1.1 What are we? Body, mind, and consciousness

Consciousness and Reality: A New Starting Point

Based entirely on Part One of Thomas Campbell’s My Big TOE, according to the official summary published on his website.

The story begins when you wake up…

You open your eyes.

The room is dim. You feel the weight of your body on the mattress, a slight stiffness in your neck, the beat of your heart.

You wake up…
But who, exactly, has woken up?

🔀 Question 1: Who are you when you open your eyes?

A) I am just this body. I feel my skin, my breathing, my temperature.
B) My physical form and my biology define who I am.
C) But if I lost an arm, I would no longer be me!
D) My face has changed over time, but I’m still me.

You sit up in bed…

Something lingers — a quiet but persistent feeling that there’s more to you than skin and bones.

“But my thoughts are part of me too. I am also my thoughts.”

You remember your to-do list, your sneakers, your opinions about politics and pineapple on pizza.

But then comes a moment of silence.
For a brief instant, no thoughts arise.
And yet… you’re still there.

🔀 Question 2: So… who is there when you’re not thinking?

A) When I’m not thinking, there’s no one here, even though my body is still present.
B) I am the one who observes and realizes that, for a moment, no thought has crossed my mind.
C) I am the silent witness behind the body and the mind.
D) I am the presence that observes my thoughts, sensations, doubts… neither a thought nor a body part.

Now you’re wondering…

🔀 Question 3: And who are you, really, when you’re thinking?

A) I am whatever I happen to be thinking in the moment.
B) I am the thinker of those thoughts — the one behind the mental activity.
C) I am my stream of consciousness — the flow itself, not the observer.
D) I am the awareness that can think, but also notice that I am thinking.

You’ve answered some tricky questions. But maybe your mind is still buzzing:

“If I can observe my body… and I can observe my thoughts…
Then… who or what is doing the observing?”

Let’s break it down.

🧍 1. The Physical Layer

This is your body — your muscles, bones, and nerves. It’s how you move, how you feel the world. This is your bodily identity.

“I am my body,” you might say.

But what if your body changes? Does your identity change, too?

2. The Psychological Layer

This is your mind — your memories, opinions, sense of humor. This is your mental identity.

“I am my thoughts,” you think.

But your thoughts change daily. Your personality has evolved since childhood. Are you still you?

👁️ 3. The Conscious Layer

This is the layer of pure awareness — the silent witness behind every thought, feeling, and perception. It’s the constant presence that experiences them all.

🔀 Question 4: What is my consciousness layer?

A) It contains just my memories, beliefs, and emotional reactions.
B) It contains just my thoughts, but not my body sensations.
C) It is the part of me that watches my thoughts, emotions, and body sensations — without judgment.
D) It stores my personality and opinions about myself and the world.

🔀 Question 5: What best describes the layer of consciousness in you?

A) It’s where memories, emotions, and opinions are stored.
B) It’s the part that thinks and remembers who I am.
C) It’s what notices what I think, feel, and perceive, without attaching or intervening.
D) It’s a collection of thoughts about myself and the world.

Here’s where it gets subtle.

There’s a part of you that watches your thoughts, your emotions, your body sensations… without judging. This is your conscious identity.

“I am the one who notices.”

This silent awareness doesn’t age. It doesn’t panic. It just… is.

The bell rings gently.

You’ve just touched something ancient, quiet, and deeply familiar.

And maybe, just maybe, you’ve started to realize:

You are not just a brain in a skull.
You are not just a stream of thoughts.
You are the awareness behind it all — and that changes everything.

Everyday Situation

You’re about to enter an important meeting. Your body tenses up. Your mind floods with thoughts: “What if I mess up?” “Will they take me seriously?”

So… how do you respond?

🔀 Question 6: What’s the best way to face that moment?

A) From the body: I just walk in, nerves and all, acting on instinct without much awareness.
B) From the mind: I overthink and strategize, but I don’t really feel centered.
C) From consciousness: I breathe, notice my thoughts, and choose with presence. I may still be nervous, but I’m grounded.

Summary Table: Three Layers of Identity

Layer What it is Main Function
Physical Your body, face, name To perceive, move, survive
Psychological Your thoughts, beliefs, memories To interpret, plan, analyze
Conscious The presence that observes all To be, to choose with clarity

Final Reflection for Section 1

“I am not just what my body feels, nor what my mind thinks. I am the awareness that sees both — calmly, clearly, constantly.”