Q: I am aware that I am aware. Who is aware? Awareness/Consciousness looking at itself through jiva’s means of perception.
As Jiva I definitely know that I am not independently existent. I can’t solve this apparent situation/separation looking from these means of perception. I have to accept, bow to, agree, be, be nothing and through means of perception, enjoy, revel, live whatever is left of this experiment/marriage in sickness and in health. Is it not so? Abiding will take practice.
Om Om Om
A: It is possible for the jiva to realise that it is aware … at the level of person. This is done through perception and inference available to any intelligent and self-examining jiva who employs these means of knowledge to understand itself. However, this awareness is reflected awareness, cidabhasa.
But with Consciousness, it is a different matter. It is another dimension. Consciousness is always aware by nature. Consciousness does not need to become aware since Awareness, Cit, is its inherent nature. The nature of Consciousness is pure Presence of Be-ing, unconditioned Awareness, complete Fulfilment, permanent Peace, absolute Happiness, unconditional Lovingness. So … Consciousness is Awareness, eternally aware, or, to put it the other way, Consciousness is never ever unaware.
Only that which is unaware needs to become aware. It is the jiva who needs to become aware of the Consciousness it is. Because of ignorance, the jiva is born unaware, the default condition of human birth, and so needs to become aware.
The jiva needs the third means of knowledge, the words of scripture to recognise its true nature. The other two means of knowledge, perception and inference, can be used only for objects whether subtle or dense. But Consciousness is the Subject, I, beyond perception and inference. Only direct recognition with the help of scripture will work.
So, at this level, who is aware that it is Awareness? The jiva who is now Self-recognised, the Jnani, Jivan mukta.
Consciousness does not need to look at itself through the jiva’s means of perception and inference. Consciousness illumines and witnesses the jiva doing jnana yoga to become aware of its true nature. Consciousness even witnesses the jiva undergoing the three states of experience, including deep sleep where there is no perception nor inference. Consciousness just IS … “I, Consciousness, am Awareness itself, as such.”
Yes, nididhyasanam, Vedantic meditation, takes practice … witnessed by Consciousness, I.
But for Consciousness, there is no practice … Consciousness just IS. “I, Consciousness, AM” … am-ness, is-ness, be-ingness, Presence, always Aware.
Om Shanti.
