Consciousness as the Luminous Ground of Being: A Synthesis of Non-Dual Thought and Divine Essence in Motion
Abstract
This article explores the nature of consciousness as articulated by Swami Sarvapriyananda and integrates it with the philosophy of Divine Essence in Motion. It examines consciousness as distinct from mind and body, yet pervading and illuminating them, akin to how light reveals objects without being confined to them. Furthermore, it argues that consciousness manifests the universe as a dynamic expression of its own infinite potential, thereby providing a bridge between the stillness of absolute awareness and the pulsation of experiential existence.
Introduction
Consciousness has long been debated in both spiritual and scientific circles. Whereas modern neuroscience tends to reduce consciousness to a byproduct of neural activity, Advaita Vedanta and Kashmir Shaivism assert that consciousness is fundamental and independent of the body-mind complex. This article refines and expands upon Swami Sarvapriyananda’s explanation of consciousness, integrating it with the Divine Essence in Motion perspective, which frames reality as both stillness and pulsation, transcendence and immanence.
Consciousness as Distinct from Mind and Body
Swami Sarvapriyananda explains that consciousness is apart from the mind and body. Modern science generally posits that consciousness arises from neural processes, reducing it to an emergent property of the brain. However, in Advaita Vedanta, consciousness is the foundational reality that illumines the mind and body but remains separate from them.
This distinction can be understood through the metaphor of light and reflection. Light itself is independent of any object it illuminates; it pervades space but is only visible when reflected. Similarly, consciousness shines through the mind and body, making thought, perception, and sensation possible, but it is not created by them.
Consciousness as the Pervasive, Self-Luminous Principle
In this refined articulation, consciousness is not only distinct from mind and body but also pervades them, enabling their function. The Divine Essence in Motion perspective expands on this by emphasizing that consciousness is not static but expresses itself dynamically, allowing for the interplay of stillness (pure awareness) and movement (experience, perception, creation).
Just as light pervades a room, making objects visible, consciousness pervades all experiences, illuminating thoughts, emotions, and perceptions. However, just as removing an object does not extinguish the light itself, the absence of mental activity does not mean consciousness ceases to exist; it remains as the silent witness.
Consciousness as the Source of Experience
While consciousness exists independently of mind and body, it is only known through their functioning. This apparent paradox—consciousness being self-existent yet revealed through experience—can be resolved by understanding that the play of manifestation allows the unmanifest reality to recognize itself.
A useful analogy is that of a mirror. Before reflections appear, the mirror exists in its pristine state. Yet, it is through reflections that one can perceive the presence of the mirror. Likewise, while consciousness is ever-present, it is through thoughts, emotions, and perceptions that it is experienced. This interplay between the formless and form is central to Divine Essence in Motion, which sees consciousness as both the silent ground of being and the dynamic force of expression.
The Universe as Consciousness Experiencing Itself
Building on the preceding ideas, a profound insight emerges: consciousness manifests the universe as a means of experiencing itself. In the non-dual traditions, absolute awareness (Brahman or Shiva) is beyond form and limitation. Yet, in its creative pulsation (Spanda), it manifests as the cosmos, engaging in an eternal play of recognition and self-discovery.
This aligns with the idea that the divine did not create the universe as something separate from itself but as a field of reflection—an ocean forming waves, each wave appearing distinct yet always part of the same whole. This perspective also harmonizes with quantum notions of reality, where observation and measurement collapse infinite potential into particular experiences. Consciousness, in this view, is the observer, the field, and the experience itself.
Living the Understanding: The Integration of Stillness and Motion
Recognizing consciousness as both the formless witness and the dynamic expression of life leads to a radical shift in perception. In practical terms, this means embracing both deep, silent awareness (meditative stillness) and active engagement with life (creative movement). The Divine Essence in Motion philosophy encourages integrating these aspects, allowing one to live as an awakened participant in the cosmic play.
To return to the light analogy: rather than being caught in the illusion of the reflected world alone (identification with mind and body), one learns to recognize and rest in the ever-present light itself (pure awareness), even as one engages with the reflections (life’s experiences). This is the balance of Jnana (wisdom) and Lila (divine play), stillness and movement, transcendence and immanence.
Conclusion
By refining Swami Sarvapriyananda’s explanation of consciousness and integrating it with the Divine Essence in Motion perspective, we arrive at a vision of consciousness as both the unchanging ground of being and the dynamic force of manifestation. This synthesis offers a profound framework for understanding reality—not as a fragmented duality but as a seamless whole where the infinite experiences itself through the dance of existence. In recognizing this, one moves beyond the illusion of separateness and into the lived realization of oneness in motion.
