Understanding Consciousness: An Exploration Beyond the Mind and Brain

Consciousness is a term that has intrigued philosophers, scientists, and spiritual thinkers for centuries. Swami Sarvapriyananda, drawing from the rich tradition of Advaita Vedanta, offers a profound perspective on consciousness, emphasizing its fundamental nature as distinct from the brain, the mind, and any objectifiable entity. This short essay aims to unpack these ideas and provide examples to illuminate the concept of consciousness as articulated in Advaita Vedanta. To better understand consciousness, it is crucial to first explore what consciousness is not.

Consciousness is Not the Brain

In modern science, the brain is often seen as the seat of consciousness. Neurobiological processes are thought to give rise to conscious experiences. However, Swami Sarvapriyananda posits that consciousness is not a product of the brain. Instead, the brain is akin to a complex instrument through which consciousness operates.

Example: Consider a television set. The programs you watch on TV are not produced by the television itself; they are broadcast from a different source and merely displayed on the screen. Similarly, the brain is not the creator of consciousness but a medium through which consciousness is expressed. When the television is damaged, the programs do not cease to exist—they just cannot be displayed on that particular set. In the same way, consciousness persists even if the brain is impaired.

Consciousness is Not the Mind

The mind encompasses thoughts, emotions, memories, and perceptions. While these are often seen as the essence of our conscious experience, Advaita Vedanta differentiates between the mind and consciousness. The mind is a collection of mental events, whereas consciousness is the pure awareness that observes these events.

Example: Imagine the sky and the clouds. The clouds are constantly changing, moving, and sometimes obscuring the sky. However, the sky itself remains unchanged and ever-present. The mind is like the clouds—ever-changing and transient. Consciousness is the sky—steady, unchanging, and the backdrop against which all mental activities occur.

Consciousness is Not an Object

Objects are entities we can perceive and describe, such as a book, a tree, or even a thought. Consciousness, however, is not something that can be objectified or perceived directly because it is the perceiver itself. It is the subject that experiences everything but cannot be experienced as an object.

Example: In a dark room, a flashlight can illuminate various objects, making them visible. However, the beam of the flashlight itself is not an object that can be illuminated by another flashlight. Consciousness is like the light—it illuminates all experiences but cannot be illuminated by anything else because it is the source of all illumination.

Consciousness is Not Many

The multiplicity of minds and individual experiences can create the illusion that consciousness is divided among different beings. Advaita Vedanta teaches that, despite the appearance of many individual consciousnesses, there is only one undivided consciousness that manifests in various forms.

Example: Think of the ocean. There are countless waves, each appearing distinct from the others. However, each wave is made of the same water and is an expression of the same ocean. Similarly, individual consciousnesses are like waves in the ocean of one universal consciousness.

Consciousness is Not Two

Advaita Vedanta emphasizes the non-dual nature of consciousness, asserting that there is no fundamental separation between the observer and the observed, the subject and the object. All dualities are ultimately illusory, and true understanding reveals the unity of existence.

Example: Consider a dream. Within a dream, you may experience yourself as an individual interacting with various people and objects. Upon waking, you realize that the entire dream, including the dream-self and all the dream objects, was a projection of your own mind. In a similar way, Advaita Vedanta suggests that the distinctions we perceive in the waking state are projections within the one consciousness.

Conclusion

Swami Sarvapriyananda's insights into the nature of consciousness invite us to look beyond the material and the mental, to a deeper understanding of our true essence. Consciousness, as described in Advaita Vedanta, is not confined to the brain or the mind, nor is it an object that can be perceived. It is a singular, undivided reality that underlies all experiences. By exploring these concepts and contemplating the examples provided, we can begin to grasp the profound nature of consciousness and its central role in our existence.