Awareness and consciousness differ in nature and function.

Awareness is nondual, eternal, all-knowing, and the supreme ability of energy, which is not aware of itself as quantum fields in waves and particles having the power to expand and grow; we refer to it as “energy in the nothingness of this universe,” comprising over 95% dark matter and energy. It has been well described in the Shanti Mantra and the First Law of Conservation of Energy.

Of all its interchangeable abilities, there is one ability that remains fixed and supreme—awareness. This supreme ability can make living creatures like plants, animals, and humans aware, with its intensity varying; hence, the suffix “-ness.”

The mind, in turn, is the transmitter and receiver of universal aware energy through quantum entanglement and superposition, having the power to make the mind first aware and then purely conscious while settled in the superconscious section of the mind, which we refer to as the soul. The soul remains nondual but gradually dilutes, first becoming conscious in duality when the mind is focused and further dilutes to its lowest in subconsciousness in duality when it derives information from its memory and intellect.

Therefore, awareness is primary; consciousness is secondary. The former is independent, whereas the latter is dependent on awareness. Awareness can exist without consciousness, but the latter cannot. Awareness remains nondual; consciousness does not. Consciousness is absent in deep sleep, whereas awareness is not.

Consciousness is what makes the mind alive to experience its thoughts, feelings, and actions; otherwise, the brain would remain dead meat. Awareness is universal; consciousness is localized to an individual mind, differing in its intensity, prescribed by the suffix of its “-ness.”

The individual soul is the divine within, Paramatma, at par with awareness—ParaBrahman—but a notch less than aware energy since it is individualized.

Neuroscience has provided evidence that neurons are fundamental to consciousness; at both the fine and gross scales, aspects of our conscious experiences depend on specific patterns of neural activity—the electromagnetic flow produced by chemical activity in the brain carrying aware information via neurons from one conscious section to another, meaning the connectivity of neurons computes the features of our experience.

In my understanding, the Upanishads claim the same in a similar manner, stating Prajnanam Brahma (Intelligence is Divine), Tat Tvam Asi, Aham Brahmasmi, and Ayam Atma Brahma, meaning I am equal to, but not the same as, awareness since I have the potential to explore, discover, and experience the Universe.

On the other hand, Mindfulness means being in meditative awareness, moment to moment, in the now. It focuses on introspection; Vedantic mindfulness teaches you to step back and constantly observe your mind. You experience and realize that you are not your thoughts, feelings, or actions.

By watching mental fluctuations neutrally, you enter into higher consciousness and establish a state of inner peace and equilibrium because you understand your core consciousness, meaning the soul is never touched by them.

Namaste.