Consciousness
An inner light that must never go out
October 22nd 2012
Etymologically, the word ‘vigilance’ belongs to the same family as the French words veiller (watch), veille (vigil) and éveillé (awake). To be awake means not to sleep. But what is it in us that must not sleep? Our consciousness.
Our body needs sleep and should not be deprived of it. Not sleeping is one thing; having an awakened consciousness is another. It is possible to not be asleep yet have a sleepy consciousness, just as we can maintain an awakened consciousness while asleep. For consciousness is like a lamp, and in highly evolved beings this light never goes out.