This is the first of a two-part exploration of consciousness. What it is, what we’ve lost in how we define it, and how we might reclaim a more expansive, life-honoring view.
In Part 1, we’ll examine how the modern, human-centric understanding of consciousness has narrowed our perception and disconnected us from the planet, from each other, and from ourselves.
In Part 2 (tomorrow), we’ll move beyond the human lens and explore how emerging science and ancient wisdom invite us to recognize consciousness as something more than cognitive…something woven into the roots of trees, the migration of birds, the spiral of galaxies, and even the stillness of stones.
Together, these two parts offer a call to remember…and to reweave…a more reverent and responsive way of being.
Introduction
Have you ever stared up at the night sky, feeling both small and deeply connected to something infinitely larger? Or maybe you’ve wandered through a forest, watching the dance of light and shadow, and felt the quiet wisdom that holds it all together. These experiences hint at an interconnected reality, where awareness pulses through the tiniest particles to the intricate weave of existence.
Consciousness is often described as the ability to perceive and respond to the world within and around us, hinging on traits like self-awareness and intentionality. However, this definition dangerously prioritizes human traits, while systematically overlooking the diverse expressions of consciousness found in other living beings and systems.
Like a tree deeply rooted in the earth, yet reaching for the sky, our understanding of consciousness is often limited by our human perspective. We see only the trunk and branches, not the vast network of roots communicating with the soil, sharing resources with other trees, and supporting the entire forest ecosystem. We miss the chemical signals released through the air, warning of danger and coordinating defenses. We ignore the slow, steady pulse of life within the tree, a rhythm that connects it to the cycles of the earth and the cosmos. And just as trees thrive in interconnected communities, drawing strength and resilience from their collective existence, so too does consciousness flourish in relationships.
Consequences of a Human-Centric Definition
Imagine a world where doctors treat symptoms without understanding the body, architects design buildings ignoring the laws of physics, and therapists address behaviors without exploring root causes. This fragmented lens mirrors how we’ve approached our relationship with the planet.
We’ve been taught to see ourselves as separate from nature, as if the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the earth that sustains us are mere commodities. But this separation is an illusion – a dangerous fiction fueling a crisis of disconnection. This crisis manifests not only in melting ice caps and vanishing species but also in the anxiety and depression that plague modern life.
This divide doesn’t just harm the planet; it harms our very soul. It fosters loneliness, alienating us from the natural world that once nourished our ancestors. It traps us in a black-and-white view of consciousness, blinding us to the spectrum of awareness that exists within and around us. We drift into a sea of concrete and steel, blind to the sacred interwovenness of all life. A limited perspective of consciousness breeds separation, reinforces destructive hierarchies, and perpetuates harmful anthropocentrism that justifies exploitation.
This narrow view has real-world consequences. It sanctions the exploitation of animals and the environment, sustains inequitable systems, and constrains mindfulness. While modern society frames mindfulness as a cultivated practice, many Indigenous traditions embody it as a way of being-woven into an innate connection with all life. This contrast highlights how a human-centered perspective fundamentally limits our understanding of consciousness, its potential for good, and our ability to reconnect with the mindfulness that resides within us all.
Through Time and Cultures: Expanding the Story of Consciousness
The very definition of consciousness has journeyed through centuries and across cultures, blending the layers of philosophy, science, and spirituality. Ancient traditions like the Indian Upanishads, with their vision of “Atman”- a universal self intricately linked to the cosmos – and Chinese Daoism, which celebrates the flow of “Qi” as the essence of awareness, have long embraced consciousness as expansive and interconnected. Indigenous perspectives take this further, presenting consciousness as a living force flowing not just through humans but through animals, trees, rocks, rivers, and the land itself. In these traditions, the boundaries between beings dissolve into a web of interdependence, where relationships, not isolation, define existence.
Western thought, from Descartes’ “I think, therefore I am” to Locke’s focus on individual perception, narrowed the lens of consciousness to the confines of the human mind. Science then built on this foundation, yielding valuable insights into brain function and cognition. Yet, science’s reliance on skepticism – accepting only what can be measured – often locks us into a human-centered, empirical box, overlooking wisdom that has guided civilizations for millennia. This approach, while powerful, risks confining us to our own limited song, blind to the symphony of consciousness resonating through all life.
Imagine if we reframed our understanding of consciousness, not as an exclusive property of the human mind, but as a universal thread binding all existence. This shift would not only align with Indigenous wisdom but could also reshape our relationship with the planet and each other. Studies already show that believing in the interconnectedness of all things fosters empathy, reduces exploitation, and inspires a sense of stewardship. If we dared to entertain the idea that everything possesses some level of consciousness – living and non-living alike – it could catalyze a profound societal transformation.
Science has often been the lantern in a box, illuminating only what fits within its boundaries. But the time has come to lift the box and let the light expand, honoring ancient wisdom while continuing to push the boundaries of discovery. If we embraced this broader, more interconnected view of consciousness, we wouldn’t just seek to understand the universe – we might finally begin harmonizing with it. By bridging the gap between science and holistic ways of knowing, we unlock not just knowledge but a path to greater harmony, empathy, and reverence for the sacredness of all life.
Stay tuned for part 2/2 tomorrow (sources listed at the end of part 2)
-Jeff
Dr. Jeff Karp (www.jeffkarp.com) is an Endowed Chair at Mass General Brigham and Professor at Harvard Medical School and MIT, a renowned biomedical innovator and best-selling author who transformed undiagnosed ADHD into a driving force for creativity, leadership, and pattern disruption. He has co-founded 14 companies from his lab at Mass General Brigham, holds over 100 patents, and pioneered medical breakthroughs – including a sutureless, bio-inspired device for peripheral nerve repair that recently received FDA approval. A Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors, he now serves as the incoming Executive President of Geoversity (Nature’s University) in Panama and is the author of LIT: Life Ignition Tools, helping individuals and leaders unlock their potential through mindfulness, neurodiversity, and deep connection with nature. He is an MEA alum.