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Jeremy Winterson <J.Winterson@rhbnc.ac.uk> wrote:
>lec4jfg@leeds.ac.uk (J.F. Goodfellow) wrote:
>>
>> What, in terms of human consciousness, is the
>> difference between life and death?
> The difference is the possesion of consciousness and the lack of it.
There are various theories regarding consciousness. In the Bhagavad-gita
the example of the sun and sunshine is given. As the sun is situated in
one place, but is illuminating the whole universe, so a small particle of
spirit soul, although situated in the heart of this body, is illuminating
the whole body by consciousness.
Thus consciousness is the proof of the presence of the soul, as sunshine
or light is proof of the presence of the sun.
When the soul is present in the body there is consciousness all over the
body, and as soon as the soul has passed from the body, there is no more
consciousness. This can be easily understood by any intelligent person.
Therefore consciousness is not a production of the combination of
matter. It is the symptom of the living entity. The consciousness of the
living entity, although qualitatively one with the supreme consciousness,
is not supreme because the consciousness of one particular body does not
share that of another body. But the Supersoul, who is situated in all
bodies as the friend of the individual soul, is conscious of all bodies.
That is the difference between the supreme consciousness and individual
consciousness.
(from "Bhagavad-gita As It Is" by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta
Swami Prabhupada)
Thank you. Hare Krishna!
Madhudvisa dasa
(madhudvisa@krishna.org) /sudarsana
All glories to His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada!
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