Awareness – An Analogy

Let us say that in a home with 24×7 electricity, there are many bulbs. When current flows through a particular operational bulb by switching it on it glows. When the switch is off it obviously does not glow. Also, when the bulb is not operational even if there is electricity it does not glow. Also, what happens with one bulb is not related to another bulb as it is driven by another switch. Here is the analogy:

Bulb = A Person
Bulb with switch off = Person in unconscious state
Bulb with switch on = Person not in unconscious state
Bulb not operational = Death of the body of the person
Light from the bulb = Sensation of sound, light, emotions etc. experienced by a person
Current = Awareness
From the above analogy it can be seen that just as the light from the bulb is possible due to current, or in other words current is expressing itself in the form of light, the experience (via senses, thoughts etc.) of the person is possible due to awareness or awareness is expressing itself in the form of experience. If the bulb is not giving light it does not mean that the electricity does not exist, it only means that either the bulb is switched off or is not operational. Likewise, if a person has no experience (via senses, thoughts etc.), it does not mean that awareness does not exist, it means that either the person is unconscious or the body is dead.

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