A Direct Exploration of the Most Fundamental Reality
What is consciousness?
Few questions are as ancient — and as urgently searched today — as this one:
It appears in philosophy, neuroscience, spirituality, psychology, and now increasingly in everyday conversations. We speak about being conscious, losing consciousness, expanding consciousness — yet when we try to define it precisely, it seems to slip through our fingers.
This article offers a clear, experiential, and practical exploration of consciousness — not merely as a concept, but as something that can be directly known.
Consciousness Is Not an Object
The first and most important clarification is this:
Consciousness is not something you can observe like an object.
You can observe thoughts.
You can observe emotions.
You can observe bodily sensations.
But consciousness itself is that which observes.
Every experience you have ever had — a sound, a memory, a feeling, a decision — appears within consciousness. Consciousness is not one experience among others; it is the field in which all experiences arise.
This is why attempts to define consciousness purely in material or neurological terms always feel incomplete. Brain activity can be measured, but the knowing of experience cannot be reduced to electrical signals alone.
A Simple Direct Pointing
Right now, pause for a moment and notice:
- You are aware of these words.
- You are aware of sensations in the body.
- You may be aware of thoughts reacting to what you read.
That awareness itself — effortlessly present, already functioning — is consciousness.
You do not need to create it.
You do not need to improve it.
You do not need to believe in it.
It is already here.
Consciousness vs. Mind
A common misunderstanding is to equate consciousness with thinking.
But thoughts are events.
Consciousness is the space in which those events occur.
Thoughts come and go.
Consciousness remains.
Even in moments of mental silence — during deep meditation, awe, or stillness — consciousness does not disappear. In fact, it often becomes more obvious when thoughts quiet down.
This is why many contemplative traditions emphasize awareness over thinking as the doorway to deeper understanding.
Is Consciousness Personal?
At first, consciousness feels personal:
My thoughts. My feelings. My awareness.
But when examined closely, consciousness itself has no personal characteristics.
It has no age.
No gender.
No belief system.
No biography.
These belong to the contents of consciousness, not to consciousness itself.
This insight has led mystics and philosophers across cultures to point toward consciousness as universal rather than individual — appearing through individual minds, yet not owned by them.
Consciousness and the Sense of “I”
Most people identify with the inner voice that says “I”.
But that voice is a thought.
If you observe carefully, you will notice:
- The thought “I am thinking” is known.
- The thought “I am anxious” is known.
What knows these thoughts?
That knowing presence is prior to the idea of “I”.
This is why many contemplative teachings say that the deepest discovery is not who you are, but what you are.
Can Consciousness Be Discovered Through Meditation?
Yes — and this is where theory becomes lived experience.
Meditation is not about achieving special states. It is about recognizing what is already present.
A simple approach:
- Sit quietly and allow attention to rest.
- Notice sensations, sounds, and thoughts as they arise.
- Instead of following them, notice that they are known.
- Gently rest as the knowing itself.
Over time, this recognition becomes more stable. Consciousness is no longer something abstract — it becomes a familiar, intimate reality.
Why Understanding Consciousness Matters
This is not just a philosophical curiosity.
Recognizing consciousness directly often leads to:
- Less identification with anxious thoughts
- Greater emotional resilience
- A deeper sense of inner peace
- A natural compassion for others
Not because life becomes perfect — but because experiences are no longer taken as who you are.
Consciousness as the Ground of Spiritual Insight
Across spiritual traditions, consciousness has been described as:
- The Kingdom within
- The inner light
- Pure awareness
- The witness
- The ground of being
Different words, same direct pointing.
When consciousness recognizes itself, spirituality shifts from belief to direct knowing.
Final Reflection
The question “What is consciousness?” cannot be answered fully by words.
But it can be recognized — quietly, simply, and directly.
The invitation is always the same:
Notice what is aware — right now.
That noticing is already consciousness recognizing itself.
If you wish to explore consciousness, awareness, and the inner teachings of Christ more deeply — not as theory, but as lived experience — you may find further guidance in my book:
Discovering the Inner Christ
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FX4HYXZ9
Or we can explore it together in a direct experience: