Consciousness continued

In Western thought consciousness is identified with the mind, and the mind is identified with the brain.

In the yoga teachings, consciousness is independent of the mind; consciousness exists by itself as a self-luminous entity.

In Western thought, right from Plato, human personality has been regarded as consisting of body and mind. The mind itself is called the soul and spirit.

In yoga human personality is regarded as consisting of body, mind and Self or soul.

In Western thought consciousness is characterized by directness, which is always conscious of something.

In yoga, consciousness is known as Chit, Chaitanya, Self, Atman etc. It is pure content less awareness; it is absolute self-awareness which transcends the senses.

In Western thought consciousness and knowledge are regarded as the same. To know is to be conscious.

In yoga consciousness and knowledge are not the same.

In Western thought there is no clear distinction between life and consciousness. This is the primary reason why brain processes are identified with consciousness.

From the yoga point of view, consciousness is transcendent reality and the brain is only an instrument through which consciousness manifests itself. Apart from brain processes, there are various other physiological processes like protein synthesis, immune response, intercellular communication, etc. which all show inherent intelligence.

In yoga all these processes are regarded as functions of prana, whereas consciousness manifests itself through them.

In yoga consciousness is regarded as having two dimensions, the transcendent and the immanent.

Transcendent and immanent

Chit, consciousness is considered beyond the senses and the mind and thus cannot be expressed properly. Its transcendent nature is indicated by such phrases as ‘the Light of all lights, the Truth of truths, and the Awareness of awareness’.

However, chit, consciousness is not just transcendent; it also constitutes the real nature of the true Self or the Atman. The knowledge of the body and mind obtained by various disciplines of modern science, such as neuroscience, molecular biology; psychology etc. is actually knowledge of the immanent aspect of consciousness