COSMIC VIEW
The study of consciousness was once confined to philosophy and mysticism, but today it has become a topic of great interest in neuroscience, evolutionary biology, and physics.Yet, the precise nature of consciousness remains elusive.What is it, really? The Kena Upanishad explores this question using the method of Self-inquiry. This scripture begins with the student asking his teacher: "By what kena) power does the mind think, the breath function, the speech work, the eye sees, and the ear hears?"This fivefold question reveals that the student understands the body, mind, breath, and speech to be inert instruments anmated by another entity altogether. A dead body cannot think, breathe, speak, see, or hear, even when the body is intact, clearly pointing to the existence of an independent power enlivening it.Who thinks through the mind, who breathes through the breath, who speaks through speech, who sees through the eyes,the hears chrough the ears? The teacher's answer, an often-quoted poetic verse:"It is the ear of the ear, the mind of the mind, che speech of the speech, the breath of che breath, and the eye of the eye. By giving up false identification (with Dody and mind) and renouncing this world, the wise become immortal" The teacher suggests that the answer is embedded in the question itself. In our day-to-day language, we ay 'I think, I breathe, I speak, I see, I near.'The teacher explains that this 'Iconsciousness' is separate from the mind, the breath, the speech, and all Functions of the body. There is only one 'I'-only one consciousness hat functions through all the appara tuses of not just one's own body but all bodies. Without 'I, there would be no thought, no experience, no action, as there would be no 'one' to think, experience, or act. Therefore, it is consciousness that illumines and empowers all thoughts, experiences, and actions. Here's the clincher: Consciousness makes the body function but is, itself, separate from the body, just like petrol makes the car function but is, itself, different from the car. The car depends on petrol, not vice versa; it is the same with the body and consciousness. Wisdom lies in distinguishing consciousness from the body-mind apparatus; that is, understanding one's identity to be separate from the biological processes of the body and the mental processes of the mind. This is a notch above the classic western body-mind dualism. By practice of Self-inquiry, the individual gradually rises above a world view rooted in 'me' and 'mine, and becomes free from fear, symbolically referrein the verse as 'immortality.' Therameters one uses to define oneselthe same that one uses to define ers, so this practice has a direct imam the quality of one's relationshThe individual begins to operate mand more out of selflessness, knowthat there is only one consciousnesall forms. Such a being radiates lovikindness towards all. The practice of Self-inquiry islineated in the very next verse: "eye does not go there, nor speech,mind.We do not know it, nor doknow any process of teaching abit."The eye is arguably the most c plex organ in the human body and is incapable of seeing consciousnesLanguage is a unique facultyHomo sapiens but when it comeconsciousness, it fallsshort. The hurmind is more complex than that ofother species, yet consciousness liesyond its grasp. Intellect is perhapsmost distinguishing feature of theman race; it enables the humanreach the moon but even it canreach consciousness. Subtler than-and closer thanthe eyes, the breath, the speech, ether thoughts, is consciousness. It isknower of all, and can never beduced to a 'thing,' an object of knowledge. It does not need the help ofinstrument, outer or inner, to known (indirect knowledge), it only be realised directly as one's obeing, I am. It is the most obvious,deniable fact of one's existence andquires no proof. The only questiondo we care to turn our attentionwards it?
DISCLAIMER:
The views expressed in the Article above are VIVEK DESAI views and kashmiribhatta.in is not in any way responsible for the opinions expressed in the above article. The article belongs to its respective owner or owners and this site does not claim any right over it.
Courtesy: VIVEK DESAI and Speaking Tree,Times of India
COSMIC VIEW
The study of consciousness was once confined to philosophy and mysticism, but today it has become a topic of great interest in neuroscience, evolutionary biology, and physics.Yet, the precise nature of consciousness remains elusive.What is it, really? The Kena Upanishad explores this question using the method of Self-inquiry. This scripture begins with the student asking his teacher: "By what kena) power does the mind think, the breath function, the speech work, the eye sees, and the ear hears?"This fivefold question reveals that the student understands the body, mind, breath, and speech to be inert instruments anmated by another entity altogether. A dead body cannot think, breathe, speak, see, or hear, even when the body is intact, clearly pointing to the existence of an independent power enlivening it.Who thinks through the mind, who breathes through the breath, who speaks through speech, who sees through the eyes,the hears chrough the ears? The teacher's answer, an often-quoted poetic verse:"It is the ear of the ear, the mind of the mind, che speech of the speech, the breath of che breath, and the eye of the eye. By giving up false identification (with Dody and mind) and renouncing this world, the wise become immortal" The teacher suggests that the answer is embedded in the question itself. In our day-to-day language, we ay 'I think, I breathe, I speak, I see, I near.'The teacher explains that this 'Iconsciousness' is separate from the mind, the breath, the speech, and all Functions of the body. There is only one 'I'-only one consciousness hat functions through all the appara tuses of not just one's own body but all bodies. Without 'I, there would be no thought, no experience, no action, as there would be no 'one' to think, experience, or act. Therefore, it is consciousness that illumines and empowers all thoughts, experiences, and actions. Here's the clincher: Consciousness makes the body function but is, itself, separate from the body, just like petrol makes the car function but is, itself, different from the car. The car depends on petrol, not vice versa; it is the same with the body and consciousness. Wisdom lies in distinguishing consciousness from the body-mind apparatus; that is, understanding one's identity to be separate from the biological processes of the body and the mental processes of the mind. This is a notch above the classic western body-mind dualism. By practice of Self-inquiry, the individual gradually rises above a world view rooted in 'me' and 'mine, and becomes free from fear, symbolically referrein the verse as 'immortality.' Therameters one uses to define oneselthe same that one uses to define ers, so this practice has a direct imam the quality of one's relationshThe individual begins to operate mand more out of selflessness, knowthat there is only one consciousnesall forms. Such a being radiates lovikindness towards all. The practice of Self-inquiry islineated in the very next verse: "eye does not go there, nor speech,mind.We do not know it, nor doknow any process of teaching abit."The eye is arguably the most c plex organ in the human body and is incapable of seeing consciousnesLanguage is a unique facultyHomo sapiens but when it comeconsciousness, it fallsshort. The hurmind is more complex than that ofother species, yet consciousness liesyond its grasp. Intellect is perhapsmost distinguishing feature of theman race; it enables the humanreach the moon but even it canreach consciousness. Subtler than-and closer thanthe eyes, the breath, the speech, ether thoughts, is consciousness. It isknower of all, and can never beduced to a 'thing,' an object of knowledge. It does not need the help ofinstrument, outer or inner, to known (indirect knowledge), it only be realised directly as one's obeing, I am. It is the most obvious,deniable fact of one's existence andquires no proof. The only questiondo we care to turn our attentionwards it?
DISCLAIMER:
The views expressed in the Article above are VIVEK DESAI views and kashmiribhatta.in is not in any way responsible for the opinions expressed in the above article. The article belongs to its respective owner or owners and this site does not claim any right over it.
Courtesy: VIVEK DESAI and Speaking Tree,Times of India