The most searched and talked word on the internet in the early 20th Century. You will find different meanings on the web which you can agree with according to your situation.
Consciousness is not an object nor a subject where any Spiritual speaker or any Mystics can define its meaning. It is to be known by Thyself-Knower, and you can not express it in words. So, what exactly is Consciousness and how do we know it? Let’s know it.
What is Consciousness?
In Vedas, it is referred to as Sakshi (the observer) Consciousness is YOU knowing within YOU. It’s known, you are the unknown with many layers covered on it. It is the Awareness of being Aware. In Sanskrit, it is mentioned as chit.
Mystical and Spiritual gurus define Consciousness as being alert and attentive to things we are doing or focusing on things going around us. No, it’s not consciousness rather it is a little effort to focus your mind on getting things done. Being Conscious is unlocking the Mysteries of Creation.
Consciousness is an Awareness to feel the presence of this physical existence and beyond. It’s an Awakening to a non-dualism. It is a dimension beyond the mind and physical body. It is a light within you nor any object as the light that shines within you. Light itself is a consciousness, which means there is no dualism, it is One. Consciousness is an Openness.
Conscience is more important than Conscious. However, you need to be Conscious to experience the Conscience.
How to attain or know that I am Consciousness?
Consciousness is not an object and it’s not controllable. I will give you a simple analogy, we all sleep, dream, and wake up. A dreamer whose dreams are you and me is called I-ness, the first creation, which is referred to as Consciousness, Awakening, Brahma.
The one who is witnessing the dream and the one who is witnessing the awakening stage is a Creator of all (it is one), And that Creator is referred to as Consciousness. Consciousness is formless.
Daniel Dennett a profound American Philosopher and Writer, has a significant view on Consciousness.
A knower who knows that knower is sleeping, that knowing part is understood as Consciousness. If you want to experience Consciousness, dive into yourself and look within. Raising your Consciousness level will shatter your Ego.
For example – A pot made out of silver is silver. Before it was only silver, now it is a silver pot. But silver and the pot are not two things. It is still as much silver as it was before being made into a vessel. What is the difference? It has been given form. Previously, it was a stock of silver without any shape, once it has a form, we give it a name. This is a dualism – form, and name. Break the pot into the pieces and the form is gone, but still, those broken pieces are silver. It has not ended. It’s the same as birth and death, the birth of pot and death of pot, but the one who is witnessing all is supreme of you (Consciousness)
Consciousness is life itself. There are many ways to evolve Consciousness. Chanting the mantra, Yoga, Meditation, reading Spiritual books, Practicing and Celebrating Silence, Practicing Stillness, and Observing things and situations as they are without any condition are a few of those supreme ways to raise your consciousness level.
Consciousness is causeless and as it is. It’s the supreme one, not affected by anything anywhere. The one who is the same in every situation experiences everything and accepting everyone is part of Consciousness. It is witnessing everything yet not being affected by anything.
Consciousness witnesses the light and darkness both. It is not a Witnessed, it is THE Witnessed. Consciousness is pure, untouched by anything.
Example – Consciousness is a light, not a lightbulb. Assuming we are a lightbulb (a lightbulb is an object as the physical body of yours) and light is a Consciousness. The form has changed, it is a behavior, whereas light has no forms, it manifests upon itself depending on the nature of form. Light has different shades as per object shapes. Even when an object of light gets destroyed, there is still light which is Consciousness.
Any contact between senses and objects is witnessed by Consciousness. Even though the sensation and object are not attached, there is still a Consciousness.
What is a Higher Consciousness and why is it needed?
Higher Consciousness is a term given to making us understand at an intellectual level. It will go haywire if you try to understand by intellect level, instead try to be an Observer without giving any reaction to the action. You have to raise your Consciousness level to experience the light within you, the Bliss of the Divine. By raising your level, you experience Thyself.
You are already conscious but you are at a certain level of consciousness at which you cannot experience the truth of your existence and the existence of all. When you have experienced the Higher Consciousness by practicing the Stillness within you, it’s the ultimate stage of wisdom which is called ‘Enlightenment‘
Raising your Consciousness level is merging yourself with the Divine which is One, One in all, and all in one. Consciousness is eternal, it manifests itself with the nature of objects. When boundaries of any physical form end (death), there is still very much consciousness present, but that physical form has stopped working as an object so it will not manifest there. There is no Mystical thing here. The senses of our physical body help in manifesting the consciousness within us.
Albert Einstein on raising Consciousness level.
What happens when you are Conscious, fully aware?
If I – the conscious being – answer this question, your intellect will start imagining the situations and feelings, and it will start connecting to them. Remember, our mind is very intelligent in manifesting drama within. It will create drama and you will miss the bliss which you can create by yourself.
We are consciously conscious beings.
I request to all seekers, not to make preconceived notions about Consciousness, instead, try Meditating in the jungle(that’s what I like) and see how it changes you and raises your level. Don’t chase as if it’s the destination you have to reach or a material thing that you can possess, let it happen naturally with Observing the Silence. Good Luck!
Being Spiritual has nothing to do with what you believe and Everything to do with your State of Consciousness.
Eckhart Tolle
What are the 4 states of Consciousness?
There are various stages of Consciousness with different teachings and philosophies. Below is the most common state for a non-spiritual person to understand. It’s the easiest way to realize.
- Waking
- Sleeping
- Dream
- Awareness
What does Consciousness refer to?
Consciousness refers to Awareness of ourselves. Being aware of your presence and the presence of the Universe (Brahman) All emotions, feelings, and sensations are aware of being as it is.
What is the highest state of Consciousness?
Well, there are many versions of this but no one has a definite answer to it. According to Advait Vedanta, the highest state of Consciousness is when one is in Samadhi. The Liberation from mind and body. It is beyond the Physical dimension and five senses. That stage is called Enlightenment.
Where is Consciousness in the brain?
According to Neuroscience, the cerebral cortex is responsible for giving birth to Consciousness and it stores all data and information which we call memory, and produces all the sensations and emotions out of it.
What are the 5 states of Consciousness?
- Waking
- Dreaming (REM sleep)
- Dreamless Sleep (non- REM)
- Transcendental Consciousness (TC)
- Cosmic Consciousness (CC)
Is their Consciousness in deep sleep?
Yes very much, Consciousness is always there whether you are dreaming or waking up, or in deep sleep.
There is no conclusion to Consciousness, it is not the object nor subject which has to be the end. It’s eternal even before and after Cosmos.