I wouldn't have been surprised if you had declared at the outset that you are about to explain the very fundamental concept of Hinduism that " conciousness is the very fou dation of all being". That consciousness exists in itself as a concept puts Hinduism directly apart from Abrahmic religions where like Richard Feynman asserted as well everything is supposeldly made up of matter (and atoms) only. Further, Hinduism also clearly states as death strikes the physical-vital-mental "body" expires and consciousness alone survives