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Consciousness, Its Powers and the Drive to Discover Our True Self · Sri Aurobindo Studies

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  When we try to define consciousness, we tend to do it
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  from an individual standpoint, our own state of awareness.
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  From a broader perspective, however, we can see that
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  consciousness exceeds both in scope and power, that of the
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  individual status. Western science is moving toward
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  a view that will eventually agree with the insights of the
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  ancient grishes and sages, as it has definitively determined that
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  matter is a form of energy and in fact maintains immense energy
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  potential locked up in the concentrated form that we call
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  matter. The definition set forth by
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  Einstein, E equals MC squared, describes the amount of energy
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  in matter as being the mass of the matter times the speed of
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  light squared, an enormous number.
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  Now scientists on the cutting edge of theoretical science are
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  beginning to recognize that energy itself is a form of
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  consciousness. They have not yet developed a
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  formula for the conversion of energy into pure consciousness,
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  but maybe we can start with C equals EC squared as a first
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  step, recognizing that the inherent level of consciousness
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  contained within any quantum of energy is an immense number.
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  It is of course not possible to contain consciousness within a
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  specific formula of this type, but we need to at least
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  recognize that it encompasses the creation of energy and
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  matter without itself being limited.
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  Turning then to the implications of this approach for any
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  individual life, it is clear that enormous powers of
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  consciousness lie contained, latent, embedded within our
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  physical body and our vital energetic being.
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  Liberation of even a small amount of this latent
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  consciousness can have a transformative effect, just as
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  the liberation of energy from matter represents a powerful
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  force in its own right. Doctor de Lal writes quote.
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  The term power is often used to mean force of influence,
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  political, financial or social. Such external power is to be
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  distinguished from the powers within spoken of in this book,
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  consisting of abilities, capacities or faculties which
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  are inherent in the human constitution, though more or
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  less dormant or undeveloped. According to the Vedantic view,
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  the fundamental reality constituting the human being as
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  well as the universe is Chit or consciousness.
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  All energy, dynamism or power comes from consciousness.
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  For as Sri Aurobindo states quote, absolute consciousness is
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  in its nature absolute power. The nature of chit is Shakti
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  force. End Quote, Doctor Delal
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  continues. Therefore chit is called also
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  chit Shakti, consciousness, force.
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  Thus the different forms of consciousness, physical, vital,
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  mental, subliminal, subconscious and superconscious are different
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  formulations of powers of consciousness.
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  In our ordinary state of consciousness we identify
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  ourselves with our separate individual self, called the ego,
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  and seek power for the aggrandizement of the ego.
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  But from a deeper point of view, all the endeavours of the ego
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  are motivated unconsciously by the urge to discover one's true
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  self and its powers of consciousness.
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  End Quote. Reference Sri Aurobindo and the
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  Mother Powers within Introduction page Room Roman 9.