The Journey of Consciousness: Understanding the "Being"
Consciousness exists on different levels and gains its characteristics through actions—whether physical or mental. These actions create mental volitions, shaping the journey of the "Being" as it traverses from one body to another. These volitions determine whether the "Being" remains bound in the cycle of life or attains liberation, or "moksha."
But why do mental volitions arise in the first place? The root lies in the actions of past lives. Time and action form a cyclical chain that perpetuates itself. The body operates in reaction to external stimuli, and every stimulus generates a sensation. When we react to these sensations, "samskaras" (mental impressions) are formed. These reactions are not determined by the sensory organs—eyes, ears, tongue, or skin—but by the mental volitions that emerge in response.
Mental volitions are profoundly powerful and, at times, dangerous forces within us. They often give rise to thoughts that we do not consciously choose yet find ourselves repeatedly entangled in. These thoughts, when unchecked, manifest into actions, trapping us in patterns that feel inescapable—a cycle of "no way out." Some of these mental volitions are so deeply rooted in the unconscious mind that they act like channels, effortlessly drawing the flow of our thoughts into them, much like water following the path of least resistance.
Breaking free from these ingrained patterns requires immense self-discipline and patience. These volitions are the karmic imprints of our past actions and experiences, influencing our present and shaping our future. The journey of spirituality, in its most practical sense, centers on purifying the soul of these deeply embedded tendencies, often referred to as the "sand of past karmas." Through conscious effort, mindfulness, and introspection, one can begin to loosen the grip of these mental impressions and pave the way for liberation—a state where the mind and soul are free from the cycles of conditioned responses.
This transformative process is the essence of understanding one’s being and transcending the limitations imposed by past karmas.
The mental volitions themselves are born out of duality—the perception of "self" and "other." This dual nature builds a wall of separation. As soon as duality enters the mind, thoughts are born. These thoughts create further mental volitions, reinforcing the tendency to treat others as means to serve our purposes.
The mind is a tool meant to shape life (prakriti) and elevate it toward divine reality. Consciousness works through the mind, rising from lower levels to higher ones, depending on the quality of thoughts generated. But can we escape thoughts altogether? Even the decision not to think is, paradoxically, another thought.
To stop the endless thread of thoughts, one must cultivate compassion and love—a recognition of the same "Being" in everything. It is the illusion of separateness, the duality, that causes us to feel moment by moment that "my being" is distinct from "the other being."
The Role of the Mind in Suffering
Imagine you see something beautiful and start praising it. Then, you encounter something unpleasant, and feelings of worry or distress arise. The sensory receptors, such as the eyes, have nothing to do with this. They are merely perceiving. The mind, however, compares these new experiences to past pleasant or unpleasant ones. In doing so, it forms opinions and judgments.
As we create these judgments, we separate ourselves from what we observe. This false sense of separation gives rise to suffering. It is this duality that blocks us from perceiving the unity that underlies all existence—the "Brahman."
Our true "Being" constantly tries to remind us that we are not merely receptors or transmitters but something far greater—something that encompasses the entire reality. This internal struggle between the deeper "Being" and the surface-level judgments of the mind manifests as discomfort.
For those who begin to observe this discomfort and inquire into its roots, this marks the first step toward understanding higher consciousness. This understanding enables us to see everything as interconnected parts of a greater whole.
Beyond Duality: The Path to Unity
The whole is eternal and includes everything: good and evil, pleasure and pain, light and darkness. These dualities are not truly opposites but complementary aspects of the same reality, like two sides of the same coin. Both are necessary for completeness; without one, the other cannot exist.
When one transcends this illusion of duality, they perceive the world not as fragmented and divided but as unified and indivisible. This state of awareness dissolves the suffering born of judgment and comparison, replacing it with peace and harmony.
Consciousness, at its highest level, reveals the truth that all beings and experiences are part of a single eternal flow. Both the beautiful and the unpleasant are facets of the same reality. The understanding of this unity allows one to see beyond individual identities and embrace the oneness of all existence.
Enlightenment and Liberation
In realizing this unity, the individual stops seeing others as separate. The compassion and love that arise from this understanding eliminate the walls of duality. When one sees the same "Being" in everything, suffering disappears.
This understanding of consciousness not only elevates the mind but also allows the "Being" to transcend the cycle of birth and rebirth. The attainment of "moksha" or liberation is the dissolution of the illusion of separateness, leaving only the eternal, infinite "Being."
Through this journey, the mind no longer reacts to stimuli in ways that create new "samskaras." Instead, it becomes a tool for connecting with the divine reality. Thoughts are replaced by pure awareness, and life becomes an expression of the unity that is the essence of existence.
To live in this state of awareness is to embody the truth of "Brahman," where duality ceases, and only the boundless whole remains. This is the path of higher consciousness—a path that leads to liberation, enlightenment, and eternal peace.
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