Consciousness Only Knows

There's a tendency to mistake attention for awareness. In Maya, attention is reflected consciousness and awareness is pure consciousness.

Reflected consciousness resembles pure consciousness like a lowland swamp resembles an alpine lake. Attention minus thought equals awareness.

Is awareness Nirguna Brahman and attention Saguna Brahman? That's one way to put it. It's that awareness behind attention which lends reality to people, gods, and universe.

Attention comes and goes but awareness neither begins nor ends. As matter can't know matter, the mind doesn't know a thing. Only consciousness knows. 

~reference Pacadasi 8:1-25ish