About: is a stone conscious? Is everything conscious? Is a bird or a cat conscious? ~~~ Consciousness refers to the knowingness that I am and the knowingness that I am aware. Namely, I know I am and I know I am aware. Whatever it is that knows I am and that I am aware is ever present, meaning it is eternal. You can check on this anytime. Anytime you can ask : Am I and/or am i aware? , immediately the answer is a resounding yes. Whatever it is that knows that I am and knows that I am aware is awareness itself. Awareness is and awareness is aware and is aware that it is aware. That does not apply to a rock, to a tree or to a cat which are objects of I am/awareness.
There are degrees of sentience such as between a rock and a bird, but there are no degrees of consciousness.
About: is a stone conscious? Is everything conscious? Is a bird or a cat conscious? ~~~ Consciousness refers to the knowingness that I am and the knowingness that I am aware. Namely, I know I am and I know I am aware. Whatever it is that knows I am and that I am aware is ever present, meaning it is eternal. You can check on this anytime. Anytime you can ask : Am I and/or am i aware? , immediately the answer is a resounding yes. Whatever it is that knows that I am and knows that I am aware is awareness itself. Awareness is and awareness is aware and is aware that it is aware. That does not apply to a rock, to a tree or to a cat which are objects of I am/awareness.
There are degrees of sentience such as between a rock and a bird, but there are no degrees of consciousness.