Consider the one place where science uses “absolute,” as in absolute zero. Basically a volume of space with no perceptible activity. It is called absolute because there is nothing beyond it. Even if there were such a thing as negative activity, it would still have a temperature.

Now consider how the concept of ideal is usually considered; As some perfect example of otherwise normal configurations or states. Such as an ideal beauty, or the ideal day. While there is an assumption it cannot be transcended, as in something even more ideal would mean the original wasn’t really ideal, it still amounts to a sense of focus of emotional appeal, or desire. Perfection.

So what if we have a religion which assumes an ideal to be an absolute? As an ideal, say of perfect judgement and wisdom, it is first assuming there can be such a condition of perfect judgement and wisdom, but safe to say, they can be relative to the situation. What might seem the ultimate wise decision one day, might not be the best some other day, when further information accumulates.

Yet what if this premise of the ideal wasn’t recognized as potentially transitory and possibly open to further knowledge and analysis, but is considered absolute and unsurpassable for all time. Like a temperature of absolute zero. Safe to say, that leads to very strict fundamentalism, which various monotheisms seem inclined, if they are not moderated by deeper tribal, or cultural networks, that allow flexibility and possibly cycling through series of such highs, peaks. So then building a society around this premise will become even more constricted over time, as more and more aspects of life are ruled to not be pure enough and any ambiguity is taken as a sign of weakness and potential evil.

If we are to propose a spiritual absolute, where would we look for it? As some unexplained element of sentience and primal consciousness, that if we were to go beyond, would no longer be sentient? Or would we look for it as some ideal of emotional, intellectual, social and cultural talent and ability, like being basically smart, ie, knowledgable and wise?

Something elemental, way down at the base, or some apex of perfection?

“The mental states are states of consciousness, so I don’t see how there can be a temporal disparity between consciousness in general and particular conscious states.”

While this goes to the issue of time and I’ll get back to that;

Your consciousness goes past to future, like reading a book, or watching a movie. It goes from one scene to the next, until you’re finished. Consequently these scenes come and go, passing through your perspective. They are first in the future, then in the past. The book or movie is finished and you put it down, or walk out of the theater and it fades into the jumble of new memories your consciousness is continuing to create.