A Perspective on Consciousness

Abstract

Any essay on consciousness must have an explanation of the subjective nature of consciousness which is relevant in the context of the apparent cyclic existence of the universe. As part of that context there is the obvious assumption that mass and energy are manifestations of matter, in which all matter transforms to become energy at the end of a cycle, evolving back into matter at the start of the next cycle. Science does address to some extent this model of evolution of matter and the subsequent devolution into energy. The philosophies of the various schools of thought in the Hindu culture have long held the belief in a cyclic universe, a culture with its beginnings considerably earlier than western cultures. In this essay, I will use a system of knowledge from the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali which reflects one of those Hindu philosophies as described by Usharbuddh Arya. This philosophy sets out to explain the universe and consciousness through the diagram below, depicting the apparent descent of consciousness into matter and infers the physics of the physical universe and mind.