Some say the real purpose of life is the growth of consciousness in individuals. But what is consciousness? The word comes from the Latin word “conscius”, meaning knowing inwardly. The Latin prefix “con” means “with” or “together”, and a root “scire” which means to know, so “with knowledge” or “with awareness.”
Consciousness has many synonyms:
- Wisdom
- Awareness
- Attention
- Perception
- Comprehension
- Discernment
- Enlightenment
- Perspicacity
- Mindfulness
- Sensibility
- Sentience
- Bodhi
- Sagacity
- Sensitivity
- Understanding
Certainly, increased consciousness or awareness of a situation gives you an advantage in that situation over those who are not as conscious or aware of the situation. Mastery of a situation or skill means total conscious of that situation or skill. Exposure to something increases consciousness of that thing. However, in any type of training, teachers who have the intention of increasing the overall consciousness of their students approach lessons differently from those who do not understand this and value consciousness itself.
At Peacemaker Academy we feel that consciousness is the key to mastering any skill, as well as becoming a better person. Aside from mastering the Martial Arts, students are guided to develop their own general awareness and wisdom. Increased awareness by people, groups, and societies means better lives and experiences for everyone.