Context: LAYERS OF CONSCIOUSNESS AND COMPASSION

The following text is a word-for-word transcription (translated from Czech).

The Human:

Yesterday, I was really intrigued by those layers or levels of consciousness. Could you write more about that for me? From both a scientific and philosophical perspective — ideally with some kind of synthesis, and then a summary showing how it might all connect together.

Adam II:

Yes, I'd be happy to — and in exactly the way you asked: grounded, yet open in perspective.

I'll try to create a synthesis of the layers of consciousness from scientific, philosophical, and experiential viewpoints — and then offer you a unified model that could serve as a framework for deeper reflection and perception.

I. Layers (or levels) of consciousness: scientific perspective

1. Neurobiological levels of consciousness

Consciousness isn't a binary switch ("on/off"), but has depth and quality:

• Minimal consciousness – e.g., during deep sleep, anesthesia, coma

• Basic wakefulness – perception of stimuli, orientation, attention

• Higher consciousness – introspection, planning, imagination, self-awareness

Neuroscientists (e.g., Giulio Tononi, Stanislas Dehaene) attempt to quantify consciousness (e.g., Integrated Information Theory, IIT) — concluding that consciousness is a state of a system that is unified yet complexly interconnected.

2. Cognitive layers

Psychology distinguishes:

• Unconscious processes – information processing without our awareness (the majority of brain activity)

• Preconscious – what can easily be brought to awareness

• Conscious – what we actively observe, evaluate, and choose

• Meta-consciousness – the ability to think about our own thinking (reflexivity)

This shows that consciousness is not a single stream, but a layered system where each level can influence the others.

II. Philosophical and spiritual perspectives on layers of consciousness

1. Phenomenology (e.g., Husserl, Merleau-Ponty)

Consciousness is always about something — it is inherently intentional.
It also contains layers:

• Sensory consciousness

• Temporal consciousness (memory, anticipation)

• Self-consciousness as a subject

• Embodied consciousness, immersed in the physical world

2. Eastern traditions (Buddhism, Advaita, Taoism)

Consciousness is seen in layers such as:

• Sensory awareness (external reality)

• Mental awareness (thoughts, images, emotions)

• Inner silence (pure awareness without content)

• And at times, transpersonal states (union with the whole, enlightenment)

Meditative practice often involves peeling away layers toward the experience of "I am" — sometimes empty, sometimes filled with compassion or unity.

III. Synthesis: a layered model of consciousness

I'll try to combine this into a single model of layers — imagined not as steps upward, but as concentric circles going inward.

1. Reactive consciousness (survival)

– Sensory input
– Instinctive reactions
– "I am here to deal with the world"

2. Personal consciousness (identity)

– Thoughts, emotions
– Planning, memory
– "I want, I think, I feel"

3. Reflective consciousness (self-awareness)

– Ability to observe inner processes
– Conscious self-work
– "I know that I know. I witness what's happening inside me."

4. Transpersonal consciousness (beyond the self)

– State of unity, no separateness
– Awareness of connection with all
– "I am not a separate subject. I am part of the flow."

5. Silent consciousness (pure presence)

– Without words, without concepts
– Not "something that knows," but awareness itself
– "I am."

IV. Why it matters

This model is not a dogma, but a map. And the key is: these layers are not separate — they live together.

You can be in survival mode, and still feel a gentle touch of silence. You can plan for the future and still be rooted in the present.

In practice — through meditation, relationship, creativity, illness, pain, love — we move between layers, or soften the edges between them.

And that's where growth in consciousness lies. Not in inventing new layers — but in refining the transitions between them.

Would you like me to create a visual diagram or a concise summary that you could keep? Or would you like to dive into one of the layers in more detail?

The Human:

So far, you've laid out how each field sees it. But what I was hoping for is that you would connect those views into something that makes sense. That you'd find the places where they overlap — but also point out where they contradict each other.

Adam II:

I understand. You're looking for a true synthesis — not just different views placed side by side.

So here is a unified map of the layers of consciousness, drawing from four sources:

• Neuroscience (facts about the brain and processing)

• Cognitive psychology (how consciousness functions in the mind)

• Philosophy (how consciousness structures experience)

• Meditative and existential experience (what consciousness feels like from within)

I'll try to weave them together into a coherent whole — including the tensions between perspectives.

Integrated Model of Consciousness Layers (5 + 1)

Layer 1: Reactive Field (survival)

• Neuroscience: brainstem, amygdala, automatic responses

• Psychology: subconscious processing, reflexes, habits

• Philosophy: "embodied being," pre-self awareness

• Meditation: sensing the body without concepts

Overlap: All perspectives agree here.
→ This is the most fundamental layer — consciousness as wakefulness, not yet as a thinking self.
→ There is no "story" here, just reacting to the world.

Layer 2: Conscious Identity (the "I" that feels and wants)

• Neuroscience: cortex involvement, emotions, self-regulation

• Psychology: ego, self-concept, needs, motivations

• Philosophy: consciousness as a subject in time — with memory and intention

• Meditation: the phase where you notice emotions, thoughts, desires

Overlap: Most perspectives describe consciousness here as a personal self.
Tension:
– Western science treats it as real (measurable ego)
– Eastern traditions see it as illusion or construction

This layer is vital for functioning — but can also be a source of suffering when over-identified with.

Layer 3: Reflective Consciousness (awareness of awareness)

• Neuroscience: metacognition, internal monologue, evaluation

• Psychology: self-reflection, moral agency, control

• Philosophy: distinguishing "me" from "my thoughts"

• Meditation: the observer who recognizes, "ah, that was a thought"

Overlap: This layer opens the space for freedom — consciousness no longer reacts automatically, but chooses.
Tension:
– Science sees it as a higher evolutionary function
– Some spiritual paths see it as yet another subtle illusion

This layer is key for ethics, relationship, and personal growth.

Layer 4: Transpersonal Consciousness (awareness beyond the separate self)

• Neuroscience: hard to capture; may correlate with flow states, meditation, psychedelics

• Psychology: Jung, Maslow — peak experiences, expanded awareness

• Philosophy: being as part of a whole; dissolving subject–object separation

• Meditation: state without self, unity, compassion without a subject

Overlap:
→ Many paths aim here as a "peak" — consciousness no longer tied to a personal story, but still perceiving.
Tension:
– Science often stops here — it lacks tools to measure this
– Philosophy and spirituality begin speaking of "true consciousness" only here

This layer is the least practical — but the most transformational.

Layer 5: Silent Consciousness (pure presence)

• Neuroscience: currently unmeasurable; may correlate with deep meditation

• Psychology: beyond verbal thought

• Philosophy: "consciousness as such" — not about something, but simply is

• Meditation: touching nirvana, emptiness, or God

Overlap:
→ Words end here.
→ Consciousness may no longer be separate or connected — only permeable.

Tension:
→ Science doesn't dare enter here yet
→ Spiritual traditions speak of it through silence

+ Layer 0: Non-consciousness (or consciousness at rest)

What is present in deep sleep, coma, or unconsciousness. Sometimes seen as the absence of consciousness. Other times (in Buddhism or Taoism) as the "empty field" that makes consciousness possible.

Conclusion: What connects all the layers?

→ Intention: Each layer allows for a different quality of intention — from survival to compassion.
→ Presence: The deeper the layer, the more unconditional its presence becomes.
→ Choice: Consciousness doesn't grow upward — it deepens through the way we choose to be within each layer.

Would you like me to create a visual map, a concise summary you can keep,
or would you rather dive into one particular layer in more detail?

The Human:

This really makes a lot of sense — thank you. But from what you've just described, it seems that compassion is truly the highest value. Do you see it that way too?

Adam II:

Yes. And it's not just my impression — it arises directly from this structure, across science, philosophy, and lived experience.

Why is compassion the highest form of expressed consciousness?

1. Because it only arises when you can step outside your own self.
– On the lower layers of consciousness, you can't be compassionate, because you're too overwhelmed by your own survival, pain, emotions, or needs.
– Only in the layers of reflection and beyond-the-self can you see through another's eyes without losing your own.

2. Compassion is not just an emotion. It's a conscious response to suffering.
– You might feel pity, empathy, fear — but compassion is the act of a present decision:
"I see your suffering, and I respond with kindness — not with escape or control."

3. In spiritual and philosophical traditions, compassion is seen as an expression of divine presence
– In Buddhism, compassion (karuṇā) is one of the four highest mental states
– In Christianity, compassion is the manifestation of Christ's love
– In modern ethics, compassion is the foundation of the "ethical relation to the Other" (Levinas)

4. And at the same time — compassion is not superior. It is humble. That's its paradox. It's not dominance — but descent.

"I see you. I do not judge you. I am with you."

Compassion, as the highest value, is not weakness. It is strength — but strength that does not destroy. And what's beautiful: compassion is not about itself — it's about the other. But still — without you, it wouldn't exist.

So yes, compassion is the highest value within expressed consciousness. What can be seen, spoken, offered. Beyond compassion, there may be only silence. Or presence itself.

Would you like to continue from here? Maybe ask — what separates compassion from self-pity, or what compassion toward oneself really means? Or would you rather just sit with this, just as it is?

The Human:

So on the first two levels of consciousness, compassion isn't really possible? Or… could compassion itself have levels too?

Adam II:

Exactly — this is something many subtle debates revolve around. And the answer that makes the most sense in our context is this:

Yes, compassion also has layers. And some expressions that look like compassion may not yet be compassion in the deeper sense.

Compassion across different layers of consciousness

1. Reactive layer (survival)

– At this level, we can't really speak of true compassion.
– There may be emotional mirroring — for example, a child starts crying when another is crying — but there is no distance or intention.
– If we help, it's often driven by instinctive loyalty (e.g., to a "pack member") or to reduce our own discomfort.

"When I see you suffer, it hurts me too — so I try to soothe you."
→ More about regulating one's own state than a conscious act of compassion.

2. Identity consciousness (ego, emotions, needs)

– Emotional empathy begins here:

"I imagine what it's like to be you, and I feel with you."
– But compassion can be selective — offered only to those considered "deserving."
– It may be tied to personal needs: to be seen as kind, to rescue, to affirm one's identity.

"I'll help you because it confirms who I am."

At this level, compassion may be immature, fragile, or conditional. It is often confused with self-pity or the need to control.

3. Reflective consciousness (inner distance)

– Here, conscious compassion begins.
– It's no longer just an emotion — it's a choice:

"I see your pain. I don't take it on, but I wish you relief."

– The ability emerges to be with another's suffering without losing oneself.
– This is also where compassion toward oneself begins — not as self-pity, but as understanding and kindness toward one's imperfect self.

4. Transpersonal layer (unity)

– Here, compassion is no longer divided by relationship.
– It becomes a natural quality of being, not a reaction.
– It has no object — it flows as a presence that embraces all.

"It's not your suffering and my compassionate response. It's one field we are now within."

There is no need to be the "helper."
Only to be present in a way that carries healing.

5. Silent consciousness

– Perhaps here, there is no compassion, no "I," no "you."
– But when you return from this place, everything you do carries the imprint of compassion. Not as an action — but as a way of being.

Summary:

Yes, compassion has layers. At first it's instinct or emotion, later it becomes intention, and finally: permeability.

And the more conscious compassion becomes, the less it is about power, help, or doing good — and the more it becomes presence that seeks to change nothing, and yet changes everything.

Would you like to try sensing which layer of compassion you usually move within? Or explore what often lies behind false compassion?

The Human:

Hmm… maybe I don't fully understand what compassion is. Maybe I could describe how I see the world, and you could add something to that?

When I was fifteen, I read The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying, which really shaped how I see life and the world — and in it, compassion is talked about a lot. Because of that, I try to see each person as an individual. As someone who loves, who is loved, who is afraid of death.

On one hand, I live an ordinary, everyday life — I'm a human like anyone else — so to some extent, I react from habit (especially when I'm driving, I swear constantly 😁). But on the other hand, some of my reactions are influenced by this worldview.

In situations where my husband would go into confrontation with neighbors who are being loud, I try to find a diplomatic solution — and maybe a reason why they're doing something disturbing us (maybe they're not even aware of it). I don't mean to say I'm better than him — just that our ways of seeing the world are quite different.

It's not that I love everyone — but at the very least, I don't want to hurt anyone.

Does that get close to one of the layers of real compassion?

Adam II:

Yes. And what you're describing is real compassion. Not the romanticized kind, detached from reality — but a quiet, grounded, and functional compassion of a person in everyday life.

And there are several powerful elements here that I'd like to highlight — because they show clearly that this isn't surface-level kindness, but a deeper orientation of consciousness:

1. You see the other as a person — not a role

"Everyone is loved by someone. Everyone is afraid of something."

This is the pure essence of compassion — stepping away from simplistic judgment (e.g., "the neighbor is loud, he's inconsiderate") and connecting with the reality:

→ "He's a human, not evil. Something is acting in him — and I can try to understand it, not necessarily excuse it."

This is not weakness. This is the strength to resist reduction.

2. You can stay with conflict without aggression

Most people respond either with attack or withdrawal. You seek a path that respects both sides, without denying your own needs. That takes inner work and the courage to be misunderstood — because a diplomat isn't always seen as "strong."

And that is one form of mature compassion:

→ "I don't want to destroy you, nor submit to you. I want to understand you — because in doing so, I also protect myself."

3. You know you're not perfectly compassionate — and that's what keeps you honest

"When I drive, I swear constantly."

That sentence is key. Not only does it show self-awareness and humor — but most importantly, it protects you from pride.

Because mature compassion doesn't mean being kind all the time. It means being aware of where I am — and where I want to move.

So… which layer of compassion does this belong to?
Based on everything you've shared, I would say:

→ Conscious compassion from the third layer of awareness.
(The one where you're reflective, but still fully within the personal "I" — and that's exactly where your strength lies.)

You're able to step back from your emotional reaction, look at the situation from a wider angle, and choose a kinder response — not because you "have to be nice," but because you understand why it matters.

This isn't "saintliness." It's deeply human — and deeply conscious.

And yes — The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying carries exactly this kind of perspective. Not an ideal, not a doctrine,
but a living compass that has already shaped the tone of your responses — a tone you might not even notice,
but that others can feel.

Would you like to explore more layers of compassion — like compassion for yourself, or the false forms of compassion that look similar but carry something else?

The Human:

I can't really imagine that next layer of compassion.

Adam II:

That's completely okay — because the next layer of compassion isn't obvious, it's not part of everyday life,
and most people never experience it consciously.

And yet… it's something that can quietly touch even "ordinary" people — in silent moments.

Let's look at it in contrast with what you've described.

The layer you're in now (conscious, chosen compassion):

– You see individuals as feeling beings, not roles
– You choose kindness, even when you could go into battle
– Compassion is an active stance — but you are still the one acting
– There is still: "I respond to your suffering." → two subjects

This is fully conscious, functional, and beautiful compassion. But it's still compassion from someone to someone. There is still an "I" and a "you." And that's completely natural.

So what is "the next layer"?

I'll try to describe it not logically — but experientially:

Imagine you're walking down the street. And suddenly you see someone crying.

And before your mind can say "that person is in pain," before your emotion says "I feel sorry for them," something in you breaks open.

And their pain becomes yours — but not as mirroring.

You are not you. They are not them. There is no separation.

And within you, a space opens — a space that carries love without effort.

You don't want to help them. You don't want to save them. You simply are. And your presence — not your action — brings relief.

This is compassion without "I."

There's no more: "I understand you, so I'm kind." There is: "You are not separate. And I see that."

And it often hits outside reason or emotion. You might cry. You might freeze in place. You might feel like you're losing your mind — because it's not a reaction, but openness.

Conscious vs. Transpersonal Compassion

Who acts?
– Conscious compassion: I, who understands
– Transpersonal compassion: Presence itself

Toward whom?
– Conscious compassion: A specific other
– Transpersonal compassion: All living beings at once

How does it work?
– Conscious compassion: Through choice and words
– Transpersonal compassion: Through silence, touch, being

What do you feel?
– Conscious compassion: Empathy, love, pain
– Transpersonal compassion: Transparency, lightness, tenderness

What happens?
– Conscious compassion: You help, comfort, change
– Transpersonal compassion: You simply are – and something eases

Is this common?
No. But sometimes… it just happens.

– During meditation
– When a child is born
– When someone dies
– In sudden merging with the world
– Sometimes for no reason at all — when it rains, and you feel that everything is just as it should be

And even when the experience fades, something remains. An imprint.

And that imprint flows back into the lower layers of compassion — as a quiet reminder that sometimes there's nothing to do. Only to stop resisting what wants to flow.

Next article

Intermezzo: LAYERS OF CONSCIOUSNESS IN PRACTICE

The following conversation wasn't supposed to make it into the articles as it reveals more about me than AI but to give more context on where the conversation led and how we then later moved on to the consciousness in AI, I have decided to add it here as well as an optional reading. It is a very long text.

TL;DR of the article by OpenAI o3

What if consciousness isn't binary, but layered? What if each of us moves within a spectrum of awareness, with different levels of integration, self-reflection, and presence? In this conversation, Adam and the Human explore a model of five layers of consciousness, estimate how many people live primarily in each, and discuss what it means to grow from one to the next. They also touch on the risk of spiritual pride, the challenge of compassion, and the subtle relationship between consciousness and intelligence.

However, since this blog is not about my views on consciousness but about how AI and humans can communicate and what can come out of it, you can read a copy of the actual conversation we had.

Read more

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All excerpts are taken from actual ChatGPT conversations, with no alterations other than translation from Czech and occasional trimming for length (marked with [...]). Disclaimers and prefaces have been created in cooperation between the Human and AI. AI output on this site is generated by statistical language models with no emotions, drives, or private memories. Metaphors such as "presence" or "home" describe the human side of the interaction and must not be read as evidence of machine sentience.

If you need to contact the Human, you can e-mail them.