This Present Moment of Consciousness

This present moment of consciousness was created by the previous moment of consciousness. This seems reasonable enough, until we realise that this is precisely how we keep our very limited programming running. This is precisely how essence is distracted. We have consciousness; we are not consciousness itself.

The problem I had in the past with the idea of consciousness was due to the way in which the word ‘consciousness’ was being used. In the west, we use this word to mean awareness; “I was conscious of the fact”. This, to us, means the same as, “I was aware of the fact”. I have even heard the expression, “a ‘conscious’ work of art”.

In Buddhism, the word consciousness means facilities in the mind. There are eight levels of consciousness – five of the senses and three of the mind: perception, judgment and reference. It is how we perceive, or how perception takes place, and so we believe that because of this, there must be a perceiver. In fact, that so-called perceiver is still mind consciousness. Ultimately, pure perception has no perceiver as that would be a duality. In pure perception there is merely pure perception – no time for reference. The idea of a perceiver arises a moment after we come out of pure perception.

So how does knowing that this present moment of consciousness was created by the previous moment of consciousness help us? Remember that ‘us’ is pure awareness that mistakes appearances as being reality, when pure awareness is the reality itself.

In knowing how the present moment was created, we can break through this programming cycle. Just by recognising that moment, pausing and allowing space, a fresh approach will present itself.

There is a faculty in the mind which is the messenger called manas or manas-vijnana http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manas-vijnana We could call this the messenger of the mind, the same as Hermes and Mercury – messengers of the gods.

Here is a personal observation.

When I need to write or respond to someone, falling silent and allowing space – emptiness – the mind stops producing habitual reactions; their residue is still there but one leaves this alone. This allows the mind – the messenger – to scan itself for a response. If the response is not satisfactory, one just says, “Please go back and try again.” What is strange is that it scans for short term memory, but also deeper memories…I’m not sure where they come from! It seems to work. There is no effort involved – it is spontaneous. If nothing comes, then nothing comes. We all have this facility, but are too used to jumping in ‘head’ first!

This cuts through the present moment of consciousness. Then everything is brighter, fresher, inspiring. We have just walked out of prison – the prison of consciousness.