Consciousness is a quality of the mind generally regarded to comprise such key features as subjectivity, self-awareness, sentience, sapience, and the ability to perceive the relationship between oneself and one's environment. It is a subject of much research in philosophy of mind, psychology, neurology, and cognitive science. Some philosophers divide consciousness into phenomenal consciousness, which is experience itself, and access consciousness, which is the processing of the things in experience (Block 2004). Others consider ...

Including:

• Consciousness - Etymology
• Consciousness - Consciousness and language
• Consciousness - Cognitive neuroscience approaches
• Consciousness - Philosophical approaches
• Consciousness - Phenomenal and access consciousness
• Consciousness - The description and location of phenomenal consciousness
• Consciousness - Access consciousness
• Consciousness - Physical approaches
• Consciousness - Spiritual approaches
• Consciousness - Functions of consciousness
• Consciousness - Tests of consciousness
• Consciousness - Turing Test
• Consciousness - Mirror test
• Consciousness - Cognitive Neuroscience
• Consciousness - Philosophy
• Consciousness - Physical Theories of Consciousness
• Consciousness - People
• Consciousness - Miscellaneous

Read more here: » Consciousness: Encyclopedia - Consciousness

See also:

Consciousness, Consciousness - Etymology, Consciousness - Consciousness and language, Consciousness - Cognitive neuroscience approaches, Consciousness - Philosophical approaches, Consciousness - Phenomenal and access consciousness, Consciousness - The description and location of phenomenal consciousness, Consciousness - Access consciousness, Consciousness - Physical approaches, Consciousness - Spiritual approaches, Consciousness - Functions of consciousness, Consciousness - Tests of consciousness, Consciousness - Turing Test, Consciousness - Mirror test, Consciousness - Cognitive Neuroscience, Consciousness - Philosophy, Consciousness - Physical Theories of Consciousness, Consciousness - People, Consciousness - Miscellaneous

Read more here: » Consciousness: Encyclopedia II - Consciousness - Spiritual approaches

Some philosophers suggest that consciousness resists or even defies definition. Others believe it can be usefully distinguished between phenomenal consciousness and access or psychological consciousness, while still others disagree. There are many philosophical stances on consciousness, including: behaviorism, dualism, idealism, functionalism, phenomenalism, physicalism, emergentism, and mysticism. C ...

See also:

Consciousness, Consciousness - Etymology, Consciousness - Consciousness and language, Consciousness - Cognitive neuroscience approaches, Consciousness - Philosophical approaches, Consciousness - Phenomenal and access consciousness, Consciousness - The description and location of phenomenal consciousness, Consciousness - Access consciousness, Consciousness - Physical approaches, Consciousness - Spiritual approaches, Consciousness - Functions of consciousness, Consciousness - Tests of consciousness, Consciousness - Turing Test, Consciousness - Mirror test, Consciousness - Cognitive Neuroscience, Consciousness - Philosophy, Consciousness - Physical Theories of Consciousness, Consciousness - People, Consciousness - Miscellaneous

Read more here: » Consciousness: Encyclopedia II - Consciousness - Philosophical approaches

Civilisation is defined by and founded upon the ideals and shared beliefs that weld society together. What uniquely defines the human experience is the transcendent component of life.

It unlocks the creative capacities within our consciousness and safeguards human dignity. Pragmatic approaches to problem solving must play a central role in development initiatives. But equally, tapping the spiritual roots of human motivation provides the essential impulse that ensures genuine social advancement. When spiritual principles are fully integrated into community development activities, the ideas, insights and practical measures that emerge are more likely to promote self-reliance and preserve human honour.

(See also: Science and Religion, Faith and Belief, Spiritual Guidance, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

Our scientific understanding has undermined many conventional approaches to spirituality at the very time we most need to strengthen these capacities. The source of the difficulty may hold the key to the solution. Science is widely accepted because it works. It looks at the world as it is searching for the simplest possible description. Discovery of simple descriptive laws has led to enormous power to control the phenomena the laws describe feeding our technical prowess. It was only possible to do this by divorcing science from feeling and values so one could see what is and not what one wants to see.

Read more here: » Spirituality and Science: The keys to integrating spirituality and science

Japa

Japa has become a very popular form of worship in modern day Hinduism. Especially with the rise of bhakti movement and the popularity of many yogis and babas, japa has entered the hearts and minds of many devout and spiritually inclined Hindus. Japa means continuous recitation of God's name either silently in ones mind or aloud in a group. Continuous recitation of God's name is expected to purify the mind of the devotee and fill his consciousness with divine thoughts and vibrant spiritual energy. The regular chanting is expected to create certain vibrations in the body and mind which would facilitate the spiritual transformation of ones ordinary self.

Read more here: » Japa: Hinduism Rituals - Japa

The Guru Gita says: ''If Shiva is angry with you, the guru will take care of you, but if the guru is cross with you, even Shiva will not be able to protect you against the wrath of your guru.''

How strange, I thought. Shiva is the creator, sustainer and destroyer of the universe; he is the vital principle from which all objects emerge. How can a living guru be more powerful than the lord of the universe?

(See also: The Guru Principle, Spiritual Guidance, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

The Experience Of The Spiritual

It is said that it is much easier to begin training in the Mysteries as a youth. One advantage of an early start is that there is considerable energy for growth and exploration of life in the early years while the quota of life, of prana, is full, before it is exhausted in the excesses of later life. A greater advantage, though, is that there is much that does not need to be unlearned. The knowledge of our Western, materialistic civilization is both a blessing and a curse. It informs us; it gives us power over material things; it has a great deal of truth to it. Yet with regard to things on the spiritual side of life, it has huge blind spots, huge gaps it won't recognize.

Read more here: » Body Mind and Spirit: The Experience Of The Spiritual

Hinduism: Communicating with God and the Gods in Hinduism

 It is in the Hindu temple that the three worlds meet and devotees invoke the Gods of our religion. The temple is built as a palace in which the Gods live. It is the home of the Gods, a sacred place unlike every other place on the earth. The Hindu must associate himself with these Gods in a very sensitive way when he approaches the temple. Though the devotee rarely has the psychic vision of the Deity, he is aware of the God's divine presence. As he approaches the sanctum sanctorum, the Hindu is fully aware that an intelligent being, greater and more evolved than himself, is there. This God is intently aware of him, safeguarding him, fully knowing his inmost thought, fully capable of coping with any situation the devotee may mentally lay at his Holy Feet. It is important that we approach the Deity in this way - conscious and confident that our needs are known in the inner spiritual worlds.

Read more here: » Hinduism: Communicating with God and the Gods in Hinduism

Spirituality and Science: Two Ways to Arrive at the Truth

Some of the greatest scientists have attributed their sparks of genius to spiritual inspiration. "I assert that cosmic religious experience is the strongest and the noblest driving force behind scientific research," said Albert Einstein.

Scientists today are striving to discover how creation came into being, and how human beings came to be. A state-of-the-art space telescope has been able to detect some of the earliest moments of the Big Bang. By picking up signals from several light years away, we are able to glimpse at the early universe, whose light is only now reaching us, billions of years later. Will we ever be able to discover the secret of creation?

Read more here: » Spirituality and Science: Two Ways to Arrive at the Truth

The approaches to the path are many and different personalities are satisfied by different techniques and methods. Each one of us may be advised to experiment with the variety of streams and then to choose to stay with the one that seems most comfortable. Of course, the more fortunate may intuitively be drawn to a select method fairly early in their search and can thus take off from where they left off in a past incarnation.

The many systems are like rivers that lead into the one sea. All will finally lead to the One goal. Yet, some techniques take you across slowly as with a boat, while others get you to the far side by plane.

(See also: Meditation Techniques, Meditation, Meditation for Beginners, Meditation Techniques)

Are you relaxed when you are relaxed? Most people are not! Relaxing does not mean dumping yourself into your Grandpa's rocking chair. That is dumping . You do not have to fall into something to relax, but if you do not make it a habit to relax, soon you will be falling all over the place!

(See also: Meditation and Relaxation, Meditation, Meditation for Beginners, Meditation Techniques)

Tantra: The Libido - thirst for Unity

Another aspect which is important in TANTRA YOGA is that the libido, when manifested as sexual drive, is not at all considered to be only sensuality but, at the innermost levels, as the soul's ardent yearning for spiritual perfection. Here the erotic impulse appears as the psyche's abyssal thirst to reach perfection through unity of complementary polar opposites. In this way, re-born as a genuine Androgyne of the Secret Tradition -- magical child of SHIVA and SHAKTI -- the Individual Spirit will have access to the highest levels of Consciousness.

Read more here: » Tantra Yoga: The Libido - thirst for Unity

Once the basic needs of life are met, most people turn to the pursuit of pleasure, fun, and enjoyment. These include finding comfortable places to relax and rest, tasty food and drink, entertainment, recreation, sports, arts, socializing, romance, taking consciousness-altering substances such as caffeine, nicotine, alcohol, and other drugs.

Read more here: » Motivation: Why are we moved to do what we do? Ð Part II

Two men went into a mango garden. One man started counting the mango trees and the number of fruit each bore and approximate value of the orchard.

The other man went straight to the owner and making his acquaintance was invited by him to pluck and taste the fruit.

One was busy in counting and calculating, the other was enjoying the delicious fruit. Ramakrishna Paramhansa would cite this example to show the difference between the man of dry academics and the man of devotion.

(See also: Importance of emotions in relation with god, Faith and Belief, Spiritual Guidance, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

"If only other people would be honest and respectful, then my company would be a better place to work." At work, it's very tempting to think this way - to focus on changing others rather than changing ourselves. But as the Greek philosopher Socrates (470-399 B.C.) once said:

Let him who would move the world, first move himself.

Or, as one executive told us:

First put yourself in order. After that, everything will follow.

See also: Spirituality At Work, Work As A Spiritual Practice, Spiritual Based Leadership)

Sri Aurobindo's insight and analysis of evolution are now part of the scientific and cultural landscape. But few scientists and artists know his evolutionary theories that are being proved true by modern science.

While probing frontiers of science, physicists have discovered the limitation of the Newtonian mechanistic model at the level of galaxies and electrons. These discoveries have no doubt given the first glimmering of the new paradigm that matter and consciousness are the primary forces in the universe.

(See also: Sri Aurobindo, Spiritual Guidance, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

The very concept of God has given rise to many theological disputes and religious warfare. In fact, God is an enduring in-depth experience in the midst of ever-changing mental and sensate experiences - God is the inexhaustible source of love, harmony and peace.

Happiness is sought by everyone. But the search is not focused in the right direction. We waste precious time seeking happiness in the mirage of objects, places and people; in relationships and ideologies; in possessions and wanton indulgences.

(See also: Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

The wholistic education being offered through the School of Metaphysics is a forerunner in uniting that which very much divides people in the world today. The two groups can most readily be described as people of a religious nature and those of a scientific persuasion. A chasm stands between the two and they seem never to agree. They are constantly at odds. The beauty of metaphysical study, and the application of causal principles, causes the mind to transcend whatever differences or conflicts there might be between science and religion.

(See also: Indigo Children, What is Indigo Children, Parenting Indigo Children, Adult Indigo, Indigo Children Channeling)

Yoga is now a universally sought-out medium and spirituality as a subject has become part of the curriculum of leading B-schools in the US. What is the reason for the resurgence of spirituality?

There are three interpretations: One school cites that in the modern era an organisation needs to innovate continuously to survive for which every individual stakeholder in the organisation needs to leverage his creative energy by connecting to God's own creative energy.

The other school feels that the sudden eruption of numerous corporate scandals worldwide is due to the lack of an appropriate value system. Hence the need to incorporate spirituality in the business curriculum apart from outlining the need for an evolution in the field of corporate governance.

(See also: Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)