“The truly spiritual see spirit as spirit, not as matter. Spirit as such can never become matter, though matter is spirit at a low rate of vibration. It is spirit that makes nature move; it is the Reality in nature, so action is in nature but not in the spirit. Spirit is always the same, changeless, eternal.”
Swami Vivekananda, Complete Works, Vol 9, Notes of Lectures & Classes, The Gita-III
In the above quote Swami Vivekananda is using the term spirit to represent Atman or soul, which is made of pure consciousness.
Science thinks that consciousness is secondary; it arises as a result of interactions between particles of matter (i.e., neurons firing in the brain). In other words, according to science, matter came first, and consciousness arose as a by-product. Without matter there would be no consciousness. When the universe arose in a Big Bang, there was no consciousness, no life, and it was only when matter evolved out that consciousness arose. This is the scientific position.
But our rishis in meditation have observed the opposite. They have experienced that consciousness is primary and matter arises from vibrations of consciousness. Matter, as Swamiji has explained, is nothing but consciousness at a low rate of vibration. So matter came after consciousness. It is consciousness that forms the underlying omnipresent, unborn reality underpinning the Universe of matter, space, and time. Our rishis have called this ocean of Consciousness as Brahman or God.
Even before the Big Bang, there was the indestructible, non-material ocean of Consciousness. After the Big Bang, when the Universe was still too hot for life to thrive, even then in the background was the unexpressed underlying ocean of consciousness (Brahman). When the external condition in the physical world became conducive, this ever-present background consciousness started to express itself through various living beings, plants, and animals. This is the Vedic position on Consciousness.
What is the Nature of Brahman (God)?
Brahman is without attributes, unchangeable, immovable, and firm like Mount Meru. His name is Divine Intelligence (Chinmaya). His abode is Intelligence, and He, the Lord, is All-intelligence. The Lord can pass an elephant through the eye of a needle. He can do whatever He likes.
Book: Sayings of Sri Ramakrishna, Complete Works of Swami Abhedananda, Vol 5
More Posts in the “Consciousness” Series:
- Part 1 – The Consciousness Conundrum Facing Science – How does consciousness originate? From the brain or the soul? A series that examines the answer from the perspective of both science & spirituality.
- Part 2 – The Demise of the “Biblical God of Creation” and the Rise of Mechanistic Science – Why have many Western scientists concluded that God does not exist and humans are soul-less machines? Know the real reason behind this error!
- Part 3 – Vedanta on God – Universe Arising from Vibrations of Consciousness – Science says God doesn’t exist! India’s Vedanta Philosophy disagrees! God exists but not as a person. Instead He is an ocean of consciousness.
- Part 4 – Consciousness Arise from Matter? Do Neurons in the Brain Give Rise to Consciousness? – Traditionally scientists have thought that neurons firing in the brain give rise to consciousness. Is this true? New research disagrees!
