Dear John
I share your opinion in full context . I argue that consciousness is a part of our Universe, but part which we recognise with our three dimensional brain. What about if consciousness is relality multidimensional and rest of dimensions of consciousness are not recognisonable -for the moment. Dimensionality of brain is very important, for (1) only in 3D Univese there is not crossroads of axons and (2) only in 3D wave equation transmitted pure undisturbed infornation.
By the way for a long time I was involved in heat transport equation study. I have " discovered", (in Plato sense) the thermal Klein-Gordon equation, which as the hyperbolic equation has the thermal wave solution with wave velocity
v=alpha(i)xc, , i=1,2,3 for alpha(1)= 1/137 coupling strength for electromagnetic interaction , alpha(2)= 0.16 for strong interaction, and
alpha(3)=1 for colored quarks interaction.c= light velocity . All that is contained in our monograph: Thermal processes with attosecond laser pulses, Springer, USA