Introduction
I regard consciousness as fundamental… Everything that we talk about, everything that we regard as existing, postulates consciousness.
– Nobel Prize-winning German physicist, Max Planck (1858-1947)
Arguably, consciousness is the most important subject any of us can contemplate since it’s the reason we are alive, having experiences now and in the future. Consciousness is what makes everything possible, and by understanding it better, we vastly enhance our experience of life.
Consciousness is Pretty Much Everything
Consciousness [is] pretty much everything. Without consciousness, you or I wouldn’t be having a life and witnessing the cosmic wonder of existence. Even our sense of “I am” is the work of consciousness. We feel, taste, see, hear, sense, and recognize because there is consciousness in each of us. Sadness, joy, anger, love, confusion, despair, falling in love, spiritual awakening—none of these would be there if there were no consciousness. It’s a realm that has many realms within it.
– Phillip Moffitt
Despite the fact that consciousness is central to our very lives, it’s a subject that can at times seem overly obtuse or complex and in other cases, seem overly simplified.
Here you’ll find the information you need to more explicitly define and explain consciousness, make it accessible, and use that knowledge for deeply important and practical purposes. This knowledge gives you the confidence to explore the subject of consciousness from a strong foundation, contextualizing your personal experiences and enabling you to efficiently explore various perspectives.
Just as with every other subject here, we break it down into clear building blocks of knowledge. Once you’ve built a strong foundation (on this subject or any other), you’ll be efficient in evaluating new and related information from any sources, in connecting dots for more advanced understanding, and in applying the information practically and wisely.
Consciousness in a Nutshell
Researchers have found consciousness to be:
- The Intelligence of the universe
- A “primary principle of existence” and “universal phenomenon”
- “Our true essence”
- “A fabric of the universe that pervades all sentient (and perhaps non-sentient) beings”
- “The phenomenon or capacity of consciousness that allows cognizing to happen”
- “The eternal driving force for all that exists, that manifests itself through physical form in order to experience”
- An “ultimate nothingness that exists before anything is created, appears to come into existence, and is perceived”
What’s Behind All the Magic in Our World?
The same intelligence that grows trees from seeds, that lets birds fly, that waves the ocean and gives birth to new stars – that same Intelligence also breathes your breath, beats your heart, and heals your wounds.
― Annie Kagan, The Afterlife of Billy Fingers: How My Bad-Boy Brother Proved to Me There’s Life After Death
We delve deeper below, but first let’s examine why this this subject isn’t typically clear to many people.
Confusion & Inconsistency
A Particularly Unclear Subject
The topic of consciousness is a popular one, but ripe for confusion.If asked to define it, many people will struggle to find words. Whether or not they have an intuitive sense for its meaning, consciousness is a subject they find difficult to describe.
Those who are more comfortable with the term may describe it from a variety of different perspectives.
Sometimes consciousness is presented as a fuzzy, “woo-woo” concept that is so “out there” as to be of no practical value. Other times, it’s used improperly narrowly, presuming a definition that is far too limiting when another word would be more suitable.
What’s Causing All the Confusion?
The primary confusion results from poor dictionary definitions which imply that consciousness is a mind state, which it most definitely is not.
A dictionary definition for “consciousness” is “the state of being awake and aware of one’s surroundings.” That is both misleading and wrong. That definition is, in fact, a description of being conscious — a mind state distinguished from the unconscious mind state.
Mind states are not what discussions of consciousness are typically about.
With such a confusing dictionary entry, people have been left to define the word to meet their needs. As a result, there are various uses of the word. As the lack of clarity has persisted over time, more and more people have come to use the word casually, making it ever more vague and nebulous. At times, it’s used as “filler” — something that sounds good and seems to add power or credibility to an assertion, but in fact, contributes to the haze of confusion.
What Consciousness is Not
While the following topics are related, to equate them with consciousness can lead to confusion:
- Brain activity or mental processes
- Awareness
- The conscious mind
- Transpersonal psychology (the psychology of spirituality and meaning)
- Parapsychology (the study of ESP, mind-matter interaction and consciousness survival after bodily death)
- “Paranormal” phenomena such as psi and telepathy
- Techniques such as hypnosis, meditation and lucid dreaming
- Conscience (an inner feeling of right or wrong)
The Brain is to Consciousness as the Light Bulb is to Electricity
Balyogi uses the analogy of a light bulb… Consider a light bulb that is lighting up the objects in a dark room… We tend to mistakenly identify the light bulb as the source of the light… In the same way, we tend to assume that the brain and all its attendant functions — memory, reason, thoughts, a sense of self, etc. — are the source of our consciousness… But what illuminates the light bulb? Electricity. Electricity empowers the components of the light bulb to function so that light occurs… The existence of that electricity is not caused by the light bulb, nor does the electricity create the bulb. They exist independently… In this analogy, the light bulb is like the brain, the nervous system, and its various functions. Luminous consciousness is the electricity that streams through them, interacting with them to create the light that bathes the room… if you genuinely want to understand the nature of consciousness, you need to investigate the unseen electricity or electrical current of luminous consciousness
– Phillip Moffitt, Awakening Through the Nine Bodies: Exploring Levels of Consciousness in Meditation
So What is Consciousness, Really?
The belief that consciousness is something within the human brain (epiphenomenalism) is an outdated and scientifically disproven worldview, but it continues to be espoused by some, including some scientists. In contrast, experts (quoted below) have found consciousness to be:
- The Intelligence of the universe
- A “primary principle of existence” and “universal phenomenon”
- “Our true essence”
- “A fabric of the universe that pervades all sentient (and perhaps non-sentient) beings”
- “The phenomenon or capacity of consciousness that allows cognizing to happen”
- “The eternal driving force for all that exists, that manifests itself through physical form in order to experience”
- An “ultimate nothingness that exists before anything is created, appears to come into existence, and is perceived”
Notably, some of these definitions are quite similar to some definitions of aether. Thus, we might presume this is because aether (the field everything bathes in) is made of, or arises from, consciousness.
A Fabric of the Universe That Pervades All Sentient (and Perhaps Non-Sentient) Beings
Defining consciousness is a challenge. While some people describe it as awareness, others equate it with spirit. Even scientists disagree, with many believing consciousness results from brain activity while others describe it in an opposite sense, as a fabric of the universe that pervades all sentient (and perhaps non-sentient) beings.
– Consciousness and Healing Initiative (CHI)
A Primary Principle of Existence
The findings of my research and contemporary consciousness research in general… are in radical conflict with the most fundamental assumptions of materialistic science concerning consciousness, human nature, and the nature of reality. They clearly indicate that consciousness is not a product of the brain, but a primary principle of existence, and that it plays a critical role in the creation of the phenomenal [experienced] world.
– Stanislav Grof M.D., Ph.D.
“The Phenomenon or Capacity that Allows Cognizing to Happen”
In traditional Buddhist teachings, what we call “consciousness” has two different functions or dimensions: 1) The process of being conscious of something, i.e., the mental activity of cognizing… (“sense-consciousness”)… 2) The phenomenon or capacity of consciousness that allows cognizing to happen. Regardless of what you are being conscious of, there is a certain capacity of the mind called “consciousness.” It has its own unique nature and characteristics, which are often described with words such as “luminous” or “timeless.” This capacity of the mind — which I will refer to as “luminous consciousness” — can be directly experienced through meditation and investigation.
– Phillip Moffitt, Awakening Through the Nine Bodies: Exploring Levels of Consciousness in Meditation
The Eternal Driving Force for All That Exists
Consciousness, once thought to be only the product of brain chemistry, is now viewed as the eternal driving force for all that exists, that manifests itself through physical form in order to experience.
– Edward F. Malkowski (ch. 2)
From an Anesthesiologist’s Point of View
After 17 years of practicing Anesthesiology, I still find the whole process nothing short of pure magic. You see, the exact mechanism of how these agents work is, at present, unknown… It is obvious that the energy required to power biological systems comes from food and air. But how do they use them to do everything? How does it all get coordinated? These are the fundamental questions that have been asked for millennia, by ancient shamans and modern pharmaceutical companies alike… It is impossible to identify which [processes and structures] are directly related to the “awake” state. It is also entirely possible that all of them are, and if that were the case consciousness would be the single most complex function attributed to a living organism… Can consciousness ever be represented materially? A more sensible model would be to consider the activity of these structures in the brains of conscious individuals as evidence of consciousness, not the cause of it. To me it is apparent that, unless we expand our search beyond the material plane, we are not going to find consciousness or be able to understand how anesthetic gases work.
– Madhava Setty MD, LewRockwell.com, How Does Anesthesia Work? We Still Don’t Know What Happens When Someone Goes “Under”
All Things are Created from Consciousness that Exists before Anything is Created
If we start with the simple assumption [that consciousness is what exists before anything else is created and before anything is perceived], then, we really don’t need a “theory of creation.” Instead, we only need a “mechanism of creation” which explains how consciousness, which in-and-of-itself is not a thing, is able to create all the things that it then perceives. Theoretical physics has already discovered this mechanism, which is called the holographic principle of quantum gravity. The holographic principle is not a theory. It is a mechanism, and at the most fundamental level, it is a mechanism of creation. It explains how all things are created from the ultimate nothingness of consciousness that exists before anything is created, appears to come into existence, and is perceived.
– James P. Kowall PhD, The Pulse, The Role Consciousness Plays in Creation
Proof of Consciousness Surviving Bodily Death
Researchers at Southampton University in the United Kingdom conducted a huge study, one of the largest ever, to investigate what happens to consciousness after we die… Scientists spent four years examining 2,000 people who had suffered cardiac arrests at 15 hospitals in the United States, United Kingdom, and Australia. 40% of people who survived described a degree of awareness during the time they were dead and before they were revived… Whether it fades away afterwards, we do not know, but right after death, consciousness is not lost… Conscious awareness appears to have continued for up to three minutes into the period when the heart wasn’t beating, even though the brain typically shuts down within 20-30 seconds after the heart has stopped. This is significant, since it has often been assumed that experiences in relation to death are likely hallucinations or illusions, occurring either before the heart stops or after the heart has been successfully restarted, but not an experience corresponding with ‘real’ events when the heart isn’t beating. Furthermore, the detailed recollections of visual awareness in this case were consistent with verified events.
– Matt Caron, Sivana Spirit (reprinted on Stillness in the Storm), Groundbreaking Study Shows Consciousness Survives After Death
True / Essential Nature
In the following inspiring and accessible 19-minute video, Peter Russell very practically teaches about the true / essential nature of all things as the way to understand what consciousness is.
- Russell begins by providing a wonderful story from the Upanishads on non-duality which addresses “that which cannot be seen, cannot be heard, cannot be known, but without which nothing can be seen, heard or known.”
- At fifteen minutes, he defines verses 1.2 and 1.3 of The Yoga Sutras (which he refers to as the first and second verses): Yoga is the ceasing of (freedom from) the whirling of mind-stuff. Then, when the whirling ceases, there is abiding in the true nature of the Knower – our true essence.
- We might label or define that which we tap into when in a state of yoga or oneness as our “true essence” and equate that with the “fabric of existence” or the “eternal driving force for all that exists” or with “consciousness.”
See Also
Adam Curry starts right at the beginning of the video defining and describing consciousness from numerous angles. He also speaks to some theories and approaches that have not held up to scrutiny.
Individual Consciousness
If consciousness is the driving force behind all that exists, then what does it mean to refer to our own, individual consciousness?
Scientifically, we’re speaking of biological consciousness in physical form. Edward Malkowski explains it this way:
A Local Expression of a Universal Phenomenon
Everything is connected through a universal field of virtual particles, and we are all part of a single living system. What this new worldview suggests is that physical form as biological consciousness is a local expression of a universal phenomenon commonly referred to as “consciousness.”
– Edward F. Malkowski (ch. 2)
When trying to envision our individual consciousness, one or more of these metaphors may be helpful:
- A wave expressing itself in the ocean, or
- An antenna tuning into radio frequencies, or
- A computer terminal connected to a database, or
- A faucet that is tapped into the source
The different metaphors serve different purposes in helping to envision how consciousness may actually work. Let’s consider how the metaphors can be helpful.
- When it comes to our individual consciousness and the great field of consciousness, we tend to think that we’re discussing two separate things. And from that assumption, we ask ourselves how these “things” are “connected.” But that type of thinking is precisely the limiting viewpoint that David Bohm explained was hindering physicists from coming up with an explanation for conflicting theories in quantum physics.
- So let’s say we manage to expand our thinking from being a thing (person or mind) that has to have a physical link (such as a telephone line) to something else (a bigger mind). We might think, okay then, is it more like a wireless connection? But we’d still be off the mark (as explained through nonlocality and entanglement in quantum physics).
- The easiest way to get our indoctrinated brain to expand its thinking about this is to consider a wave in the ocean. The wave isn’t a separate thing connected to the ocean; it’s a part of it while also being an individual expression of it. In this way, we are each a part of consciousness while also personally expressing it in our unique, individual way.
Like a Computer Terminal Connecting to a Giant Database
The individual… is like a computer terminal connected to a giant database. The database is human consciousness itself, of which our own consciousness is merely an individual expression, but with its roots in the common consciousness of all mankind. This database is the realm of genius; because to be human is to participate in the database, everyone, by virtue of their birth, has access to genius. The unlimited information contained in the database has now been shown to be readily available to anyone in a few seconds, at any time and in any place. This is indeed an astonishing discovery, bearing the power to change lives, both individually and collectively, to a degree never yet anticipated. The database transcends time, space, and all limitations of individual consciousness.
– David R. Hawkins, Power vs. Force: The Hidden Determinants of Human Behavior
Another angle is to consider how the body is a carrier of electromagnetic current:
Most folks think of antennas as long metal rods extruding from radios or as “rabbit ears” on top of a television set. In its broadest definition, an antenna is anything that can carry an electromagnetic (EM) current… Many parts of the physical body are sensitive to EM radiation… The body itself can be regarded as multifaceted antenna system that acts as a transceiver (transmitter/receiver) of informed energies, or vibes. We will explore the dimensions and posturing of the physical body and show how it works like a broadcast antenna. We’ll also see how the internal components of the body make shapes that aid in transceiving multiple forms of information. The physical body is sheathed in layers of energy bodies as well, such as the etheric and astral bodies, which themselves act as transceivers for frequencies that are beyond physical measurement at this time. We’ll show how these energies interact with the physical body. And lastly, we’ll discuss the advent of a quantum biological antenna system and the new avenues of discovers those ideas open for us to explore.
– MaAnna Stephenson (2008)
See Also
The following video provides many perspectives on individual consciousness.
Avoiding Confusion
The lack of a widely-accepted definition has contributed to the word “consciousness” being used inconsistently and inappropriately, making it harder for people to understand what’s important and why. Here are some examples of how you might interpret or reframe teachings to reduce confusion and maximize learning. The purpose is to help others, to empower them with important teachings they can use to improve their life and that of the collective.
Substitute a More Precise Word
When you see the word consciousness used in a way that implies any of these, simply substitute the proper words to get a better understanding of the teaching’s intention:
- Mental processes or brain activity
- Awareness
- The conscious mind
- Parapsychology, psi, telepathy, and so on
When it’s Just Filler, Remove It
Sometimes the word seems to be used as “filler” and it would be more clear to simply remove it. In the quote below, the subject is about the power we gain by learning to choose our thoughts. That’s a wonderful teaching, but using the word consciousness as it’s used here seems to equate it to something else, thereby adding to the confusion about its meaning. We could just remove it and focus on the core teaching: the power to choose.
Example: Remove It
We all have the power to change our entire lives drastically, and immediately. It all starts with our thoughts. It may not instantly change our outward circumstances, but it most definitely can change our inner world which then affects absolutely every aspect of our lives. It is the inherent power of our consciousness, our ability to choose in each moment how we wish to perceive our lives.
– OmTimes
Break Subjects Down & Explain Them
The following quote has a lot of interesting information to consider but it’s so packed with concepts, including consciousness, that it’s ripe for confusion. The focus of this particular research abstract is a weighty subject: not only how people come to their worldview but how a worldview can transform, and the effects of that transformation. To then add the statement, “Worldview is one aspect of consciousness,” just makes it seem more dense. If the author wishes to discuss how worldview is related to consciousness, then how about breaking this topic out and writing more specifically about that point; otherwise, it’s likely the reader will equate worldview with consciousness, which is incorrect.
Example: Break it Down & Explain More
Each person has his or her own personal story about the nature of reality. Genetic tendencies, religion, culture, and geographic region, together with all the experiences people have both internally and in relationship to their environments, give rise to their worldview, or their general way of viewing themselves and the world around them. Worldview is one aspect of consciousness. [Research found that] as a person’s worldview transforms, awareness can expand… leading to enhanced prosocial experiences and behaviours. Increased social consciousness can in turn stimulate further transformations in worldview…
– Peer-Reviewed Research (2010)
