Hey Chaitra,

That was an epiphany 😊!! Maybe I am looking at the finger pointing to the moon and not the moon itself, or seeing the moon with an obscured view.

Maybe there is looking at a finger and not recognizing that it _is_ the moon because it seems as though someone is looking.

Ok, since you have a psychology background too, I am posing this question. It’s about consciousness (consciousness = natural state?).

No. Consciousness is an illusion. Natural perfection is simply what seems to be happening.

I will equate consciousness to mind in this discussion.

That makes sense. Both of those terms point to the same illusion.

Seen with a psychological perspective, mind or consciousness is just a brain wave activity.

No. mind/consciousness is an illusion. This is why psychological research cannot discover what it is. Perceptions, thoughts, and feelings are, apparently, activities of the brain.

So is the natural state a mere brain function?

I don’t really like using this term “natural state.” I assume you’re talking about liberation. There is only liberation. It’s not a brain function.

So all consciousness experiences are brain activities.

No. “Consciousness” and “experience” both point to the same illusion.

There is nothing philosophical here!!

There’s nothing philosophical anywhere. There’s just what seems to be happening. I think what you’re asking is if liberation is just an experience or a state of consciousness in the brain. No, it’s not the brain. It’s the fundamental nature of reality, and it’s very apparent. It’s hidden in plain sight by the illusion of consciousness.

My understanding here on this, or lack thereof, puts me on a crossroad, and hindering my practice.

There is no you to have a practice.

Thanks in advance for throwing more light.

No problem.