Is consciousness an illusion? 5 experts explain

24 thoughts on “Is consciousness an illusion? 5 experts explain”

1. Well said. Thank you.

2. 01:25 , Stepping On Camel Toes To Make A Point!

3. Swami Sarvapriyananda’s view of consciousness seems overly naive to me. Intelligence, thinking, and creativity are not “given” to AI. AI learns these abilities, somewhat like how a child learns.
   These abilities emerge from how system parts interact with each other, similar to how thinking emerges from neurons interaction in brain. So, it'a fair to assume that consciousness could also emerge in AI in the future as new capabilities – such as richer sensory inputs – are added.

4. The nature of God is often misunderstood as a distant ruler or overseer, separate from humanity. But the deeper traditions across cultures teach that God is not "out there" so much as the very ground of awareness itself. God is the source, the field of being in which all things arise, and the living presence within every moment of consciousness.
   Christ revealed this when he said, "The kingdom of God is within you." His message was not about waiting for a distant heaven but about discovering the divine reality inside, a shift of awareness where the infinite becomes visible through the human heart. To enter that kingdom is to awaken, to see that what we call God is already alive at the center of our being.
   In Hindu philosophy, this same realization appears as the unity of Atman and Brahman. Atman is the individual soul, the spark of awareness we each carry; Brahman is the boundless reality underlying the universe. The teaching Tat Tvam Asi "Thou art That" reminds us that the individual is not separate from the whole. Awareness itself is divine, not created by us but expressing itself through us.
   Consciousness, then, is the bridge. Before thought, before the ego's story of who we are, there is simple awareness, pure being. To realize this is to recognize our divine nature: that God is not a controlling force manipulating our thoughts, but the open field from which thought, life, and love flow. God is both transcendent, beyond all form and immanent…alive within every form. To awaken to this truth is to see that heaven is not postponed until death, nor is it locked in books or dogmas. It is here, now, in the awareness that breathes through you. To realize this is to see that consciousness itself is sacred, and that to know God is not to reach outward but to awaken inward.

5. With DECARTES the unconscious was placed outside of us and ignored

6. Descartes did not penetrate the level of mind like Buddha did

7. The experiencer and the experienced is the same. We are all One and yet at the same time, everyone has their own reality. Love is Truth.

8. Fear of annihilation sure gives rise to some whacky ideas. 💡

9. I appreciate this documentary for 3 things. 1- It doesn't reduce the question to simple answer many religious would give it. 2- Exactly because it goes after different, and some would say, conflicting, perspectives. 3- It doesn't try to solve the problem; it provokes the discussion and let you think about, instead of forcing an answer that nobody knows if will ever be given. Congrats, and thanks for sharing.

10. When we do the collapse of waves fonction in lab on the flat screen.
    I can assure you that you get different results if the screen is lightly curved.

11. There are tow aspects of consciousness local and global, the local one itself has tow parts compact and less compacted. In order to be serene ; local should be aligned with compacted and global with less compacted

12. If you think about consciousness you only find it creatively in living bodies as self-awareness and potentially in matter as awareness builders

13. Consciousness is a attribute of all living bodies the difference is what these bodies provide this consciousness to transcend with these bodies

14. Some studies are really a waste of time, a waste of money and completely nonsense. The deeper scientists go into human nature, the shittier human lives get. Look, no respect, no understanding, no hi, no good morning,… Animals have better lives than today's humans.

15. In fact, the only thing that is NOT an illusion is, precisely, consciousness.

16. Our Apostle Paul tells us in Gal5:17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. You see this very thing play out in the garden when Eve was tempted by the serpent which is described as being subtle. Paul also tells us to repent, which is a changing of the mind. And how does one have a changing of the mind? The answer to that question is to have the mind of Christ 1Cor2:16. You see the conscious is that subtle voice, it is the flesh that wars against the Spirit(an uppercase S)for those of you who may have overlooked that critical detail. Take time to read our Apostle Paul’s epistles Roman’s through Philemon and share his message of reconciliation with as many as possible today. Grace and Peace

17. Let's just love this phase when we don't know but want to know. Nature itself wants to know 'who am I'. We are the tiny cells in the body of this universe or multiverse, galaxies or ….

18. Give them DMT or a heroic dose of psilocybin… then ask them that question.

19. phones work both ways and ChatGPT never reached out just to see how I’m doing

20. I have been struggling with severe dental deterioration for a long time, and I often feel misunderstood when people ask why I haven’t had my teeth repaired or taken better care of them. My teeth are extensively decayed, with visible cavities and significant discoloration throughout my mouth. Although I am aware of the pain and long-term consequences, my immediate impulses and cravings especially for foods high in sugar tend to overpower my awareness of the potential harm.

    This conflict seems closely tied to my state of consciousness and emotional regulation. In moments of stress, fatigue, or emotional overload, my decision-making becomes less focused on long-term health and more centered on seeking comfort or relief. Only the next day, when my body feels calm and re-energized, do I fully recognize the impact of my choices and the ongoing damage they cause. This cycle has made it difficult to break unhealthy habits, despite knowing the consequences.

    That's Consciousness…….

    What is Consciousness?? What I know of it Consciousness is Understand life without books but with experience and observation.

21. Human knowledge is not limited to the peripheral understanding of the West and goes far beyond.

    To get a glimpse of what CONSCIOUSNESS is as concluded by the SCIENCE OF VEDANTA in the language of modern science, especially relativity and quantum mechanics but anchored on the SCIENCE OF VEDANTA in simple mathematics coupled with intuition, refer the book:
    SPACETIME AND THAT BEYOND
    By A.N.Unnikrishnan.
    Available online.

22. The "spiritual leaders" interviewed in this, as BIg Think calls them, know absolutely nothing of relevance. They are just rehearsing ancient and medeival superstitions which people have sentimental attachments to. Why does this channel have such a hard time finding people who are actually advancing new ideas through ACTUAL research and sticking to that approach?

    What goes on at Big Think meetings? Is there one employee who is responsible for ensuring that Big Think includes its fair share of small thinkers?

23. I recommend you reading degree of the soul good

24. This was masterfully explained, phenomenal job!

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