When it comes to the topic of consciousness, so far I feel science is not the right tool for the job. In the same way that a computer might store RGB values and be able to manage all the transformations necessary to render graphics, it's all a mathematical representation until it's left the screen. Science is that mathematical representation of the universe, consciousness is when it's "left the screen" and is experienced.

Those traditions, with their introspection and meditation, are drilling into experience of consciousness. Or that's my take on the whole thing.