Problem: The generation of consciousness from non-conscious entities—the hard problem of consciousness—is a central issue in the philosophy of mind. We argue that addressing it requires a critical stance toward reductionist approaches (including physicalism, emergentism, and micropsychism) and a shift toward a holistic framework. Gradualist Cosmopsychism and Existence Cosmopsychism represent two holistic options which can be brought into alignment, respectively, with the Sadrian frameworks of gradation of existence and unity of existence., thereby offering two distinct frameworks for articulating MullāṢadrā’s holistic solution to the hard problem.

Method: We employ a descriptive–analytical approach to outline the relevant theories and a comparative method to evaluate them.

Findings: Existence Cosmopsychism faces fewer theoretical difficulties and is more compatible with MullāṢadrā’s ultimate metaphysical commitments. On his framework of the unity of existence, belief in a single, maximally perfect Existence—which manifests all beings and their perfections—requires that the apparent generation of consciousness from seemingly non-conscious manifestations also be explained by reference to this single Existence.

Conclusion: The Sadrian version of Existence Cosmopsychism—formed through integrating Existence Cosmopsychism with Ṣadrā’s doctrine of unity of existence—grounds the two key components for addressing the hard problem in a single cosmic Existence/Consciousness: (1) the pervasiveness of consciousness throughout all manifestations, and (2) the possibility of its perfection within them. Consciousness is manifested equally by the one Existence, while differences among manifestations arise from their varying capacities to disclose it; the evolution of consciousness is thus understood as the expansion of this disclosing capacity.