Is Consciousness just a word to describe the 5 senses?

WeRDivine · #1 07-11-2020, 10:02 PM

Isn't that just a fancy word for the 5 senses? Without the senses we wouldn't be conscious right?

And how do we know we have souls? I can't feel one.

inavalan · #2 07-11-2020, 10:22 PM

There is a contradiction between your handle "we r devine" and your statement "... souls? I can't feel one."

Miss Hepburn · #3 07-11-2020, 11:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WeRDivine

Isn't that just a fancy word for the 5 senses?
Without the senses we wouldn't be conscious right?

I believe a blind and deaf person would disagree.

We have a Blind and Deaf School in my City, btw.
Almost bought a house across from the entrance...
Big old Oxford looking buildings.

WeRDivine · #4 08-11-2020, 01:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Miss Hepburn

I believe a blind and deaf person would disagree.

We have a Blind and Deaf School in my City, btw.
Almost bought a house across from the entrance...
Big old Oxford looking buildings.

What if you're born without senses? You wouldn't exist.

Miss Hepburn · #5 08-11-2020, 03:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WeRDivine

What if you're born without senses? You wouldn't exist.

I have a question...do you think senses are so important?

Must your vocal chords work?
Do you have to see trees and stars?
Do you have to hear a flute?
But do you have to feel cold and heat? To be conscious?

Just asking.
I say a lot goes on between the ears - no need for this physical 3rd dimension...as anyone on the Other Side will tell you.

#6 08-11-2020, 03:18 PM

A good analogy is that of light. In the vacuum of space it does not appear there is light until an object is introduced, and then the light reveals itself via illumination of the object.

Just like light Consciousness is ever-present and all-pervasive, regardless whether a mind is present to be illumined by Consciousness.

That which we perceive as consciousness is but a reflection of Consciousness. It's akin to the reflection of a face in the mirror. If there's no mirror there's still a face.

EDIT: I'm watching a lecture on Adi Sankaracharya's Atma Bodha and this is verse 21. https://youtu.be/_cC0U43JKn8?t=1279

Due to ignorance, your mind's qualities and activities are attributed to Atma,
like when the Moon is reflected in water, the water's ripples are attributed to the Moon.

Atma = Consciousness (Moon) and what we perceive as consciousness is the Moon's reflection in the water (our minds).

This concept is at the heart of Advaita and called superimposition. We impose the ego-self upon Self. We perceive the limitless as the limited.

guthrio · #7 18-11-2020, 04:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JustASimpleGuy

A good analogy is that of light. In the vacuum of space it does not appear there is light until an object is introduced, and then the light reveals itself via illumination of the object.

Just like light Consciousness is ever-present and all-pervasive, regardless whether a mind is present to be illumined by Consciousness.

That which we perceive as consciousness is but a reflection of Consciousness. It's akin to the reflection of a face in the mirror. If there's no mirror there's still a face.

EDIT: I'm watching a lecture on Adi Sankaracharya's Atma Bodha and this is verse 21. https://youtu.be/_cC0U43JKn8?t=1279

Due to ignorance, your mind's qualities and activities are attributed to Atma,
like when the Moon is reflected in water, the water's ripples are attributed to the Moon.

Atma = Consciousness (Moon) and what we perceive as consciousness is the Moon's reflection in the water (our minds).

This concept is at the heart of Advaita and called superimposition. We impose the ego-self upon Self. We perceive the limitless as the limited.

JASG,

.... A strange thought just occurred to me that may have bearing on the OPs question and on your concept of Advaita.

Isn't your description of Advaita exactly the superimposition upon that which cannot be described....as if we can perceive (sense) the Nameless through this Name.....like mistaking the ripples in the pond for the Moon?

The mirror has no sense of itself or what it reflects. This is the perennial mistake of man's mind as well.

WeRDivine · #8 09-11-2020, 09:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Miss Hepburn

I have a question...do you think senses are so important?

Must your vocal chords work?
Do you have to see trees and stars?
Do you have to hear a flute?
But do you have to feel cold and heat? To be conscious?

Just asking.
I say a lot goes on between the ears - no need for this physical 3rd dimension...as anyone on the Other Side will tell you.

Doesn't conscious mean being aware of things? Then yes you need to feel cold or heat and see things to be conscious.

#9 09-11-2020, 10:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WeRDivine

Doesn't conscious mean being aware of things? Then yes you need to feel cold or heat and see things to be conscious.

Only if you think consciousness is a product of brain/mind and you are mind-body.

If you think you are Divine and the Divine is Consciousness then Consciousness just is, regardless of the existence or non-existence of anything else.

In other words it's not being consciousness, but Consciousness just is. It's fundamental. Primary and moreso than space, time and matter.

Phaelyn · #10 18-11-2020, 08:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WeRDivine

Doesn't conscious mean being aware of things?

You can also be aware if things are not there. Like be aware of no sound, no light or vision, no feeling. Like when the doctor or dentist numbs you up and asks you, "can you feel that?" And you say no.

If we leave the body, and therefore have none of the bodies senses, we are still conscious. Remember we can hear things in dreams, see things in dreams, talk to others in dreams, and none of that is done through our bodies senses.