Why Modern Science Cannot Understand Consciousness, Unconscious, Sub-conscious And pre-conscious.

The Great Mystery of Consciousness

Modern science has achieved extraordinary success in understanding the physical universe, the human body, and even the brain. Yet, when it comes to consciousness, science stands almost helpless. Despite decades of neurological and psychological research, scientists still cannot explain who experiences thoughts, who witnesses emotions, and who is aware of existence itself. This article explores why science fails to understand consciousness and how ancient spiritual knowledge—especially Vedantic and Yogic wisdom—offers a far deeper explanation.

Western Science and Its Limitations

Western psychology and neuroscience generally believe that: Consciousness is produced by the brain.

According to this view:

• Neural connections

• Chemical reactions

• Electrical impulses

together create thoughts, emotions, memory, and awareness.

Modern psychologists claim:

• The mind and consciousness are nothing but brain activity.

• There is no soul, no independent conscious being beyond neurons.

This belief leads to a serious philosophical problem:  If the brain creates consciousness, who is watching the brain?

The Three States of Human Experience

Ancient Indian philosophy explains that human life unfolds in three states:

1. Waking (Jagrat) – Awareness of the external world

2. Dreaming (Swapna) – Awareness of an internal world

3. Deep Sleep (Sushupti) – A state of silent bliss and rest

Western philosophy mostly studies only the waking state, making its understanding partial and incomplete.

True consciousness exists across all three states, yet something remains aware even when the mind is silent. That witness is the soul.

Freud and the Unconscious Mind

Sigmund Freud divided the mind into:

• Conscious

• Subconscious

• Unconscious

He estimated that: Nearly 90% of the mind is unconscious

This includes:

• Hidden memories

• Suppressed emotions

• Deep habits

• Past experiences

Spiritual knowledge explains this far more deeply: These unconscious records are impressions (sanskaras) carried from past lives.

That is why:

• Some people fear water

• Some fear heights

• Some feel anger without knowing why

These are soul memories, not brain memories.

Why Science Cannot Reach the Soul

Science only studies:

• The gross body

• The brain

• The nervous system

But human existence has three layers:

1. Gross body – Physical

2. Subtle body – Mind, emotions, ego

3. Causal body – Deep karmic memory

The soul operates through all three, yet science does not investigate:

• The subtle body

• The causal body

• Past-life memory

• Karmic impressions

So it is trying to understand life by studying only the shell.

The Soul as the Witness

The soul is not the mind. The soul is the witness of the mind.

Just like:

• A computer screen shows what is processed

• But the electricity runs the system

Similarly:

• The mind processes

• The soul powers and witnesses

Every thought, emotion, and desire is seen by the soul.

Eastern vs Western Philosophy

Western belief: “I think, therefore I am.”

Eastern wisdom: “I am, therefore I think.”

In Vedanta:

• Consciousness comes first

• Mind is its instrument

• Body is its vehicle

The mind is described as: A mirror of consciousness If the mind is disturbed, it reflects distorted consciousness.

Why Meditation Is Essential

Science looks outward. Meditation looks inward.

Through meditation:

• One experiences the soul directly

• One moves beyond brain, senses, and thoughts

• One enters deep peace and awareness

This experience cannot be measured in laboratories — it must be lived.

Peace Is the Gateway to Consciousness

The soul can only be felt in peace. Anger, stress, desire, and fear block the soul’s light.

True spiritual growth begins when one:

• Chooses peace over reaction

• Love over conflict

• Silence over chaos

Sometimes peace costs ₹10. Sometimes it costs ego. But it is always worth more than the price.

Final Truth

Until science accepts:

• The soul

• Past-life impressions

• Subtle bodies

• Consciousness beyond the brain

the mystery of consciousness will remain unsolved. Consciousness does not arise from matter. Matter moves because of consciousness.