First off, what is the big deal about consciousness — why are philosophers and other intellectuals and scientists spending their time and thought on such an apparently obvious and integral part of our lives? And what is up with the pseduo-science, “new age” rhetoric surrounding it? Why does it have to be so mysterious and vague?
I will try to shed some light on consciousness – what it is, how it could be appreciated, its possible implications and how it relates to our day-to-day lives. Hopefully it will give you some new insights or simply affirm your existing perceptions about consciousness. Anyway, let’s dig in.
Ok, consciousness. What isn’t it? It isn’t anything material. It could certainly be a consequence of “hard”, physical matter – of the integrated functioning of the brain – but it is not that. How is that? Well, consciousness is knowing – and knowing is a phenomena of subjectivity. We are subjectivity, or at least residing within subjectivity. All of our thoughts, feelings, intuitions and sensory experiences are known in us individually, in our mind, our consciousness.
Yes, so what – what is the big deal? Well, it isn’t such a big deal, really.
Most, if not all of the ideas presented so far, are common sense. We know that we are, and that we have an experience. Now, the interesting mind-twister is to realize that it is not the I – the person or ego – that is experiencing, it is awareness that is experiencing the “I” and the experience that “I” am having. This may be hard to notice as the experience is usually that I am the end – the wall or reference point. But, look again. Look. The experience of me-ness is still an experience. Woah.
Lost, disagree – or is this making sense? Do you see and perhaps acknowledge something…invisible and almost indistinguishable that is upholding your experience, now? Mind, wakefulness? If it is not clear, take a few seconds and simply look at these symbols on your screen; see how your mind is creating meaning and context. Observe this. Do you see any continuity – a flow of awareness that simply is – from moment to moment? This is consciousness. Again, knowing – or perhaps more precisely, the container of knowing.
I am still compelled to ask: so what? What does it matter if I see and understand that consciousness is knowing itself? Who cares? Well, it doesn’t really matter. That is, unless you start knowing that you know – then consciousness starts to become existentially interesting. What is the difference between knowing and knowing that one knows? Intellectually, I can certainly know that I know – because if I didn’t know that I know, then I would not acknowledge this now. But, even that – intellectual reasoning (a thought) – is still content in my mind, so to speak; it is not knowing itself. Ok, so knowing that one knows is simply observing whatever is known. Whatever else presenting itself in the experience is still content of experience – and not meta-consciousness (consciousness knowing itself). Knowing is knowing (experience) stripped of identity – a reference point separate from the knowing (experience).
So, in my experience, when I am the reference point (perception of separation from knowing), then consciousness means nothing to me – because to me, consciousness evolves around me (it is separate from me), not the other way around. In another state, when there is a flow of knowing – in that knowing – there is the quiet, yet profound, realization that “I”, the sense and source of dualism, is just another mental (subjective) projection – it is on the same level as thought itself. Waa-waa-wee-waa! Aha.
“I am aware” is not so interesting of a statement. I am not aware; awareness is. That is much more interesting. Awareness is. Oh, aware. I equate awareness with consciousness. Anyway. For me to say that I am aware is, from the perspective of awareness itself, a bit strange. Imagine yourself in a completely dark room. You do not know or see yourself. Suddenly, a light shines on you – revealing all your qualities, your incarnation. You are finally able to see yourself, your own reflection. Metaphorically speaking, you exist as a consequence of light – consciousness – and you cease to be if and when the light is turned off. Whoops, going into life/death issues here. Back to the main idea: The light of consciousness brings us the experience of being, and in this way, yes – “I am aware”, but only through the grace of light. I am not the light; I am because of the light.
Why am I sharing this? Not sure. In some moments I feel strongly compelled to bring it to light, and at other times I realize it means nothing. What is more important is how you relate to it. Something to reflect on: How do you relate to your own experience – this experience? How do you see yourself – are you the absolute reference point in the universe or a relative part of parts – part of a process? I want to conclude by saying: you are very important; you are a gift to and from life. See it, live it, embrace it.