From Limited Mind and Body to Our True (No) Self

Abstract: There exist many interpretations to the term “consciousness”. In some of the Eastern and Western spiritual traditions, the consciousness is referred to as the highest meditative attainment and it is frequently equated with the “Godly” or the enlightened nature of our mind. However, in the Buddhist tradition, such an enlightened state is referred to as the “cessation of consciousness” in which, the gross-level human mind disappears. There’s no individuality or self-notion to grasp in it. However, our mind, when it operates with the five senses in day-to-day life, is also called consciousness in science, albeit this is the gross-level operation. So, there’s a contradiction in the usage of this term. This article demystifies the term “consciousness” and explains different meditative states one can attain with respect to our day-to-day mind. It is also worthwhile to study about the “illusion game” created by our consciousness and to navigate through its dramatic narratives. Fig....