I recently read [1] A New Earth by [2] Eckhart Tolle. “At the core of the teachings lies the transformation of consciousness, a spiritual awakening that he sees as the next step in human evolution. An essential aspect of this awakening consists in transcending our ego based state of consciousness. This is a prerequisite not only for personal happiness but also for the ending of violent conflict endemic on our planet” (Inside back cover, [1] A New Earth ). This has prompted the following questions. Could a open source style online network, like Linux, focus the global consciousness to accelerate the solutions to immediate global problems. How would the online network be structured? How many people would be needed? Can this right brain global consciousness be just another resource or function of a left brain information distribution and collaboration online network?

Oprah selected [1] A New Earth for her book of the month in January 2008. Oprah also established a [5] summer school webcast to discuss the teachings with the author and readers connected via Skype around the world. The summer school consisted on ten weekly 90 minute workshops. The first five classes had eleven million streams or downloads which means that more than two million people watched each of the classes. This an amazing demonstration of Oprah’s presence and influence, but also the ability of technology to transform our world. The technologies used include television, webcasts, message boards (forums) and Skype were used to share the teachings with the global community. The number of globally conscious people is likely to have significantly increased as a result of Oprah and her use of technology.

I have previously highlighted the urgency around solving specific global problems using online networks ( See [6] We need five online networks to solve the worlds problems by 2012 or we decline into conflict for generations ). Perhaps, a sixth online network could assist.

[7] Can an individual ego destroy relationships that could deliver a sustainable future, Marcus Cake

Extract:

“The global community is confronted with many challenges. Unrelenting ego and diminishing resources will cause war and destroy the planet. In some of my other articles, I offer some hope by suggesting an online network that harnesses the collective intellect and energy of a global community could solve these problems. They probably could if they had the time, but their may not be the opportunity if humanity can not move beyond ego to awareness, from materialism to a community, relationships and solutions (see [6] We need five online networks to solve the worlds problems by 2012 or we decline into conflict for generations ). This shift to awareness (or consciousness) may simply be too much to expect from humanity. It is unlikely that an online network could create the shift by encouraging ego to be different.”

“An intellectual solution may be elusive, but hope is not. The answer may lie in prayer or meditation or collective energy (depending on what you believe). The book [9] “The Divine Matrix” by [10] Gregg Braden suggests that only 8,000 people are required to spark a change in the consciousness of 6 billion people. He points to numerous scientific studies of a small group meditating and reducing crime, conflict during this period. The online network may still be useful. It would coordinate the people in the community to focus at the same point in time on the same outcome. It would be a collective conscious network. Perhaps, I should add this to my group of five online networks required by 2012.”

The planet may have enough “conscious” people. Can we apply those conscious people to bring about change? I have highlighted the potential of an online network to aggregate the efforts of individuals to achieve community and commercial outcomes in the economy and society. Perhaps, an online network can focus global consciousness to support these efforts in the world. But how would such a network work. An online network could organise 8,000 people to focus on bringing awareness to the people, situations or institutions that have immediate influence over specific problems. This could occur daily, weekly on a rolling timetable around specific issues in the world. The community could provide the content and determine the problems to be focussed on. Global awareness would be another resource in this network and be applied alongside research, lobbying, events, information distribution, of a information network that serves the economy or society. In perhaps more familiar terms, global consciousness is the right brain and information distribution, project management and collaboration is the left brain. Both are important tools to achieve the end result.

I reccently developed a quick mock-up of a climate stability network (see [11] Virginearth.com: a Linux style collaborative community to pursue/deliver climate stability?) . I have developed an online network for the financial market. I’ll put some thought into what a consciousness online network may look like.

“Enlightened collectives will fulfill an important function in the arising of the new consciousness. Just as egoic collectives pull you into unconsciousness and suffering the enlightened collective can be a vortex for consciousness that will accelerate the planetary shift” ( [1] A New Earth , Eckhart Tolle, p.127) .