Well I think people can be sheep and also very smart. I think awareness and intellect are very independent. Though there is quite a difference between those who write the books and those who read the books. We’ve come to believe that smart people have qualifications. That’s simply irrelevant. A genius is under no obligation to go on to get a PhD.
From an eastern philosophy perspective:
You need a certain evolution in you to see things objectively. The brain is an instrument of perception. Think of the brain like a TV. And consciousness as a signal. If the TV is from the 1900’s they can’t watch Netflix... even though Netflix is there available for everyone to see. Only those with a smart TV can see it. A right perception is needed.