View Full Version : What exactly is Pure Consciousness?
cokedrinker123
2008-10-16, 19:56
I have looked this up, and I looked for the definition, but there are no exact definitions and/or clear explanations of this.
What exactly does Pure Consciousness mean?
MR.Kitty55
2008-10-16, 21:34
I have looked this up, and I looked for the definition, but there are no exact definitions and/or clear explanations of this.
What exactly does Pure Consciousness mean?
I believe everyone experienced pure consciousness before they were born, awareness of all, limited to nothing. Meaning you perceived nothing (not saying nothing exists) because when you become pure consciousness everything becomes part of you, and if everything is part of you than there is nothing that appears outside of you.
In short, I would say its pure being, unaware of anything outside of itself...Causing it to reflect back on itself, bringing us into existence
cokedrinker123
2008-10-16, 21:41
That sounds like a very philosophical definition. Well explained, although just thinking about it implies a paradox. I mean Pure Consciousness would be nice and all, but how nice if we can't even experience it and can't even think?
MR.Kitty55
2008-10-16, 22:07
That sounds like a very philosophical definition. Well explained, although just thinking about it implies a paradox. I mean Pure Consciousness would be nice and all, but how nice if we can't even experience it and can't even think?
The irony is (IMO) we exist to get back to pure being, which we assume is unity, when all pure being does is alienate us.
Think about it, if everything is one (pure consciousness) then it is all alone in isolation...Not exactly enjoyable. Nothing outside of it so it turned back in on itself.
Optimus Prime
2008-10-17, 05:30
The irony is (IMO) we exist to get back to pure being, which we assume is unity, when all pure being does is alienate us.
Think about it, if everything is one (pure consciousness) then it is all alone in isolation...Not exactly enjoyable. Nothing outside of it so it turned back in on itself.
Something I ponder on this idea: In the state of pure consciousness, would isolation produce the same loneliness and insanity in the unified spirit and mind as in the individual spirit and mind?
ArmsMerchant
2008-10-17, 19:05
Something I ponder on this idea: In the state of pure consciousness, would isolation produce the same loneliness and insanity in the unified spirit and mind as in the individual spirit and mind?
Not at all. IMHO, pure consciousness is another way of stating "unity consciousness"--the highest state of consciousness. One experiences unity with all things, including God , and in a sense, becomes God.
This is what Jesus was talking about when he said "the kingdom of God is within you."
This is what the anciet sages of India were referring to when they said "You are not in the world. The world is in you."
cokedrinker123
2008-10-17, 19:56
Maybe it's just me, but it's still hard for me to image anything "within me".
I mean I obviously don't remember before I was born, and if pure consciousness is somewhat like that, what positivity would you get out of it?
I mean the replies you guys have given me have helped me to understand what it is, but what exactly is so "good" about this state of consciousness? Are you aware, and can you think?
Vanhalla
2008-10-17, 21:39
I have looked this up, and I looked for the definition, but there are no exact definitions and/or clear explanations of this.
What exactly does Pure Consciousness mean?
There is no definition for Pure Consciousness, only for what Pure Consciousness is not, for if one is to define something they must mark it off from other objects.
The Absolute is inexplicable through the viewpoint of ignorance and through the attribution of “name and form” (nama-rupa). Nama-rupa is the same as the conception of a snake in place of a rope. Both are destroyed when knowledge dawns. “Hence the Absolute cannot be designated by any name, nor can it assume any form.”
The Absolute Self is to deny that the body or any other empirically knowable factor is the self and to designate what is left as real, even though it cannot be expressed in words.
If we are to define the Absolute as Reality, Knowledge, Infinity; each element negates the non-transcendent dimensions that are conceivable in one or both of the other elements.
Reality means that its being never fails, in contrast to the forms of things which being modifications are existent at one time, only to “fail” at some other time. This could imply that the Absolute is a non-conscious material cause, the term knowledge cancels any such false notion. But knowledge can be mistaken for an empirical attribute of the intellect, it too needs to be conditioned by the term infinity, as it negates any possibility of bifurcation into subject and object which is a necessary condition for empirical knowledge. Infinity is said to “characterize the Absolute by negating finitude,” whereas “the terms ‘Reality’ and ‘Knowledge’ characterize the Absolute by investing it with their own positive meanings”, which must be understood from an apophatic viewpoint.
I mean the replies you guys have given me have helped me to understand what it is, but what exactly is so "good" about this state of consciousness? Are you aware, and can you think?
It is pure awareness and the opposite of thought.
cokedrinker123
2008-10-17, 22:15
If we are to define the Absolute as Reality, Knowledge, Infinity; each element negates the non-transcendent dimensions that are conceivable in one or both of the other elements.
Reality means that its being never fails, in contrast to the forms of things which being modifications are existent at one time, only to “fail” at some other time. This could imply that the Absolute is a non-conscious material cause, the term knowledge cancels any such false notion. But knowledge can be mistaken for an empirical attribute of the intellect, it too needs to be conditioned by the term infinity, as it negates any possibility of bifurcation into subject and object which is a necessary condition for empirical knowledge. Infinity is said to “characterize the Absolute by negating finitude,” whereas “the terms ‘Reality’ and ‘Knowledge’ characterize the Absolute by investing it with their own positive meanings”, which must be understood from an apophatic viewpoint.
It is pure awareness and the opposite of thought.
LOL, if that was exactly in your own words, then all I can say is props to you.
Vanhalla
2008-10-17, 23:22
LOL, if that was exactly in your own words, then all I can say is props to you.
Much of those ideas are in the book "Paths to Transcendence: According to Shankara, Ibn ‘Arabi, and Meister Eckhart" if anyone is interested. I highly recommend for someone who is interested, to spend a few weeks contemplating the ideas in that book.
Agent 008
2008-10-23, 10:00
When a kid is born, he's basically just fresh hardware, with some firmware pre-installed (instincts).
I believe Pure Consciousness to be the opposite of thought.
Simply "being".
Agent 008
2008-10-23, 14:19
Seeing the world without preconceptions about anything.
Should also add that I think this "being" is created out of constructive interference by the chaotic and illogical.
jennifer12
2008-10-30, 01:34
I've given this question a lot of thought. Consciousness is simply being aware. To me, pure consciousness is a phrase that leads to complicated thinking. It doesn't need to be complicated. Pure means undiluted, if something is pure, there only that thing there. If you are conscious, you're conscious. There is nothing else to it. I guess you could be in a state of semi-consciousness and then it wouldn't be pure. Like when you are waking up, or daydreaming in class.
I have written about subjects like this on my blog.
http://lovelygardens.typepad.com/
Dream of the iris
2008-10-30, 11:41
Everyone has this unity consciousness thing. It's just you have a lot of crust over your eyes so you cannot see. You become enamored in things like emotion and let them take you over, causing you not to see this reality. You are already in that state whether or not you know it.
Everyone has this unity consciousness thing. It's just you have a lot of crust over your eyes so you cannot see. You become enamored in things like emotion and let them take you over, causing you not to see this reality. You are already in that state whether or not you know it.
NO U :mad: