Final answer:
The concept of universal consciousness is typically considered a spiritual or meta-natural phenomenon, found in various religious and philosophical contexts, indicating a form of higher consciousness or spiritual element within or beyond the physical world.
Step-by-step explanation:
The concept of universal consciousness often transcends the physical realm and is typically seen as a meta-natural or spiritual phenomenon. In philosophical and theological discussions, this term implies an aspect of existence that goes beyond the tangible world we can perceive with our five senses. It is associated with ideas that pertain to a higher, collective form of consciousness that binds all living beings together and is fundamental in various religious and spiritual beliefs, including Hinduism and Buddhism which mention the concepts of purusha and prakriti. According to these views, liberation of the mind is achieved when it is freed from the material bondage, signifying the importance given to a non-physical realm of consciousness.
In other traditions, like Christianity, this principle is often related to the concept of the soul, which represents the spiritual element within humans. The philosophical debates on the matter involve complex questions regarding the mind, consciousness, and whether these can be entirely equated with the physical brain or have a dimension that transcends it, as suggested in arguments that distinguish between supernatural experiences and everyday sensory experience.