Consciousness is the container of all thoughts. It is the field in which thoughts appear and disappear. First comes consciousness, then come thoughts. Consciousness is awareness. Without consciousness, thoughts would not exist for you. You wouldn’t even know they are thought. And, if you were in a coma, you would not have thoughts.
But you might still be conscious. There have been numerous cases of people who have been in comas and then return “to life.” They explain that the prayers of their loved ones who attended their bedsides every day brought them back. They could not express what happened but they felt the presence of love, even if they could not think thoughts at the time.
So consciousness can exist without thoughts. Animals have consciousness and awareness too. But they do not have thoughts the way we define them. They do not plan and plot or reflect on past grievances. Therefore, consciousness precedes thought. And consciousness must be there first so that thought can take place, at least in humans.
But you might still be conscious. There have been numerous cases of people who have been in comas and then return “to life.” They explain that the prayers of their loved ones who attended their bedsides every day brought them back. They could not express what happened but they felt the presence of love, even if they could not think thoughts at the time.
So consciousness can exist without thoughts. Animals have consciousness and awareness too. But they do not have thoughts the way we define them. They do not plan and plot or reflect on past grievances. Therefore, consciousness precedes thought. And consciousness must be there first so that thought can take place, at least in humans.
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