The word consciousness is formed by two Latin words,
con and scire, meaning to know.
Consciousness is the meeting ground for inner and
outer reality. It is the common denominator of the objective world and
subjective experience.
Consciousness is not the same as thinking because we
can be aware of thoughts, which is proof that they take place within
consciousness and therefore are secondary to it.
Likewise, we can be aware without having any
thoughts, only perceptions. But again, they are secondary to the field of
awareness in which they occur.
Many people confuse consciousness with simple
awareness, but consciousness does not just mean that we are aware, but that we
are conscious of being aware.
Consciousness is the medium through which we can
know reality.
Consciousness alone is primary and cannot be
explained in terms of anything else. It can only be experienced.
What is Consciousness?
Consciousness is a non-physical entity, which is
essentially different from the four basic entities of space, time, energy and
matter of the conventional science. Consciousness does not have any physical
attribute or property or action, but is endowed with autonomous willpower of
creation, retention and annihilation of the knowledge of an individual or that
of the universe.
Consciousness itself is non-differential,
inactive, placid, indescribable and non associative: But consciousness
manifests itself in the form of knowledge.
As a point of interest, scientists are investigating
how to integrate consciousness with science as we read in the following
statement.
Bridging the Gap
According to Prof Wigner (Eugene P. Wigner, Nobel
Prize-winning Princeton University professor of mathematical physics):
"The very study of the physical world leads to the conclusion that the
concept of consciousness is an ultimate reality and, all the possible
knowledge, concerning objects can be given as its wave function" and
concludes that the gap between Vedic and scientific systems of knowledge has
been considerably reduced and scientists have started realizing the necessity
of integration of consciousness with the conceptual structure of science.
It becomes clear, that we cannot really define what
consciousness is without placing limits on it? Who knows where it begins or
ends? Animals are conscious, however, not self conscious.
Some religious and philosophical traditions
including yoga hold that all creation, even inorganic matter, has a form of
consciousness. From this perspective, consciousness is everywhere and is the
foundation of all experience. It is the organizing principle behind the
physical universe, often called the Logos, the Tao, or God.
In the Rig Veda (1:164:39) we read that knowledge is
structured in consciousness, and our knowledge of absolute truth is directly
proportioned to the degree to which we can step outside ourselves and purify
our consciousness.
To step outside ourselves, we have to know what we
step into and what the self, or ego is. Only human beings have a sense of
separate self, personal identity, private individuality. This concept of identity,
according to psychology, begins to develop at about age 2 because of various
biological and social factors. The result is a self image we carry within our
minds which we normally consider being our true self but which is none other
than ego, the I am this or that.
Then what is consciousness?
Although we cannot clearly define consciousness, yet
everyday living confirms its reality. Being conscious is the self evident
dimension of all knowing, all perceptions, and all states of being.
We experience, that the boundaries of our personal
awareness constantly shift like changing images on a movie screen and with it
change our perceptions and our understanding of objective reality.
This reflection leads to an awareness of awareness
through the integration of the conscious with the subconscious mind, further
leading to super-conscious or cosmic conscious states of existence often
referred to as samadhi in yoga, satori in Buddhism, mystical union in Christianity,
the peace that passeth all understanding. Philippians 4:7.
Acknowledgement of the human potential for higher
consciousness is imperative for humanity and earth to survive. Humankind finds
itself at a critical juncture, where it has to decide to embrace an immediate
radical change in thought and behavior, or the result could be disastrous for
the current or future generations.
Perhaps the unrest we presently experience in many
countries and societies is the sign of an impending consciousness revolution,
even though it may not be defined as such.
Philosophy, religion, esoteric psychology and the
humanities have been concerned with the study of the nature of consciousness
for hundreds of years, but for changes in consciousness of the masses to occur,
the interest has to flourish on broad levels of society.
What is needed is a kind of consciousness revolution
which implies a turning back to the root of our existence, to truth, by asking
the question: Who am I, where do I come from, what is the purpose of my being
here on earth?”
We need to go beyond the I, the ego, to the Self, to
our essence and embrace a philosophy of life that frees us from the fetters of
convention and adopt an attitude that respects all life everywhere with an aim
to realize one’s highest potential.
This may sound very idealistic, but the aim of all
life forms is fulfilled only, when it has achieved perfection. Scriptures speak
of reclaiming the Garden of Eden, where perfection reigns. This potential is
within all of us.
We must not ignore the profound wisdom in human
convention, but to appreciate it, we have to step out of it, view it from a
higher perspective, embrace that which is of the highest value and discard all
what impedes an upward evolutionary spiral from the material to the ideal, from
matter to spirit.
But first we need to realize our true nature as
spiritual beings rather than acting as competing separate ego bound individuals
seeking happiness and fulfillment in the material world where it has only a temporary
existence.
From that perspective, the consciousness revolution
is also an evolution. It is not just a nostalgic retreat to the past, but
rather an upward spiraling quantum leap in awareness.
Regression merely negates; transcendence is
progressive because it includes what was before, but with a larger
understanding which corrects past errors, imbalances and that which was seen as
incomplete.
Humanity needs to realize its interdependence and
interconnectedness. It is time to live responsibly and righteously, our
survival depends on it. It begins with a higher way of thinking and being of
everyone. We do not require a new system, only a greater vision.
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, inter cellular communication, etc. which all show inherent intelligence.
In yoga all these processes are regarded as
functions of prana (life force), whereas consciousness manifests itself throughout existence.
In yoga consciousness is regarded as having two
dimensions, the transcendent and the immanent.
Chit or 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
Consciousness has three approaches: Experimental,
this realm belongs to scientist, analytical, the domain of the philosophers
and Experiential, the area belonging to the mystics.
It was Ramakrishna’s realization that the entire universe
is immersed in the ocean of consciousness and that there is no distinction
between matter and spirit in the realm of super consciousness.
Both Ramakrishna and swami Vivekananda declared that
the Consciousness is one and indivisible, and it is the Transcendental or
Cosmic Consciousness. This realization has a profound socio-religious
implication according to Swami Vivekananda, since in all religions the super
conscious state is identical.
Christian, Hindus, Islam, Buddhists, and even those
of no creed, all can have the same experience. He also said that Individual
Consciousness and Cosmic Consciousness are one and the same. The highest plane
of consciousness, the one superior to self consciousness is samadhi or super
consciousness.
Super mind and Evolution according to Aurobindo
Aurobindo states that the expansion of the mind to
levels not yet dreamed of is possible and probable. He states that the
evolution from knowledge to greater knowledge, from consciousness to greater
consciousness, from being to greater being is ongoing. This implies that the
evolution of the human being is far from complete; in a sense that would imply
that a human being is a transitional being and has yet to evolve to its full
potential. On how this can be attained, he states, is by human effort through
yoga and meditation.
Evolution and we:
Geoffrey Miller of the University of New Mexico,
author of ‘The Mating Mind’ believes that the rate of human evolution is
accelerating. Philosopher Daniel Dennett (2006) Tuft University Boston stated:
‘But I expect that Homo sapiens are evolving at a rather swift state.’
These thoughts find some support from empirical
studies. James Flynn (1980) of the University of Octagon, Dunedin, New Zealand,
a political scientist stated that, in 20 countries that he documented to date a
rise of about 20 IQ points happens every 30 years. If everyone who took an IQ
test today, using the norms set 50 years ago, more than 90% of them would be
classified as geniuses, with an IQ of 130 and higher. Similarly if peoples
scores were taken around 1949 using today’s norms, over 90% would be labeled
‘borderline mentally retarded’ with IQ below 70 or so.
JBS Haldane (was a British geneticist and
evolutionary biologist) quoted that in about a million years, the average
person would think like Newton, write like Jean Racine, (great playwrights of
17th-century France), Paint like Jan Van Eck (Flemish painter), compose like
Bach and be incapable of hatred like St. Francis.
What do culture, spirituality and religion have to
do with this evolutionary process?
According to Christopher Wills (Christopher J. Wills
is Professor of Biology at UCSD. He received his Ph.D. from UC Berkeley), it is
in intellectual and psychological areas that our culture generates the greatest
advancement and diversity. He states, that rather than slowing us down, our
culture has probably propelled us into developing at unprecedented speeds.
Whether or not culture has shaped our biology in the past, John Campbell of
UCLA (The moral imperative of man's future evolution, Evolutionary Journeys, R.
Wesson and P. Williams, editors, 1995; 79-114.) thinks we will soon consciously
control our own evolution.
Can human beings influence the enhancement of their
consciousness or mind?
Samuel Alexander
1859 - 1938
Professor of Philosophy, University of Manchester
Lectures
1916–1918: Space, Time, and Deity, vol. 1
1916–1918: Space, Time, and Deity, vol. 2
He states: the cosmic process has reached the human
level and man is now looking forward to the next higher quality. According to
him men of spiritual advancement are preparing humankind to the next stage of
development.
Alexander’s philosophy is called philosophy of
emergent evolution. This doctrine implies that in the course of evolution, some
entirely new properties, such as life and consciousness, appear at certain
critical points, usually because of an unpredictable rearrangement of the
already existing entities.
According to Alexander, when physical structures
reach a certain point, life emerges as something new.
Raising Consciousness
What does it means to raise my consciousness?
How will it affect my present life?
What could be the results of a spiritual journey
that literally never ends?
Once we start contemplating the answers to those questions deeply with mind and feelings, we are already starting the process of raising our consciousness.
So
what does it mean to raise or expand our consciousness?
It means for a start, that we become more conscious at all
levels and aspects of our life.
It means to stop the madness in our life and at least, for some period of time, engage daily in meditation and or contemplation for the
purpose of exploring our "real nature, the Self". We start with
opening ourselves to all possibilities through possibility thinking, or
creative imagination.
We explore the wonders and the glory that are
contained within ourselves, around us, in nature and everywhere on our planet
and in the Universe.
Why
would I want to raise my consciousness?
On the whole, the human experience on earth has
become rather difficult and full of challenges for many people, mainly because
we live on the surface of consciousness.
We have to raise our consciousness to the level of our
true Self, embracing the divinity of every person to its fullest extent. We do
this through contemplation, concentration, meditation, and prayer. By so doing,
we raise our awareness to the needs of others, who in fact are none other than
ourselves, as there is only one life flowing throughout all of creation.
We need to spend time contemplating the true meaning
of freedom, what freedom means to us personally in order to experience peace
and love that can be fully shared with our fellow human beings.
We need to decide what it is that we want in life
and visualize how we would like to see our lives unfold?
We need to question our dreams? What would we like
to manifest or accomplish in our present incarnation and what is our ultimate
purpose in life?
How will it affect my present life?
As we start raising our consciousness, our desires,
our interests and our priorities will change.
We will create a life surrounded with more beauty,
more joy, more ease, gentler flow, love and happiness. We will be clearing our
emotions and mind of old believes that no longer serve purpose.
Let us be united in our journey of upward moving
consciousness.
Consciousness and Mind
In Western thought consciousness has always been
identified with the mind. Most of the recent studies on consciousness are
focused on the question whether the mind and the brain are the same. Since the
brain is made of matter, the real issue is whether the mind is material or not.
The Vedanta school of philosophy regards the mind as
material and being made of subtle elements, just as the body is made of gross
elements. From a Vedanta point of view, it matters little whether the mind is
identified with the brain or not.
The central point of Eastern philosophy and that of
yoga is that consciousness is different from the mind and that consciousness
belongs not to the mind but to the
Self or Atman.
Nature of the Self
There are two different schools of thought
concerning the Self. Vedanta holds a monistic view of the Self. According to
its teachings, all the individual Selves are part or a reflection of the
Supreme Self known as Brahman.
The other system holds a plural view of the Self in
that the Self is an individualized unit of the Supreme Self we know as God.
1. The Self as Sat
a) Self (Atman)
is the nature of Sat or being. Our very sense of existence, the ever present
feeling ‘I exist’, is due to the Self in us.
b) The Atman
is our true Self, our true identity, our true unchanging eternal nature. The
aggregate of body, senses, and mind give rise to the ego, which is the false
self; it is ever changing and is full of conflicting elements. The Self is
different from it, but as a result of ignorance, we identify ourselves with the
ego.
c) It is
the Self that gives rise to our self identity. From birth to death the total of
body, mind known as ego, go on changing; similarly our experience of the world
around us changes also. Yet, in the midst of all these changes, we have an
unchanging sense of self-identity in the form of the feeling “I am the same
person that undergoes all these changes’.
d) According
to Shankara, Being or Existence has three levels; the empirical, the illusory
and the transcendent. Corresponding to these, there are three levels of Self.
2 Self (Atman) as Chit
a) Self
is also of the nature of chit or pure consciousness. It is the ground of all
knowledge we gain through the senses and mind of the countless types of
knowledge and experience of the world around us. But there is one unchanging,
basic element common to all these endless experiences, in the form of ‘I am
aware’. Whatever the nature of our objective awareness, I am aware’ is common
to all of them and this basic awareness comes from the Self.
b) Another
important point to understand about consciousness is that pure consciousness or
chit by itself cannot know empirical objects. In order to know them, the Self
must be associated with the mind.
c) A
further related idea is that objective knowledge is only possible at the
empirical plane of existence. At the transcendental plane the Self remains in
its own nature as pure awareness.
3. Self as Ananda
a) Self
is the nature of Ananda, Joy or Bliss. This is a very important concept which
is not found in any other system of thought in the world. What it means is, the
Self is the substratum not only of cognitive experience, but also of affective
or emotional experience.
b) It is
important to know, that Ananda, Bliss, joy is not merely a matter of
experience, but is an intrinsic part of reality. The importance of realizing
Ananda as an inseparable aspect of the ultimate Reality or God within is, that
it provides the explanation what sorrow is. So what is it? Ananda or joy is
one’s intrinsic nature. However, when it is veiled by ignorance, the experience
becomes sorrow. We suffer because of ignorance.
Nature of Knowledge
It is important to realize, that the Self is of the
nature of transcendental consciousness which is pure and without content. Since
it is pure and content less, it cannot of itself know objects. If it could know
objects, then it would be the same as the mind and become as changeable as the
mind. Equally the mind of itself does not have knowledge. Only when the Self
and the mind come together in association, knowledge arises as an emerging
phenomenon.
Realm of Knowledge
Knowledge according to yoga is inherent on all levels.
Knowledge is inseparable from being and existence. Every object in the universe
has knowledge in it. Every change, every movement, every transaction in the
universe is sustained by intrinsic knowledge.
Most people still believe, when judging by their
actions, that this is their show and the better we can play the game, the
better off they will be. The more goods they cam amass, the more successful
they are in the eyes of their fellow man. In this manner they can buy their way
into anything they want. This is their ultimate victory; to be rich and famous
is the goal, so one may think until the lessons of life hits hard in the form of
disappointment or illness.
Then they may look for God and ask Him how he
figures that they disserve misfortune.
Then what?
The either find the answer, or they live the rest of
their life being disenchanted.
Eric Erikson’s on Integrity versus despair. ‘We either get our act together, or we spend the rest of our life in mental anguish’.
Is this what life is all about?
Will self interest ever bring happiness or inner
peace?
Many people we know have many problems in their
lives and often it is because they go to places, where they find problems. For
some reason they are attracted to them.
This is why lifestyle is so important.
Plato’s cave
This reminds me of Plato’s cave as part of Plato’s dissertation on Plato’s republic.
This reminds me of Plato’s cave as part of Plato’s dissertation on Plato’s republic.
People in the cave hanging on to the shadow – they
are afraid of the light they see outside the cave; the light which embraces the
unknown. They chose the darkness over the light for they think that if they go
to the light, they may not find their way back to this secure, known place.
Hence they remain in darkness.
Before anything in life can change we must adopt a
new way of thought, a philosophy that encompasses both the outer and the inner
world. It may be found through a deep understanding of one's chosen religion, authentic spirituality, the practice of Kriya Yoga, which
includes all of the yogas. The goal needs to be realization of the Infinite, of God.
But where do we start in the quest for expanded
consciousness? It starts with the realization of “Who we really are”.
Attain Self Knowledge.
The answer for the egoist is to renounce his ways,
to repent, to change his ways, to renounce attachment to an ever changing
world.
Jesus taught: “Be in this world, but not of it”.
Yoga teaches us, to live right, to do what needs to
be done when it needs to be done, to respect all life, to share our fortune
with those in need, to keep life simple, to let spirit express, be open to life, be open to the life giving
spirit.
The yogi emphasizes the inner perception of God in
meditation and ecstasy, which he then strives to carry into his daily
activities.
Yogananda:
Man must become internalizes in soul conscious, transforming his little ego into the divine Self, - the Soul.
A way to become internal
Once the mind is internalized and withdrawn from its
identification with the world and with the body, the inner light comes into
clear and steady focus. The inner sound becomes all absorbing. AUM fills the brain;
its vibration moves down the spine, bursting open the door of the heart’s feeling, then flowing out into the body. The whole
body vibrates with the sound of Aum.
Gradually with ever deeper meditation the
consciousness expands with the sound of Aum, moving beyond the confines of the
body, it embraces the confines of infinite vibrations. We realize our oneness
with the all existence as Aum, the cosmic vibration. “we enter the state of Aum
samadhi, Aum with God as cosmic sound.
Aum is the aspect of the Christian Trinity which is known as the Holy Ghost,
the comforter or word of God.
By still deeper meditation, we expands our awareness
of the Christ Consciousness beyond the limits of the body to perceive our
oneness with the Christ Consciousness which underlies the manifest universe.
By still deeper meditation, we go beyond creation
and unite our consciousness with that of the father, with Satchidananda, the
ever existing conscious Bliss. Here we rest. Know ye not that ye are gods,
children of the most High. Psalm 82:62
Here we realize, that we are not mere human beings
aspiring to Divine status, but that we are spiritual beings temporarily
involved in realm of nature. :
To keep this in perspective man experiences life
from two main focal points.
One from the point of view BECOMING, where our consciousness
brings us from where we are to where we need to go; from ego consciousness, to
soul awareness and ultimately by merging the Soul with spirit, we experience this
as the state of BEING.
Swami Shankara:
“When there is duality because of ignorance, one sees
all things as distinct from the Self. When everything is known as the Self, not
even an atom is seen as other then the Self …As soon as knowledge of Reality
has sprung up, there can be no fruits of past actions to be experienced, owing
to the unreality of the body, just as there can be no dream after awakening.”
There needs to be a shift in consciousness, in the
way we perceive our world, our life and our existence. The world is no longer
perceived as being flat.
It is very difficult for the ego centered soul to
even have an appreciation for higher realities.
We must come to the point where we experience our
selves being and existing in God. We may not say that God is our life, but do we really
know it and live accordingly.
When we approach our life from the stage of Being,
(which can be experienced in deep meditation), a life filled with inner joy and
peace. When we realize, that Being is not a state of stagnation, but an
existence of unlimited potential, a potential that can become actualized
through an act of will and when employed in the service of God, we will have
the full support of nature in the embrace of the potential.
With this comes the realization, that the universe
is not inert, as most scientist lead us to believe, but that it is alive and by a
process of interconnection, it is responsive to our states of consciousness.
So we become what we think about all day long.
Repeat this to yourself.
In my innermost being, I am pure consciousness, One
with God. Never alone, never separate. So hum, I am he, he I am. The Father and
I are one.
Feel the Joy, feel the love. Know that God is the
only real love.
The liberated yogi is conscious of the spirit not
only as Cosmic Bliss but also as Cosmic light that is the true structure of all
beings. Beholding everything as Cosmic Light, the yogi sees his spirit united
omnipresent Self and all beings as emanating from that Light.
Liberation of consciousness comes when we perceive
God in all as the only Reality; Imminent and transcendent.
The liberated yogi does not lose the individuality
of his soul; instead he finds his being extended into the Being of the Spirit.
We ought to see ourselves as liberated yogis,
leading a God centered life while in this physical body. We can worship God in
any form that is, personal or impersonal. Personal in the form of Father – Mother – Friend - Beloved God, or as
incarnate in one of the avatars as Christ or Krishna, or impersonal, as the
All-Pervading Infinite.
We all want love, we want joy, we want peace. The
only true love, joy and peace are within God. Let our life be centered in God
and our soul will sing with joy in our realization that we live in Him and
His Glory.
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