MAN THE UNKNOWN: HUMN CONSCIOUSNESS 

 

A dictionary definition of ‘consciousness’ is, “the state of understanding and realising something” or “the state of being awake, thinking and knowing what is happening around you” (Cambridge dictionary). In other words ‘consciousness’ is equated to ‘awareness,’ as a function of the conscious mind.

Sophisticated techniques of modern science such as refined brain scans and the measurement of patterns of activity in the brain neurons (EEG) do not provide an understanding of how a mind generates the sense of ‘self’ that is the hallmark of the functioning of the conscious mind. The objective analyses that the scientist undertakes to unravel this mystery do not identify an ‘observer’ with any role in the whole process of perception. Although the concept of such an entity was considered quite unscientific earlier, some of the neuroscientists and neurologists recently have started recognising the possibility of the existence of an ‘experiencer’ who is behind all universal phenomena. In his book The Intelligent Universe Fred Hoyle comments about “the strange aspect of science that, until now, it has kept consciousness firmly out of any discussions of the material world.” It is a welcome sign that scientists have slowly started recognising the spiritual dimension of human experience.

 

Sanskrit language has several words that are equivalent to the English word ‘consciousness:’ chit, prajña, jñapti, jñāna, bodha, samvit are a few of them which are to be used as per the context. They all mean infinite Pure Consciousness, knowledge, wisdom and so forth. Vidyāranya, the celebrated author of Panchadaṡi, gives a clear description of samvit as the eternal and non-dual Pure Consciousness, Brahman (1.7).

 

The Ātman/Brahman is the unity of all human experiences. The entire universe being Ātman is of the nature of chit or pure Consciousness. It is the self of all and is chit-svarupam. Modern scientists recognise the inseparable, inter-penetrating inter relationship between the observer and his observation. The knower behind the mind is the consciousness. Although consciousness is limitless and eternal and is the Supreme Truth, it appears limited when perceived through the narrow viewpoint of senses, mind and intellect.

 

Many modern scientists believe in the inter relationship between the subjective mind and the objective matter. Sir Arthur Eddington, Sir James Jeans, Max Plank, Albert Einstein, Erwin Schrödinger, Neil Bohr and Werner Heisenberg are a few brilliant minds who included the observer in the observable and they considered such concepts necessary for the  advancement in their methods of scientific reasoning. In 1981, Nobel laureate and father of physics Max Plank said, “Consciousness I regard as fundamental. I regard matter as derivative from consciousness. We cannot get behind consciousness. Everything that we talk about, everything that we regard as existing postulates consciousness.” Since then many eminent physicists echoed the sentiments of Max Plank and emphasized the importance of the observer in the observed phenomena.

In his Mandukyopanishad Kārika Gaudapāda Āchārya refers to Brahman as pure Consciousness: “The knowledge (jñānam) which is unborn and free from all imagination is ever inseparable from the knowable” (3.33).

 

This is the Vedāntic view of consciousness and its role in perception or cognition. Modern science systems especially atomic physics and neurology are also approaching the same viewpoint. Professor Capra writes, “In modern physics, the question of consciousness has arisen in connection with the observation of atomic phenomena. Quantum theory has made it clear that these phenomena can only be understood as links in a chain of process, the end of which lies in the consciousness of the human observer” ( The Tao of Physics, p.300). The physicist John Wheeler calls such an ‘observer’ the ‘participator.’