Neuroscience vs Advaita Vedanta – The SOURCE of Consciousness
Published 2024-07-09
0:00 The Quest of Neuroscience
6:21 The Neural Source of Consciousness
12:52 The Independent Reality of Consciousness
23:47 The Hard Problem of Consciousness
Neuroscience has made huge strides in understanding the brain and its 100 billion neurons. Particular regions of the brain involved in sight, speech, memory, balance, and so on are being methodically explored and mapped out in great detail. Brain tissue is microscopically studied to see how neurons are interconnected with each other. The electrical signals that neurons use to communicate are measured, either by directly probing the brain, or indirectly, using EEG instruments and magnetic stimulation. More recently, functional MRI and PET scans are being used to create highly defined images of neural activity throughout the brain. In the future, new technologies might make it possible to measure the neural activity in your brain accurately that your innermost thoughts and feelings can be decoded.
Will scientific research ever locate a particular network of neurons in the brain that are responsible for consciousness itself? Decades ago, some researchers considered this idea, but ongoing studies have completely ruled out the notion that consciousness arises from a single, localized source in the brain. All current theories suggest that the source of consciousness is decentralized or distributed.
Bernard Bars describes the origin of consciousness in the brain through his Global Workspace Theory. By global workspace, he means a decentralized network of neurons that functions like a screen, a screen onto which various images and ideas are projected. According to Bars, consciousness emerges from the interaction of neurons in that global workspace.
Francis Crick received a Nobel Prize for discovering the structure of DNA. Later in his career, he collaborated with a researcher who considers consciousness to be a fundamental property of complex neural networks. Together, they theorized that, in a part of the brain known as the claustrum, neurons become synchronized with each other, and their synchronous activity gives rise to consciousness.
Giulio Tononi developed a mathematical model of consciousness called Integrated Information Theory. He claims that consciousness is nothing but highly integrated information. According to Tononi, the enormous integration of information in the brain's powerful cerebral cortex gives rise to consciousness.
According to the Attention Schema Theory of Michael Gaziano, when the interactions of neurons throughout the brain are filtered by the faculty of attention, a simplified model or representation is created. For Gaziano, that representation or schema is responsible for consciousness.
Finally, Robert Penrose is a Nobel Laureate in physics who believes that consciousness cannot be explained through ordinary physical and mathematical laws. So, he postulates the existence of quantum gravity, and concludes that consciousness is the result of quantum effects which are thought to occur in the microtubules found inside cells.
Those theories are highly speculative and extremely difficult to verify. Such theories are called materialist or physicalist. They're physicalist because they accept the existence of matter and energy alone, but they reject the existence of any kind of non-material, non-physical reality. But in Advaita Vedanta, consciousness is a non-material, non-physical fundamental reality.
"The hard problem of consciousness" is an expression coined by a philosopher named David Chalmers. He uses it to describe the apparently insurmountable obstacles that prevent neuroscientists from directly observing or studying consciousness. Much like in Advaita Vedanta, Chalmers differentiates the objective existence of thoughts and emotions from your subjective, conscious experience of them. And he proposes an alternative to the physicalist world view, the view that accepts only matter and energy as being fundamental. Chalmers says that consciousness is another fundamental reality that exists in addition to matter and energy. Other philosophers propose idealism and neutral monism. But none of these theories are widely accepted, nor do they offer a completely satisfactory solution to the hard problem of consciousness.
Swami Tadatmananda is a traditionally-trained teacher of Advaita Vedanta, meditation, and Sanskrit. For more information, please see: www.arshabodha.org/
All Comments (21)
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Sorry for misidentifying Michael Graziano of Princeton University
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Bernardo Kastrup's Analytic Idealism actually resonates with Advaita Vedanta a lot. There are even some talks between him and Swami Sarvapriyananda here on YouTube.
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Swamiji, this is one of the most lucid videos that explains Consciousness while not shying away from counter arguments. You have cleared ALL my lingering doubts in my spiritual quest .Pranams and I am grateful.
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Thank you Swamiji for exemplifying the spirit of self-inquiry- the ultimate quest! Imagine how disappointing it would be to find the source of consciousness and put it in a bottle or define it in an algorithm. Rather I sense, it is because consciousness is not graspable that everything is possible. To sink into the essence of your very own being is to understand consciousness as the source of itself. To get even close to this is like watching the most beautiful sunrise - the heart begins to melt in uncontainable pure joy. Consciousness is not an isolated ’dead’ thing. The journey of self discovery, is enabled by the purification of the heart and the mind, that goes through the heart and through the mind. The perceivable world is full of life and death, all coming and going, the witnessing of which renders one into dumbstruck awe. Consciousness is not even the ‘life” that I feel.. not even “the feeling of existence”, who I think I am .. or am not.. and therefore not death either… Despite all the doubt, speculation, conjecture & disappointment. Embracing all aspirations, hope and wonder stands the immediate knowledge of our true selves - that we name “consciousness” - the realisation of which is pure love - enough to make you cry the pure tears of a child come home forever 💛🌸🌏✨✨🙏
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Wonderful - this was an illuminating Lesson. I believe you are gifted with an amazing ability of presenting very deep, complicated, even abstract subjects in a way that clears the path before us. I enjoyed this Lesson very, very much
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The final statement is a very important one. You're right in thinking that this discussion of the scientific origins of reality's might threaten Vedanta teachings. But the problem with science is lacking its own understanding of subjectivity. This is why Vedanta teachings teaching will stand the test of time 😉. However as part of limitations of self inquiry one could assume that Vedanta would be limited in objectivity. However in my experience (and i hope keen readers also understand this) this leads to enhanced objectivity. Why? Because i am aware of my own conscious experience and so i am aware of what i am projecting onto reality. Anyone who pursues and understands vedantic teachings can use science as a way to understand this manifestation of reality we find ourselves in.
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Great video Swamiji 🙏 ❤️
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Dear Swamiji… thanks for sharing your wisdom … the world needs your teaching more than ever. 🪷🙏🏼
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9:46 small mistake-- robert penrose should be roger penrose
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Swamiji, you described a very complex subject in such a clear way that it will put most professors to shame. Thank you for this video 🙏
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Thank you! Swamiji🙏 Hopefully, some materialists will change their viewpoint on consciousness.
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I am Self Realized after 30 years of agonizing inner work. After everything I have experienced and learned...the Individual Soul is absolutely real and is Divine. The Source of the Divine within is located deep inside the heart. The Source of the Soul is the Divine Oneness ...the Absolute...that is the Ground of Being and sustains all living beings without fail. Every Soul is like a wave on the Ocean of the Divine.
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Thank you Swami! 😁
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Many Thanks Swamiji for this superlative comprehensive video. Truly the need of the hour! You have given a brilliant simplified overview of so many conflicting theories . I cannot even begin to imagine the hours of intense study involved to make this 30 minute video with such clarity. Eternally grateful,,🙏🙏🙏
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In last two sentences Swami ji beautifully summerized whole video.....😊
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I am at this time working in the forest. I see, hear, touch, smell and even taste the wonderful forms of nature. And I know it's all experience within me . Not outside of me. Thank you.
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Wonderful and beautiful explanation 🙏🙏❤❤❤
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Dear Swamiji.....Thank-you for tackling this rather complex subject. You have, as always, succinctly summarised & explained a deeply complex subject. We are fortunate indeed to be taught by you. Thank you again.
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Saved to my Exploring consciousness playlist. Thank you so much for this. 🙏
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Pranam Guruji 🙏
