Awareness is a power of Consciousness and the Force to act based on the awareness. In human beings, it takes the form of knowledge (awareness in different degrees) and will (power to act). Mental awareness is only one kind of awareness. Since consciousness is everywhere and in everything, some kind of awareness and power of action is in everything. It is asleep in the stone, but still it is there, not in the mental way but in a submerged subconscious way. Awareness is also there in the plants and fish and bird and beast increasing gradually through evolution. In human beings, it becomes a mental awareness, but the mind is not the cause of it, just as the mind is not the source of consciousness. Consciousness exists before even matter comes into existence; in fact, it is the hidden cause of creation, the secret driver of everything.
In human beings, awareness gets conditioned and limited by the mind, just as in animals and plants it is conditioned and limited by the force of life. Mind is only an instrument, itself a device and creation of consciousness, so that the forms can grow increasingly conscious until it becomes one with the original Divine Consciousness that is the real Source of everything.
Mental consciousness and hence mental awareness is a limited and partial thing. But by turning it towards the Divine or higher truths by the power of will, however limited within us, we can grow in awareness. It is primarily this will that helps us in the seeking. In human beings, it is again a limited mental will. But it increases as our will comes in contact with the Divine through seeking, conscious aspiration, love and service of the Divine. As a result, the mental awareness begins to change into higher spiritual awareness and eventually into a Divine Awareness and Will. That is what the journey of Yoga leads us to.
However, the seat of will is not exactly in the mind. Mind is only an instrument. The seat of will is in the heart. The heart being the centre of our being as well as the seat of the Divine Consciousness, the true seeking, the truth of our being, the central movements proceed from the heart. Though human beings are largely aware only in the mind and with the mind, the seat of seeking is in the depths of the heart. Here awareness takes the aspect of will. And without the will, awareness alone will remain limited. One may want the Divine mentally, intellectually, but due to lack of will, the progress will be slow, very slow. But if we can combine the will to our intellectual seeking, then the progress is very fast. And if to this will we can add love, then there is no limit to our progress. What is important to understand here is that Truth is not just knowledge and supreme awareness. It is also love and power and delight. Hence, in our seeking for Truth, mere mental or intellectual seeking is not enough. The will and heart must also be involved for a rapid progress.
Hope it is clear now.
Affectionately,
Alok Da
