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Consciousness, Existence, Intelligence In his book Maharishi Vedic University: Introduction, Maharishi gave detailed information about the nature and structure of consciousness. 'We see things around us exist,' he said. 'We also see that things around us change and evolve. We also see that there is order in evolution—an apple seed will only grow into an apple, etc. Thus it is obvious that existence is endowed with the quality of intelligence. Existence breathes life by virtue of intelligence. 'Consciousness is wakefulness, unbounded alertness, pure intelligence, pure existence, self-referral [it knows itself] fullness, all knowingness—the self-sufficient and unmanifest source, course, and goal of all creation.' Those who practise Maharishi's Transcendental Meditation experience these qualities of consciousness in their own Transcendental Consciousness. In its 'self-referral' state, or transcendental state, consciousness knows itself alone; as such, it is the knower of itself. By being the knower of itself, it is also the object of knowledge, and the process of knowing. Thus, in its self-referral state, consciousness is the unified state of knower, knowing, and known. In the Vedic language this 'three-in-one' structure of consciousness is called Samhita of Rishi, Devata, and Chandas—Samhita (unity) of Rishi (knower), Devata (dynamism of the process of knowing), and Chhandas (the known). 'Consciousness is the unity or coexistence of two qualities of intelligence that are contradictory to each other,' Maharishi continued. 'Singularity or self-referral Samhita, and diversity of Rishi, Devata, and Chhandas. 'It is interesting to note that the quality of alertness in the nature of consciousness is due to the co-existence of these two opposite values within its structure. Togetherness of these contradictory qualities within the structure of consciousness renders consciousness wakeful, alert, and lively. Consciousness is the lively field of all possibilities. 'As unity (togetherness) of knower, knowing, and known equates with knowledge and also with consciousness, the implications are that consciousness equates with knowledge; consciousness equates with Veda [pure knowledge]; consciousness equates with Samhita; Samhita (of Rishi, Devata, Chhandas) equates with Veda. 'Veda equates with the unmanifest, self-referral intelligence of Samhita, which conceives of the three qualities of Rishi, Devata, and Chhandas within its own self-referral singularity—singularity finds diversity within its structure. 'Consciousness is unity and diversity, both at the same time: unity because of Samhita, and diversity because of Rishi, Devata, and Chhandas. 'This explains that the eternal, self-referral mechanics of transformation exists in the co-existence of the two contradictory qualities of consciousness—singularity and diversity. 'This is the picture of the structure of the ultimate reality,' Maharishi concluded. 'The self-referral intelligence in motion, within its own singularity, giving rise to the mechanics of creation and evolution—the Unified Field of pure intelligence spontaneously giving rise to the diversity of all the Laws of Nature within itself. 'The picture is that self-referral consciousness is infinite organizing power; it is the lively potential of Natural Law.' © Copyright 2008 Global Good News®
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