Man can live his life either as entangled with the illusory world or being open to the spiritual realities. The human life does not consist in being caught up in the physical existence, but rather in a depth living, in which, one must experience the source of the universe within oneself.
The task of human life is not to search for one’s ultimate destiny externally, but to move into himself and discover the ultimate truth of his true existence. It is not a new knowledge, but a realization of what one really is. It is a self-realization, in which one realizes consciousness as one's indwelling spirit (soul).
The goal of self-realization is consciousness, the ultimate universal spirit behind the mind, which is in the form of universe and soul, which is in the form of consciousness, the ultimate principle within the three states. Only when one has true knowledge about both mind and soul can one begin to experience the oneness between the two. The seeker of truth has to clarify these two notions in preparation for the analysis of the nature of mind and the self.
The mind, which is in the form of universe, is created out of consciousness. Consciousness is principle substance and the cause of the illusion, which is in the form of universe. Consciousness is the unitary and supreme reality, which is hidden within the illusion but remains the same and resists change, thereby the knowledge of which frees one from experiencing the illusion, which is in the form of universe as reality.
Consciousness is the cause of the illusion, which is in the form of universe and it itself is uncaused. Consciousness signifies the absolute and unlimited reality, which forms the substratum and the foundation of the illusion, which is in the form of mind or universe, and on which everything depends for its existence.
Consciousness is self-sufficient and does not depend on anything else for its existence. Hence, it must be a spiritual entity since matter is dependent, limited and subject to change.
Whatever exists is in the illusion or universe is created out of single substance, and this one universal substance is consciousness. Consciousness is absolutely homogeneous in nature. It is pure. It is absolutely destitute of qualities, and whatever qualities or attributes are conceivable can only be denied of it. Thus, consciousness is without qualities and beyond the order of one’s empirical and worldly experience; so one cannot grasp consciousness with his empirical experience. In other words, consciousness is a priori and cannot be grasped by a posteriori or limited experience.
Though consciousness is the ultimate reality that underlies the multiplicity of the phenomenal universe cannot be strictly expressed in terms of empirical language.
The consciousness is the true self. When the seeker realizes the fact that, the self is not physical but self is the formless consciousness then he also realizes the fact that, the universe in, which he exists is mere mirage created out of consciousness. Thus there is no second thing exists other than consciousness. When one realizes the fact that his body and universe also consciousness, then he realizes the fact that, there is no second thing exists other than the consciousness, which is the true self. Thus the consciousness, which is the true self, pervades all the three states as their formless substance and witness.
Consciousness is eternal; is not bound by time; imperishable, deathless and changeless; and immaculate and not affected by any limiting adjuncts. Just as electricity works through different equipment, yet remains unaffected, so also consciousness, though it functions through everything visible, is unaffected by it. Consciousness is liberated, i.e., it is not affected by burden and bondage of the illusion or universe and always free. Thus knowing the consciousness as self is important for getting freedom from experiencing the illusion or duality as reality.
Consciousness is One. Though due to superimposition, the illusory universe is projected on consciousness it remains untouched by them. Just as a dream is super imposed on consciousness, so also the waking experience is super imposed on consciousness. Only by realizing the fact that, the self is not physical but self is consciousness one become aware of the fact that the three states are mere mirage created out of consciousness. When the self- knowledge dawns, the illusory reality or the universe becomes unreal and only consciousness exists.
Consciousness is unbroken existence. Unlike the passing joys derived from material things, the unbroken tranquillity of self-realization is absolute and eternal. Therefore, the consciousness is unbroken and everlasting. Consciousness is non-dual. Consciousness is all pervading. It alone exists, and it exists everywhere. If it were not so, there would be a place where consciousness has no access and it would limit consciousness. So it is limitless and all pervading.
Consciousness is formless. Since it is all pervading and existing everywhere, it is beyond form. Having a form limits a being. So, limitless consciousness is formless. Consciousness is ultimate truth, because it is that which remains the same at all times -- in the past, the present and the future. Consciousness as truth is ever the same and unchanging. Consciousness as, wisdom, is absolute knowledge.
One cannot have knowledge of consciousness, as he has knowledge of sound, smell, taste, pain and pleasure; but consciousness is unconditional knowledge. Knowing consciousness as self is self-realization. Consciousness is endless and infinite.
Waves have temporary existence, but the sea is permanent. In the same way, the three states are passing and consciousness, the infinite and the endless is the substratum upon which the mind or universe appears.
Because of one’s inability to grasp the true nature of consciousness, only with the help of deeper inquiry, analysis and reasoning, whatever positive descriptions one develops about consciousness in the light of the discrimination will remain in the level of physical experience. As consciousness is beyond the physical experience, so is it beyond physical based knowledge.
At the same time the word `existence' cannot be attributed to consciousness and to the empirical world in the same way, for consciousness’s existence is of a different nature. The existence of consciousness is opposed to all empirical existence, so that in comparison with this it can just as well be considered as non-existence.
Consciousness is the formless substance and witness of all the three states. The nature of consciousness is so transcendent that it cannot be compared with anything in the world one knows. At the same time, consciousness is present in all its manifestations, for without the consciousness nothing can exist. Yet the empirical experience of consciousness is not possible.
