I just reread this and noticed something else:
We know from previous quotes that a higher 2D entity is a mind/body complex, but not yet a mind/body/spirit complex, which is a trait of 3D. We also know that there is a range, an octave of consciousness, within 2D.
The above quote can be interpreted 2 ways:
1. 2D are those plants and animals who lack an upward drive towards the infinite.
or
2. All plants and animals lack an upward drive towards the infinite.
It is subject to speculation, as to which interpretation is the one intended by Ra. Let's examine both:
We have no way of knowing whether #1 is correct, because there is no visible way of observing an upward drive towards the infinite. But if this is what Ra intended, then that would mean some plants and animals do exhibit this. I just don't see any way to determine that. Perhaps this is yet another subtle level in the octave of 2D consciousness...or perhaps it exists only in potentiation.
If #2 is correct, then all plants and animals lack an upward drive towards the infinite. But, we know that an upward drive towards the infinite is what differentiates 3D, and we also know that self-awareness is the criteria for graduation to 3D. So, is self-awareness the same as an upward drive towards the infinite, or merely the first step in that direction?
And, is self-awareness an attribute of the mind, or of the spirit?
Ra gives the answer here:
It appears that becoming self-aware is the very definition of becoming a mind/body complex. Extrapolating further, then a 2D entity who is not yet self-aware is only a body complex. Hence, although all grass collectively has a group consciousness, the single blade of grass doesn't possess an individual mind...is not yet a mind/body complex. But, the fallen deer in the forest, left behind as food for wolves and feeling the pain of separation and fear, along with physical pain, in a vehicle with a nervous system and pain receptors (the hardware for the 'mind' software) certainly seems to exhibit obvious mind characteristics.
Likewise, the cows mourning for their lost calves, or bellowing for their sisters, their best friends, despite being surrounded by other cows in other social circles, certainly exhibit mind characteristics, just as surely as your dog or cat.
Keep in mind that investiture by 3D entities can help facilitate their evolution, but isn't necessary:
Ie., some 2D entities do it on their own, just from catalyst, with no help from humans. So we're not talking about only 'pets' here.
So, in conclusion of my analysis of #1 above, it appears to me that even if #1 is Ra's intended view, it still doesn't matter. Even if all plants and animals lack an upward drive towards the infinite (an attribute of spirit) and thus aren't yet mind/body/spirit complexes, there is still a differentiation between lower 2D entities and higher 2D entities. This differentiation is the mind, the individual consciousness, which makes them mind/body complexes, in contrast to lower 2D entities, which are only body complexes.
Thus, we seem to have a demarcation in the octave of 2D consciousness.
Why does this matter? It matters because thus far, many people have insisted that the only important demarcation is that of the spirit. Ie., it's ok to kill 2D entities simply because they are only 2D...with 3D being the important demarcation at which time it is no longer ok to overpower the free will of an entity, and force them to do our bidding, enslave them, and kill them.
I am proposing a different demarcation: one based on the mind rather than the spirit.
It makes more sense to base it on mind. An entity possessing a mind also possesses a nervous system and pain receptors. Is this a coincidence? I think not. It makes sense to me that those traits go together for a reason: Higher 2D entities have the hardware to accommodate individual consciousness, and are given myriad types of catalyst, of which being preyed upon is only one, in order to facilitate that leap in consciousness.
When does it happen? When the deer breaks her leg? When The cow's baby is taken? When the lion's teeth penetrate the gazelle's skin and pain is felt? Or a moment before that, when the gazelle is running, in a panic, all alone, left behind by the herd...separated from the collective?
Or had it already happened? Had that particular deer already grown in self-awareness, in tiny baby steps, just from the normal catalyst?
Wild animals, who have not yet been hunted, injured or preyed upon, have exhibited social structures, friendships, jealousy, and even the ability to play games and cunning tricks on one another. I once saw a documentary about monkeys in the jungle, who create elaborate games, just for fun. Surely an entity who takes actions just for fun, derives some sort of personal satisfaction, and where there is personal satisfaction, apart from actions taken merely for the good of the collective, then that is an obvious indication of self-awareness.
This indicates that many, if not most, animals in the wild may have already reached the point of self awareness. It seems reasonable to me that the simplest, most obvious outward sign of having a mind/body complex, is the the possession of pain receptors and a nervous system.
This is fortunate, as it gives us a way to identify these entities, who are beginning their journey towards 3D and are our younger other-selves, and whose call is being answered by Ra just as surely as ours is.
Quote:The second density is the density of the higher plant life and animal life which exists without the upward drive towards the infinite.
We know from previous quotes that a higher 2D entity is a mind/body complex, but not yet a mind/body/spirit complex, which is a trait of 3D. We also know that there is a range, an octave of consciousness, within 2D.
The above quote can be interpreted 2 ways:
1. 2D are those plants and animals who lack an upward drive towards the infinite.
or
2. All plants and animals lack an upward drive towards the infinite.
It is subject to speculation, as to which interpretation is the one intended by Ra. Let's examine both:
We have no way of knowing whether #1 is correct, because there is no visible way of observing an upward drive towards the infinite. But if this is what Ra intended, then that would mean some plants and animals do exhibit this. I just don't see any way to determine that. Perhaps this is yet another subtle level in the octave of 2D consciousness...or perhaps it exists only in potentiation.
If #2 is correct, then all plants and animals lack an upward drive towards the infinite. But, we know that an upward drive towards the infinite is what differentiates 3D, and we also know that self-awareness is the criteria for graduation to 3D. So, is self-awareness the same as an upward drive towards the infinite, or merely the first step in that direction?
And, is self-awareness an attribute of the mind, or of the spirit?
Ra gives the answer here:
Quote:13.21 Questioner: Then how does the second density progress to the third?
Ra: I am Ra. The second density strives towards the third density which is the density of self-consciousness or self-awareness. The striving takes place through the higher second-density forms who are invested by third-density beings with an identity to the extent that they become self-aware mind/body complexes, thus becoming mind/body/spirit complexes and entering third density, the first density of consciousness of spirit.
It appears that becoming self-aware is the very definition of becoming a mind/body complex. Extrapolating further, then a 2D entity who is not yet self-aware is only a body complex. Hence, although all grass collectively has a group consciousness, the single blade of grass doesn't possess an individual mind...is not yet a mind/body complex. But, the fallen deer in the forest, left behind as food for wolves and feeling the pain of separation and fear, along with physical pain, in a vehicle with a nervous system and pain receptors (the hardware for the 'mind' software) certainly seems to exhibit obvious mind characteristics.
Likewise, the cows mourning for their lost calves, or bellowing for their sisters, their best friends, despite being surrounded by other cows in other social circles, certainly exhibit mind characteristics, just as surely as your dog or cat.
Keep in mind that investiture by 3D entities can help facilitate their evolution, but isn't necessary:
Quote:Ra: I am Ra. There were some second-density entities which made the graduation into third density with no outside stimulus but only the efficient use of experience.
Ie., some 2D entities do it on their own, just from catalyst, with no help from humans. So we're not talking about only 'pets' here.
So, in conclusion of my analysis of #1 above, it appears to me that even if #1 is Ra's intended view, it still doesn't matter. Even if all plants and animals lack an upward drive towards the infinite (an attribute of spirit) and thus aren't yet mind/body/spirit complexes, there is still a differentiation between lower 2D entities and higher 2D entities. This differentiation is the mind, the individual consciousness, which makes them mind/body complexes, in contrast to lower 2D entities, which are only body complexes.
Thus, we seem to have a demarcation in the octave of 2D consciousness.
Why does this matter? It matters because thus far, many people have insisted that the only important demarcation is that of the spirit. Ie., it's ok to kill 2D entities simply because they are only 2D...with 3D being the important demarcation at which time it is no longer ok to overpower the free will of an entity, and force them to do our bidding, enslave them, and kill them.
I am proposing a different demarcation: one based on the mind rather than the spirit.
It makes more sense to base it on mind. An entity possessing a mind also possesses a nervous system and pain receptors. Is this a coincidence? I think not. It makes sense to me that those traits go together for a reason: Higher 2D entities have the hardware to accommodate individual consciousness, and are given myriad types of catalyst, of which being preyed upon is only one, in order to facilitate that leap in consciousness.
When does it happen? When the deer breaks her leg? When The cow's baby is taken? When the lion's teeth penetrate the gazelle's skin and pain is felt? Or a moment before that, when the gazelle is running, in a panic, all alone, left behind by the herd...separated from the collective?
Or had it already happened? Had that particular deer already grown in self-awareness, in tiny baby steps, just from the normal catalyst?
Wild animals, who have not yet been hunted, injured or preyed upon, have exhibited social structures, friendships, jealousy, and even the ability to play games and cunning tricks on one another. I once saw a documentary about monkeys in the jungle, who create elaborate games, just for fun. Surely an entity who takes actions just for fun, derives some sort of personal satisfaction, and where there is personal satisfaction, apart from actions taken merely for the good of the collective, then that is an obvious indication of self-awareness.
This indicates that many, if not most, animals in the wild may have already reached the point of self awareness. It seems reasonable to me that the simplest, most obvious outward sign of having a mind/body complex, is the the possession of pain receptors and a nervous system.
This is fortunate, as it gives us a way to identify these entities, who are beginning their journey towards 3D and are our younger other-selves, and whose call is being answered by Ra just as surely as ours is.