organization, self-learning and personal transformation. Discernment turns the adverse effects into healing effects. Moreover, ACS helps to accelerate learning through the use of biofeedback instruments. These can enhance the clarity and understanding of learners about the linguistic features of subjective experience.
Within an ACS context, ‘holistic research’ may be seen as a synonym of ‘learning from the subjective’. We believe that as we grow up we trade our capacity to learn from the subjective, for a learning that is externally imposed. By helping learners to restore their spectrum of sensitivity we wish to enable learners to recreate the internal conditions by which learning can be meaningful, integrated and transformational. Learner-centered pedagogy can further strengthen this and make educational transformation viable.
 
The following research activities have led to the development of amongst others the theories, biofeedback and other practices in ACS.
 
Phase I:
* '''Literary Research'''
* '''Fundamental Research'''
* '''Holistic Research'''
 
Phase II:
* '''Evidence Based Research''' (Seeking partnerships)
 
 
== Applications ==
In the past decade ACS has been the basis of programs offered in different environments, namely:
 
* '''Health care''' - Health care professional - Also offered to individuals with physical, psychological or psychiatric disorders.
* '''Education''' - Educational professionals - Also offered to learners with and without learning disabilities.
* '''Business''' - Business professionals - Designer and communication trainings, individuals and groups.
* '''Governmental''' - Officials - Consultancy and communication training.
 
NOTE: The application of ACS is not limited to the above environments.
 
 
== References ==
<!--- See [[Wikipedia:Footnotes]] on how to create references using <ref></ref> tags which will then appear here automatically -->
{{Reflist}}
 
 
== Resources ==
* [http://www.selfos.net/upload/Support%20Men-Tsee-Khang.pdf Letter of Support] - Letter of support from the ''Tibetan Medical & Astrological Institute of H.H. the Dalai Lama''.
* [http://www.heartmathbenelux.com/doc/McCratyeal_article_in_integral_review_2009.pdf HeartMath article] - McCratyeal article in integral review 2009: The coherent Heart.
* [http://www.icrl.org/papers.html ICRL papers] - International Consciousness Research Laboratory (Princeton) that offers articles about consciousness research.
* [http://www.consciousness-quotient.com/ Consciousness Quotient Institute] - Resources on CQ and online Consciousness Quotient test.
* [http://www.perspectus.se/tjordan/ Thomas Jordan] - Resources on 'The roles of consciousness development in social conflicts'.
* [http://www.vimeo.com/27240681 The Quickening] - A movie that explores why so many people have been experiencing the sensation that "Time is Speeding Up".
 
 
== External links ==
* [http://www.aradne.org/ Aradne] - Institute in the USA that supports the research and development of the ACS; and offers various ACS based programs.
* [http://www.sbuni.nl/index_en.html Stichting Business Universiteit] - Institute in The Netherlands that supports the research and development of ACS; and offers academic programs that include the ''Unifying Conceptual Designer'' program.
* [http://www.stichting-reis.nl/ Stichting-Reis] - Institute in The Netherlands that offers various ACS based programs.
* [http://www.myeyes.info/ my eyes Group] - Network organization that supports the development and offers ACS and business oriented programs.
* [http://www.thebacajourney.com/ The Baca Journey] - A website that offers many resources regarding conscious living.
 
 
<!--- Categories --->
[[Category:Education Workgroup]]
[[Category:Consciousness studies]]

Latest revision as of 06:11, 23 October 2011

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https://en.citizendium.org/wiki/index.php?title=Applied_Consciousness_Sciences&printable=yes
This editable Main Article is under development and subject to a disclaimer.

Applied Consciousness Sciences (or ACS) is not a scientific field but the name given to a project or institution founded in 2001 in the Netherlands that claims to guide and teach how to use and develop one's "awareness".

While there are several institutions involved that advertise ACS and refer to each other, there is no evidence that they, their work, or the field they present are acknowledged by any third-party-reputed expert or institution.

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