When we talk about consciousness, we are also indirectly including three other aspects of mental functioning - the mind, the intellect, and the ego. Why? Because these three play out within the canvas of our individual consciousness, and consciousness only evolves when these functions of mind, intellect, and ego evolve. Mind evolves from thinking to feeling, intellect evolves from instinct to wisdom, ego evolves from identifying with our individual self to identifying with the universal being, using the qualities of wonder and humility.
The idea of "intellect" is not explored much in faith traditions. A lot more emphasis is given to love, devotion, faith, and surrender. Many who are moved by faith and devotion seem to lead a life of irrationality and emotional excess, devoid of much self-awareness. They do not seem to take self-responsibility seriously. This leads the skeptics and the rational to deny the existence of mystery, esoterism, and the magical.
When we observe the universe, we wonder at some phenomena, and we doubt others. Doubt is a poison, even for intellectual reasoning. Wonder is the best way to approach the things we don't know about. There is so much that is majestic all around us. A healthy dose of skepticism, along with wonder, keeps the mind's door open and observant for non-judgmental learning.
This is more important when we take up a self-transformational journey through yoga, meditation, and spirituality.
Spirituality is an art and science of exploring our true connection with nature, and our inner reality and ultimate potential. This is a process of transforming the self from who we are to who we can be. In this process, we transform from inside out. We start from the center of our being, and the transformation eventually appears at the circumference. This naturally influences the environment and the community we live in.
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