One question that arises for those who believe that consciousness precedes or creates form and that form exists wholly within consciousness is how is it that changes in form clearly affect consciousness?
For example, a blow to the head can "extinguish" consciousness, at least for a time. Death, to many, seems like the ultimate extinction of consciousness.
Certain natural and man made substances have radical effects on waking consciousness. These are called "psychedelic" drugs.
And, of course, any waking or dream experience will also impress upon consciousness though perhaps will not fundamentally alter the basic characteristics of consciousness.
If one believes, as many do, that consciousness creates form then it is also clear that there exists an apparent 2-way relationship between them.
Consciousness is clearly dependent on the body at least while it is localized in the body. That it may exist in a somewhat different form or at least subject to different constraints outside the body is the conclusion of many metaphysical researchers (e.g. Robert Monroe).
The independent existence of consciousness from the body is generally described as being through its association with a number of "subtler" forms that work through the body when it is active and operate elsewhere at other times. These subler forms are given names such as the astral body, causal body and etheric body amongst others.
(to be continued)
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