[Sgt Scruples]

First the characteristics of life are that it has to be made of cells and obtain food, either by making it, (plants) or ingesting it,(animals),it also has to maintain a balanced internal environment,as well as be responsive. An example would be large plants grow towards a source of light. If something doesn't have all of these characteristics it cannot perceive anything and is not conscious.

The brain is a very advanced computer that takes in and processes information many times faster than the best computers. The brain takes in information from the sensory organs ,eyes ,nose ,ears, skin,and tongue. I believe that in humans our consciousness is just our brains processing more information faster than any other known organism. I believe we are advanced , or separate from beasts, in that we can communicate more effectively and we evolved with thumbs and could create tools. Primates can "use tools" buy finding sticks and rocks to use to find food or scratch themselves. Humans were able to create tools like weapons to defend themselves against beasts, or killing an animal and using its fur for warmth.

Eventually humans learned more about making tools over time and developed into a consumerist society. No plants can "intentionally" influence our state of mind and bend us to its will. Your views on the universe and consciousness seem fatalistic. Fatalistic means to believe that everything that happens is predetermined and no matter what we do it was our "fate" to do it or experience it.