Many a thick and scholarly tome has been written on this subject; but in the interest of brevity, I submit it is the state of self-awareness, sentience, or mindfulness. The opposite of brain-dead.
Buddha said "consciousness exists in the stone". By that statement means consciousness exists in every particle of the universe but a form of consciousness that lacks awareness of time, space and material stuff. Consciousness is the basis of life; when life begins under suitable conditions then evolution of the senses develop to produce conscious awareness with the senses of sight, sound, smell, taste, touch .
The Christian/theist people who believe supernatural creation would say it is supernatural spirit that exists as the basis to enable life to begin.
Intuitive consciousness is a force that enables building the molecules to make toxins for the plants, insects and reptiles to stun or kill their victims, many other things; enabling evolution of species, and of course -building the molecule to enable life to begin in the first place.
No Intelligent Designer required.
This post was edited by Kittigate at August 4, 2018 6:08 PM MDT
Science says it's the end spectrum of the unconscious because the mind (brain) makes itself up before you're aware of it. I find this when I'm trying to think of something and I can't and if I let go then it will come to me later, it's like my mind has the space to retrieve the information from the library. There is still very little understood about consciousness.
The mystics would say "who is doing the thinking, or who is producing the thoughts?" Because it often feels like you are in constant dialogue with yourself (thoughts), the inner and the outer world if you like, and it's this inner world that affects the outer, and vice versa.
In Buddhism, they have the practice of awareness, the silent watching of the "self" with no attachment or judgement. It requires one to question all concepts, the I watches the me.
And Jesus said Luke 17:21Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, thekingdomofGod is withinyou.
This post was edited by kjames at August 9, 2018 4:18 PM MDT