Advaita Vedanta: CONSCIOUSNESS, AWARENESS, AND THE SCIENTIFIC EXPLANATION, Part One

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F.:Several questions have been received after certain postings dealing with either consciousness or awareness or both. Some seekers are confused about how awareness can be "tapped into" during the manifestation.

Sim wrote: "Awareness seems a strange term for a state in which nothing is known and there really is no awareness. It seems a contradiction in the traditional definition of the term and is confusing. After manifestation, there is consciousness, and that consciousness, built on awareness, can know awareness. Yet, awareness can't know consciousness. Why not call it unawareness? You get the point - er!"

Consider a relative example: a woman engages in a sex act with her boyfriend and becomes pregnant. He leaves. The child for the entire relative existence is not conscious of the identity of her father, but she knows that there is someone in the background that played a part in her manifestation. The father in the background does not know the child, does not know if a child even exists. Maybe there was an abortion or miscarriage. The father remains unaware of the child, but the child for the entirely of the manifestation can be aware of that which was - and remains - in the background. That's not an especially exact or refined analogy, but it might serve the purpose.

Some asked questions that deal more with the "scientific side" of the way consciousness manifests and functions, questions not unlike the one raised by site visitor Alfred, so part of the answer to Alfred will be shared to address the recent queries.

FROM A SITE VISITOR: "I’ll grant that the explanation of consciousness / awareness over the last 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.: (PLEASE NOTE: As you read the explanation below, take note of the arbitrary nature of the conditions that must pre-exist and that are required for consciousness to be able to manifest. There is a prerequisite "environment" that is necessary for conscious-energy to manifest, but it comes about in a totally arbitrary manner, revealing how truly random and accidental all manifestations of consciousness are.

Note too how those conditions had to evolve over thousands and millions of years in order for consciousness to manifest in the ways that it currently manifests. In that regard, consider: Maharaj made clear that what persons call "the world" is "accidental."

The unplanned and inadvertent circumstances that happen accidentally and spontaneously and that set the stage for consciousness to manifest should put to rest the claim by magical thinkers that some outside force is controlling everything, including everything involved with copulation and conception and the "birth principle" - counting not only "human reproduction" but all "non-human reproduction" as well.

It does not suit the arrogant to believe that "their very being is an accident" when they have been fooled for so many years into believing that they are "special," a "gift from god or the gods," "something that has come about as a result of a divine plan," and "something with a special purpose and meaning";

therefore, the claim that supernatural intervention played a role in "bringing them into the world" will continue to be made because the masses reject scientific explanations in favor of their beliefs which are based in the mythical and the religious and the spiritual and the supernatural.

The wise, however, are invited to see via the following scientific explanation how completely arbitrary the circumstances are that provide the opportunity for particles of conscious-energy to cluster together in limited and confined and "tight" spaces vs. the way that awareness -energy moves about freely.

If nothing more comes of the following explanation than (1) an awareness of how natural and spontaneous and unplanned and, yes, accidental any manifestation of consciousness is, and therefore (2) how truly not-special and not-different any "one" is, then such a bit of egotism-elimination will be quite enough justification for the posting.)

In the expanse of space, energy can move about freely in wave and / or particle form. Subatomic particles of specialized energy (energy that has the potentiality to be conscious of) 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."

Now here is the finer point about that "state": "consciousness" which is capable of being conscious of (a happening that can only occur after manifestation) is not capable of being conscious of anything when in an unconfined and limitless state such as the Absolute. Meanwhile, Awareness will still be, even when there is no "one" to be conscious of or aware of anything when in that Absolute state.

As energy particles race about at near-unimaginable speeds, some of those particles enter the atmosphere of earth and strike plants and begin to gather there. In that limited space, the particles of specialized, conscious-energy (energy that is 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 elements taking the shape of a "cube" seem "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 scientific 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 was the case 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 blocked 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 and unblocked 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. For the most part, they will sail about in a totally unrestricted manner.

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.

[Thus, a sense of freedom can only happen during the manifestation if abidance is happening as Your original nature - as THAT rather than as "this." Recent pointers are now becoming clearer, yes? Abide as the consciousness and there will never be a sense of freedom ... and therefore peace. There will be a relative existence that feels confined, limited, and restricted if identified with anything, including the limited and limiting consciousness.]

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 near-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 blocked 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 other reason that 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. The potentiality of "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 will the response to the request from Alfred continue tomorrow.)

Please enter the silence of contemplation. (To be continued)

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FROM THE I TO THE ABSOLUTE (A Seven-Step Journey to Reality)

CONSCIOUSNESS / AWARENESS

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THE FINAL UNDERSTANDING

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The Myth Of Death

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I AM THAT (vs. "This Is Who I Think I Am")

Freedom From Shifting Between States of Happiness and Unhappiness

LIBERATION

Why You Must Be Empty If You Would Be Full

What BLISS Is and What BLISS Is Not

When Reality Is Overlaid Upon the Relative

There Is Nothing That Is Personal (Including You and Including God)

Overcoming the Fear of Being Totally Independent

The Essence of the Teachings

SELF-Transformation Meditation Guide, Volume One

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Casting Light on the Dark Side of Relationships

Finding REAL LOVE in an Unreal World

The Path to Freedom vs. The Path to Misery

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THERE'S NO SUCH THING AS "PEACE OF MIND" (There Is Only Peace If You're Out of Your Mind)

THERE IS NOTHING THAT IS PERSONAL (Including You and Including God)

IT'S ALL BULLSHIT (And Why Knowing It Sets You Free)

SPIRITUAL SOBRIETY (Recovering What Religions Lost)

Jesus Christ the Advaitin

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LIVING WITHIN YOUR MEANS

Ending Financial Problems by Understanding Your Personality

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The Twice-Stolen Necklace Murders [E-BOOK]

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LIBERATION
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FROM THE I TO THE ABSOLUTE (A Seven-Step Journey to Reality)
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CONSCIOUSNESS/AWARENESS: The Nature of Reality Beyond Self-Realization (Peace Every Day When Abiding as The Absolute)
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Received 19 August 2010 from one that just completed the entire course:

I would like to extend deepest appreciation towards you for these teachings that you have offered. It has been most valuable towards what may not have been revealed throughout this manifestation labeled "anthony." Understanding Truth and finding words for gratitude are one as is all. Thank you again for pointing "me" to THAT and the understanding that came as well. Hopeful for future "contact"! Sincerely, Anthony M. W.

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THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF WARS

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YOUTUBE ADVAITA VEDANTA YOGA VIDEOS

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