Education in Values and Spirituality :: Consciousness and the Divine

Module 4 Unit 1- Perspectives on Consciousness

This unit begins with a description of consciousness offered by psychology and science. Psychologists have distinguished two modes of perception: the intuitive and the intellectual. Modern science favours the intellectual mode and ancient spiritual traditions favour the intuitive mode. There is increasing recognition by scientists that our view of reality is determined by our consciousness.

Much scientific, philosophical, religious and psychological debate centres around the link between consciousness and our sense perceptions of external material reality. The perception of the beauty, value and sanctity of life is the mystical and spiritual foundation of all the religions and central to their teachings on morality and values. Science is not concerned with whether something is ethically or morally correct but describes physical, material reality and its laws. Religion and spirituality are concerned with ethics, morality and meaning in life. The scientific world view gives importance to sensory data, rational thinking and material values such as money, property, social status, etc because of being unaware or unable to perceive or prove the human spirit.

Globally we live in a materialist culture which obstructs the development and cultivation of human values. Change takes place first at the level of ideas. Once people begin to transform their understanding of consciousness and change their ideas and approach to life they will create a value-based, spiritually oriented culture where universal and human values occupy a natural ascendency over material values.

Our values are demonstrated by our actions. Actions begin as thoughts, feelings, and emotions. This unit establishes the link between the state of human consciousness or self-awareness and the decline or rise in human values. The aim of meditation and spiritual study is to be able to live with others harmoniously, with love and respect. As your meditation progresses your conscience becomes more refined and your standards of morality and ethics rise.

Spiritual qualities and values are dominant when there is soul-consciousness which creates balance in life. False ego, negative qualities and the tendency to give greater priority to material values are dominant in body-consciousness which creates imbalance. Spiritual values may be missing altogether.

The soul animates the body and operates it via the brain and nervous system. A soul is invisible to the human eye. The first step of Raja Yoga meditation is to consider the self as a soul, a tiny pinpoint of light that is self-aware. This peaceful, serene point of energy (you) has three faculties for expression of conscious awareness. They are: the mind, intellect and sanskaras or personality traits. They operate cyclically in conjunction with each other.

A thought arises in the mind with the potential to come into action. First, the thought passes before the moral consciousness or intellect, where it is judged and either accepted or not. If it is accepted, it is expressed as an act. If it is not accepted, it simply disappears or stops. A thought can arise in the mind because of sensory perception, association, memory, or other stimulus. The mind has the power to create thoughts which can be classified as positive, negative, waste or ordinary. You inspire your mind to produce positive thoughts when you meditate.

The intellect is the most important faculty of human consciousness for bringing about change. The intellect is the faculty which discerns the quality of thought, ethical purity, truthfulness, etc. It also functions as the conscience. You experience no inner conflict when the mind and intellect are pure and strong.