Our normal waking consciousness, rational consciousness as we call it, is but one… — William James

Our normal waking consciousness, rational consciousness as we call it, is but one special type of consciousness, whilst all about it, parted from it by the filmiest of screens, there lie potential forms of consciousness entirely different. We may go through life without suspecting their existence; but apply the requisite stimulus, and at a touch they are there in all their completeness, definite types of mentality which probably somewhere have their field of application and adaptation.

The Varieties of Religious Experience · 1902
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Current citation
James, William. "Mysticism." The Varieties of Religious Experience, edited by Martin E. Marty. Penguin Classics, 1982.
Original citation
James, William. "Mysticism." Gifford Lecture. c. 1902, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland. Lecture.

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