Page 27 - NAMAH-Jul-2022

Namah Consciousness: An Expanding Experiential Construct

beings in the scale of evolution while at 2. Secondly, all phenomena which science
the level of matter, Chit gets so limited that studies as attributes of consciousness are
it appears to be inconscient. There are viewed as restricted and limited forms,
also superhuman poises where Chit can modes and movements of the pure, divine
manifest with greater potentialities than in Chit. “These lower modes of consciousness
ordinary mentality. Finally, there is the are the conscious-stuff of inferior planes in
transcendental poise of Chit which is a state one indivisible existence”.... “It is this Chit
of “pure consciousness” without any phenomenal which modifies itself so as to become ..... on
content. the mental plane the mental reason, will,
emotion, sensation, on the lower planes the
For a scientist, an exploration of consciousness vital or physical instincts, impulses, habits of
studies would be meaningless in the absence an obscure force not in superficially conscious
of phenomenology. For a mystic, an exploration possession of itself (7).”
of realms of consciousness without any
phenomenon may provide the ultimate Sri Aurobindo’s usage of the term consciousness is
meaning of Reality or may demonstrate not only limited to the poises through which
how a phenomenal world is supported consciousness is manifest — it extends to those
by a non-phenomenal dimension of states where consciousness is unmanifest.
consciousness. In fact, Chit is “the This includes at one end, the Inconscience
elemental origin and primal completeness” of where consciousness is not manifest and
all the varied forms and phenomena and there is only a material energy which seems
poises through which consciousness is to work apparently through necessity or a
manifested (5), as well as that indescribable self-regulating chance; while at the other end
state where all phenomenal attributes are this usage also refers to experiential states
transcended. of Void or Zero (or Asat, Non-Being Beyond,
Non-Existence) where a term like Chit cannot
While mystics tend to study consciousness in its be applied in the ordinary cognitive sense
pure, divine, Chit aspect without phenomenal because “all terms are annulled and all cognitive
attributes or supporting phenomenal contents, experience is overpassed (8).”
scientists study consciousness exclusively
through diverse physical and psychological Yet this Zero or Non-Existence is actually
phenomena. Sri Aurobindo uses the term not devoid of consciousness because it is
consciousness in the broadest possible sense not “Nothing” but “something beyond the
so that it signifies all the possible poises last term to which we can reduce our purest
through which consciousness is manifested. conception and our most abstract or subtle
From the spiritual perspective, such as usage experience..... This Nothing then is merely a
of the term consciousness is justified because something beyond positive conception (9).”
of two reasons: It appears to the mind as blank because the
mind grasps only finite constructions. Even
1. Firstly, spiritual experience has identified without transcending the ordinary cognitive
Consciousness with Existence (Sat),“All is level, there might be psychological processes
Chit because all is Sat... (6)”and; without any apparent conscious contents

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