What is Consciousness

This is an interesting question, but essentially it is you. And what you are is the real question.

When you look into a mirror and say “this is me,” what exactly is the “me” you are referring to? The one who is identifying? Or what you see — the body, the face, the form? Look carefully. You are not the body. The body is of you, but you are not the body. There is something doing the identifying. That which is identifying is the observer. That observer is you.

What usually happens is that we identify with the object. With emotions, feelings, memories, events. We think we are our thoughts. But here is the irony: there is still an observer knowing that a thought is happening. If you were your thoughts, how could you know you are thinking? You are the observer. That is consciousness.

But how do you contact yourself? If you think it is that feeling of “this is me” — that gut or heart feeling of certainty — that is not you either. That is the mind. That feeling, what people call intuition or the higher self, is the mind settled and listening. It is the intuitive mind connected to your destiny, following the path that was already set for you. It feels empowering. It feels divine. But the reality is it is still just the mind — quieter, more aligned, but still the mind.

Consciousness cannot be explained. It must be experienced. Once you experience it, you will realize there is only you in the entire universe, and everything and everyone is just you in a different shade. It can also be called energy, awareness, the witness. With full development of awareness, you can merge into the energy of consciousness and experience it directly.

Think of it like this: a pool of fish asking, “Has anyone seen the ocean?” That ocean is consciousness. And you are already in it, asking the question.