FROM A SITE VISITOR: I’ll grant that the explanation of consciousness/awareness over the last few days was clearer than any I’ve read, but I’m more inclined to seek the scientific view, always. I read an article on your other website and it said that Maharaj said that science would some day affirm the content of the teachings he offered. How about a bottomline explanation from that viewpoint. Alfred
F.: OK:
In the expanse of space, energy can move via wave and/or particle form. Subatomic particles of specialized energy exist and are moving through that expanse freely. Because the expanse is so vast (limitless in fact), the particles are not forced together into large-quantity clusters or groupings of energy within that space. Consciousness only happens when large-quantity clusters or groupings of energy occur in compact spaces with nervous systems. Otherwise, the background of Awareness IS and energy is moving without confinement in that vast space labeled "the Absolute"; however, by definition at least, "consciousness" capable of being conscious of (as a result of manifestation) is not. Awareness is, even when there is no "one" to be conscious of.
F.: OK:
In the expanse of space, energy can move via wave and/or particle form. Subatomic particles of specialized energy exist and are moving through that expanse freely. Because the expanse is so vast (limitless in fact), the particles are not forced together into large-quantity clusters or groupings of energy within that space. Consciousness only happens when large-quantity clusters or groupings of energy occur in compact spaces with nervous systems. Otherwise, the background of Awareness IS and energy is moving without confinement in that vast space labeled "the Absolute"; however, by definition at least, "consciousness" capable of being conscious of (as a result of manifestation) is not. Awareness is, even when there is no "one" to be conscious of.
[Another visitor also wrote yesterday to ask, "Isn't consciousness all there is?" Yes, if you want to accept that there are levels of consciousness ranging from "pure and unadulterated" to "totally corrupted" and modalities of consciousness ranging from "manifested" or "not manifested." Then you would consider some levels of consciousness to be "pure and unmanifested" and some levels of consciousness to be "manifest and soon-to-be corrupted." Next, you would likely speak of "the THAT state" as opposed to "the I AM state." If you take that stance, then you have to conclude that "sticky" and "stickiness" are the same. In the no-concept, non-dual Reality, the conclusion above can be valid. The discussion of Awareness/Consciousness is only mentioned in the last book in the Advaita series of books that are offered on this site because an understanding of Awareness/Consciousness is only "relevant" if it guides seekers to the total freedom, during the relative existence, which manifests if abidance happens not as the consciousness but as the unadulterated Awareness or the Absolute.]
Now, back to Alfred's request. As the energy particles move, some enter the atmosphere of earth and strike plants and begin to gather there. In that limited space, the particles of specialized energy (energy able to be conscious of if manifested in something with a nervous system) gather into “tighter” groupings as a result of manifesting in a limited, confined space. Advaitins point to that happening as “the manifestation of consciousness.”
Thus, the term “the manifestation of consciousness” really points to nothing more than a spontaneously-occurring gathering of atomic and subatomic particles of specialized energy into a compact grouping. Consciousness happens only when larger groupings of particles of this specialized energy come together in a “tighter” cluster and in a more confined space than occurs in the vast space of unmanifested energy-awareness. Here's another analogy which can illustrate the "different while not being different" aspect of the Awareness/Consciousness discussion.
Consider an ice cube "versus" water vapor. Really, the ice cube/water vapor is "not two," just as "I AM THAT"/"I AM" is "not two" and as "consciousness/awareness" is "not two." Yet "aspects" exist. When H20 atoms are compacted and close together in a smaller space, water can take on the appearance of "a cube." When quantities of H20 are subjected to intense heat, water can take on the appearance of "vapor." The cube takes on an aspect of being fixed, confined, restricted. The vapors, on the other hand, are free to move about over a far broader area. The "cube" seems confined in a small space; the "vapors" seem free.
Consider the manifested consciousness to be "the cube" (confined and compacted) and the awareness to be "the vapor" (free and not compacted). The discussion of consciousness/awareness then becomes nothing more than a discussion about location and density. The same is true of the discussion of "THAT"/"AM-ness." Located "here" with an aspect of density? Consciousness. Located "there" with no aspect of density? Awareness.
As a side note to this cycling of energy, do you see, therefore, why the concept of “death” is given no credibility by the Realized, much less any “concern”? It is understood by the Realized that what persons call “death” is merely the unmanifesting of consciousness, is merely the releasing of compact groupings of energy that are just “ungrouping” and being “freed up” to move about in a wider, less-limited (actually infinite) space, exactly as prior to manifestation. That "ungrouping" and "releasing" of energy from a confined space (called "death" by persons) is a totally meaningless happening except to the corrupted consciousness that believes in the distorted, dualistic concepts of "good vs. bad" and "right vs." wrong" and some subsequent "punishment vs. reward" of a body-mind-personality triad with eternal continuity. In fact, only the energy is infinite and eternal; the body and "mind" and personality are illusory phenomena that are finite and temporary.
So that which persons refer to as “the moment of death” is really just the unmanifestation process whereby those larger groupings of energy particles in a confined space are freed from that space and enter into an expansive, unlimited energy field or space (called “The Absolute” in order to emphasize the pure and unadulterated state of the energy while in that space). By “relocating” from a confined space called “the human body,” for example, those elementary particles can group together in that vast and expansive ocean of energy; however, they will group into smaller gatherings and into fewer configurations since they are not being compacted into a small space.
So that which persons refer to as “the moment of death” is really just the unmanifestation process whereby those larger groupings of energy particles in a confined space are freed from that space and enter into an expansive, unlimited energy field or space (called “The Absolute” in order to emphasize the pure and unadulterated state of the energy while in that space). By “relocating” from a confined space called “the human body,” for example, those elementary particles can group together in that vast and expansive ocean of energy; however, they will group into smaller gatherings and into fewer configurations since they are not being compacted into a small space.
During the process whereby consciousness unmanifests, therefore, particles of energy are merely “spreading out” or "being freed from ‘confinement’ in a compact space." After being freed from the confines of a relatively small space with a nervous system—such as a plant or a plant food body (which persons dualistically call "a human" or "an animal" or "a bird")—the energy moves into the limitless expanse of The Absolute and the particles “move apart.” In that freed-up space, the essence of Reality (Awareness) IS.
Now, are you also seeing that though the cycles are natural happenings, the manifesting of consciousness is actually, on one level, a very unnatural event? Why? That which is normally and naturally free to move about in an unrestrained environment and in an unrestricted manner is temporarily not free to function in that manner. Manifested consciousness, as the physicist will understand, is actually "restricted" and "restrained" when compared to the "normal" state of particles of energy which move about in a limitless field or space. Compare (a) the unrestricted movement of light waves moving instantly from the sun to the moon and reflecting off that surface with (b) the restricted movement of conscious-energy striking one synapse after another within the limited space of a human brain.
Here is another side note for the advanced seeker: the essence (awareness) is always in the background, even as consciousness is manifested. That awareness in the background can account for the disconcerting notion generated by the "trapped" and "confined" manifest consciousness that results in persons sensing that "I am not free" and "I need to be free" and "I long for more freedom," all of which mark the relative existence and that happen as long as consciousness is manifested and as long as abidance is happening as that consciousness rather than as the Absolute. Are you understanding why the corrupted consciousness, and even abidance as the Self-Realized consciousness, can never produce a sense of true freedom? The "journey" to true freedom does not end at the point of Self-Realization, and to transmit that fact is the only reason this discussion is warranted.
Awareness is beyond both consciousness being manifested and consciousness not being manifested. Thus Consciousness is what allows consciousness of to happen, but Awareness is why the Consciousness can happen. Consciousness, while manifested via a temporary combination of physical elements, has no independent existence apart from its fundamental background of Awareness. (Does that ultimately mean that "sticky" = "stickiness"? Or, is "stickiness" the essence of something that is "sticky"? "Sticky" can only happen when physical elements temporarily combine. "Stickiness," though, is permanent and forever. Ultimately, it's all definition, all thorns that can be used to remove thorns, and you know that the thorns are all to be tossed eventually. All else should fall into the realm of "entertainment." So only for the sake of entertainment, Alfred, will the response to your request continue.)
When the previously pure energy manifests in humans, it is soon subjected to programming, conditioning, and enculturation. “Minds” form and the endless chatter of “thoughts” soon follows, all because specialized energy gathered into a limited space. The more that electrons accumulate into a natural coherence within a confined space and the more that conscious-energy takes itself to be “a human”, the more frequently will abstract "thoughts" occur and the more frequently they will continue on a large-scale basis once personas are accepted as true identities.
Awareness is beyond both consciousness being manifested and consciousness not being manifested. Thus Consciousness is what allows consciousness of to happen, but Awareness is why the Consciousness can happen. Consciousness, while manifested via a temporary combination of physical elements, has no independent existence apart from its fundamental background of Awareness. (Does that ultimately mean that "sticky" = "stickiness"? Or, is "stickiness" the essence of something that is "sticky"? "Sticky" can only happen when physical elements temporarily combine. "Stickiness," though, is permanent and forever. Ultimately, it's all definition, all thorns that can be used to remove thorns, and you know that the thorns are all to be tossed eventually. All else should fall into the realm of "entertainment." So only for the sake of entertainment, Alfred, will the response to your request continue.)
When the previously pure energy manifests in humans, it is soon subjected to programming, conditioning, and enculturation. “Minds” form and the endless chatter of “thoughts” soon follows, all because specialized energy gathered into a limited space. The more that electrons accumulate into a natural coherence within a confined space and the more that conscious-energy takes itself to be “a human”, the more frequently will abstract "thoughts" occur and the more frequently they will continue on a large-scale basis once personas are accepted as true identities.
By contrast, when single or elementary particles or coherent groups of energy-capable-of-being-conscious-of come together, smaller-scale abstract "thoughts" in consciousness happen. When the energy is totally “free” and is not gathered into large groups that are confined within relatively small spaces with nervous systems and is not bastardized with programming, then no thoughts occur...but awareness remains. (That is the way that AS IF Living happens: You Are Aware, but there are no "thoughts," no "mind," no separation, no sense of confinement, no fighting with others who are not as "good" as your ego-states and egotism convince you that you are, and no chatter of a thousand monkeys inside your head.)
The manifested particles of energy can be freed of close confinement and compacting via the unmanifesting of consciousness. Prior to that, it is possible that particles of energy can be freed of the distorting effects of programming and conditioning and enculturation via the Full Realization process. Then, the energy can function in the pure and free and uncorrupted manner in which it functioned prior to consciousness, prior to manifestation, and prior to being corrupted.
The manifested particles of energy can be freed of close confinement and compacting via the unmanifesting of consciousness. Prior to that, it is possible that particles of energy can be freed of the distorting effects of programming and conditioning and enculturation via the Full Realization process. Then, the energy can function in the pure and free and uncorrupted manner in which it functioned prior to consciousness, prior to manifestation, and prior to being corrupted.
Awareness Is, without consciousness of subject and objects and without consciousness of any "thing" and without consciousness of some "thing." After "The Nothingness" is understood, You Are the same as the "Awareness Is": just being and just aware. The effects of compacted, manifested consciousness can be transcended and the manifested energy can function as pure, free, unconfined, unlimited awareness instead. So there it is in its scientific cloak, Alfred. Now the invitation is to please enter the silence of contemplation.
TOMORROW: More on de-accumulation.
