On Consciousness.

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?

Professor Ashok Sharma, a former Indian professor of Applied Physics, who was also a scientist at Harvard University, has formulated some path-breaking theories and postulations based on the ancient Vedic Sciences that give us some powerful insights into the gray regions of the human mind, and help us understand our consciousness.

Consciousness, according to Prof Sharma, 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 will power of creation, retention and annihilation of the knowledge of an individual or that of the universe.

Prof. Sharma says that consciousness itself is non-differentiable, 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.


Here Prof. Sharma quotes Prof Wigner — "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, what the self, or ego is. Only human beings have a sense of separate self, personhood, 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, 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 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 competing separate ego bound individuals seeking happiness and fulfillment in the material 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 the Beginning, an Esoteric Perspective.

In the beginning was the word, and the word was with God and the word was God. The same thing was in the beginning with God.

All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

                                                                                      John 1:1-4

In Yoga, Word means intelligent vibration, intelligent energy, carrying material power and going out from God.

Official church doctrine has for centuries interpreted “the Word” (Logos in the original Greek) to be a reference to Jesus, but according to historians, Alfred A. Knopf, 1993 writes:” The author of the Book of Proverbs written in the third century BCE (with which John and any other Jewish person of his time would have been familiar), personifies Wisdom, seemingly as a separate person.

“Yahweh created me (wisdom) when his purpose fist unfolded, before the oldest of his works. From everlasting I was firmly set, from the beginning, before the earth came into being ... when he laid the foundation of the earth, I was at his side, a master craftsman, delighting him day after day, ever at play at his presence, at play everywhere in the world, delighting to be with the son of men. (Proverbs 8:22-23, 30-31; the Jerusalem Bible).

Early church fathers also indentified the ‘Word’ with wisdom. 

According to Yoga, the word (vibration) is the beginning and source of all created substances. Before creation, there was only undifferentiated Spirit (Void). In manifesting creation, Spirit becomes God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Ghost.

As soon as Spirit evolved a cosmic vibratory thought, through the action of maya (delusion), the un-manifest Spirit becomes God the Father, the Creator of all creative vibrations.

God the Father in yoga is called Ishvara (the cosmic Ruler) or Sat (the supreme pure essence of Cosmic Consciousness).

The vibratory force emanating from Spirit, endowed with the illusory creative power of maya, is the Holy Ghost, (called Holy because it acts according to the will of God and is made manifest in the immanent Christ Consciousness. Ghost implies an intelligent, invisible, conscious force) or Cosmic Vibration, the Word, Aum (Om) or Amen.

The Holy Ghost in yoga is called the Aum or Maha-Prakriti (Great Nature, Cosmic or Divine mother that gives birth to creation).

“These things said the Amen (the Word, Aum), the faithful and true witness, of the manifested Divine Presence in all creation.

“Among the words I am the one syllable Aum”.

                                                          Bhagavad Gita X:25

“Of all manifestation, I am the beginning, middle and end”.

                                                           Bhagavad Gita X:32

Aum or Holy Ghost creates all things, preserves them in different forms and ultimately dissolves them again in God until all becomes re-created again. The renewal of life and form is an ongoing process of God.

“I am the Unchanging and Everlasting, sustain and permeate the entire cosmos with but one fragment of My Being”.

                                                          Bhagavad Gita X:42

Some scientists insist that the universe is inert. but a cosmic vibration omnipresent in space could not of itself create or sustain the complex cosmos. The universe is more than combinations of vibrating forces and sub atomic particles, as suggested by some scientists.

Blind forces cannot of themselves organize into intelligent structured objects, which suggests, that there must be the presence of a hidden (immanent) intelligence.

This intelligence is the transcendent consciousness of God the Father that became manifest within the Holy Ghost vibration as the Son, the Christ Consciousness, God’s intelligence in all vibratory creation. This pure reflection of God in the Holy Ghost indirectly guides the process to create, re-create, preserve and shape creation according to God’s divine plan.

A comparison of the biblical concept of the Trinity with yoga may serve to illustrate how One Eternal Spirit becomes the Holy Trinity: God the Father, Son and Holy Ghost, in yoga Sat, Tat, Aum.

When the eternal Spirit stirs Itself to create the universe, He becomes God the Father, wedded to  Cosmic vibration, giving birth to His reflection, the only begotten Son, Christ Consciousness , present in all of creation.

“My womb is the Great Prakriti (nature) into which I deposit the seed of My Intelligence; this is the cause of the birth of all things.”

                                                        Bhagavad Gita XIV: 3

In accordance with esoteric teachings, the Christ of God is the universal intelligence omnipresent in all matter and in all living beings, with the ultimate purpose of guiding all things back to God again.

The incarnation of an avatar (incarnation of God) as in Jesus. In better understanding the incarnation of an avatar, we need to differentiate between Jesus the son of man and Jesus in which the only begotten Son, or Christ Consciousness was manifest. Jesus himself makes the distinction when speaking of the body as the son of man, and his soul which was one with Christ Consciousness, as the son of God.

The implication of this is significant in that when man, through spiritual practices, raises his ordinary consciousness to Christ consciousness, by living a Christ like life, he can becomes a son of God.

“For as many as receive him, to them gave he power to become sons of God”.

                                                                St. John 1:12

Sons of God shows distinctly, that not the body of Jesus, but the state of Christ Consciousness was the only begotten son, and that all those who can clarify their consciousness and receive, or in an unobstructed way reflect the power or Spirit of God, can become sons of God. They could become one with the only begotten reflection of God in all matter as Jesus was; and through the son, or Christ Consciousness, ascend to the Father, the supreme Cosmic Consciousness.

This process can be achieved by anyone through practice of super conscious meditation.

Love from a Yoga perspective.

Love is not just in the feeling, but in the joy that feeling brings. Love brings joy into our life. From Joy we have come, in joy we have our being, and into that sacred joy we will one day meld again.

All the divine feelings, of love, compassion, courage, self-sacrifice, humility would be meaningless without joy. Joy means exhilaration, an expression of ultimate bliss.

The experience of joy originates in the subtle brain, the subtle center of God consciousness that the yogis call sahasrara, or the thousand petal lotus. Yet the actual feeling of joy is experienced in the heart or the anahata chakra. That joy comes from God’s bliss; an essential attribute of Spirit.

Though joy may be born in conjunction with outer conditions, it is not subject to conditions; it often manifests without any external cause. When sitting in silence of deep meditation, joy bubbles up from within, roused by no outer stimuli. Those who have not experienced joy in meditation, do seldom know what real joy is.

We feel happiness in the satisfaction of desire, but this happiness cannot be compared with the joy we feel in meditation which results in the contact with our soul.

In the universal sense, love is the divine power of attraction in creation that harmonizes and unites. It is opposed to the force of repulsion, which is the outgoing cosmic energy that materializes creation from the cosmic consciousness of God.

Repulsion keeps all forms in the manifest state through maya, the power of delusion that divides, differentiates and dis-harmonizes.

The attractive force of love counteracts cosmic repulsion to harmonize all creation and ultimately draws it back to God. Those who live in tune with the attracting force of love achieve harmony with nature and their fellow beings, and are attracted to blissful union with God.

This attraction is felt as a yearning for God, or God’s redeeming grace.

In this world, love presupposes duality; it springs from a mutual exchange or suggestion of feelings between two or more forms. Even in animals we observe a certain type of love for one another and for their offspring.

In humans, when the love passes through the heart of the lover, the consciousness of the lover gives that universal love still another quality. It is not the physical instrument, but the consciousness through which the lover moves that determines the quality of the love expressed. The higher the state of consciousness of the lover, the higher will be the expression of love.

Love gives without expecting anything in return. Love cannot be had for the asking; it comes as a gift from the heart of another.

The greatest love is felt in the communion with God in meditation. The love between soul and Spirit is the perfect love, the love all are seeking but often don’t know how to reach.

When we experience that divine love, we will see all people as being alike, beholding all as one human family, children of God. We will say to ourselves:’ God is my Father. I am part of His vast family.

True love is divine, and divine love is joy. The more we meditate, seeking God with burning desire, the more we will feel that love in our heart.     

May I suggest, we commune in God through meditation.

‘Be still and know that I am God’ Psalm 46:10.

Living in Harmony in the World.

In our current era, we are witness to changes that occur at an alarming rate and even to the extent where many people find it difficult to cope. Much of this change is almost beyond human comprehension. The challenges we face are enormous. We see hunger, disease, over population, depletion of resources, global warming, changing weather patterns, drought, flooding, soil erosion, earth quakes and tsunamis. The world is confronted with social, political, economic and environmental challenges that are disharmonious to our existence.

Scientists are foremost among those who warn of life threatening human damage to the earth and its atmosphere. We see the evidence of these warnings in the frequent and massive earth quakes as continental plates shift; we have tsunamis, forest fires, drought, flooding, and pollution. The world’s food supply is becoming dangerously low. Our energy supply is dwindling. We are destroying rain forests which  purify our atmosphere. These and many others are signs indicating that we will face severe challenges if we continue with our present way of life.

Yoga philosophyteaches that creation is one and that all things are created from the same energy and substance; that all should work in harmony with creation.

However, humanity endowed with free will finds it often difficult to submit to any authority which it perceives as being outside or beyond itself, and must inevitably face the consequences if it refuses to respect the laws of nature and of the universe.

We have alienated ourselves from nature and from God even though, much of humanity professes to have religious affiliations.

Our acts of ravaging the earth for the immediate satisfaction of our desires and the resultant covering of the earth with the polluted waste of our life-style shows the serious consequences we are facing.

Greed is rampant amongst people and nations. Families are breaking up and many lead unhealthy lifestyles.

If we are not determined to individually and collectively make some revolutionary changes to our ways of thinking and living, we may well cause the demise of our present civilization.

Humanity must become more aware of its interdependence and live in harmony with one another, with the environment and the laws governing nature and the cosmos.

We may ask ourselves, whether the patterns to which we are witness are of a of karmic nature in which case societies reap the effects of their actions and only a change of behaviour in accord with divine order will result in a brighter future.

However if unrighteousness, violence and evil prevails, and we disregard the balance and harmony of the created universe, we may well cause even more chaos and disintegration in our society and in the world.

For a society and nations to thrive, there needs to be a common bond of community, a sense of direction based on balance, harmony, freedom and respect for all life.

Buddha taught that selfish desire, greed, fear, lust, anger, and power over the weak are the roots of suffering; that we need to live with compassion for all life.

Yoga teaches that we suffer because of ignorance. We must realize who and what we are, and live in accordance with our true nature.

Christ brought the message of love and forgiveness. He expressed, that first we must seek the kingdom of heaven and its righteousness and all things will be given unto us.

This is no time for passively standing by hoping that some outside force will save us and the world, but a time for all to take responsible right action by living righteous and productive lives.

If we have the will, much can be done. We need to examine our lives in accordance with our professed ideals, on the physical, mental and spiritual levels. If we neglect any one of these areas, we are not living in wholeness. We need to remember, that we may not be able to change the world, but we can change the way we think, and behave in a responsible manner.

The following are suggestions of what we can do.

We need to reduce excessive consumption and waste.

We need to simplify our lives.

We can improve the quality of our physical being through exercise and healthy diet and thus reduce the risk of heart disease, stroke and diabetes.

We also can improve joint stability through regular exercise.

We can increase and improve the range of movement and flexibility through hatha yoga.

We can maintain bone mass through lifting of light weights.

Exercise and proper nutrition helps to prevent osteoporosis and fractures.

We need to reduce the frequency of eating out in restaurants, of drinking excessive amounts of alcohol and eating fast food or junk foods.

   

Avoid staying up late, and not getting enough sleep.

From a psychological perspective, we need to keep our mind active.

We can improve mood swings; reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression through avoiding unhealthy foods and through relaxation exercises.

We enhance self esteem by realizing our true nature, and in accomplishing daily little victories that tell us: ‘We are ok’.

Elderly people can improve memory through computer based exercises.

We can reduce stress through living in the present and through meditation.

We need to minimize sitting too much in front of the TV

We also need to take care of our inner or spiritual well being by realizing, that we are first and foremost spiritual beings, having a mind and body.

Spiritual well-being is a state in which positive aspects of spirituality are experienced and incorporated into our daily lives. How the effects of spiritual practice impact us is greatly determined by how consistent we are in our practice.

Through participating in spiritual gatherings or guidance, we can become increasingly self empowered and begin to realize and appreciate that even though we have issues, stresses, and challenges, they can be overcome. Often all that is required is a different way of looking at circumstances that confront us. This realization provides a pathway to greater peace, freedom of self-expression, and positive self-esteem.

The following experiences are some of the indicators of spiritual well being.

Live in the consciousness of the present moment.

Be open to spiritual influences of intuition, inspiration and grace. This occurs when we are relaxed and peaceful.

Cultivate a feeling of contentment under all circumstances.

Through meditation, experience joy and inner peace.

Taking control of our lives and solving life’s challenges in a positive and confident manner.

Participate in purposeful physical and mental activities.

Taking an active part in life rather than standing still and watching life pass by.

Be established in intimate loving and lasting relationships.

Experiencing a feeling of purpose and meaning in life.

Respect all life and live according to the moral laws.

Reach out and help our neighbour in need.

Each person and spiritual aspirant should every night before retiring ask his intuition whether his spiritual or his worldly inclinations of temptations won the day’s battle between good and bad habits.

Between:

Temperance and greed,

Self control and lust,

Honest desire for necessities or for excess,

Forgiveness and anger,

Joy and grief, kindness and cruelty,

Selfishness and unselfishness,

Understanding and jealousy,

Bravery and cowardice,

Confidence and fear,

Faith and doubt,

Humility and pride,

Between desire to commune with God in meditation and the restless craving for worldly activities,

Spiritual and material desires,

Divine ecstasy and sensory perceptions,

It is good to remind ourselves, that we can always choose a positive outlook over a negative one. It is up to us.

By right thinking, living and responsible action, we can all contribute to the wellness of ourselves, our society and our planet.

May we all be a light to the world and live in harmony and peace.