ABSTRACT
This part introduces the three fundamental questions for humanity that the book explores: What is consciousness? What is life? What is the universe? It presents the rationale and four chapters of the book, from the origin of consciousness research to the five-century quest for explaining consciousness and then to the path to the ultimate understanding of consciousness by tracing the deep roots in life and the universe and finally to the endeavor to expand consciousness. It also invites readers from diverse horizons to join this journey for understanding consciousness, life and the universe. It emphasizes the essential role of consciousness in conditioning and shaping science and humanities, as the foundation of all human knowledge. It also insists on the necessity to be open-minded, to integrate vast knowledge from multiple disciplines and to transform the common spirit of research by unifying the investigation of consciousness, life and the universe for expanding consciousness and improving the human condition.
