Consciousness

Consciousness is the realization of something. It is amazing how many things I can be aware of. Sometimes I doubt whether consciousness is not the same as thoughts: "I think I feel this, I think I realize that". But most of the time I understand that being conscious of something is really different from a thought. So what is conciousness? I do not know. Appearantly it is important when following the Path. When I am aware, I am still pretty much detached and not yet caught by the force of a thought or emotion. Thoughts and emotions can be very forceful in telling me what to do. When I am just aware, I still can resist whatever the thought or emotion is telling me to do. Even stronger, when being only aware (conscious) of something, I am still free and not forced to do what the thought is telling me. Theh problem arises when I am not aware. I think I AM the thought and therefor I make the choice or the behavior that the tought was telling me to do.

Being aware is more difficult when I am tired or frustrated or emotional.