"In any spiritual or mystical tradition, or even in philosophy, there is a lot of discussion about consciousness, mind, or self. The purpose of religion or spirituality is to realize that self, to know that self, or to have Gnosis (direct knowledge) of that self. From that foundation it becomes obvious that we need to know what that self is, what the consciousness is, what the mind is.
Our common interpretation or definition of consciousness has to be revised. Because we do not have a proper understanding of what consciousness really is, we suffer. Truthfully, you could say that the cause of all suffering is ignorance of consciousness or ignorance of self. By coming to know the self, or knowing what the consciousness is, we begin to free ourselves from suffering."