Understanding Pure Awareness and the Role of Consciousness
When we delve into the concepts of pure awareness and consciousness, a myriad of questions arise. One critical query focuses on the nature of knowing and experiencing pure awareness through the lens of our mind, which often seems to be inseparably linked to thought and memory.
What is Pure Awareness?
Pure awareness can be described as a state wherein there is no mental subject, no consciousness bound by memory or thought. It represents a condition where the observer and the observed merge into a single, timeless, and boundless field of consciousness.
Does the Mind Have Knowledge of Pure Awareness?
The mind, which is nothing but a bundle of thoughts and memory, cannot truly know pure awareness. When the mind is engaged, it is imprisoned in its own constructs and interpretations. The act of awareness itself is beyond thought, as it is the very fabric of consciousness. Your consciousness, however, does retain a memory or recollection of such a state, often through profound experiences such as meditation or deep meditation states known as Savikalpa-Samadhi.
Memory vs. Pure Awareness
Memory, a byproduct of the mind, records experiences that are derived from observable and real phenomena. But pure awareness transcends mere memory; it is beyond the realms of thought and language. When the mind exhausts all of its memories and thoughts, what remains is the raw, unadulterated state of pure awareness.
Can you conceptualize such a state? It's impossible to describe it through words. It's akin to a dream but a poignant thought, a fleeting moment of ineffable clarity and presence. Just the glimpse of this feeling is beyond the grasp of verbalization. Only through dedicated practice and self-realization can one truly experience it.
The Role of Consciousness
Consciousness is a more powerful reality than the mind. It is the most fundamental aspect of existence that encompasses awareness, and memory. The ontological question of knowing and being becomes deeply intertwined, touching upon the very essence of existence.
Consciousness and Being
Consciousness and being are not separate entities. The profound realization that I am consciousness itself frees one from the illusion of separateness. In this state, the witness aspect of consciousness becomes aware of itself, just as it is aware of the mind and its memories.
Critical Reflection on "Pure Awareness" and "Pure Consciousness"
Some may find the terms "pure awareness" and "pure consciousness" to be technically cumbersome. However, these concepts are not entirely phony. Behind every sense of aliveness, perception, and being lies a profound mystery that is both unreachable and incomprehensible by conventional thought and language.
Examples from deep sleep illustrate this point nicely. In deep sleep, there is no observer, no time, no space, and no cosmos. Just a state of pure silence and stillness, yet life and peace abound. This unmanifest potential is the essence of existence, the mysterious and universal light, which is beyond words and concepts.
Conclusion
The journey towards pure awareness and consciousness is long and arduous, but it is through the dedicated effort and continuous inquiry that one can start to experience the boundless field of pure awareness. As you progress on this path, remember that pure awareness is the ultimate state of consciousness where you stand as the observer of everything.