Part 2/10:
From the earliest eras of human thought, consciousness has been a subject of contemplation. Ancient texts from the Upanishads in India, as well as Buddhist and Taoist philosophies, reveal a prevailing notion: consciousness may not be confined to the physical body. This perspective was echoed by shamans, mystics, and philosophers who examined the nature of reality through meditation, rituals, and introspection. They often posited a distinction between the mind and body, suggesting that consciousness could exist independently of physical form.