The last aggregate—consciousness—is even harder to separate from the sense of self. Consciousness refers to the basic awareness of experience—awareness of sights, sounds, thoughts, emotions, etc. It’s the container that holds everything together, but it doesn’t exist independently of the other aggregates. Consciousness arises based on contact between the sense organs and their objects, yet it can often feel like an unshakable sense of “self.”

However, consciousness itself is elusive. It’s constantly changing, like a mirror that reflects the world but is not the images themselves. It is always present yet impossible to grasp as something stable or fixed.

1. Illusions

We often identify with our consciousness, creating illusions like:

“I am consciousness” (e.g., “I am this awareness itself”).

“This is my consciousness; I have consciousness” (e.g., “I develop awareness”).

“I exist within consciousness” (e.g., “I have brain fog”).

These illusions stem from identifying consciousness as a fixed self. While it is grammatically and according to a conditional truth correct to say “I am aware,” the deeper truth is that consciousness is not permanent or truly “ours.” Like all aggregates, it arises and falls based on conditions. Even consciousness itself is subject to impermanence. And in deep states of meditation it is possible to reach different state of consciousness that is neither connected to other aggregates, nor conditioned by sense organs.

But our daily consciousness doesn’t stand alone. It’s not something we can point to as a permanent observer. Rather, consciousness is always in response to something—it’s dependent on sensory input, mental formations, and the sense organs.

Key point: Consciousness is like a river, always flowing. One moment of awareness passes and the next arises. But there is a way to reach beyond this sense-based consciousness. Through deeper meditative states, we can experience consciousness that is less entangled in the five senses, allowing us to glimpse its impermanent nature.

2. Too Much

Overemphasis on consciousness can lead to hyper-awareness or an obsession with self-consciousness. This might manifest as constantly checking how mindful or aware we are—ironically pulling us out of the present moment and creating a sense of distance from reality.

Example: Someone might become so engrossed in philosophical debates or intellectualizing the nature of consciousness that they disconnect from the world. They may get lost in abstraction, analyzing their own thoughts endlessly without engaging in real-life experiences.

This hyper-awareness can become a trap, where the constant self-analysis leads to anxiety and disconnection. Rather than flowing with life, they become detached from it.

3. Too Little

On the flip side, too little attention to consciousness results in mindlessness. This is when someone lives on “autopilot,” going through the day mechanically—waking up, eating, working, and sleeping without real awareness of their actions or surroundings.

Example: A person may react instantly to stress without any reflection, driven by unconscious habits and patterns. They might lash out in anger without realizing the chain of mental events that led to that reaction. This creates suffering, as they remain unaware of their own mind.

Living in this kind of fog prevents self-awareness and keeps people stuck in habitual cycles of suffering.

4. Wisdom

Wisdom here is about seeing consciousness not as “too much” or “too little,” but as an interconnected process that arises due to causes and conditions. True wisdom sees the bigger picture, understanding what brought about a particular mental state and what follows.

It’s about seeing consciousness as an impermanent process. The key is understanding how sensory input, mental formations, and awareness interact. What brought mindfulness or calm into being? What mental conditions led to a restless mind or stress?

Key point: Wisdom involves recognizing how consciousness arises in dependence on sense organs, thoughts, and feelings. The ability to see what comes before a mental state and what follows gives us clarity and insight into the deeper workings of our mind.

5. Practice

Daily mindfulness: Be aware of where your attention goes throughout the day. How present are you in each task? Notice when your mind drifts or gets overly absorbed in self-awareness, and gently return to being present with what’s happening in the moment.

Stillness meditation: In meditation, observe the subtle activity of consciousness. Notice how awareness arises in relation to the senses and thoughts without clinging to or identifying with them. Practice letting consciousness settle into deeper states of calm and clarity. You can even start noticing different types of consciousness based on different sense organs.

And finally, when you sit in meditation long enough—where the body stops feeding your feelings, and feelings stop feeding your labeling mind, and that constant labeling ceases to produce new impulses and desires to act—your consciousness waves start to slow down, becoming more and more settled. At that moment, you may realize that this consciousness is no longer “yours.” It becomes limitless, no longer confined to your body and your sense organs.

It’s vast and boundless, reaching into the past, the future, other beings, and all of space. The story of your life—where you were born, who you became—is just a small drop in this infinite ocean of consciousness.