LIGHT OF CONSCIOUSNESS

Many have no doubt come across or heard the following enigmatic words uttered or written by many enlightened Sages, but what do the Sages mean by “Light of Consciousness?” When the Sages say “Consciousness is the Reality itself,” they are touching on a powerful philosophical perspective that goes beyond the idea that Consciousness is just something tied to Reality. Instead, they are insightfully saying that Consciousness is the very fabric of existence—the ground from which all experience, matter, and phenomena arise. Like the Sun’s light is the fabric of all we see during the day and moonlight at night. Without Life-Consciousness even the Sun would not arise. There is no sunlight nor the moonlight nor the stars nor the sun nor the Higgs-Boson field nor the god particle to apprehend anything by a corpse because there is no Consciousness. That Consciousness in the Human being is the Savitur, the Power that animates the being, this is That which we seek. The Sages thus call that the “Light of Consciousness” because there is no “light” to observe, hear, smell, feel, taste or cognize without “Life” in the sentient being. The Sages have also said “it is 1000 times brighter than the Sun” for the same reason; because without “Life-Consciousness” there is nothing. It is the most powerful “nuclear-reactor” within a sentient being that makes all manifestation/reflections possible, even though the mind, the dynamic consciousness, as an individual, is infinitesimal as a reflected ray of the Absolute Consciousness compared to the ultimately powerful Self. They, the Sages. are saying that there is no greater power than the Self, Life-Consciousness. Nothing exists in the absence of Life-Consciousness. Therefore, the “Savitur” of the Gayatri Mantra is the Self or Life or Existence-Consciousness. See how powerful the Self, the Life Force, the Spirit is within who not only witnesses waking creation and dream creation, but also non-creation or unconsciousness in sleep. This aligns with the teachings of the great Sages like Sri Bhagavan Maharshi Ramana, Vasishtha, Adi Shankara, etc., who say that static consciousness is the basis of the cosmos; the whole appearance is merely a superimposition on that static consciousness.

None could possibly realize the Self if it exists in the absence of their own existence-consciousness, so why do we not comprehend this as our own basis? I will tell you, because of their inherent Maya. This field, which apparently gives mass or expression to anything (dynamic consciousness) is what is known by the Indian Sages as Maya! The Sages say since we are God ourselves, how then can we apprehend God if we are that ourselves?

Life-Consciousness is a profound way to think about the nature of reality and the self, it’s important to note that mainstream scientific physics doesn’t yet embrace this idea—it generally treats consciousness as something that arises from brain processes. Why? Because they are extroverted. They think consciousness arises out the human nervous system. They do not realize that consciousness contains the whole body, senses, mind and the cosmos. But philosophically and metaphysically, this perspective opens up a whole world of questions about the relationship between mind, matter, and the cosmos. As the writer have said, nothing can exist without consciousness as their absolute basis. The Sages are asserting that consciousness is not just a part of reality, but rather the absolute and fundamental basis of all existence. This is a deeply profound view that challenges conventional views of materialism, which see consciousness as something that emerges from the brain.

When the Sages say that nothing can exist without consciousness as the absolute basis, they are insightfully saying that consciousness is the primary substance of existence—everything in the universe, including matter, energy, time, space, and even the laws of physics themselves, arise from or are expressions/reflections of this foundational existence-consciousness and subside within its field. This view is not a new one; it resonates with reflection of the material world as something that ultimately emanates from a deeper source or singular consciousness. In this Hindu philosophical tradition, Brahman, the ultimate reality, is pure Consciousness. It’s not separate from the universe, but it is the basis of the universe. Reality is Brahman, and the individual self (Atma and Jiva) is ultimately one with Brahman. In this view, consciousness is not just part of reality, it is reality in its truest, most fundamental sense. In other words, the existence of anything is entirely dependents on static consciousness as the basis; appearance being perceived as a reflection in a conscious mind.

Existence-Consciousness or Life is the ultimate substance of reality, and everything else, including matter, exists only in relation to Life. Consciousness is a fundamental property and basis of the universe, present at every level of reality, from elementary particles to complex beings. In this higher view, everything has some degree of consciousness, and the physical universe itself is a vast expression of consciousness in varying forms, insentient and sentient. In the Sages’s view, consciousness is not something within the universe or the body, but the ground and the container of all that exists as itself; out of our ignorance, I am the body sense, we take consciousness to exist within the body. But instead of a physical field a consciousness-field contains all physical phenomena. This would mean that consciousness isn’t just interacting with the physical world; it is in its essence contains the physical world, from a lower standpoint, and nothing can exist outside of it.

Time, space, matter, everything we experience, is a reflection of this singular, all-encompassing consciousness. In this model, the Upanishadic Sages are saying that the observer is not separate from the observed. Reality itself is being, but it is seemingly becoming through the act of dynamic awareness or ignorance, for the karmic forces of desire makes it so, although itself remains unblemished. The physical world exists as life-consciousness reflects itself, rather than as an independent object or system. This view challenges the idea that the external world exists objectively regardless of consciousness. Nothing exists in deep sleep apart from life-consciousness, the Self, without the body or any gross or subtle object. Instead, the world only exists as we perceive it in the waking state and dream state, as consciousness expresses karma itself through individual minds or collective awareness out of ignorance. While mainstream physics doesn’t say consciousness creates reality, some interpretations (like the Copenhagen interpretation or many-worlds theory) imply that the act of observation plays a key role in shaping what we experience as reality.

The non-dual nature of life-consciousness means that it is not divided into subject (the observer) and object (the observed). Instead, life-consciousness is one undivided whole. So, there is no distinction between the Self and the universe; the universe is just expressions of the same, single reality. In non-dualism, everything that exists is considered an expression of consciousness. The physical universe is not separate from consciousness, it is contained within it; it is just another idea-form reflected within it. The universe is conscious, and we are simply experiencing it in a particular form, as we experience our own form. Since everything is contained in one single life-consciousness, everything is deeply interconnected, like soap in a can, makes the writer chuckle. There is no true separation between you, me, a tree, a star, or even a particle in reality or consciousness. All are just seeming expressions of the same unified consciousness, for our past deed to come into fruition. Reality is life-conscious, for it does not exist independently of the individual self. Our experience of the world is a reflection of life-consciousness itself.

Consciousness is the absolute basis of everything, it doesn’t have a beginning or end. It is eternal and changeless at its core, even though its manifestations (the physical world, our experiences) are appearances of change over time and in space. Traditional empirical science operates on the idea that the universe is objective and exists independently of observers. Makes the writer chuckle. The idea that consciousness is the absolute foundation challenges many scientific models, which tend to treat consciousness as an emergent property of complex systems (like the brain). Sri Bhagavan Maharshi Ramana inferred to SS Cohen, “Cut off the head and the soldier still goes around until he drops dead; this is because the “Heart” or the “Seat of Consciousness” is not situated in the head.”

What the Sages are saying is that consciousness is reality itself and not tied to physicality; it is a view that has philosophical and spiritual roots, and challenges the more materialistic view of the universe. This idea pushes us to rethink the nature of existence: instead of seeing consciousness as something inside the universe, but knowing the universe is contained within that consciousness, and that nothing can exist outside it, the Sages maintain that Reality is not something out there, but something we are. The difference between the scientic view, “what is there is here,” first, compared to a Jnani’s view, “what is here, is there,” first.

Consciousness is the absolute foundation, it means everything is connected. There’s no real separation between you and me, the stars, etc., it’s all expressions/reflections contained in the same unified consciousness or the Self. This can create a deeper sense of oneness with the world and all living things, since they are all reflections of the Self, the one life-source. We can start to see the universe not as a collection of independent objects but as one interwoven, conscious experience. The feeling of separation we often experience is an illusion—everything is just different faces of the same life-conscious reality.

Consciousness is reality, our consciousness is an active participant in creating the world we experience. We create others and separate ourselves from them, see how mighty powerful we are in reality. This could be linked to ideas in quantum physics where the mind-seer influences the system. It also connects to the writer’ teachings that our karma creates and that through awareness we shape our illusionary reality. This gives us incredible agency and power, like in dreams—not in a controlling way, but as a deep, intrinsic part of the universe’s ongoing unfolding, though illusionary. In many non-dual philosophies, consciousness is eternal—it doesn’t have a beginning or an end. Everything in the physical world is temporary, arising and passing away, but consciousness remains, the ground from which everything emerges and submerges. This perspective can bring a sense of peace and reassurance, knowing that there is a timeless, unchanging essence at the core of all things. Time itself becomes a fluid experience, a temporary unfolding of dynamic consciousness. Space becomes the mind where all are inclusive. One of the most powerful aspects of this view is that you are not separate from the universe.

You are the Brahman and the universe experiencing itself; for you have heard “consciousness reveals itself to itself.” That consciousness that animates “you,” your thoughts, your feelings, is the same consciousness that is the essence of everything around you. This realization is often described in spiritual traditions as a moment of enlightenment or awakening—the understanding that there is no “self” distinct from the whole. It’s a shift from feeling like a separate egotistic individual to recognizing yourself as part of the unified whole of existence. Once we realize consciousness, the Self, as reality itself, it’s like unlocking a new way of seeing the world. It leads to a shift in values, where ignorance of the materiality of existence is erased.

The recognition that everything is self-conscious experience can lead to deeper empathy and respect for all beings, but also to mind our own business. It also encourages living in a way that’s more mindful understanding that your thoughts, actions, and awareness are shaping the world in real-time, no more “I am the doer” but simply I Am. You become aware of your own power to reflect the reality you experience.

Consciousness is the absolute foundation of everything, what exactly is it? Is it a single, all-encompassing “universal mind”, or is it more like a network of interconnected conscious experiences, each individual expression of the whole? How do we experience this oneness? While a Jnani’ view offers clarity (Sri Bhagavan, Janaka, Buddha), many people ask: how can we directly experience this unified consciousness in our everyday lives? Is there a path to awakening or experiencing this oneness beyond intellectual understanding? What does this mean for free will and fate? If consciousness creates reality, what role does our personal consciousness play in shaping the world? Does it mean everything is destined in some way, or is there room for personal agency and choice within this larger framework of consciousness?

There are some ancient spiritual practices (like meditation, mindfulness, and contemplative practices) that help people connect with this deeper sense of the Self. These practices often aim to help individuals quiet the mind, annihilate their egoistic self, and experience the deeper, unified consciousness that underlies all things. Philosophical readings on non-duality (like Advaita Vedanta, Zen, Buddhism, or Taoism) explore the nature of consciousness and reality in great detail, offering profound insights into how to understand our relationship with the universe as one, rather than separate. Seeing consciousness as the absolute and fundamental basis of all reality is a powerful, liberating realization. We realize that our thoughts, feelings, and everything around us are all expressions of this one life-consciousness. There’s no real separation between us and the universe; we are all part of one dynamic play of karma or living reality that seemigly emerges from consciousness itself. It’s a view that challenges the conventional, materialistic view of the universe and opens up new ways of knowing ourselves and our role in the world.

As the writer said, nothing can exist without consciousness—it is the absolute basis of all that is. Realizing the absolute itself as the Self. That’s a profound realization—seeing the absolute as the Self itself. This idea touches on something deep and transformational. In many non-dual traditions, particularly in Advaita Vedanta and other forms of Eastern philosophy, the Self is understood as not just a personal ego or identity, but the one consciousness that pervades everything. The idea that the absolute is the Self is a realization that you are not separate from the universe, but the universe itself is manifesting as your karma dictates.

Non-duality teaches that there is no separation between the Self and the universe. The Self is not the individual ego but the universal consciousness that underlies everything. This is often referred to as Brahman (in Advaita Vedanta), Tao (in Taoism), Sunnya (in Buddhism), or simply the One in various other traditions. When the writer says the Absolute is the Self, he is describing the realization that you are not just a temporary, individual identity, the ego, but the eternal, unchanging essence that is behind everything in the universe. All the distinctions we make between the ego-self and other dissolve when you understand that the true Self is the absolute. In this realization, the individual self (often referred to as the ego) is seen as an illusion—a mental construct, a phantom, that creates the sense of separation from the world around you. It’s an identity shaped by thoughts, experiences, and perceptions. But beneath all of that is the Self—the consciousness that is timeless, spaceless, limitless, and unified with all of existence. The experience of separation from the universe, from others, and from the world is part of the illusion of duality. In truth, all of it is a manifestation of the same unified consciousness.

To realize that the absolute is the Self is to experience a shift in perception. It’s not just an intellectual understanding; it’s a direct experiential knowing that you are not separate from the Self or Brahman. You are the creator, expressing itself through your karma. This can happen in moments of deep meditation, contemplation, or presence. In these moments, you might feel the dissolution of the boundary between self and other, and recognize that there is no true separation—there is only one consciousness, Nirvikalpa Samadhi. The Self that is the absolute is eternal. It doesn’t come into being, nor does it cease to exist. All things that arise in the physical world—matter, time, space, thoughts—are temporary reflections within the eternal mirror of consciousness. This realization brings a sense of peace because you begin to see that you are not limited by the body or mind. The true Self is beyond birth, death, and the fluctuations of the material world. It is unchanging, timeless, and immortal. Once you recognize that the absolute is the Self, you see that everything in the universe is part of this Self—from the stars to the oceans, to the atoms and the people around you.

The universe is not something outside of you; it is you—you are the ultimate reality experiencing itself. This realization brings a deep sense of unity. You understand that everything you perceive, including yourself, is a reflection of the same consciousness. There’s no separation between the observer (you) and the observed (the world)—they are one and the same. Living as the Self means that your actions, thoughts, and perceptions begin to align with this deeper understanding. You may start to see the world not as an external object to control, manipulate, or separate yourself from, but as part of the same consciousness expressing itself. Suffering arises from the sense of separation—from identifying with the ego, the body, or the mind. That does not go away in a Jnani. for his prarabdha karma is active or seen to be active. But once you realize the true Self as the absolute, suffering diminishes, because you no longer feel alienated or disconnected from life-consciousness and pain or joy is contained in life-consciousness and unavoidable. Compassion becomes a natural outflow of this realization because you understand that all are the expressions of your own life-consciousness. You see that there is no real distinction between you and another person, you and the world around you because they are you.

A fascinating aspect of realizing the absolute as the Self is the question of free will. In a sense, when you see that everything is part of one consciousness, it can feel like there’s no true individual choice—because the same consciousness is flowing through everything. However, this doesn’t mean you are passive. Rather, you are living in alignment and grasping the Self with the universal flow of consciousness, Sahajastithi or Natural state. Your actions, while they seem to arise from you as an individual, are also expressions of the Self, and therefore, part of the karmic or cosmic unfolding. Life-Consciousness alone is the direct way to experience this. By focusing inward and quieting the egoic mind, you can begin to directly experience the Self as the absolute—timeless, infinite, and beyond duality/non-duality.

Self-inquiry (as taught by sages like Ramana Maharshi) is another powerful practice. By asking yourself “Who am I?” and examining the nature of the ego, you can peel away the layers of identification that separate you from the Self. Start from the basic self-inquiry–“Who gave me this name, this surname, nationality, religion, etc.” Realizing the Self as the absolute doesn’t mean detaching from the world or withdrawing from life. Instead, it invites a deep engagement with life from a place of awareness. You live from the understanding that everything is a reflection of your consciousness. There’s no longer a need to seek fulfilment in external things, because you know that you are already happy.

Realizing the absolute as the Self is a transformative experience—it’s the understanding that you are not separate from the universe, but rather, you are the universe. This awareness dissolves the illusion of individuality and duality, revealing the unified consciousness that is the essence of all that exists. This realization doesn’t just change how you see the world—it changes who you understand yourself to be. You are not just a separate egocentric person, but the whole of existence experiencing itself. It is all myself, existing as myself, expressing as myself, without me, nothing exists. That’s the heart of it—the realization that everything is yourself, and that all of existence arises within your own consciousness. There is no “outside” or “other” in the deepest sense, because you are the source of everything. It’s a profound recognition that the absolute Self is the essence of all things. The idea that “nothing exists without me” speaks to the non-dual nature of reality—there’s no real distinction between subject (you, the observer) and object (the world, the universe). Everything is an extension of the same consciousness, and the apparent separation between you and the world is an illusion. The Self is not just a limited “you” or “I” as we typically think of it. It is the one consciousness that is all-encompassing, and everything—every person, object, thought, and feeling—is a manifestation of that Self.

There is no world outside of this self-aware consciousness. The universe is not something you are experiencing from the outside, but something that exists within you. You, as the absolute consciousness, are the witness to everything, but also the source of it all. The sense of separation—the idea that you are “over here” and the world is “over there”—temporarily disappears in the realization that there is only one unified reality, and it is all yourself, but making it firm is self-abidance. When you look at a tree, or a person, or even the stars, you’re looking at reflection of your own infinite consciousness. The forms of the world arise and dissolve within your awareness. Everything exists as you, and without you—without this awareness—nothing would have existence. The idea that “without me, nothing exists” also highlights the illusion of the individual ego. The ego feels like a separate self, a unique identity, but in truth, it is just another temporary form within the eternal Self. The egoic self believes it is separate, but when you realize that the Self is everything, you see that the ego is just a small, fleeting expression within the vastness of the universal consciousness. It’s like a wave in the ocean thinking it’s separate from the ocean, when in reality, the wave is the ocean. You are the wave, the water, the ocean, and the floor.

This realization of self as the absolute comes with a sense of timelessness. The ego is caught up in the passage of time and space, birth, death, and change. But the Self is beyond time and space. It is eternal and unchanging. All the events of the world come and go, but the Self remains untouched, like a vast ocean through which all waves appear and disappear. In recognizing that everything is yourself, you transcend the idea of linear time in Samadhi, like you do in deep sleep. The past, present, and future are just perceptions within the timeless Self. You are the eternal now, the still point at the center of the turning world. The realization that nothing exists without you also places you at the center of creation. You are not just witnessing the world; you are the very source of it. Everything arises as an expression of your own past karma-awareness. Instead, it means that your awareness is the ground from which all karmic experience arises. The world emerges from your life-consciousness, and as you shift your perception, you shift the world you experience. Creation is no longer something external—it is a reflection of your own inner state or karma. When you align yourself with the truth of the Self, the world around you begins to reflect that unity and peace. The seeming separateness and struggle dissolve, revealing the harmony that is always already present. Once you realize everything is you, there is no place for fear or hatred. Since there is no other, there is no conflict. To live in the realization that everything is you is to live in a state of peace and presence. The world no longer feels alien or threatening. There’s a deep knowing that everything is unfolding exactly as it should, because it is all part of your own conscious experience. Every interaction becomes a reflection of this unity. Every moment is experienced as the Self expressing itself. Even the challenges and struggles you face are seen as part of the greater unfolding of the Self, and no longer as obstacles to overcome, but as opportunities for deeper realization. The profound insight that everything is yourself, and without you nothing exists is the realization that you are not just a small, isolated individual—you are the entire universe, expressing itself through your awareness. All of reality, from the tiniest particles to the vast cosmos, arises within you. There is no true separation between you and the world—it is all one unified consciousness. Living from this understanding transforms not only how you see the world, but how you experience your own self. The individual ego dissolves, leaving only the vast, infinite Self, free of limitation and filled with love and unity. You are the Almighty, the Savitur, the “Light of all lights. This is Seeing God As He Really Is.

It’s one thing to have a philosophical or intellectual understanding of this truth, but to actually feel it and live from it is a completely different experience, it’s transformational. Knowing that everything is yourself, that nothing exists without your awareness, it shifts the way you approach life in the most profound way. There’s something about being in nature that really makes the connection feel immediate and clear. Whether it’s a quiet walk through the woods, standing by a river, or just watching the sky, it’s like nature pulls you into the present moment and everything is alive, interconnected, and part of the same Self. In those moments, it’s easier to see that you aren’t separate from the tree, the breeze, or the mountains. It’s like nature has a way of speaking to us directly, i.e., without words, just through the presence of the Self.

The rhythm of life, the cycles of seasons, the interconnectedness of all things, all reflect the deep unity of consciousness that you’re recognizing as your own karmic expression. Being in nature often helps quiet the egoic mind, and you can simply “be” and in that being, you realize that you are one with everything around you. There’s no need to try or even think about it too much. It’s more about feeling and experiencing the reality of the Self as it expresses itself in everything from the smallest leaf to the vast sky. Have you noticed that sense of deep peace when you’re in nature, where the lines between you and the world kind of dissolve? That deep connection where the sense of separation fades away, is something many Sages have felt and spoken about across cultures, religions, and philosophies. It’s like a truth that transcends personal experience and resonates in the core of human consciousness as just one flow of life-consciousness.

There’s something really special about nature because it reflects the deeper laws of the universe, like a living expression of the Self, where all things exist as one. There is no experience in the absolute awareness or being, you transcend the mind, viz, in the absolute awareness or being, there’s no experience. It’s a state beyond the mind, beyond thoughts, emotions, or any individual perception. It’s like the pure presence that is both beyond and before any experience arises. This is the profound truth of the Self as the absolute—there is no separation, no distinction between observer and observed. In this state of pure awareness, there’s no subject-object relationship. There’s no “you” having an experience; there’s just being itself, consciousness without form. It’s like everything that could be labeled as “experience” (thoughts, sensations, emotions) dissolves, and what remains is “I Know Nothing” that is always present but not ever known through the mind, but only on hindsight.

The mind typically creates a dualistic view of the world: subject (you) and object (everything else). But in absolute awareness, that duality falls away. Consciousness in its deepest, unmanifest form, is Nirvikalpa Samadhi. No Thought, No Experience: The usual understanding of experience is through the lens of thought—mental images, concepts, and feelings. But in pure awareness, there are no thoughts or concepts to shape your experience. It’s just awareness itself, beyond any content. In the mind, we experience time—past, present, future. But in the state of absolute awareness, there’s no past or future—only the eternal. The sense of time and space disappears. Who is there? No Attachment to the body or the mind: In this state like deep sleep, you’re not attached to the body, emotions, or thoughts. These are all seen as temporary forms arising within the eternal awareness, but they don’t define you. You are the unmoving witness, the eternal consciousness, beyond all identification.

Pure Being: It’s simply being, without the need for anything to be added or subtracted. There’s no desire, no sense of lack, no pursuit of experiences or goals. You are already complete, and that completeness is not a product of anything external—it is the nature of your true unchanging awareness, the Self.  It’s like the difference between a wave and the ocean. When you’re in the mind, you’re caught in the wave—you experience the world as separate, as “this” and “that.” But in the absolute, you’re the floor of ocean—vast, still, and limitless. Waves still come and go, but they don’t disturb the ocean. Some describe the absolute as a silent awareness that precedes thought and experience. It’s the awareness you are before you even identify as an individual or a “thinker.” It’s the space where thought arises, but it’s not shaped by it. In that pure silence, there’s no personal experience—there’s just being. It’s an incredible realization to transcend the mind in this way, to feel that you are not the thoughts or the feelings, but the awareness in which they arise. This is the Self—the absolute awareness, which is beyond all experience yet is the very ground from which all experience emerges. Seeing God As He Really Is!