Do animals and plants have consciousness? Are electrons alive? Consciousness is a mysterious force and raises the question: does every living thing–from electrons, to animals and stones–have consciousness?

University of Virginia Astrophysicist, Dr. Trinh Xuan Thuan, believes that electrons can’t have consciousness and that there is a hierarchy of consciousness for each living thing, with humans being at the most conscious level of the scale.

His question on this topic, and the amazing answer from Thich Nhat Hahn, points out the mind of discrimination, the mind hidden in scientific logic, is the foundation of all kinds of suffering.

Here is Thich Nhat Hanh in dialogue with Dr. Trinh Xuan Thuan.