Consciousness.

 This is a very tricky subject. It’s a word that can have different meanings, depending who is using it. Some people may use the word ‘consciousness’ to mean our absolute nature, whereas others may use this word as a faculty of mind.

 Of course, it will mean what the person intends it to mean, in context. So if someone says, “I am consciousness having an experience,” that may be how it feels to that person, which all well and good.

 However, if others just repeat that phrase, they may not have the same understanding. It is like an artist going out to paint a scene: their picture will be an image of an image. If someone then copies that artist’s painting (without looking at the original scene), then they will create an image, of an image, of an image. It will not be what was originally seen.

 This is really tricky, as we all fall for repeating others’ words, without the experience. All we have to do is look for ourselves.

 Lets consider the statement, “I am consciousness having an experience,” from a Buddhist perspective (this is one of the reasons I like Buddhism, as it can take everything apart and see what is actually left! 🙂 ).

 So, “I am empty essence (consciousness) having an experience.”

 This statement is sort of true. But what is actually happening is that we are indeed empty essence…but…we are caught up in experience! We believe it to be real. If we are truly empty essence, there would only be experience, and not the having of an experience. If we are having an experience, we are caught up in the illusion. Having an experience is a duality: we are trapped in relative truth, and not ultimate truth.

 In the pure experience of absolute truth, there is nothing happening. Nothing but pure awareness.

 As I said, it’s a tricky subject, and needs much reflection.

 From a Buddhist point of view, there are eight consciousnesses – five of the senses and three of mind. Below is a link to a previous article about the eight consciousnesses which illustrates that “I am consciousness just having an experience,” is the eighth consciousness: this is nearly essence, but not quite. The eighth consciousness is still a relative truth.

 Of course, this is up to you to decide.

In philosophy, we can argue about this and that,       
but in meditational experience, there is no this and that.
There is only pure awareness.
Its expression is compassion…unlimited compassion.

Buddha: “You only lose what you are holding on to.”

 https://buddhainthemud.com/2013/01/11/eight-consciousnesses-and-beyond/