Consciousness is obvious, mysterious, unthinkable, and
infinitely deep. Scientists and philosophers often write convoluted
exhausting boring explanations of consciousness; but that is not consciousness.
Consciousness' luminous reality is to be intuited directly and effortlessly. Consider the Dzogchen[1]
teachings. Tsoknyi Rinpoche sums it up brilliantly: “Let the display of
thoughts, emotions, and perceptions unfold naturally and without clinging, like
clouds passing through an open sky.”[2]
Consciousness is like the sky – open to everything passing through it but ultimately
unaffected. Like a mirror – it reflects everything that passes by while staying
clear and empty.
We live mostly in separation consciousness; feeling-thinking "this
or that" in a world of distinct, somewhat unrelated objects. Me and
you. Us and them. Light and dark - and shades in-between.
The universe is infused with consciousness. But it is
unfocused and not self-aware. Life becomes progressively more intelligent until
it become self-aware, self-conscious. Feeding back on itself. Learning from its
own successes and mistakes.
Unitive, union, or cosmic consciousness is a state of alive
luminous oneness. This state is more likely to persist while discursive dualistic
thought is suspended.
At one extreme it a bath of bliss. And, we care little for
the “details” of maintaining the body.
In a more ordinary functional life, we feel love and unity
with others while still aware of separate persons and objects.
