As a proponent of 4 element meditation and 32 parts meditation and having studied biology it becomes clear that our consciousness of our body is derived from our nervous system. Also seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting and for the moment lets leave out our mind.
Now as our mind experiences the sensation of sitting it cannot know what is going on inside the body really. Our heart beats and our breathing takes place. All this is a process of chemistry complex chemistry. But its purpose is to sustain cellular respiration. Getting oxygen to cells so that they can convert glucose to ATP and then run a cell. Look it up it is amazing. Then this produces Co2 and water and this whole process runs your whole life and you get hungry to feed it…
So cellular respiration and others things and processes are running your body from birth to aging to death. Meanwhile your mind is blissfully ignorant of what is really going on.
Our consciousness is only involved at a higher level in nerves and nueral networks and this forms data that our perception is able to create a sense of what we think is the real world. Our visual field is really not out there it is really inside our mind. What an amazing illusion and completely understandable that each of us has a sense of self even though when we examine each part and process we dont find a self or anything permanent.
In contemplating that each of these things is impermanent, dukkha, not mine, not me, not self it brings great detachment and bliss from realizing that in the seen is only the seen etc.
Anway whilst doing some investigation of biology and science on this subject I found this very interesting model of consciousness that I think is worth sharing. It gives a good understanding of how our body’s and mind’s work and food for thought and discussion.
The Dynamic Role of Breathing and Cellular Membrane Potentials in the Experience of Consciousness
Abstract
Understanding the mechanics of consciousness remains one of the most important challenges in modern cognitive science. One key step toward understanding consciousness is to associate unconscious physiological processes with subjective experiences of sensory, motor, and emotional contents. This article explores the role of various cellular membrane potential differences and how they give rise to the dynamic infrastructure of conscious experience. This article explains that consciousness is a body-wide, biological process not limited to individual organs because the mind and body are unified as one entity; therefore, no single location of consciousness can be pinpointed. Consciousness exists throughout the entire body, and unified consciousness is experienced and maintained through dynamic repolarization during inhalation and expiration. Extant knowledge is reviewed to provide insight into how differences in cellular membrane potential play a vital role in the triggering of neural and non-neural oscillations. The role of dynamic cellular membrane potentials in the activity of the central nervous system, peripheral nervous system, cardiorespiratory system, and various other tissues (such as muscles and sensory organs) in the physiology of consciousness is also explored. Inspiration and expiration are accompanied by oscillating membrane potentials throughout all cells and play a vital role in subconscious human perception of feelings and states of mind. In addition, the role of the brainstem, hypothalamus, and complete nervous system (central, peripheral, and autonomic) within the mind-body space combine to allow consciousness to emerge and to come alive. This concept departs from the notion that the brain is the only organ that gives rise to consciousness.