[Mike Todd]

Marvellously put, Don – thankyou.<div>
</div><div>I wish I were more familiar with the Upanishads. I have several translations, but it’s hard for me to say whether any of them might approach what’s considered authoritative. They vary greatly and some appear to be abridged. Any recommendations would be welcomed. </div><div>
</div><div>You mentioned panpsychism and dual-aspect monism. Panpsychism strikes me as little more than an hermetic substance dualism – consciousness/awareness in a (subatomic or cosmic) bottle. Dual-aspect monism appeals to a degree, and for a while I fancied my view as such, but I now lean more towards what is conventionally called dialectical monism, albeit one grounded in a processual pure awareness. But, of course, the labels we attach to our metaphysical approaches are (possibly misleading) shortcuts by definition, and as Iain and others have noted, many lengthy trails must be trod to take in something of the whole mountain.</div>