Page 26 - NAMAH-Jul-2022

Namah Vol. 30, Issue 2, 15th July 2022

not have objective validation while science comprise all reality and Sanskrit alphabets
deals with the phenomena of consciousness were derived from these reverberations so
that are primarily objective, though a that meanings are associated with sounds in
subjective element cannot be ruled out (a a significant way. In this view, every object
reason why even physics has to deal with starts as a vibration that holds the potential
the observer bias). This difference between of the object as well as its corresponding
mystical and scientific disciplines needs to sound. The vibration manifests as sound and
be maintained as scientific parameters can following this trajectory, the sound manifests
only deal with phenomena which can be further to become the meaning-sound pair.
rationally, objectively, systematically and Thus every object carries its name as an in-
rigorously studied under the “experiment built programme that can be assessed in terms
– observation – inference – verification – re- of consciousness (2). This is how practical
verification” rubric. Mysticism uses intuitive taxonomies of the physical world were built
approaches and can deal with consciousness with intricacy and sophistication in ancient
as a Reality or essence of existence that can India. It is in this context that the Sanskrit
be experientially perceived regardless of term Chit, Cit or Citta should be construed
whether it fulfils the criteria of scientific to signify consciousness in its essential and
objectivity. primordial mode.

Problems arise because though the
scientific and mystical paradigms refer to
two different perspectives, we use the same
word “consciousness”, albeit interchangeably.
Things get worse when a discipline like
transpersonal psychology attempts to give
equal importance to the mindsets of the
scientist and the mystic. Perhaps the
confusion would be less if two separate terms
were used for the two paradigms. When
spiritual experience describes consciousness
as Reality or the essence of Reality, then the
term “consciousness” is better represented in Chit has been viewed as “pure consciousness”
its purity and primordial state by the Sanskrit or “divine consciousness” in contrast to the
term, Chit or Cit or Citta, which is different ordinary mental or phenomenal consciousness
from the phenomena which science studies (3). Sri Aurobindo describes that it is “the
as consciousness. universal conscious-stuff of existence” that
can remain unmanifest or get manifested
It is interesting to note that many Sanskrit in many poises (4). There is the poise of the
terms cannot be easily translated into other mental self-awareness in human beings where
languages or interposed into modern thought- the universality of Chit gets limited; there is
paradigms without loss of meaning. It is the poise of a still limited consciousness in
traditionally held that the primordial vibrations terrestrial forms below the level of human

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