What is consciousness?

For thousands of years, the concept of consciousness has been a subject of intense debate across various disciplines—scientific, philosophical, psychological, and spiritual. Within scholarly circles, the question persists: Does consciousness extend beyond the confines of the brain? While some contemporary neuroscientists argue that consciousness is solely a product of brain activity, other traditions, like Vedanta, emphasize the primacy of mind or spirit. 

The intricate relationship between consciousness and matter, often termed the ‘hard problem,’ continues to captivate researchers and thinkers. As we grapple with genetic modifications, nootropic drugs, and rapid advancements in artificial intelligence, the exploration of consciousness takes on new dimensions, offering both risks and opportunities. Ultimately, the inquiry into whether consciousness transcends the brain’s boundaries remains open to debate. 

In Consciousology, we predominantly study and explore consciousness (or conscious awareness) from a psychological perspective (hence – Consciousology). The aim is to understand and enhance individual consciousness through both psychological introspection and mindfulness, leading to improved mental well-being, anxiety reduction, and a life free of addiction, trauma, and self-loathing. 

We are complex beings with multiple facets to our psyche and personality and through deep meditative self exploration, we can get a better understanding of our emotional blueprint, the core subconscious operating system that dictates the way we think and subsequently behave. Through this we can reconnect to our inner child, have more awareness of dysfunctional egoic thoughts and behaviours and allow our true self to shine through.

The central question remains: Can exploring the depths of one’s own consciousness contribute to a more fulfilling life and provide greater purpose to our existence? Furthermore, does expanding one’s own conscious awareness go on to have an impact on the wider collective consciousness of all human beings?

Whilst traditional Psychiatry typically approaches mental health through the physiological/medical lens and Psychology leans today more towards a scientific perspective that concentrates on the observable aspect of human behaviour, Consciousology focuses on the unobservable (and often subjective) aspect of mental health, our subconscious. The parts of us that have a huge influence on our wellbeing, sense of self worth and in particular on levels of anxiety.