In our society, it is common to confuse consciousness with intellect or reasoning ability. Many believe that being highly intelligent is equivalent to having an awakened consciousness, but this is a dangerous illusion.
As Samael Aun Weor teaches, consciousness is a faculty distinct from mental activity, a special type of inner understanding that transcends mere intellectualization.
Consciousness has an essential function: to allow the individual to know themselves. Knowing who we are, where we are, and what we truly know or ignore are fundamental aspects of consciousness. However, human beings mostly live in a state of deep sleep. They work, marry, have children, and even die without ever awakening to their true inner condition.
The tragedy of this state of unconsciousness is that the person believes they are fully awake. If, for a moment, someone truly woke up, they would feel immense shame upon realizing their own mechanicality. Our existence, from this perspective, is an absurd theater, where we follow automatic scripts without questioning their origin or purpose.
Revolutionary Psychology teaches us that there are different degrees of consciousness, which can be observed through three criteria:
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Time – How long do we remain conscious?
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Frequency – How often do we awaken consciousness?
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Amplitude and penetration – What exactly do we become conscious of?
For most people, consciousness only awakens in moments of danger, intense emotions, or unexpected situations. However, we have no control over these flashes. They are random events, not the result of conscious effort.
Conventional education does little or nothing to develop consciousness. We spend years in schools and universities accumulating intellectual knowledge, but leave as automatons, with no real understanding of ourselves. True education should focus on the awakening of consciousness.
Fortunately, there are methods and practices that can help us in this process. Samael Aun Weor teaches that it is necessary to eliminate the obstacles that keep us asleep, such as mechanical habits, excessive identification with fleeting emotions, and lack of self-observation. Through self-knowledge and conscious practice, it is possible to awaken and maintain a state of permanent consciousness.
The great masters of humanity, such as Buddha, Jesus, and Quetzalcoatl, were examples of fully awakened consciousness. Their teachings point to a path that everyone can follow, but one that requires effort, discipline, and the firm decision to break free from the illusion of psychological sleep.
Thus, the first step is to admit that we live in a state of slumber. Only when we recognize our own unconsciousness do we begin to walk the path of true awakening.
