~Consciousness

In English we often do not have precise words for the more subtle aspects of human experience. Therefore, the word consciousness is used to translate different Sanskrit words, and means different words in different contexts. In Buddhism, consciousness or chitta refers to the basic “lens” through which we know or experience everything.

When we try to turn our attention toward consciousness, we don’t find a thing. Consciousness has no location, shape, taste or color, yet it reveals everything. We cannot experience consciousness as an object in the same way that we know objects such as physical sensations, sounds, and thoughts. We can ask questions and be willing to leave those questions unanswered for years: what allows me to hear that sound? Who knows that experience of itching or remembering or joy?

If we want to experience consciousness directly, we need to take the emphasis off the objects, and pay attention instead to the simple fact that they are known.
When the mind is undistracted, consciousness appears clear and unobstructed. The undistracted mind knows things directly and immediately. Thoughts about objects are distinct from the direct knowing of them.

Some people learn to be aware of chitta. It can be freeing thus to see clearly the deepest “programming” of the ego, etched into the lens of chitta, and to know that we need not be dominated by that conditioning.

Similarly, we can bring attention to the sense of “I”, to the sense of “witnessing” our experience. While it may be helpful to focus inwardly in this way, we can investigate even further: What gives life to this potential for knowing? From where does this individual consciousness receive its energy? We say “I see” or “I think”. But who or what is actually doing the seeing and thinking?

The Buddha’s teaching is about not clinging to anything, no matter how refined or subtle it may be. If we cling to neither to objects nor to the knowing of them, then what? What stands revealed when there’s no clinging to anything at all? This experience of peace is what the Buddha called “the sure heart’s release.”

It is important to know that many spiritual teachings use the same English word, consciousness, to refer to this fountain of peace beyond chitta. This experience is available for each of us, at any moment. That is why each moment is worthy of our attention.