Consciousness is linked to conscious awareness. Both can be defined as the same thing. Being aware of particular aspects of reality increase our conscious awareness of reality. Understanding leads to greater conscious awareness, hence an increase in consciousness. Consciousness and conscious awareness are linked to knowledge/understanding.
Quality knowledge and understanding of truth being grasped increases conscious awareness of aspects of reality, ourselves, how we functions and how everything fits together in the Big Picture, Great Pattern, etc. As conscious awareness increases in quality truth, we also increase, expand and evolve consciousness.
The importance is with regards to quality truths, not standard facts or truth about the world, which there are almost immeasurable amounts of. Although useful, fact and many other truths are lesser in importance by comparison to quality truth affecting the quality and condition of our lives.
Our attention, focus, time and energy can be channeled into the discovery of reality within and without, of ourselves and the world as they really are, without filters to protect our delicate sensibilities. By seeing how thing actually are, we can potentially change them for the better.
We all have cleaning to do in our own houses (inner-work) before we can feasibly clean up the outside world. Until we do this, until we try to change for the better and act and behave in better ways, the external world will not change. The external world is a direct reflection of our collective inner-worlds (thoughts, feelings, etc.) which are the cause of the resulting manifestations we co-create into the outer world (actions, behaviors, habits, etc).
We can have the courage and strength to face reality within and without, in full honesty and self-respect, in all its beauty and horror, dark and light, positive and negative. We have to face the mirror continually and look at the negative, dark, shadow, demon and evil aspects we have, at the wrongs we engage in, at the falsity we believe in that has us living wrong.
It is all our choice. We can make mistakes. But if we choose to keep ignoring them, stick our heads in the sand to "feel-good" and comfortable with ourselves by avoiding recognizing our errors, we will be choosing to keep doing wrong-actions which are no longer simply mistakes.
We can look at ourselves in the mirror, in true self-respect, again and again, accepting our current state and condition honestly. To look at our shadows and darknesses, choosing to sublimate and transmute them and thereby purifying ourselves in the alchemical "spiritual" flames, like the phoenix, to be reborn from the ashes anew, changed, evolved.
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When we are fed up of insulting ourselves by allowing ourselves to identify and remain attached to illusions; when we are tired of being lied to, deceived, tricked, duped, screwed, conned, fooled, bamboozled, hoodwinked, etc.; then we can awaken more. We can gain aspects of awakening from letting go of these lies.
So long as we are in denial and choose to not look or hear the truth about the reality of our current condition, we will remain in a state that is lacking in aspects of conscious awareness and will not awaken to greater understanding. This is preventing us from evolving consciousness.
"The reason people awaken is because they have finally stopped agreeing to things that insult their soul." - Unknown Source
When someone speaks truth about the world or about us, and we don't like it, it's easy to be defensive and dismissive, calling it all "insults", "judgmental" or other deflective nonsense. But the truth is we are insulting ourselves. The person is just bringing to light what we are in denial of and fear facing.
Once we face the dark or uncomfortable reality, we can maybe change it. Until we face it, it won't change. Ignorance does not bring light, love, truth, peace or happiness. Ignorance is a fools error at avoiding those things which upset the dogmatic illusions we falsely identify and develop an attachment to.
With acceptance of the true state of our current conditions, not resistance, we can face reality, truth (what is), and learn to overcome those horrors we fear; those demons, darkness, shadow, negatives and evil that are a part of our inner-lives and collective outer-lives that we co-create by our actions and behavior in the existence we co-inhabit.
Thank you for your time and attention. Peace.
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