While we all experience Consciousness, most of us are not aware of it. Consciousness will remain a mystery as long as we do not become conscious that there is something like Consciousness. It is not the conscious mind or the conscious body. Consciousness belongs to the one who is alive. Consciousness is life itself.
Isn't it strange that science has not been able to define life? Some people define it as the opposite of death. This is because true Consciousness is being alive, being awake and being aware. The term Chit, which was coined thousands of years ago, spoke of the Consciousness that is the very life energy that we are gifted with. It is the power of the Soul, the Spirit that makes us witness, not only what is happening around us, but more importantly, what is happening within.
Chit is becoming the observer of the mind as it wanders from thought to thought and the senses of the body as they crave. Chit is that state of Consciousness that makes us realize the Truth of who we are. Unless we become aware of our Consciousness, we will remain in ignorance and suffer until we die. Consciousness is beyond the gross physical body and the subtle invisible mind. Its presence signifies life, just as all Consciousness ceases to exist at the moment of death. In fact, we are that very Consciousness, Chit. It is the nature of our true existence.