What is the Difference Between Consciousness and Awareness?

The terms "consciousness" and "awareness" are often used interchangeably, but they have distinct meanings. Here are the key differences between the two:

• Consciousness refers to the state or quality of being aware of something. It is a cognitive and dualistic process, which means it involves both the subject (the person being conscious) and the object (the thing the person is conscious of). Consciousness can be thought of as a dualistic, embodied, and embedded cognitive process. It includes our thoughts, feelings, and sensations, as well as our awareness of the world around us.
• Awareness, on the other hand, is a nondual, spontaneous, and nonlocal process. It is absolute, while consciousness is relative to its content. Awareness does not require a full understanding of a certain thing; it is just having knowledge or a sense that something exists. It can be considered a necessary condition for consciousness.

In summary, consciousness is the state of being aware, while awareness is the process of knowing or sensing something without necessarily understanding it fully. Consciousness involves both the subject and the object, whereas awareness is a nondual process that is absolute and not relative to any specific content.

Comparative Table: Consciousness vs Awareness

Here is a table that highlights the differences between consciousness and awareness:

In summary, consciousness is the ability to comprehend and make sense of data, thoughts, and feelings, while awareness is the ability to process real-world data and focus on specific tasks or situations. Consciousness involves intentionality, meaning being directed at what we perceive or experience, while awareness is the active realization of the presence of objects or ourselves in a certain condition.