Vinaire's Blog

Looking at THOUGHT as a substance really opens up the view to a new dimension.

SUBSTANCE
Substance is that which is substantial enough to be sensed and perceived. We may divide the substance of this universe into three categories: (1) matter, (2) radiation, and (3) thought. Matter has extremely high consistency called mass. Radiation has a such small consistency that it is considered to have no mass. Thought has still less consistency that cannot be sensed physically. It can only be sensed mentally. Consistency means “a degree of density, firmness, viscosity, etc.” We have decreasing consistency from matter to radiation to thought. Matter and radiation are considered to be physical substances. Thought is considered to be a metaphysical substance, or even a spiritual substance. 

According to Ouspensky, understanding of a new dimension requires a new vocabulary. Sometimes, the vocabulary is already there; it just requires a bit more clarity.

For example, we have been using the words, AWARENESS and CONSCIOUSNESS interchangeably. But, with thought as a category of substance of the universe, we can differentiate between these two concepts, as follows:

AWARENESS
Awareness senses thought but it is not made up of thought; whereas, consciousness is made up of thought itself. Therefore, awareness is a dimension independent of the universe; whereas, consciousness is a dimension of the universe. In fact, awareness has the ability to postulate thought and sense the outcome. The source of this awareness is unknowable.

Thus, awareness has no attributes. It creates attributes through postulates. This just represents in modern terms the ancient concept of Nirākār Brahman. Nirākār Brahman has no attributes; but it creates attributes, such as, thought and consciousness, through Maya. Thus, we get a better understanding of Nirākār Brahman as awareness, and of Maya as postulates.

These ancient concepts now become real to us, and very useful.

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