> [!infobox] <s class="aside-in"><em>mentioned in 4 topics, 9 evergreens, 3 sources</em></s> #### [[Consciousness is our capacity to introspect]] Many people think that [[consciousness]] is intrinsic to [[humanity]], but while humans are the only ones to achieve it, [[consciousness]] is variable within our species, just like our capacity to introspect. The [[Yogi|Yogis]] observed that we can only [[perception|perceive]] things that are separate from us, so because we can perceive our own thought, our [[consciousness]] must be separate from the [[mind]]. ^[[[notes - The Nature of Mind]]] This would mean that if something is impairing our ability to observe our own thoughts we are less [[consciousness|conscious]], and if we are able to more easily observe our thoughts we are more [[consciousness|conscious]]. This is no new idea, and is the basis of much [[eastern philosophy]]. ^[ [[Consciousness is the fundamental unit of existence]] and [[The history of meditation is a mixture of science and spirituality]] ] The specific ability to introspect is called [[Sakshi Bhava]], or as it has been popularized in [[America]], [[mindfulness]]. [[Mindfulness]] is not just the ability to have thoughts or to know that you have thoughts. As anybody with [[anxiety]] will tell you, the thoughts in your [[mind]] are not always accurate. ^[[[Your anxiety is telling you everything that could go wrong, not what will go wrong]]] [[Mindfulness]] is the ability to observe you thoughts objectively, react to them without [[judgement]] or [[fear]], and decide your path forward. [[Buddha]] stated that this was the only path to end [[suffering]] and reach [[enlightenment]]: [[Buddhism is the study of happiness through detachment]] Followed to it's conclusion [[mindfulness]] will allow you to calm your [[senses]], ^[[[Meditation helps us regulate our nervous system]] helps with [[Your anxiety knows your insecurities better than you do]]] heal [[childhood]] wounds, ^[[[Meditation helps us detach negative attachments]] helps with [[We carry our childhood wounds into adulthood]]] overcome our emotional [[rationalizations]], ^[[[Meditation helps us gain control over our emotions]] helps with [[Rationalizations are defense-mechanisms against strong emotions]]] reach a [[flow state]] of [[friction|frictionless]] concentration, ^[[[notes - The Nature of Mind]] helps with [[We will evolve when we make learning as easy as thinking]]] and finally a no-mind state known as [[Dhyana]]. [[Meditation is a practice to develop a stronger consciousness]] ### <hr class="footnote"/> **Status**:: #EVER/SAPLING *edited 7:35 AM - July 08, 2022* **Topics**:: [[human experience]], [[self]], [[mental health]]