Consciousness And Conscience

Q: What is the difference between Consciousness and conscience?
A: They can be termed as twin flames that enlighten life’s journey. A human being is not living without consciousness and is not human without conscience.
Consciousness in its basic wakeful state help us to respond and react to physical requirements arising from survival instinct loaded with ego, entrapped by illusions. This mind-driven entity can also elevate one to higher levels of consciousness or altered states of awareness, to sarveshwara or pure consciousness.
Seers tell us that consciousness in primary form is only outward awareness. In its stabilised condition it is knowledge and in pure structure it is our inner-world that reconnects us with the divinity that exists everywhere. This awakening, coming from core calmness, can cross the limiting parameters of the material world’s physical demands and daily struggle of maintaining balance in life.
According to Lao Tze, “The key to growth is introduction of high dimensions of consciousness into our awareness.” Aiding this deeper perception is conscience, the voice of the ever-vigilant spirit within us which tells us right from wrong. These two formless attributes are the passport and the visa to enter the universe of supreme bliss, the world of nothingness.
In its normal state, consciousness, confronted with numerous challenges, often buries conscience that deals with truth, honesty and integrity. Conscience has to be kept alive and active because in confrontation with trials and temptations, traumas and tragedies, consciousness often becomes a defence mechanism to justify unjustifiable acts. It requires true courage to encounter fathomless fears, irrational insecurities, abnormal angers, and lasting lusts.
Q: Then why we do not pay any attention to our conscience?
A: Basically, in moments of confusion and conflicts, decisions and dilemmas, our ego stands as barrier between conscience and consciousness. In our competitive life guided by ego we tend to see illusory images, fail to observe consequences, distracted by the external world, and we do not listen to our inner voice. It is better to have conscience as Sakha or friendly adviser, because there can be no witness so terrible, no accuser as powerful as our own conscience. Gandhiji said, “The court of conscience supersedes all other courts”. But before cracking the whip, conscience does issue warnings in the form of admonitions and condemnations. It is up to us to recognise these signals within.
Introspection is the only way to bring about deeper awareness and positive perception. Get baptised by sunlight. Infuse body and mind with the cosmic light and energy of the morning sun. This ignites the atmasoorya or inner sun. Light causes reflections and shadows. The rays of light in the atmosphere are imperceptible, but when they fall on any object it becomes visible by virtue of the reflection caused by light, which also causes shadows. Similarly, when we observe our self with this inner light we perceive reflections and shadows within. Intensify this light, breathe light, wash your thoughts and mind with light and study the shadows it casts. Once the symptoms and shortcomings are diagnosed, they can be faced, encountered and obliterated. Pure conscience is light; it is love.
Life’s experiences are meant to set in motion evolution of consciousness and conscience helps us to stay on the right track. Deep down in the darkness of coal mines, under tremendous heat and pressure, some carbons transform into diamonds. A clean conscience takes us closer to Supreme Consciousness.