What Vedanta Really Says About Consciousness Awareness - A Clear Guide

"Who am I?" This basic question sits right at the core of consciousness awareness, and Vedanta, an ancient wisdom tradition, is a chance to find real answers. Vedanta doesn't just give us philosophical theories - it shows us a practical way to explore our own nature and mind.

This ancient teaching has grown and evolved through thousands of years. It has helped countless people grasp the true essence of consciousness. Many of us think we need to pile up more knowledge or reach special states to understand awareness. But Vedanta works differently - it strips away the layers of wrong ideas that block our natural state of being.

In this piece, we'll get into what Vedanta actually teaches about consciousness and look at different levels of awareness. You'll see how these teachings fit into your daily life. We'll clear up common misunderstandings and connect ancient wisdom with modern insights.

What Vedanta Means by Consciousness

Vedanta offers a deep understanding of consciousness that is different from our daily experience. The Upanishads teach us that  - eternal, infinite, and unrestricted consciousness (Brahman) stands as the ultimate reality[1].

The fundamental nature of awareness

Vedanta describes pure consciousness as something that exceeds normal time and space boundaries [2]. You learn that consciousness forms existence's foundation, rather than being just another experience. This consciousness acts as the universe's foundation, even more subtle than energy (prāna). Teachers call this brahma-caitanya [3].

This consciousness shows  three aspects that cannot be separated: absolute existence (sat), pure awareness (cit), and limitlessness (ānanda)[4]. Notwithstanding that, these words point to one undivided truth rather than separate qualities. The "is-ness" remains common in statements like "The bird is" or "The book is" - consciousness recognizes this basic fact of existence.

Consciousness shows itself in three ways [3]:

1.      Brahma-caitanya: The ultimate, unchanging consciousness

2.      Īśvara-caitanya: Consciousness united with maya as the universal creator

3.      Jīva-caitanya: Individual human consciousness

Beyond the thinking mind

Vedanta makes a clear distinction between mind and pure consciousness [5]. The mind contains mental events while consciousness watches these events. Pure awareness lights up all experiences just as light shows objects but nothing else can light up light itself.

The mind borrows consciousness from the Atman (true self) to appear alive [6]. This borrowed awareness lets the mind notice objects through senses and control body functions. The mind thinks, feels and understands through this reflected consciousness. It develops an "I" sense and becomes what we know as Jiva - individual consciousness shaped by personal identity.

The seer can never become what is seen, and the experiencer cannot become what is experienced [6]. This truth explains why the Upanishads say, "One who claims to know Brahman knows not." Pure consciousness exceeds what we can experience - trying to experience it makes it an object and creates false separation between the experiencer and experienced.

People often make the mistake of giving qualities like peace, joy, or love to consciousness [5]. Pure consciousness (Brahman) stays non-dual and has no qualities. Even phrases like "unlimited existence-consciousness" work as pointers to help seekers understand something beyond normal comprehension.

Individual consciousness and universal consciousness create an interesting puzzle [1]. Our true nature is Brahman, but mental impurities stop us from seeing this. A mind full of rajas (activity) and tamas (inertia) cannot understand Advaita Vedanta's subtle truths. Mental purification becomes necessary to see that individual consciousness (Atman) and universal consciousness (Brahman) are one.

This cleaning process creates a sattvic (pure, tranquil) mind [1]. The mind then works like a clean mirror that shows Brahman clearly. You can understand the deep teaching "Tat Tvam Asi" - "That thou art" only then. This reveals how individual consciousness joins with ultimate reality.

The Observer and the Observed

"We did not say the observer becomes the observed. The observer observing the tree does not become the tree – God forbid! But when the observer understands the structure and nature of itself, there is observation without division and the observer." — Jiddu Krishnamurti, Renowned philosopher and spiritual teacher

A deep look at our experience brings up an interesting question: what watches our stream of thoughts, emotions, and sensations? This question guides us to one of Vedanta's deepest insights about consciousness awareness.

Who is watching your thoughts?

The way thoughts connect to their observer creates an interesting paradox. Vedanta tells us the intellect has both a thinking part and an observing part, with  the observer being more subtle than the thinker[7]. The observing part plays a vital role - it helps us see the difference between pure witnessing awareness and the objects that appear in it.

Most of us identify with our thinking mind, but Vedanta shows that the move from "thinker" to "observer" starts real self-asking [7]. This change helps us find that thoughts just rise in consciousness, like waves on an ocean. The awareness where they show up stays untouched whether they're there or not [8].

The observing power is different from regular thinking. The thinker tries to fix problems through analysis, but the observer just watches without trying to change anything [7]. On top of that, the observer comes out by itself when the thinker sees its limits and becomes quiet [7].

The illusion of separation

Our biggest misconception comes from seeing a gap between the observer and what we observe. Vedanta points out that this feeling of being separate goes away during deep sleep and higher states of consciousness [9]. More,  the difference between subject and object disappears in samadhi[9].

This feeling of being cut off from the outside world is what Vedanta calls "maya" - not knowing our true nature [10]. This lack of understanding creates the illusion that we're separate from everything we experience [11]. An ancient teaching puts it well: "You are not a drop in the ocean. You are the entire ocean in a drop" [11].

This illusion shows up especially when you have thoughts and perceptions. We usually think there's someone separate who thinks thoughts and experiences experiences [12]. But if you look closely, there's no real space between consciousness and what's in it [7].

The answer lies in seeing that the observer and observed go together - one can't exist without the other [13]. They're like a mirror and its reflection - you can't separate them. This understanding changes how we see reality [7].

Vedanta makes it clear - this isn't just something to understand with your mind. The illusion feels completely real until you see the truth directly [11]. Just knowing about how everything connects doesn't get rid of the deep feeling of being a separate self [11].

The way forward needs careful watching rather than mental understanding. By watching the mind without trying to fix it, we start to see through the apparent split between subject and object [7]. This naturally leads to what Vedanta calls "self-knowledge" - seeing directly that we're pure awareness [14].

Through this seeing, we find that consciousness isn't stuck inside our body or separate from what it sees [15]. The observer, observed, and watching are all one thing [13]. This insight slowly melts away the imagined walls between self and other, showing the unity that Vedanta points to as our real nature.

Levels of Consciousness in Vedanta

"Existence or consciousness is the only reality. Consciousness plus waking, we call waking. Consciousness plus sleep, we call sleep. Consciousness plus dream, we call dream. Consciousness is the screen on which all the pictures come and go." — Ramana Maharshi, Renowned Indian sage and spiritual teacher

Vedanta outlines different states of consciousness that give us deep insights into awareness. Looking at these states helps us learn about our true nature beyond surface experiences.

Waking consciousness

Our everyday awareness represents the waking state where we interact with the outside world through our senses [3]. We experience a mix of perceptions that shape how we understand reality. This enables us to recognize both our inner self and external environment at the same time.

During waking consciousness, the individual soul (Jiva) connects with the physical body and gets caught up in objectivity [16]. We often lose touch with our true nature as pure subjectivity and become tangled in external experiences and mental activities.

Dream state awareness

Dream consciousness shows us another layer of awareness. The self identifies with  in this state the vital force (pranamaya kosha) and mental sheath (manomaya kosha)[16]. Dreams act as a psychological release and let unresolved pressures from our waking state find expression [17].

Dream state is different from waking consciousness because our physical sense organs stay inactive [17]. We experience internal objects through imagination instead. We need to disconnect from the waking world completely to have an undisturbed dream experience.

Deep sleep consciousness

Vedanta calls deep sleep the "great equalizer" - a state where social differences melt away [17]. The subtle body returns to its seed form within the causal body. This leads to an experience with no objects, thoughts, memories or emotions.

Consciousness continues uninterrupted even in deep sleep [18]. We can remember sleeping peacefully when we wake up, which shows some awareness stayed present. This state proves that consciousness surpasses mental activity since we exist even when our mind becomes dormant.

Pure awareness

Vedanta calls the state beyond these three "Turiya" - pure awareness itself [16]. Turiya represents unchanging consciousness that lights up all other states while staying untouched by them, unlike previous states that come and go.

This fourth state isn't some extraordinary experience available only to a chosen few [19]. It points to our natural condition - the ever-present witness consciousness that watches the shifts between waking, dreaming and deep sleep without changing itself.

Pure awareness has three key characteristics [8]:

·        Sat (being/existence)

·        Chit (consciousness)

·        Ananda (limitlessness)

These qualities aren't separate attributes but show consciousness's indivisible nature. You can't objectify pure awareness or experience it as a particular state because it forms the foundation of all experience [8].

Vedanta uses these levels of consciousness to help us recognize our true identity as unchanging awareness where all states arise and fade [20]. By carefully looking at these states, we gradually find what stays constant through all changing experiences.

Common Misconceptions About Awareness

People often misunderstand consciousness awareness when they learn about it through Vedanta's perspective. These misunderstandings create needless roadblocks in their journey of self-discovery.

Awareness vs mental activity

The biggest problem comes from mixing up consciousness with mental processes. The self, , stays naturally actionless being all-pervasive[8]. Mental activities such as thinking, feeling, and perceiving just borrow consciousness from the true self (Atman) [8]. This reflected consciousness then creates an idea of "I" that we know as individual consciousness.

The mind works like a mirror reflecting sunlight - it reflects consciousness but isn't where it comes from [21]. Consciousness stays unbroken even when mental activity stops, like in deep sleep [link_2]. We know this because we wake up remembering our peaceful sleep, that indicates awareness was there all along [8].

Pure consciousness acts as the unchanging background where all mental activities happen. It's similar to a movie screen that stays untouched by whatever films play on it. Pure awareness exists independently of thoughts, emotions, and experiences that appear within it.

The myth of achieving consciousness

A common mistake is thinking we need to develop or achieve consciousness through spiritual practices. Vedanta teaches that consciousness is our nature - we can't achieve what's already here [8]. The self exists and shines by itself every moment. We don't need proof beyond its presence right now.

Here are points that challenge what most people think:

4.      Consciousness isn't:

·        A product of mental activity

·        Something to be achieved or developed

·        Limited by bodily boundaries

·        Dependent on external objects

The path ahead needs us to remove misconceptions rather than add new knowledge. Self-knowledge makes ignorance disappear like morning mist in sunlight, leaving our natural state of pure awareness [8].

Meditation practices are vital, but their purpose is different from what most people think. Traditional Vedanta shows that meditation helps change our relationship with the mind [1]. Many people wrongly believe the goal is to empty their mind completely, which leads to frustration.

Meditation sessions might bring up hidden thoughts or anxieties [1]. These tough experiences aren't failures - they give us chances to grow and understand ourselves better. We can watch and exceed our usual mental patterns through them.

Starting meditation without building an ethical foundation creates problems [1]. Traditional Yoga and Vedanta teach meditation only after students learn ethical living and moderation. This step-by-step method will give a solid foundation instead of temporary experiences.

Pure consciousness exceeds both the observer and the observed. The self has no limits, so nothing can exist outside it [8]. This reveals a deep truth - we don't have many separate consciousnesses but one non-dual awareness that expresses itself through different forms.

How Consciousness Manifests in Daily Life

Awareness of consciousness turns everyday experiences into chances to gain deeper insights. Our daily activities help us find practical ways to embrace Vedantic wisdom beyond just theory.

Practical examples of awareness

Consciousness shows itself through mindful involvement with tasks and relationships in professional settings. The five senses create experiences that the ego claims as its own to build a sense of being separate [5]. Careful observation reveals that actions happen naturally without needing someone to "do" them.

Here's how awareness shows up in daily activities:

·        Knowing how to watch thoughts during meetings without getting caught up in emotional responses

·        Staying balanced when facing criticism or praise

·        Seeing the shared consciousness that connects all workplace interactions

Consciousness serves as the foundation for all experiences [22]. Living organisms show an innate awareness at the cellular level. They control their functions and respond smartly to their surroundings [22]. This suggests a deeper intelligence working through all life forms.

Living from consciousness vs ego

Ego and consciousness offer opposite ways of approaching life. The ego always tries to identify with objects, roles, and experiences to keep feeling separate [5]. In stark comparison to this, living from consciousness means seeing our true nature as the unchanging awareness where all experiences happen.

The ego appears in two distinct forms [5]:

·        The unripe ego: Connects itself to worldly objects and pleasures

·        The ripe ego: Links itself to spiritual understanding and sacred qualities

Moving past ego-identification happens only when we are willing to understand that consciousness never changes or acts [23]. Pure awareness watches all mental activities without getting involved [23]. Regular practice teaches us to work from this deeper state of being rather than staying stuck in surface-level identity.

Bringing mindful awareness to daily situations makes this practical [2]. To name just one example, when work challenges come up, we can pause to reconnect with our deeper nature through conscious breathing or body awareness. This creates room between what happens and how we respond, letting wisdom guide our actions.

Living from consciousness teaches us that results depend on many factors we can't control [2]. This understanding helps us stay composed about outcomes without getting too excited by success or too down about failure. This viewpoint helps us involve ourselves in life's activities without carrying the weight of too much personal attachment.

Daily interactions become chances to see past surface appearances and recognize the shared consciousness behind all experiences [5]. This doesn't mean giving up practical responsibilities or becoming passive. Instead, it makes our actions more effective through clarity that isn't clouded by ego-based fears and wants.

The path from ego to consciousness needs steady practice and clear thinking [4]. Self-questioning and deep thought help us gradually remove the deep-rooted habit of identifying with body and mind. As this understanding grows, we find unshakeable peace that surpasses temporary happiness or distress.

Scientific Understanding and Vedantic View

Science and ancient Vedantic wisdom share fascinating connections in their understanding of consciousness awareness. Quantum mechanics researchers have found phenomena that mirror age-old Vedantic teachings about reality and consciousness.

Modern research on consciousness

Scientists' understanding of consciousness has changed dramatically over time. Werner Heisenberg's discovery of the Uncertainty Principle in 1927 led physicists to think about how the mind affects quantum observations [6]. Max Planck, who won the Nobel Prize, believed consciousness was fundamental and matter came from it [6].

Today's neuroscience looks at consciousness in two main ways:

·        Quantum physics suggests a unified field of consciousness creates universal coherence

·        Brain-based studies look at how neurological functions and mental processes work [24]

Quantum mechanics shows two significant ideas that match Vedantic views [7]:

·        Superposition: particles can exist in multiple states at once

·        Entanglement: particles stay connected whatever the distance between them

These quantum effects challenge what we know about space, time, and separation. They echo what Vedanta teaches about how everything connects in reality.

Where science meets ancient wisdom

Modern physics and Vedantic philosophy join together through several core principles. Physicist Fritjof Capra thinks Brahman, as seen in Vedanta, gives a more complete way to understand universal reality than standard scientific models [6].

Quantum gravity theories suggest something remarkable. Space and time aren't smooth and flowing but made up of tiny units called 'quanta' [7]. This view strikes a chord with Vedanta's idea of Maya, which sees the visible world as a demonstration of underlying consciousness.

Quantum physics and Vedanta both question traditional ideas about:

·        Subject-object separation

·        Linear time progression

·        Independent existence of particles

Erwin Schrödinger, who helped create quantum mechanics, embraced Vedantic ideas of Atma and Brahman [7]. His book "What is Life" suggests consciousness is one universal thing. He argued that seeing many separate consciousnesses is just an illusion.

Scientists now acknowledge the spiritual side of human experience more often [6]. Quantum mechanics shows that watching particles changes how they behave. This matches Vedanta's view that consciousness forms the base of everything we see.

This meeting of ideas builds a bridge between scientific questions and ancient wisdom. Nobel physicist Steven Weinberg said, "The more the universe seems comprehensible, the more it seems pointless" [6]. Vedanta offers a deeper purpose - seeing our true nature as consciousness itself.

Conclusion

Vedanta's teachings give us a deep explanation about consciousness awareness that connects ancient wisdom with modern understanding. These teachings show us that consciousness isn't something we need to achieve - it's our true nature as pure awareness. A careful look at different states of consciousness helps us find the unchanging witness that clarifies all our experiences.

Recent findings in quantum physics line up more and more with Vedantic views on consciousness and reality. Ancient wisdom traditions seem to hold valuable clues that help us learn about our true nature. On top of that, these teachings reshape our daily life when we put them into practice. We start to live from a deeper awareness instead of identifying with our surface-level ego.

The most crucial aspect is that consciousness awareness goes beyond what we can understand with our minds. Concepts and theories can point us in the right direction, but they're just signposts. Our main goal remains the direct recognition of our essential nature as pure consciousness. We gradually reveal what has always been here - the limitless awareness that creates the foundation of existence - through consistent self-questioning and separating what's real from what isn't.

FAQs

Q1. What is the Vedantic view of consciousness? According to Vedanta, consciousness is the fundamental reality that underlies all existence. It is not something we possess, but rather our essential nature. Vedanta teaches that consciousness is eternal, infinite, and beyond the limitations of time and space.

Q2. How does Vedanta explain different states of consciousness? Vedanta describes four main states of consciousness: waking, dreaming, deep sleep, and pure awareness (Turiya). While the first three states come and go, Turiya is considered the unchanging consciousness that illuminates all other states while remaining untouched by them.

Q3. What is the relationship between the observer and the observed in Vedanta? Vedanta teaches that the perceived separation between the observer and the observed is an illusion. In reality, consciousness and its objects form an integrated whole, like a mirror and its reflection. This understanding dissolves the imagined boundaries between self and other.

Q4. How does living from consciousness differ from living from ego? Living from consciousness involves recognizing our true nature as the unchanging awareness within which all experiences occur. In contrast, the ego constantly seeks identification with objects, roles, and experiences to maintain a sense of separate existence. Consciousness-based living fosters equanimity and harmonious engagement with life.

Q5. How do modern scientific findings align with Vedantic concepts of consciousness? Recent discoveries in quantum physics, such as the principles of superposition and entanglement, parallel Vedantic teachings about the interconnected nature of reality. Both quantum science and Vedanta challenge traditional notions of subject-object separation and independent existence, suggesting a deeper underlying unity in consciousness.

References

[1] - https://arshavidyananda.in/284-meditation-6-key-myths-and-truths-as-per-vedanta/
[2] - https://www.spjimr.org/newsroom/press-release/5-practical-ways-to-apply-the-wisdom-of-vedanta-to-workplace-situations/
[3] - https://www.wisdomlib.org/concept/waking-consciousness
[4] - https://www.yesvedanta.com/apply-knowledge-vedanta-daily-life-nididyasanam/
[5] - https://vedanta.org/2003/monthly-readings/the-ego-and-the-self/
[6] - https://www.vedantany.org/s/VedantaandScience.pdf
[7] - https://www.news18.com/opinion/opinion-quantum-physics-and-vedic-philosophy-where-science-meets-spirituality-9250179.html
[8] - https://www.yesvedanta.com/play-of-consciousness/
[9] - https://www.wisdomlib.org/concept/duality-of-subject-and-object
[10] - https://medium.com/bouncin-and-behavin-academy/exploring-maya-and-the-illusion-of-separation-in-advaita-vedanta-71bb1b131b59
[11] - https://os.me/the-illusion-of-separation/
[12] - https://www.quora.com/In-Advaita-Vedanta-there-is-no-thinker-of-thoughts-thoughts-happen-then-how-do-I-shift-my-attention-to-I-am
[13] - https://acharyaprashant.org/en/articles/j-krishnamurti-the-observer-is-the-observed-1_02a9e05
[14] - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advaita_Vedanta
[15] - https://www.wisdomlib.org/concept/illusion-of-separation
[16] - https://hridaya-yoga.com/the-four-states-of-consciousness/
[17] - https://www.yesvedanta.com/tattva-bodha-discourses/discourse-20/
[18] - https://journals.lww.com/yomi/fulltext/2020/52020/advaita_vedanta_answer_to_the_hard_problem_of.7.aspx
[19] - https://www.quora.com/How-can-we-go-beyond-the-three-states-of-waking-dreaming-and-deep-sleep-according-to-Vedanta
[20] - https://adbhutam.wordpress.com/2009/11/17/the-vedantic-utility-of-the-dream-and-sleep-states/
[21] - https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/blogs/toi-edit-page/existence-cartesian-thought-vs-advait-vedanta/
[22] - https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4802748/
[23] - https://www.advaita-vision.org/consciousness-ego-and-self-knowledge/
[24] - https://www.vedanet.com/modern-science-and-the-vedic-science-of-consciousness/