Physical conservation in conscious states (Physical sciences)

In chemical and physical processes, the sum of material mass and energy is conserved. While there may be transformation between mass and energy, nothing is lost. Consciousness depends on mental or psychic energy. Freud called this [libido]

, Lao Tzu called it [ch'i]

, and others have given it various names. If human energy is not free but latent in mass then, on analogous reasoning, consciousness is not developed. Conservation indicates that there is a potential for greater consciousness in the fact that some energy must lie in the psychic or somato-psychic analogues to material mass. These possibly include the crystallizations or structural formations within the ego, much of which constitute the personality. They may encompass such things as opinions (light mass), habits (medium mass), and instinctive feelings and behaviour (heavier mass). From another point of view, mass is food, energy is consciousness (and life) and - as indicated in the Upanishads - food becomes blood and genetic material. Thus conservation helps to explain the rationale of spiritual disciplines and the potential of human development.

There are at least five universal principles postulated in the physical sciences: duality; quantum discreteness; relativity; conservation; and least action. Their application to states of consciousness has been presented by Professor Charles Tart and others.