Introduction to Mindfulness_349810_bookemon_ebook.pdf Coaching and Practising Mindfulness | Page 43

Differences between Awareness,
Consciousness and Mindfulness
Source: Ajahn Brahmali - http://community.dhammaloka.org.au/
Question from Eamonn McGrath:
I have been trying to find a clear definition of Awareness,
Consciousness and Mindfulness and what are their fundamental
differences?
Answer

1. Consiousness
Consciousness is that which allows you to be conscious of anything.
Every waking moment of life (and in fact every moment of sleep as
well) includes consciousness. Without consciousness there's not even
nothing - just complete emptiness.
Observation by Suzanne Harrill at innerworkspublishing.com:
Consciousness is a very expansive thing to describe. One way to
understand consciousness is that it is the Universal Intelligence (God,
Universe) in which we all live and move and have our being. It is the
Source of our existence, our creativity, imagination, intuition, inner
knowing, and unconditional love; and it is what responds to our
thoughts, feelings, and prayers. To expand our individual
consciousness makes us more and more consciously aware.
One way to build conscious awareness is to learn to look below the
surface of our experiences. I’ll use an iceberg to illustrate
consciousness. What is known and conscious to us relates to the part
of the iceberg above the water. The larger part of the iceberg,
however, is below the surface and unconscious to us. To improve the
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