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Originally posted by Kirtanman


"Neuroscientists commonly assume the human brain exists in the real, objective space of physics, but all their sensory images and concepts of the brain appear in the space of consciousness. Moreover, all the sensory images of space experienced by physicists arise within the external space of their consciousness, and all their concepts of space emerge within the internal space of consciousness.

Although we may believe in the existence of space independent of consciousness, all our concepts of such real, objective space arise within the space of consciousness. As for the relation between sensory images and their related objects believed to exist in the objective world independent of consciousness, neurologist Antonio Damasio acknowledges, “There is no picture of the object being transferred from the object to the retina and from the retina to the brain.”

To generalize, the appearances to our senses are not replicas, or re-presentations, of phenomena in objective, physical space. They are fresh creations arising in the space of consciousness. Likewise, our concepts of space and the objects within it are not replicas of anything existing independently of the mind. In short, the brain believed by neuroscientists to exist in real, objective space is as devoid of consciousness as is the physical space conceived of by physicists."

(Emphasis mine. ~KM)

SOURCE: Vacuum States Of Consciousness: A Tibetan Buddhist View By B. Alan Wallace (PDF File).

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When one realizes the substrate consciousness by achieving meditative quiescence, mental afflictions are only temporarily suppressed, but as a result of realizing primordial consciousness, it is said that all mental afflictions and obscurations are eliminated forever. Likewise, the bliss that is experienced when resting in the relative ground state of consciousness is limited and transient, whereas the inconceivable bliss that is innate to the absolute ground state of primordial consciousness is limitless and eternal. By ascertaining the substrate consciousness, one realizes the relative nature of individual consciousness, but in the realization of primordial consciousness, the scope of one’s awareness is said to become limitless. Likewise, the creative potential of consciousness that is accessed through meditative quiescence is limited, whereas that which is unveiled through such ultimate contemplative insight allegedly knows no bounds. Thus, in reference to this absolute ground state of consciousness the Buddha declared, “All phenomena are preceded by the mind. When the mind is comprehended, all phenomena are comprehended. By bringing the mind under control, all things are brought under control.”

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