The many meanings of consciousness and how they matter

Consciousness is a frequently discussed concept among those seeking personal and spiritual growth. Gaining a clearer understanding of consciousness can help us better map and manage our growth.

Consciousness as awakeness

At a foundational level, consciousness refers to the state of awakeness. For instance, when someone is hit on the head and loses consciousness, they are no longer awake. This basic capacity can be switched off by factors beyond our control. Every night, as we transition from wakefulness to sleep, this process often escapes our control, explaining why we sometimes fall asleep unintentionally or struggle to fall asleep when we want to.

Consciousness as awareness

A second meaning of consciousness is awareness. In this sense, being conscious involves being alert to what is happening around us, which can inspire or even incite action. Activists often use the term in this way to encourage people to expand or raise their awareness and feel driven to engage in higher causes.

Consciousness as experience

Consciousness can also refer to experience—focusing on and immersing ourselves in the specifics of a particular situation. For instance, the call to “stop and smell the roses” is an invitation to experience the present moment fully. Similarly, deep breathing can serve as an accessible tool for becoming conscious of our immediate physical reality.

Consciousness as energy

Consciousness also denotes the intrinsic faculty or energy that enables us to be awake, aware, or to experience. Without this energy, striving for these states would be impossible. The Bhagavad Gita (2.17) refers to this energy as an indestructible essence that pervades our body. Spirituality, through its philosophical aspect, prompts us to ponder the nature and origin of this energy, pointing to the soul—the non-material core at the center of our being and the essence of our identity.

Spirituality and consciousness

Spirituality, through its practices, equips us to become more awake, aware, and to experience reality in both its breadth and depth. By engaging in these practices, we can enrich our understanding and relationship with consciousness.

Summary:

  • Consciousness can refer to awakeness, awareness, experience, or the energy that enables these states.
  • Spirituality, through its philosophical aspect, identifies the soul as the source of consciousness and helps us ponder its nature and origin.
  • Spiritual practices enable us to become more awake, aware, and enriched in our experience of reality.

Think it over:

  • Recall the last time you used the word “consciousness” and analyze which of its meanings you had in mind at that moment.
  • Contemplate which of the four meanings of consciousness you have thought about the least and how focusing on that meaning can expand your understanding.
  • Reflect on how spirituality relates to consciousness through its philosophical and practical aspects.

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02.13 As the embodied soul continuously passes, in this body, from boyhood to youth to old age, the soul similarly passes into another body at death. A sober person is not bewildered by such a change.