Light of Consciousness: Shen

Shen, in traditional Chinese medicine, is the substance of consciousness. Just as water is the substance of a river, Shen is the substance of mind or awareness. To a Westerner, the whole idea that a “substance” of mind would exist seems absurd. We believe that the brain thinks through the sequential excitation of synapses. We don’t look further because we think that no addi­tional explanation is necessary.