On the Subject of Consciousness in Samapatti

Abstract

Here I report my recollections of my experiences of Samapatti. These experiences led me to the view that consciousness is not necessarily confined to an event arising from electrochemical interactions in the brain. It is equally likely that the electrochemical processes in the brain arise from consciousness. My reading of the Yoga Sutras lends substance to view that there is a distinction between Mind and another level of conscious awareness called Buddhi. When we speak of Mind we are talking about our normal awareness, which is involved with sensory inputs, memory and imagination. Buddhi on the other hand is the observer of the Mind.