GIAN KUMAR – SPIRITUAL AUTHOR

  A thinker by nature, the inherent confusion and dogmas underlying religion, gradually impelled him towards spirituality.  

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The Human Mind

The brain is a physical organ composed of neurophysiological factors. The biological processes that govern nervous tissue control various tasks related to movement, senses, emotions, language, communication, thinking, and memory.

Conversely, the mind is an electromagnetic, metaphysical flow produced by chemical activity in the brain, processing information received through sensory and extrasensory inputs that relay through nerve impulses, influencing thoughts, feelings, perceptions, reasoning, imagination, memories, and will. It represents the totality of mental phenomena. It is the output of the primary processes connecting neural activity and cognitive functions in the brain.

The cognitive internal areas of the mind relate to functions such as thinking, learning, attention, perception, and reasoning, which are closely tied to scholarly pursuits of knowledge and comprehension. These processes enable an understanding of the world based on past cognitive information embedded in memory.

After that, the third component, the soul, operating as the non-cognitive section, does not include thought processes or reasoning. It merely observes and witnesses the cognitive mind’s operations, spontaneously enlightening the mind with fresh and pure intuition, instinct, gut reactions, or interpersonal relations. While non-cognitive traits may occasionally influence behaviour and decision-making, they do not correlate with intellectual or perceptual issues.

The soul today is beyond scientific comprehension; it is a person’s spiritual or immaterial essence that provides life to the mind through consciousness, extending beyond sensory perceptions. Spiritually, the soul section in the mind is made of or, in other words, contains the cosmic spirit by which it transmits telepathically and also receives information from the cosmos in the form of innovative intuition and instinct.

In contrast, I reiterate that the spirit relates to aspects of human life that transcend physical and mental limitations, opening the doors to infinite awareness. Well settled in the soul, the difference between the spirit and the soul is that the spirit is that absolute non-dual awareness, the substratum on which the soul superimposes. The spirit is pure awareness, and the soul, since it is individualised, is a notch less but persists in pure consciousness. The mind first needs to become aware to be in a state of consciousness. This mental process occurs whenever the mind is alert; it becomes aware, and after that, if it is attentive, centred, and focused, it becomes conscious. Hence, the soul is a non-cognitive neural activity of the mind in pure consciousness, dependent on aware energy, which is the objective of the subject, pure awareness.

As mentioned, the role of the spirit is to make the mind alert and aware, and that of the soul is to make the mind attentive and conscious. The role of the cognitive mind is to function through memory and intellect, first to be mindfully conscious of what it perceives and then to operate in a lower or subconscious mode, using its memory and intellect to guide its likes and dislikes. The spirit and the soul are responsible for making the mind aware and mindful of exploring and discovering all we know about matter and consciousness in their totality, from the microcosm to the macrocosm, in its infinitude.

According to the prehistoric Vedic philosophy of ‘Advaita Vedanta’ - Advaita means - not two (non-dual) - all that exists in the universe is not two but only Brahman (implies the ability to expand and grow) in the nothingness (shunyata) of the universe. Vedanta insinuates that this is the end of all knowledge. Today, Quantum Mechanics supports this theory, associating it with energy. It means that energy waves can expand and transform into particles, and vice versa, indicating that all that exists in the universe is ultimately energy.

That being so, we are spiritual beings experiencing human life in a temporal state of body and mind, encountering the dualities of relative opposites. The spirit in Vedic study is the supreme energy, “Para Brahman,” which enables the mind to receive pristine information telepathically and then become spiritually aware, experiencing both sensory and extrasensory perceptions to conceive all that we know and will know. Extrasensory perception (ESP) is a process of acquisition of one’s paranormal abilities, which include all means other than the ordinary human senses. It includes telepathy, clairvoyance, and precognition—seeing into the future.

Along with everything else in the universe, we are composed of atoms. Interestingly, the electrons in any atom mainly contain vacant space—about 99.9999%; the remaining mass is restricted to the nucleus of any atom, being negligible. Furthermore, the human body is composed of countless atoms, existing primarily as a void space of emptiness filled with waves of energy. An equal number of thoughts as psychic energy make up the human mind.

All it takes to go around the globe is the imagination; such is the vastness of the mind. However, notwithstanding the incredible attributes of the body and mind, they fall short of realising their full potential. Society has often programmed the mind to see them as sources of momentary pleasure rather than as instruments of creativity and latent self-potential. Unlike every other living creature, we possess the highest intensity of aware, conscious energy of all we perceive.

However, our lifestyle is shaped by raging wars, causing all sorts of damage characterised by overconsumption, waste, and habitat destruction, leading to the degradation of natural resources and the overall ecosystem. All this suggests our impact on the planet is more destructive than constructive. Never bothering to know and understand how to experience the soul, we prefer to pollute, contaminate, and destroy more than we create, hiding from the splendour and magnificence of the divine settled within our minds. Despite all that, we still have limitless potential to reform and harness our inner spiritual energy.

The mind is like the door that leads one to endless opportunities through spiritual insight, as well as the door that blocks away opportunities through material abuse. Even if it is difficult for humans to visit every region of the earth, we can still conduct explorations inside the brain. It is evident, for example, that even if conscious thinking is in a smaller area of the brain, there is ample scope for self-reflection. To achieve this, we must examine the content of our thoughts on how and what we think about and respond to them ethically. The mind is the ultimate test, outlining the material, spiritual, and the ultimate self.

Due to a lack of spiritual knowledge and a failure to recognise the ultimate, authentic self, we often fail to acknowledge the physical and the false persona we present to the world. Although it is impossible to control the mind, it is a personal, productive, and prolific mechanism that manages the development of all we know, provided we have proper insights into how it works. The human mind is “That Art Thou,” the God, Guru, and the Self - all we require is to go inwards in all moments, seek, and experience righteously the beyond of dualities operating in relative opposites of pleasure/pain, positive/negative, good/evil, divine/devil, etc.

We try to reverse this spectacular machine; instead of using the mind as an instrument, it mechanically uses us, and we become the tools of our minds. Instead of acting as responsible masters in guarding this power, we turn into monsters to destroy our mother Earth. Progressively, our minds become unmanageable, and emotionally desirable thoughts pour out without restraint. As a result, our ever-desirous minds randomly multitask into this or that for their likes and dislikes, driven by selfishness.

It means that when people try to think of multiple different thoughts at any given moment, haphazardly and not centred or focused on any one subject, the mind goes into a rollercoaster ride in dualities of this and that subconsciously in lower consciousness in auto-mode and our true self after that is not in charge of what we really should be focused, attentive and conscious about.

It implies that the human mind, though phenomenal, if not checked and guided by the soul, thoughts go into entropy in a disorderly fashion, randomly, recklessly, and repetitively. We cannot achieve the desired results unless the soul inwardly scans, examines, and clarifies this mental traffic. Furthermore, the cognitive mind tends to dwell on past experiences while thinking, projecting, and desiring future possibilities, thereby bypassing the present and failing to engage with the now. In such mental chaos, the mind remains connected to worries of the past and fears of the future rather than being in the serenity of the present, existentially in every moment.

The National Foundation of Science suggests that around 80% of our thoughts are pessimistic (negative) and about 95% are repetitive. This pattern impacts mental well-being, and most of us do not bother to know and learn how to rectify this absurd limitation.

Although all living creatures are unique, we still compare ourselves to others and sometimes feel jealous. What we need is first to love and respect ourselves. To love others then becomes natural and spontaneous. Strangely, if you notice, the mind is satisfied by constantly being dissatisfied. So, instead of imitating and competing with others, recognise your uniqueness and flow naturally. Always be alert, attentive, aware, and conscious of what you think, feel, and experience to acquire contentment and clarity through clairvoyance.

I agree it is difficult to shape something as complex as the mind web. The four directions for the meaning and purpose of life in Hinduism relate to “Dharma, Artha, Kama, Moksha.” The four purusharthas, the primary goals of life, signify righteously going forward to earn economic prosperity, satisfy sensual desires, and finally liberate your mind from all identifications and attachments. The question arises: what is the most crucial of the above four requisites? It is desire, for the essence of the mind is nothing but desire. The desire to live, eat, be merry, be righteous, be prosperous, and be spiritual emerges through our desires. Hence, the mind is simply a flow of desires.

We identify and attach through desires to all we possess, which becomes the root cause of our sufferings. Attachment arises when the mind dwells on sensual objects, giving rise to one desire after another. Finding contentment, calmness, and clarity in clairvoyance, and how to manage desires, are the final answers to celebrating life virtuously.

The scope of what we call “our life” matures dramatically with age. The part of our subconscious acts as a “bookshelf” where we store all the memorable experiences, insights, and knowledge we have collected throughout life’s journey. The biggest challenge that limits the mind is that it is never at peace within itself. Even after attaining all the health, wealth, family, friends, wisdom, and multiple sources of amusement and pleasure, something always remains amiss. Only a few manage to cross this bridge of uncertainty to experience further and realise the final lesson in absolute truth, peace, and bliss. It occurs when you have the urge to explore and experience the ultimate in spiritual exploration, discovering what the spirit is all about in spiritualism. Through spirituality, becoming spiritual in spiritual-ness is imperative today.

When you wish to seek beyond the limitations of the body, mind, intellect, and ego, comprising the quantitative-ness of ‘what you are’ and not the qualitative-ness of ‘who you are,’ you arrive at the confluence of entering the beyond of all limitations. We then merge the mind with the origin of our authentic self, consciously surpassing the temporal body and mind consciousness into that eternal spiritual beingness of our life. We effectuate ‘righteousness and selflessness’ before all our ‘doing’ by consciously creating and going with the flow of well-being, peace, amity, and harmony in all situations.

The reason is that after you know, experience, and realise the essence of your being, ‘you are a spiritual being going through human experiences.’ Only then will you discover you are a prisoner of your mind, memory, intellect, and beliefs. If you do not transcend from this rollercoaster ride of this and that in happiness and sadness, you remain incomplete and unfulfilled.

Please remember that our minds have been limited and conditioned over the centuries by beliefs propagated by parents, education, religion, culture, community, rituals, and borrowed knowledge gathered from various sources. We call that evolution. Moreover, society conditions our thoughts to imprison us in a fixed system of rules and regulations for self-improvement through self-adjustments. Those who break away from such an environment are often referred to as rebels. We discover more than what we abide by when we free ourselves from any situations we disagree with.

Breaking away from imposed psychological imprisonment is a prerequisite for any transcendence, be it material or spiritual. You cannot imprison love or force yourself to love; probably for this reason, we mostly fall in societal love but do not rise, while we do rise in spiritual love. In short, to be spiritual, you must transcend beyond the cognitive mind into a clear state of soulful mind with total clarity and not be bound to anything with a free, unconditioned mind.

The mind’s most significant limitation is its ignorance of its metaphysical aspects. Nikola Tesla, the famous American engineer and futurist, rightly said, “The day science begins to study non-physical phenomena, it will make more progress in one decade than in all the previous centuries of its existence.” This ignorance significantly highlights a lack of understanding of our universal self, which is spiritually aware and conscious energy responsible for making the mind righteously alive and functioning. Recognising this ignorance is the first step towards experiencing spiritual wisdom, as awareness of our limitations can lead to deeper insights about existence and consciousness itself.“HARI OM TAT SAT” – The manifest and the unmanifest are the same.

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Witnessing the Mind

Introspection is looking inward to examine our thoughts, feelings, and motivations. It is a deliberate effort to observe and self-analyse one’s inner thoughts and processes. This practice dates back to the oldest ancient Indic philosophic traditions and has been a cornerstone of many spiritual and psychological disciplines.

Watching your mind is a precious practice for obtaining self-awareness, emotional regulation, clarity and personal growth. It develops into a truthful relationship of knowing, understanding and experiencing your body and mind. Despite many challenges, the advantages of gaining a deeper insight into our mental structure are vast. By dedicating time to introspection and integrating it into our daily lives, we can initiate the journey of self-exploration, ultimately leading to a more fulfilling and harmonious life. The introspection methods include meditation, self-monitoring, journaling, reflecting on feelings, mantras and mindfulness practices.

The human mind is a complex entity filled with memories, emotions, and thoughts, constantly in flux. Despite its pivotal role in shaping our experiences and behaviours, the mind remains largely uncharted territory for many. Your mind emotionally identifies and attaches to your desirable thoughts, causing you to lack control over them. Nonetheless, one section of the mind remains untouched by conditioning, where it can experience choiceless awareness in pure consciousness, which we refer to as the soul. For this reason, the subject of spirituality highly emphasises the regular exercise of introspection, which involves examining our inner activity closely through the soul.

The soul is superior to the other two fundamental components, which we call the body and mind. Spiritually, I, as aware energy, am the witness of both. Our minds revolve around emotional desires, so we don’t need to seek independence from external influences; instead, we can discover that freedom and subdue it from within. Understanding material things is easy, but comprehending and controlling the selfish mind, an illusion that shapes our surroundings and actions, is far more complex. The above indicates that our being in body and mind is derived more from its being-ness through the metaphysical awareness of energy embedded in the soul, since you claim both body and mind to be yours.

Knowing the soul and the spirit is an inner journey of self-discovery, not a quest for external or material knowledge and accumulation. Witnessing your mind takes you inward to understand who and what you are. The mind, conscious or subconscious, functions in duality in the relativity of hot/cold, happiness/sadness, plus/minus, divine/devil, etc., for it chooses one of the two for its desirous need.

However, in the spiritual realm, from the superconscious section, we operate spontaneously in choiceless non-dual thoughts; we merely observe and witness our thoughts. It is that section we call the soul in which the witness as aware energy resides, checking and guiding the cognitive mind through its soul as that individual witness-er to all it perceives.

The mind vibrates randomly and recklessly, multitasking by exercising its power of choice amidst dualities. Like pleasure and pain or happiness and sadness are dualities, illusory imaginations in which our soul gets trapped. Because if one aspect is present at any given time, the other, like a shadow, is bound to follow. They are all mental creations where the cognitive behaviour and attitude connect to what we desire, bringing joy or grief, often leaving us with little control over these tendencies.

Although the mind is an instrument for us to use, it turns the tables, making us dance to its emotional state. This dynamic process often results in the mind overpowering our soul, rendering us mere puppets to its whims.

No matter how hard we try to steer our thoughts and emotions, the mind remains stubbornly resistant, refusing to budge. Consequently, we remain deeply identified with and attached to the mind’s fleeting fantasies, giving rise to a false persona that we commonly refer to as ego-consciousness. This ego obscures our true nature and binds us to a distorted sense of self, leading to a life driven by superficial desires and transient satisfactions.

Breaking free from this cycle requires a sincere shift in understanding and creating an observant relationship with the mind. Instead of being dominated by it, we need to reclaim our role as the masters of the mind. It involves cultivating mindfulness and self-awareness, enabling us to observe our thoughts and emotions without becoming entangled. By doing so, we gradually diminish the power of the ego and reconnect with our true essence.

Essentially, the mind should serve as a tool to navigate life, not as a dictator controlling our every move. Through diligent self-inquiry and introspection, we can disentangle ourselves from the mind’s relentless grip. This journey towards self-mastery is not easy, but it is essential for achieving true freedom and self-realisation. By recognising the mind’s tendencies and learning to transcend its limitations, we can live more authentically and align with our higher purpose.

Watch your thoughts; do not judge and decide hastily, but rather do so consciously. Witness the many shows your mind presents to you. By observing without attaching a label, watch your mind and its actions. Do not let these activities control you. Do not get carried away by your thoughts. Your mind will transform from a problem to a free entertainer once you view it as an observer. It is only by becoming a witness to your thoughts that you will understand the distinction between your mind and your true self.

Witness your thoughts unquestioningly and non-judgementally; you will learn what is useful and what is not. Without disturbing or distracting the mind from its thoughts, just watch. It shall usher in a state of peacefulness, taking you beyond your memories of emotional and desirous thoughts into the present, the essence of witnessing. We call this unity Sakshi Yoga, the union of all three sections of the mind.

This insightful process will calm your mind, taking you towards higher meditation. You will have greater freedom of choice when you learn to observe and witness your thoughts and can exert control over them. While observing, if you notice negative thoughts flowing from past events projecting into the future, they gradually dissolve on their own simply because now you are aware and conscious of the same.

While witnessing inner thoughts, you are in the present moment to moment, without any constraints from space and time. You can deal spiritually with such unfavourable situations in a more effective manner and, in the process, indirectly take control of them. During witnessing, your mind must be fully independent and not attached to any thoughts, awakening that non-dual aware energy settled within the superconscious section, which we call the soul. The inward act of exploring your mind and its thoughts will make you transcend spiritually into the present moment, which the cognitive mind cannot.

‘I am not what I think’ is a fundamental statement of spiritualism. However, as Descartes famously stated, ‘I think, therefore I am,’ is relevant to materialism. The mind interferes with the spiritual self through emotional desires. Because of ignorance, most of us are highly materialistic without having an idea of what spiritualism is all about. This severe imbalance is the cause of all the disasters and destruction occurring on land, sea, and in the air, as well as within our minds, driven by lust and greed.

Our deepest inner desire always wishes for fulfilment from a wholesome life. To achieve this state, we must break down the barrier between the mind’s endless material desires and righteously balance them with spiritual experiences, transcending into higher consciousness and realising a caring concern for all around us.

NAMASTE

For more information, please visit www.giankumar.com

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What is Truth?

To the spiritual seeker, the meaning of truth is neither a scientific nor an intellectual concept. It is that reality, the ultimate principle, in which there is no change or any distortion. It is experienced through awareness and deeply connects to one’s inner self. The inner insight into the ultimate reality, encompassing God, love, and reality, all converge as one eternal truth. Meaning goes beyond perceptions, beliefs, faith, appearances, identity, and attachments. Summing up, all that exists is ‘Maya’ - illusions that appear real but are not.

Truth is not a destination but a disclosure, where you remove one layer after another to uncover the ultimate reality. It is that substratum upon which all transient existences prevail. From a psychological perspective, we have a conditioned mind that is obsessed with beliefs, faith, cultural programming, media, and the internet. Based on past experiences, individual minds project their presentation of truth in different aspects. This projection may feel real but remains distorted due to mental misrepresentations and emotional desires in duality, which tend to change over time.

Scientifically, truth is a discovery based on what we observe and measure, which often changes over time as new evidence emerges. A spiritual seeker experiences these truths in the material world, fully understanding their limitations. Science explains the ‘how’ of everything happening, but fails to uncover the “why” it occurs.

For this reason, spirituality demands continuous discipline in Dhyana (meditative contemplation), Dharna (concentration), Smriti (spiritual memory), Sadhna (disciplined meditation), and Samadhi (mindfulness). The material truth gradually transforms, allowing the spiritual truth to reveal itself in silence.

Spiritual acumen is not about knowing more but knowing who you are as the ultimate reality. How can you dissolve your body and mind into that unity and continuity of now, selflessly merging the seeker while seeking the sought back into the awareness of that being-ness in nothingness? Untouched by doubt, distortion, and duality, when there is no need to define the truth, one becomes the truth in that silent knowing of ‘That art Thou.’- Tat Tvam Asi. Furthermore, another Sanskrit term, “Sat-Chit-Anand,” has been similarly embellished, meaning Truth-Awareness-Bliss.

Therefore, the journey of spiritual truth is transcending more inward than outward. The actual truth your mind needs to know is already within. You are that truth, love, God, and the ultimate reality from which everything appears to disappear in that nothingness of the universe.

In ultimate non-dual terms, truth is unchanging, always present, and beyond all dualistic divisions. The fundamental reality always exists; it is not something to be found or achieved.

Truth is precisely awareness—formless, timeless, and self-evident. Since ideas, impressions, or relative knowledge develop and vanish inside the domain of truth, truth does not belong there either. The instant we define the concept of truth, we separate it from its oneness, reducing it to duality and thus relating it to the framework of the mind.

Absolute non-duality is truth outside the subject and object, outside knowledge and the known; it is not “this” or “that.” The flawless, undivided presence in which all appearance passes is all there is. It is the substratum of all life, the reality that stays behind the illusion of separateness. It is neither an experience nor an attainment.

Truth is in everything and within nothing, but it is not something. It is neither findable nor losable. It is precisely what it is and always is. Truth, in spiritual terms, is pure existence, the subject of everything in the infinite nothingness of our Universe. The presence of your being-ness as that spirit in the now is the truth, a part of the whole. We cannot explain it in words; it is an experience that you feel and then realise.

In the objective world, truth is related to untruth and is limited to time and space. It is pure duality and, therefore, an illusion. What we consider ‘truth’ here is apparent and impermanent. In this relativistic world, where energy remains constant, changing its intrinsic form from matter to energy and vice versa signifies that the essential constituent of absolute energy is the truth and the Ultimate Reality.

I once read a quote: “The tragedy of modern man is not that he knows less and less about the truth of his own life, but that it bothers him less and less.” The truth is that most of us do not understand the inner conflict within us; neither do we bother to know ourselves truthfully. We are too occupied with judging others to judge ourselves accurately. If we do not observe the truth within us, how can we fathom the truth of actual or ultimate reality and the Universe?

The problem lies in our thoughts, embedded in past experiences, that allow the present to slip away. Life is far more significant than beliefs or a faith based on the past. If we wish to liberate ourselves, become free, and know our truth, we must allow the mind to penetrate deeper into the reality of the now. Stop clinging to the past. We must go beyond our thought processes, beliefs, traditions, illusions, apparent reality, and choices, as these create conflicts and lead us to become victimised. What you accept as accurate may just be an opinion or what any doctrine declares, a belief; these are not necessarily the truth in the real sense.

The mind cannot manifest creative intuitiveness until we escape the small ‘I’ and its limited egoistic thoughts. Only after attaining knowledge of the self does the divine ‘I’ evolve in consciousness; more awareness enters and filters through our mind, expanding our intellect. It allows us to discover the truth and the eternal presence of who we truly are, which lies beyond our emotional ego and conscious mind.

Truth is objective in its relativity, like a picture frame, which is true and accurate as long as it exists; tear the picture and break the frame and see how both disappear. Truth or reality in its absolute form is changeless, timeless, and limitless; it cannot be limited or dictated by cults, religions, or society. It cannot be imposed or conditioned by belief and tradition, a common phenomenon today.

I reiterate that the changeless, timeless, and limitless absolute truth can only be experienced and realised by the Self.

NAMASTE

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Yoga And Meditation

JOURNEY TO INNER HARMONY

Nearly 5,000 years ago, Yoga originated in the ancient Indus Valley Civilisation, located in what is now India. The Rigveda, composed between 1,500 and 1,000 BCE, is the oldest known text to mention Yoga, describing it as achieving transcendence through the regulation of thoughts and emotions. Later, it developed into a more structured form of Yoga.

One of the significant yogic texts available is the Yoga Sutras by Patanjali, compiled around the second century BCE. Patanjali’s 196 sutras cover various aspects of yoga practice, including ethical principles, physical postures, breath control, sensory discontinuation, concentration, meditation, and the state of samadhi. The Yogic spiritual science comprises two fundamental tenets: awareness and meditation. The only difference is that meditation does not necessarily require movement, whereas Yoga consists of both. The essence of Yoga is to balance the movements of the body and mind with an awakened soul. Yoga and meditation intertwine, guiding the practitioner towards a holistic well-being with inner balance.

Today, science and psychology agree on the benefits of Yoga and meditation. Regular practice helps reduce stress by lowering cortisol levels, promoting relaxation, and facilitating recovery. Furthermore, it strengthens the parasympathetic nerves that counteract the stress response, enhancing neuroplasticity and the brain’s ability to change and adapt functionally. All three factors interconnect to support overall well-being and resilience.

The word ‘Yog’ is derived from the Sanskrit word “yuj,” which means to unite all three: the body, mind, and spirit. On the other hand, meditation is the internal component of Yoga that promotes mental clarity and inner silence.

Unless all three aspects of the human self—body, mind, and soul—are involved, results can be discriminatory. In pursuing holistic well-being, Yoga and meditation emerge as popular practices to direct and control areas of the body and brain toward compassion and self-awareness.

Hence, Yoga and meditation combine to provide a holistic means to stabilise the body by quieting the mind. While interconnected and sharing common goals of enhancing mental and physical health, they are distinct disciplines with specific approaches and benefits. This article examines the distinctions, advantages, and potential synergies between yoga and meditation, providing insights into how each can contribute to a well-rounded lifestyle.

Yoga, rooted in ancient Indian tradition, is a comprehensive practice of eight branches that integrates Yama (abstinences), Niyama (observances), physical postures (asanas), breath control (pranayama), withdrawal of senses (pratyahara), focused concentration (dharana), contemplation (dhyana), and Bliss (Samadhi). The term “yoga” means “union,” reflecting its goal of uniting the mind, body, and soul. The framework of these eight limbs provides a path toward self-awareness and a deeper understanding of the self.

Practising yoga postures before meditation can help prepare the body and mind for a more profound meditation experience. The physical activity releases tension, enhances circulation, and brings a sense of calm, making it easier to focus during meditation. Creating a structured routine with dedicated time for yogic exercises and meditation ensures a balanced approach to physical and mental well-being.

The key lies in consistency and mindfulness, allowing the transformative effects to unfold over time. Yoga primarily nurtures self-awareness by focusing on the mind, which is critical in distinguishing authentic reality. While the mind presents challenges and stress, overcoming them is crucial. Achieving mastery over thoughts is possible through self-awareness. Mind control does not stop thinking; instead, it involves using thoughts effectively and productively. This is made possible through introspection, which consists of watching the body and mind without judgement - this additional branch I refer to as Sakshi (witnessing) Yoga.

Our comprehension of the mind is limited to the conscious mind, which is active during wakefulness and is associated with emotional desires. It represents only a fragment of the overall mind. Attempting to influence consciousness is fruitless. We also need to know how to invoke the soul’s potential by entering the sphere of spontaneous intuitiveness, where the mind operates beyond the realm of thinking or cognitive states.

Recognising the constraints of the conscious mind is vital for present living. Delving into the mind’s mechanisms is intriguing, with the objective mind utilising primarily the senses for cognition. Dwelling on past or future thoughts, which the mind habituates, obstructs authentic living. Grasping the conscious mind is essential for embracing the present moment. Exploring beyond the conscious mind and senses is necessary to teach the mind how to transcend sensory wants and achieve clarity, contentment, calmness, and clairvoyance.

Furthermore, delving into the unconscious mind, where no thoughts prevail, and awakening the soul in that unknown section to check and guide the monkey mind, is crucial for self-discovery. Yoga is a concise solution to realising life’s purpose, encompassing a superconscious state that experiences total awareness in all states of mind. The only facet left out in Yoga is the concept of Advaita Vedanta (not two is the end of knowledge). Rishi Vasishta philosophically conjoined the two in the prehistoric scriptures described as Yog Vasishta, which Quantum Physics has now expounded and computed.

The core of consciousness makes the mind alive; awareness is pivotal. Consciousness is distinct from the mind, which acts as a versatile tool—understanding how the mind functions and its energy source is essential. Consciousness drives all mental activities, with the mind as a conduit. Your soul surpasses the mind, serving as the centre of awareness. The soul fuels intuitive thinking, listening, understanding, and judgement.

When you closely examine your life, you will notice the same repetitive patterns, functioning solely through the mind, involving old data. The past is stored in your limited mind; it no longer exists. Without an active mind, would your past exist? Only the present does. Reality is only the present, but the past persists in our minds. By transcending the mind, you go beyond karmic bondage. Past thoughts projecting into the future in the form of emotional desires are a mental trap. Yet you treat the past as a reality, which is an illusion. The mind is the root of this. By transcending the mind, you overcome everything at once.

The core effort of spiritual practices has always been to transcend the cognitive mind and view life beyond its limitations. Yoga aims for the individual soul to telepathically unite with the universal awareness in a state known as samadhi. Yoga’s focus is not on the existence of God but on self-discovery to realise that there is no self, only the non-dual, spiritually aware energy, which undergoes an illusory play of human experiences of dualities, such as pleasure and pain, or happiness and sadness. If one exists in the mind, the other is bound to follow like a shadow.

Yog is that state of absoluteness that takes you to the superconscious section of the mind, where you are neither affected by imagination nor thoughts. You go beyond your mind’s modifications, teaching you how to maintain a balance in life with awareness, taking action without identifying or attaching to the results. Not bothering about pain or misery, accepting every situation with grace and respect liberates your body and mind through spiritual knowledge, where tranquillity and serenity are sublime.

Therefore, integrating both practices can provide the most comprehensive benefits for a holistic approach. Yoga can prepare your body and mind for meditation, and meditation can enhance the mental and soulful benefits of Yoga. Many people find that practising both leads to a balanced and fulfilling routine. Engaging in Yoga and meditation as part of your routine can be highly effective for a holistic approach to overall health. Yoga and meditation offer a timeless journey in harmony, navigating the challenges of today’s existence while awakening that eternal truth within.

NAMASTE

For more information, please visit www.giankumar.com

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You And Your Ego

“Ego is the immediate dictate of human consciousness.” - Max Planck

The ego is a primary aspect of our multifaceted identity; it is often misrepresented and misunderstood. It is how we perceive, behave, and interact with our surroundings. It can also suggest a sense of self-esteem or centredness. But its main feature is that it confuses the mind into thinking it is the true self, which it is not. The ego is that mask that the mind plays in the drama of life.

The ego separates one from all other selves and the world. The mind develops a complex neurological concept that leads you through a rollercoaster ride of dualities, including arrogance and selfishness. You and your ego often seem inseparable, but they are fundamentally separate; the ego is the part of your subconscious mind that functions in a lower consciousness, constructing your outer identity for the material world.

From a psychological perspective, the ego represents the sense of “I” that interprets what the sense organs perceive through cognition, mediated by thoughts, emotions, desires, and experiences. It is the mental framework through which the mind protects its personality (in Greek, a false persona), forms judgements, accumulates assets, and defends and distinguishes itself from others. In the material dualistic world, the necessity of the ego arises for the sake of name, fame, and wealth, which we all aspire to.

All this swirls together to create the ego: the mental construct we call ‘me’ and ‘mine,’ which, according to science, functions primarily at over 98% in the ego or, for that matter, the subconscious. Life remains imbalanced because only about 2% of consciousness and the soul (pure consciousness) are present. The ego thrives on memory, operates autonomously, and consistently strives to be correct, superior, and in control, fostering a sense of superiority. The ego fears falling apart because it relies on external thoughts, feelings, and actions that the mind identifies with and considers to be its own.

However, all the above factors obstruct spiritual growth, inner peace, and the soul’s functioning. Above the subconscious, when the mind is centred and focused, we refer to that state or section of the mind as conscious. The ultimate state of any individual mind is pure consciousness, the aspect we refer to as the soul.

The ego’s very function of protection gradually becomes its limitation. The ego rejects criticism and fosters delusions of superiority to protect its identity. And, if unchecked, it drives the mind rooted in comparison, conflict, and contempt in fear, attachment, jealousy, and separation—all of which can lead to anxiety, depression, and suffering.

Advaita Vedanta asserts that the ego is a false construct created by the mind to gratify emotional desires that believe in separation from one another. This illusion of separation separates the mind from the unity and continuity to which we essentially belong, spiritually. It means that spiritual awakening, or the awakening of the soul, only commences after the mind becomes aware of its false self, the ego. It learns to witness the body, mind, and thoughts without preconditions or attachments, dissolving the illusions created by the ego.

I repeat, the authentic you is that spiritual being-ness, the spirit of awareness that makes the soul first aware and then conscious as it goes through human experiences and is beyond this temporary identity. You are that witness as the waves of spiritual energy, and the witness-er is that individual soul. You are the aware energy that enables your mind to become conscious of the universal awareness and to perceive and conceive everything we know, experience, and realise about the universe. For this reason, you never express your body and mind as ‘I am that’ but always claim it as ‘your body and mind.’

Once this dawns on you, the illusions of ego crumble, and a more profound sense of peace and clarity arises. Where you rise above the limitations of the ego and transcend freely, where life and existence are effortless and unshackled from the idea of ‘I’ and ‘mine.’

Studies have shown that witnessing the mind through the soul and meditative awareness through mindfulness reduces egocentric activity, leading to a higher consciousness of selflessness with a greater sense of unity and compassion. It suggests that the ego is not an inherent essence but rather a neurological pattern that we can transcend through conscious effort.

Ultimately, your ego serves as both a tool and a test. It sustains you and helps you to thrive within a world of form; however, it also makes it more difficult for you to see beyond form. The challenge is to learn how to use it without becoming enslaved by it. The more you mentally note your thoughts and reactions, the more you appreciate your ego for what it is: a conditioned construct, not your authentic self and identity. Liberation is about mastering the ego while still maintaining its integrity by calling forth the deeper self, the timeless, aware spirit, beyond name and form.

Life demands celebrating and experiencing a balanced life in both the material and spiritual realms, as they cannot exist without each other. Only after achieving material realisation does the spiritual soul have the opportunity to awaken, enabling the mind to transcend and evolve into a higher state of consciousness.

The individual soul and the ego are concepts that signify the former as the authentic, integral aspects of your consciousness, enabling your mind to operate in dualities. You, as awareness, embody non-duality, the highest form of energy, which we call “That art Thou.”

The individual soul is that witnessing self, which guides you with the presence of awareness residing within. It is metaphysical, mystical, and spiritual. The ego and the soul separate the absolute energy of consciousness from one another. Both have relevance, as one needs to evolve from ego-consciousness towards the divine through divine deeds for the sake of that divineness that is who you are. The ego is a dynamic energy that drives us towards material progress; however, it becomes detrimental when it takes hold of our vanity.

Ego may cause all our pain, but it is also part of our ‘I am-ness’ that emerges from the same consciousness that determines who and what we are. Without ego, the need for spiritual empowerment would not be there. One should never underestimate the power of our psychic energy, where the absolute non-dual energy has been separated in duality into one end by the ego and another as the spiritual divine. An obsession with one will lead to the deprivation of the other, whether in your material or spiritual development. There is no good or evil; only our dual-operating mind and our choices in separation make it so.

However, the essential purpose of my body and mind, after realising maturity, tells me I must grow out of this rollercoaster ride of success and failure and happiness and sadness. Knowing that God is within, I must also be kind and help humanity find joy. My inner awareness informs me that these two aspects are inherently and intrinsically linked. Buddha, Jesus, and Lord Krishna were neither religious nor rigid; they illumined higher consciousness because of their strong inner individuality. They stood up as rebels, supporting their thoughts and humaneness amid those who were weak, dependent, conditioned, and followers of some faith or another. Humanity still reveres them today.

In conclusion, your ego is neither your enemy nor your essence. Think of it as a curated mask that allows you to partake in the grand drama of life. Recognise and respect it, but do not confuse it with your actual being. The true nature you hold is dwelling beneath the ego in the silence, a place of freedom that is still boundless awareness beyond harsh judgement and fear or division. Understanding and experiencing that space allows a person to transcend the ego. In that transcendence, there resided true wisdom and peace.

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Witnessing the Mind for Self-Discovery and Clarity

Introspection is looking inward to examine our thoughts, feelings, and motivations. It is a conscious effort to observe and analyze the workings of our mind. This practice dates back to the most ancient Indic philosophic traditions and has been a cornerstone of many spiritual and psychological disciplines.

Watching your mind is a precious practice for self-awareness, emotional regulation, clarity, and personal growth. It develops into a truthful relationship of knowing, understanding and experiencing your body and mind. The advantages of gaining a deeper insight into our being are vast despite many challenges. Dedicating time to introspection and integrating it into our daily lives, we can initiate the journey of self-exploration, ultimately leading to a more fulfilled and harmonious life. The introspection methods involve meditation, self-monitoring, journaling, reflecting on feelings, mindfulness practices, etc.

The human mind is a complex entity filled with memories, emotions, and thoughts, constantly in flux. Despite its pivotal role in shaping our experiences and behaviours, the mind remains largely uncharted territory for many. Your mind identifies and attaches to your thoughts, causing you to lack control over them. Nonetheless, a section of the mind is untouched by conditioning, where it can experience choiceless awareness in pure consciousness, which we call the soul. For this reason, the subject of spirituality highly emphasizes the regular exercise of introspecting the mind via the soul, which involves examining our inner activity closely.

The soul is superior to the other two fundamental components we call the body and mind. Spiritually, I, as aware energy, am the witness of both. Our minds revolve around emotional desires, so we don't need to seek independence from external influences; instead, we can discover that freedom from within. Understanding material things is easy, but comprehending and controlling the selfish mind, an illusion that shapes our surroundings and actions is far more complex. The above indicates that our being in body and mind is derived more from our being-ness through the metaphysical soul since you claim both body and mind to be yours.

Knowing the mind is a spiritual and inner journey of self-discovery, not a quest for external or material knowledge. It takes us inward to understand who and what we are. The mind, conscious or subconscious, functions in duality in the relativity of hot/ cold, happiness/sadness, plus/minus, divine/devil, for it chooses one of the two for its desirous need. However, in the spiritual realm, the superconscious, we operate spontaneously in choiceless non-dual thoughts; we can observe and witness our thoughts. It is that section in which the witness as aware energy resides, making the mind conscious and alive to all it perceives.

The mind is perpetual, reckless and haphazard multitasking, functioning by exercising its power of choice amidst dualities. Like pleasure and pain or happiness and sadness are dualities, illusory imaginations in which our soul gets trapped. Because if one aspect is present at any given time, the other, like a shadow, is bound to follow. They are all mental creations where the cognitive behaviour and attitude connect to what we desire, bringing joy or grief, often leaving us with little control over their tendencies. Although the mind is an instrument for us to use, it turns the tables, making us dance to its emotional state of mind. This dynamic often results in the mind overpowering our spirit, rendering us mere puppets to its whims. 

No matter how hard we try to steer our thoughts and emotions, the mind remains stubbornly resistant, refusing to budge. Consequently, we remain deeply identified with and attached to the mind's fleeting fantasies, giving rise to a false persona we commonly call ego-consciousness. This ego obscures our true nature and binds us to a distorted sense of self, leading to a life driven by superficial desires and transient satisfactions.

Breaking free from this cycle requires a sincere shift in understanding and relationship with the mind. Instead of being dominated by it, we need to reclaim our role as the master of the mind. It involves cultivating mindfulness and self-awareness, allowing us to constantly watch our thoughts and emotions without getting entangled. By doing so, we gradually diminish the power of the ego and reconnect with our true essence.

Essentially, the mind should serve as a tool to navigate life, not as a dictator controlling our every move. Through diligent self-inquiry and introspection, we can disentangle ourselves from the mind's relentless grip. This journey towards self-mastery is not easy, but it is essential for achieving true freedom and self-realization. By recognizing the mind's tendencies and learning to transcend its limitations, we can live more authentically and align with our higher purpose.

Keep a watch on your thoughts; do not judge and decide subconsciously. Witness the many shows your mind presents to you. By observing without attachment, watch your mind and its actions. Do not let these activities control you. Do not get carried away by your thoughts. Your mind will transform from a problem to a free entertainer once you view it as an observer. It is only by becoming a witness to your thoughts you will understand the distinction between your mind and yourself. Witness your thoughts honestly; you will learn what is useful and what is not. Without disturbing or distracting the mind from its thoughts, just watch. It shall usher in a state of peacefulness, taking you beyond your memories of emotional thoughts into the present, the essence of witnessing, we call Sakshi Yoga, the unity of all three sections of the mind.

This insightful process will calm your mind, taking you towards higher meditation. You have greater freedom of choice when you learn to observe and witness your thoughts and can exert control over them. A simple example while observing: if you notice negative thoughts flowing in your mind, such thoughts will continue to flow from the past to the future and take control of yourself. But, while witnessing them, if you are in the present and push them away, you can deal positively with such unfavourable situations in a better manner and take control over them. In witnessing, your observation must be fully and unquestioningly non-attached, awakening the non-dual aware energy in the soul. The inward act of exploring your mind and its thoughts will make you transcend spiritually into the present moment, which the average mind cannot. 

'I am not what I think' is spiritualism's most fundamental and essential statement. The mind interferes between the material and the spiritual self through emotional desires. Because of ignorance, most of us are highly materialistic without having an idea of what spiritualism is all about.  Our deepest inner desire always wishes fulfilment from a wholesome life. To achieve this state, we must break this barrier between the mind's endless desires and the true self to righteously progress materially, fulfilling our desires while remaining spiritually observant, transcending into higher consciousness to be spiritual, caring, and concerned for all around us. Namaste.

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What is Self-Awareness?

Self-exploration, self-discovery, and self-knowledge for self-awareness are central to knowing the true self in spiritual study. It is that conscious knowledge of knowing who and what you are without justification. Once you comprehend the correct meaning of the self, you have reached the pinnacle of all knowledge. It divides the self into four categories: physical, mental, objective, and subjective. It implies knowledge of one's body, mind, soul and spirit. It provides one's inter-connectedness with the world and the universe from our reflecting consciousness. Self-awareness is an ongoing process of introspection and reflection throughout life. It involves a willingness to look at oneself honestly and unquestioningly without providing any ifs and buts. It is a crucial aspect of personal development with spiritual intelligence, providing the foundation for self-regulation through self-awareness. 

The objective of the physical self is the totality of the person's body, brain, mind, and individual soul. It is a component of the subjective self, including the bodily, mental, emotional, and financial selves. You refer to all of them as "me and mine," with names and genders like my body, mind, and so on, implying that they all belong to the subjective self. 

For example, a film actor frequently changes identities, shifting from one role to another and embodying different personalities in each role. The Greeks define persona as a false mask. In one role, he is one character; in another, he transforms into someone entirely different. This process highlights the transient nature of identities. Gradually, the actor becomes conscious that identities are not permanent but fleeting. Eventually, one realizes that one's personality is merely an act shaped by influences from parents, priests, politicians and professors. Furthermore, your behaviour differs while interacting with family, friends, and family. As a result, we have a subjective spiritual beingness engaging in human experiences, as an organized civilized being manifesting to undergo various distinctive uniqueness ascribed to each human in this or that, continuously changing within space and time. 

The subjective/spiritual self is that spirit or the universal self that spiritualism conveys to convince you that there is no such thing as an enduring objective self. Ancient Indic scriptures elaborate that everything in this universe is not two — 'Advait' in the eternal cosmic presence of 'Shunya' means zero or nothing. It adds that within this nothingness, the subjective self has the power and ability to create transient matter and consciousness that appears to disappear in limited space and time back into its nothing. Science similarly tells us that within this nothingness, in quantum field theory, the vacuum or nothing is not truly empty but a sea of vibrating energy and virtual particles, suggesting that even "empty" space has a temporary kind of structure and activity. 

Brahman in Vedas, or energy in science, is unaware of itself since it represents nothing. However, out of all its abilities, one supreme trait can make all living creatures aware and conscious—the highest intensity of spiritual awareness attributed to human beings. The process of spiritual awareness in a human mind is as follows: If and when the human mind is alert, it becomes spiritually aware. After that, if the mind is attentive to the object under aware observation, it becomes conscious of utilizing this non-dual aware cosmic energy (spirit) in the superconscious section of the mind, where no thoughts prevail, which we call the soul.

 Therefore, while introspecting, self-awareness involves recognizing our thoughts, emotions, and behaviours to comprehend how they shape our experiences. Self-awareness helps us identify areas that are out of balance and need attention. When one asks, "Where has that 'me' come from?" it dissolves into awareness, revealing that the 'me' originates from totality as part of the 'divine presentation.' Awareness generates consciousness, which in turn creates ego consciousness. Ultimately, this very awareness will annihilate the ego through Self-exploration.

It means at the subatomic level, you are nothing but waves of universal aware energy with the potential to make your mind aware, allowing the human mind to sense inward and outwardly. Implying that anything you see, hear, and think with your mechanical body and brain becomes your objective/observable reality — that which appears and vanishes in a finite amount of space and time. As mentioned earlier, this cosmic self is present in the quiet zone of the mind. The presence of this beingness can activate, check, and guide the phenomenal dual-operating human mind through its introspective power of spiritual awareness, which confers and endows us as 'That art Thou' or 'Tat Tvam Asi'.

Absolute aware energy has divine power or the supreme ability to make the human mind aware and conscious, which is the highest attribute of non-dual energy. As a result of its suffix — ness, it denotes the strength of an individual's knowing and understanding within any human mind (awareness). You are that aware-conscious energy – 'Aham Brahmasmi'. It creates that uniqueness in every living creature according to any individual intensity, through which the Indic scriptures, in their first great sayings, have declared - Intelligence is Divine – "Prajnanam Brahma". 

Aware energy is the Universal Self existing as the only absolute, non-dual, eternal Supreme energy, which is interconnected and interrelated as one eternal, infinite unified whole in continuity, proclaiming we are all spiritual beings going through human experiences — Omniscient, Omnipotent and Omnipresent emanating from its presence of nothing, which the Vedas refer to as Para Brahman(Supreme Energy), Parmeshwar(beyond God), Paratma(beyond consciousness) — where Par signifies beyond of all beyond. The divine inside the soul remains inactive until the mind awakens, even while the lower or subconscious mind continues seeking here and there to accumulate, attach and identify in ignorance.

The seeker, seeking through the mind and the sought are the same as one unified absolute energy. The spiritual self, or spirit, is the only ultimate reality that is changeless, timeless, spaceless, boundless, limitless and endless. I reiterate, within it, all subset replaceable energies like physical, mental, nuclear, hydro, electrical, etc., appear and disappear to return to the only absolute spirit of nothingness, which remains constant, complete and inseparable, and that which can neither be created nor be destroyed – as claimed by the prehistoric 'Shanti Mantra' as well as now in the 'The Law of Conservation of Energy". Since the spirit is unaware of itself, it is nothing in and of itself. Still, it can make the mind intuitively aware and thus conscious to experience a life of dualities where death is only the beginning of a new life in the cycle of birth and death.

The study of the self as self-awareness is highly complicated and currently outside the scope of science; nonetheless, humans must know we are both the creator and the creation. It is from the presence of our beingness, and not from the physical being of body and brain, that the existence of the -isness- emerges, which is unrelated to the mind or its thoughts but silently and spontaneously triggers and awakens the mind. This aware intelligence has made it possible to unravel the mysterious happenings in the universe of whatever we know today, from the stars to the subatomic particles.

The study of the true self reveals that stress, sorrows, suffering, fears, greed, misery and depression arise all because we are unaware of our spiritual self. One can rectify a lack of self-awareness only if we balance the material with the spiritual, acquiring self-knowledge, which in today's world is so imbalanced.

The presence of awareness/beingness differentiates and unfolds everything in this world when the human mind, through conscious knowledge, explores, experiments, experiences, and expresses and exhibits what quantum physics claims as observable reality. Nothing would exist without spiritual or self-awareness, like in the case of non-living matter being unaware of inside out. As a result, awareness creates an observable fact that makes your mind aware of what unfolds before you while remaining eternally divine as the only ultimate reality. Therefore, the self as the spirit or spiritual awareness is the supreme ability of energy that spontaneously provides fresh, latest and new information to the mind, which no AI can make possible. Artificial intelligence can only relate to past information and cannot compose, construct or contrive fresh new information, accessible only to the domain of the divine spiritual aware energy.

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Spiritual Atheist

A theist is a person who believes in the existence of God and deities without explanation. On the other hand, an atheist denies all religious beliefs of God or gods in any form or gender. A spiritual person is more of an atheist since he does not believe in any religious views or the presence of a God with a name and gender. He relies upon righteous living with good intentions and attitude in an actively calm manner, transcending towards that feeling of selflessness. A spiritual atheist embraces practices of spirituality without subscribing to beliefs of the supernatural as conventionally understood. The spiritual path involves self-exploration while experiencing a profound connection within the universe that embodies various forms of energy. To a spiritual atheist, God is a flow of supreme energy that is omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent, where all that exists is interconnected, interrelated, and interdependent in unity and continuity. Humans are endowed with this sublime spirit to express and exhibit their divine qualities through spiritual deeds in divinity from the inherent potentiality of divineness  – That Art Thou.

Rationalism and spirituality coexist in spiritual atheism by valuing spiritual experiences while maintaining a non-theistic outlook. Unlike traditional atheism, which often ignores such experiences, spiritual atheism believes in a fulfilling spiritual life without religious regulations or belief in a supernatural being. Through reason and evidence, spiritual atheists explore human consciousness, life's interconnectedness, and the mysteries of existence. They appreciate the cosmos' wonders without ascribing them to a supernatural realm. 

Mindfulness, meditation, and introspection are essential in spiritual-ness, nurturing self-awareness, stress control, and emotional depth. By advocating moral values, empathy, and social justice, spiritual atheists prioritize ethical and compassionate living and view moral behaviour as advantageous for personal and societal well-being. They recognize the universe's interconnected nature and embrace scientific findings, particularly in quantum physics, as valuable insights into human existence. For those seeking a meaningful life beyond religious limitations, spiritual atheism provides a path that harmonizes spirituality and logic, endorsing values of interconnectedness, ethical behaviour, and individual and collective development.

A spiritual atheist embarks on a journey of self-discovery, seeking answers not from any divine source but through human experiences and interactions with nature. They explore life's meaning, purpose, and interconnectedness with all that exists without invoking the supernatural. Various practices and techniques like meditative awareness from moment to moment while witnessing one's thoughts, feelings and actions are employed not for spiritual enlightenment but to enhance mental clarity and emotional balance; this approach counters ego-consciousness with a profound belief in selfless service and the significance of spiritual growth.

The individual spirit is that being-ness, the source of all fresh and intuitive information that keeps your mind awake, active, aware, attentive, and alive to enhance your self-awareness and self-consciousness. The spiritual endeavours with self-knowledge beyond body and mind move toward self-awakening and self-awareness to achieve greater consciousness, as Krishna, Jesus, and Buddha did. He knows that we are all interconnected and interdependent in unity and continuity. He does not believe but recognizes that if you do not know your true self, what good is believing in a supernatural God as the Creator? God's existence cannot be attributed to a human, a gender, or a thing because it is the foundation or essence of everything. God is that infinite abstract metaphysical supreme energy that allows all finite existences, from subatomic particles to stars, to appear and disappear for the span of their existence. This divine energy is known as awareness in spiritual words. All realities become existential in the cosmos and unfold for our mind to observe, perceive and conceive after we are aware.

Awareness is the basis of all-knowing, manifesting in every perception to be conceived through consciousness. This means aware energy is the foundation of all we perceive – God or the Universe exists because our supreme energy of awareness says so. The highest quality of life is understanding anything with clarity, emphasizing the role of awareness. God-realization indicates spiritual intelligence through self-awareness, providing higher consciousness to know that the Creator and the creation are the same.

After all, what is a thought? We also know the mind is nothing but thought. Thought is a flow of electromagnetic energies carrying information in the brain. Where does this information originate? Thought is purely mechanical unless it becomes aware and, after that, conscious. This means for your mind to be aware, you require an awar-er. Thus, thought is the objective of the subject of awareness, which qualifies as the presence of our being-ness. Therefore, all that eternally exists is being-ness/awareness as the supreme ability of energy, making the mind first aware and then conscious, activating thoughts to proceed with mental activity. 

In this manner, the self in everyone is determined by its intensity of aware energy indicated by the suffix of its -ness equating with universal self in totality, which the Upanishads propounded as Parabrahman (supreme power), ParamAtama (beyond soul) or Parmeshwar (beyond of all beyond). Today, Quantum Science refers to the same as energy, from which everything appears and disappears for the period of its existence, including our body and mind. Therefore, in the spiritual journey from self-awakening experience to its realization, one realizes there is no self to conceive. Self is a misnomer indicating toward body and mind, which is the quantum of what you are. Both belong to you as yours; the quality of who you are is determined not by the self but from the presence of its being-ness in selflessness in total awareness.

There is no god or deity present in the subject of spiritualism. You are God, Guru, and Self as one, not two – "Advait". The Creator and creations are the same: absoluteness (totality) inside that wholeness contains nothing but waves of vibrating energy with abilities to condense into solids, liquids or gases, or, say, matter and consciousness in the nothingness of this universe. Out of all the skills expressed and exhibited by energy, awareness is the most sublime and supreme, responsible for activating our consciousness in the mind to feel, think, intend, and experience. I reiterate that the subject of spiritualism is the pursuit of any individual spirit to realize the ultimate truth. Only because of you as aware energy - God and the Universe exist. There is no "I, me, or mine" in spirituality. You are that is-ness, the quality or state of being in the spirit in a selfless state of awareness within that being-ness, from which one can observe, perceive and measure the observable. The source of all intelligence before any thoughts emerge spontaneously and intuitively. What cannot be observed remains a mystery, which science has yet to explore, discover, create, experience and reflect from its intensity of awareness. Spiritual aware energy is eternal, the supreme ability of energy, the divine resting within. Rest remains temporal to appear and disappear into that nothingness from where they emerged. It is the final truth of an authentic spiritualist. 

NAMASTE

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The Game of Life

We all play the Game of Life, whether we want to or not. A game played by the Creator, of whom we have no evidence. It is a complex game where the mind and soul clash. Material desires compete with spiritual growth, each pulling in separate directions. As much as our minds urge us to cling to material possessions, the wisdom of saints guides us to expand our perspective beyond the tangible world, asserting there's a spiritual essence to existence. Unlike transient competitions and pursuits, life unfolds in a profound struggle between the mind's faculties and the soul's essence. The mind obstructs the soul's path to fulfilment while the soul endeavours to realize its spiritual self; trapped by the mind in emotional desires, we do not realize that these are ultimately fleeting and illusory. 

Some people approach life with the purpose of only winning, trying to accumulate and attach as much wealth, status, and possessions as possible. The mind employs an array of thoughts as weaponry, including apprehensions about the future and reflections on the past, all aimed at diverting the soul from its course. As we progress towards soulful enlightenment, we inevitably encounter this mental apparatus. Yet, amidst this internal strife, we uncover an inner spiritual dimension that coexists within the physical realm, offering solace, insight, and a connection to the Divine. We navigate these realms through meditative awareness, discovering tranquillity, wisdom, and the ultimate truth.

The game begins with two players – the mind versus the soul. The game's design is such that on one side, we have the cognitive mind reacting from borrowed knowledge gathered from outer sources, and intellectually, we get overwhelmed by emotional desires with identifications and attachments for its 'me and mine,' which we refer to as Ego. The other is that silent player witnessing the mind's thoughts spontaneously, acting intuitively and intelligently at any moment. We refer to that as the soul. As life continues, the tussle between the material self and the spiritual persists.

The mind, on one end, manoeuvres with multiple strategies, wanting more and more, leading a life entirely of emotional desires to possess and accumulate physical and financial objects or to drink, eat, have sex, and be merry. The other, the soul, moves selflessly, checking and guiding the mind on a path of truth, love, and divinity.

The game matures when the mind becomes aware of the soul's nature and experiences how to go beyond material desires in bringing the innate divine and the devil, the good and evil, positive and negative, towards their source of oneness from where they separated. Life is nothing but a movement of energy in unity and continuity vibrating in multiple frequencies, which is indivisible and can neither be created nor destroyed. There is no difference between the Creator and the creation; one requires self-knowledge to self-discover and self-realize; all that ultimately exists is that eternal one unified spirit of total awareness, enjoying the temporal game of life of illusions in dualities of this and that while the game is on.

The meaning behind this game of life is for all to comprehend that spirit is the sole determining factor, whether material or for spiritual living. We are spiritual beings going through human experiences. Nonetheless, both are essential – a good house, car, favourable bank balance, etc. but with spiritual insight primarily because material possessions and pleasures tend to demand more and more. We must counter this excessive lifestyle with a higher standard of life, which comes through contentment, clarity, and calmness if we wish to transcend into clairvoyance with peacefulness.

So play the Game of Life correctly - with joy, gratitude, and intent. Wisdom lies in the skilful balancing of both material and the spiritual, like a tightrope walker, where you balance the two ends of the pole of living in happiness and sadness, accepting both with grace and equipoise. Realize a state of mind worth working, playing, and living for yourself and the world. This realization is actualized only when you play this game of illusions, keeping strictly in mind that you should not be overly tilted on either side, whether material or spiritual. You are here not intending to be a saint or a sinner but to celebrate life in its wholesomeness. The key to success lies in balancing these forces, finding contentment amidst the clamour of wants.

Awareness of the soul's role leads to fulfilment, transcending the game of duality to choose this or that. Eventually, life's purpose is found in the journey, not by reaching a predetermined end. Embrace the adventure, play with wonder and purpose, and celebrate the richness of existence. That's winning the game we all signed up for.

NAMASTE

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Knowledge is Equal to Darkness

The concept that "knowledge is power" is widely accepted in the digital era. Nevertheless, an opposing view proposes that "knowledge is synonymous with darkness," questioning traditional perspectives on knowledge. This idea encourages contemplation of the complex interplay between ignorance, enlightenment, and knowledge.

Knowledge comprises data, insights, and competencies from learning and lived experiences. It fosters comprehension, illuminates the intellect, and enables individuals and communities. Yet, philosophical and pragmatic arguments validate the comparison of knowledge to darkness.

In this age of information overload, people often confuse the content they consume from various sources with actual knowledge. Engaging in debates and discussions, they display their broad understanding of diverse subjects. However, ancient sages warned that knowledge could foster friction and conflict.

During the creation of profound Vedic philosophies and Upanishads in ancient times, the wise individuals of that era cautioned that the unlearned could be led astray by their thirst for knowledge. They believed that while ignorance kept individuals in the dark, enlightenment through knowledge could worsen matters. Consequently, traditional knowledge limits our understanding and spiritual growth by fixating on superficial aspects.

The core principle of this timeless wisdom is that the pursuit of knowledge driven by self-serving motives can mislead individuals. It has the potential to breed insecurity and entangle us in worldly matters, diverting us from the spiritual truths that elude us. The sages proclaimed that to achieve true wisdom; one must transcend the limitations of the mind and rise to a heightened state of awareness.

The first assertion might be somewhat understandable, but the second seems quite perplexing. How can knowledge lead one into greater darkness? This is particularly challenging to grasp today, where children are frequently told by their elders and teachers that "Knowledge is Power!"

However, a deeper examination reveals that this perspective makes much sense. Ancient sages juxtaposed complementary terms: "Vidya" and "Avidya," loosely translating to knowledge and ignorance. According to their wisdom, both worldly knowledge and ignorance prevent spiritual growth.

If you are ignorant, there is no spiritual growth. If you possess ample knowledge, you might be inclined to demonstrate it to others, impeding your spiritual development as your emphasis shifts to amassing and exhibiting knowledge. We frequently aim to display our advanced comprehension by gaining worldly wisdom, but this wisdom is limited. The material world is constantly changing, continuously evolving, discarding, and amassing.

What was true yesterday may not be true today. What you hold as truth today may not be valid tomorrow. Truth is fluid and ever-changing. So naturally, this leads you toward darkness. We can never be sure of eternal truth, which will always remain true. In essence, you always stay unsure and in the dark. This is what they meant when they said you stay in the dark regardless of whether you are ignorant or knowledgeable. It's like plus and minus, positive and negative, good and bad, hot and cold. Just as we do not understand happiness without knowing sadness, similarly, knowledge and ignorance are two sides of the same coin. 

Unlike having deep knowledge of just one factor of the world, the spirit embodies metaphysical understanding, while the body and mind hold worldly insights. The mind is rarely at peace, constantly buzzing with chatter and shifting beliefs. Disagreements, arguments, and debates are ever-present and disposed to arguments and differences of opinion. You can bet your mind will develop a counterargument if there is an argument. The cycle never ends. According to them, when all worldly knowledge ends, the truth and the ultimate reality remain.

The chattering mind is the observer observing the observed. All three segregate, but when the mind becomes still, the observer, observing, and the observed become one, there are no changes. There is no separation. What remains is only observation: the seeker seeking the result realizes that there is nothing to seek. You are everything, and the universe exists because of you. Everything that you perceive and conceive already exists.

That is how the subject of spiritualism relates to the topic of knowledge. It states that until and unless you know your true self, there cannot be self-awakening, self-enlightenment or self-realization. Ultimately, you realize there is nothing to enlighten or experience because you are already enlightened and possess unlimited potential in your brain.

The potential is lying dormant; all it needs is to awaken. The source of intelligence comes out spontaneously and intuitively and, in turn, comes out when the mind is still. This is why stillness is essential in the matters of spiritualism. Stillness means the mind is focused and centred, not wavering or in constant chatter. Stillness allows the mind to go into a state of meditative awareness. You are focused entirely on the present moment. This is when your inner intelligence awakens. It comes out to discover everything of all that exists. Worldly knowledge multitasks, hindering this process, which is the remaining darkness because it will not lead you to its destination. It will remain incomplete.

"Knowledge is equal to darkness" is a powerful reminder of the complexities and contradictions within human comprehension. Knowledge can empower and enlighten, yet it can also blur and burden. Adopting a balanced approach, we navigate the interplay between light and dark, fostering a deeper, more subtle understanding of our environment and ourselves. Ultimately, true enlightenment lies in the wisdom to use our knowledge with humility, responsibility, and compassion rather than merely accumulating information.

Namaste

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Who Is God?

Who is God?  The most straightforward answer I can think of is: He is who you believe. Each one of us has our image of God. As the Christians say, He is the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. God is whatever and whomever you may choose Him to be. We all worship the same God but see Him through different eyes and minds. However, we also have other ways to experience Him. 

We all know that man came first, and God followed. He is an artificial invention, concept, and belief. There is no unanimity or accord on the nature and existence of God, and each religion has its own set of ideas. And yet, His effect on humanity is tremendous, and most of us blindly believe in the religion provided by others. For this reason, God has become the fundamental basis for enhancing one's idea of the ultimate supreme being.

Our impression of God changes when we evolve from the physical and psychological into that formless spiritual phase. Higher knowledge, spiritual awakening, and meditation make us realize the ambiguities behind our unquestioning beliefs. These include fables, dogmas, and various rituals, which make us spend time and money in the name of God.  God will remain a fundamental concept of faith and belief if we think and determine from the thinking mind. This faith passes from one generation to another, and the existence of God becomes unquestionable. However, on the path towards spirituality, the Creator and the creation are the same, and you experience God rather than follow Him.

It is irrelevant to know who God is but to know 'what' God is. He is a quality to experience, reflecting in our divine deeds out of divinity for the sake of divineness. Spiritual awareness, fearlessness, and selflessness are the qualities through which we experience God.

We create God out of our imagination, fear, and want. The actual church or temple is within; all you need to do is awaken your soul and impartially witness your ever desirous and selfish mind.

God and religion have become synonymous because each religion has its own set of beliefs that consider both to be personal, expressing superhuman powers. However, if we go deeper into the core of any religion and God, we discover that the ones who founded these religions realized their enlightenment purely through personal experiences. They learned the same oneness in the inclusiveness of all humanity. They recognized the nature of reality to be the same from their own wholehearted experiences. 

However, the interpretations differed when they expressed their encounters through word communication. It led to separate beliefs, which their followers condensed into faith, leading to organized religion. While the founders had personal realizations, their followers were limited to their blind intellectual following. Hence, instead of religion, religiousness in religiosity towards all existence is far more significant than any proper noun. God is more of a verb to experience than a noun.

 Many wars have been fought over religious differences in the name of God, and spiritual beliefs justify violence and persecution. When we view human personalities as gods, it is for their higher consciousness rather than their physical self. Let's consider, as told by science and spiritualism, that the Creator and the creation are one. The Supreme is that impersonal spirit or waves of aware, conscious energy. Though it is challenging to comprehend, this abstract formation is considered by many to be divine, signifying the highest attribute in the movement of supreme power.

We notice inevitable disillusionment in the youth today regarding religion and towards God. It is because there are too many unquestioning beliefs with unanswered questions. They wish to know why this almighty sitting above, our Creator, cannot do anything about today's misery and suffering. If he is Superman, he has disappointed us, doing a miserable job that has resulted in all the destruction, distress, and discomfort we see around us.

Contrary to the misconception about multiple gods in Hinduism, they worship one Supreme Reality through different names and figures. It becomes more accessible for the masses to relate to a symbol or figure rather than worship a metaphysical reality. They may worship a tree, mountain, river, or any other object that appeals to them since all forms of matter and consciousness are an extension of the same Absolute Reality. No physical or abstract existence is left out because all attributes are part of the supreme spirit.

So, when we enter the paradigm of metaphysical reality, we enter an abstract rather than a material presence. You become more of an aware, conscious spiritual energy independent of matter. Here, we explain the Universe not in the solidity of its forms but as a connection of those forms to its ultimate, infinite, formless reality. We may physically be a continuation of the animal realm. Still, we are more of a potential part of that spiritual kingdom, which is beyond everything, finally merging into the nothingness of that dark energy encompassing the Universe.

This phenomenon collaborates when there is clarity about the nature of the Ultimate. Despite so much diversity, we are all connected by the same ultimate reality. You must remember that the ultimate can only be one and not two, though we may express the same through multiple names and transient forms. Therefore, you can relate to the ultimate in any way you wish since all minds are unique; it entirely depends upon your belief, faith, and experience. 

In Hinduism, the comprehensive idea of God, given to this infinite, ultimate energy of the Universe, is the Absolute or Supreme Reality they refer to as "Shiva." Metaphysically, it is more of a principle in the form of spirit, considered the highest attribute in the form of aware energy of the Universe through which you acquire the ability to become conscious of all you perceive.

Therefore, the concept of God, which is more of a realized state of complete awareness in pure consciousness, is more evident in human personality than in an abstract supernatural state. We, in turn, are also a potentially minuscule part of the most articulate manifestation of this Supreme reality in the form of God on this earth – 'Thou art That.'

The principle of the Universe is fluid, where all forms originate and go back into the same. All these expound through language and words; hence, they differ in their interpretations. Religious experiences are one of the best sources to come close to understanding the nature of our reality. I repeat, if we look at and follow religion from its periphery, it will form a jargon of caste, culture, creeds, and dogmas mainly meant to create fear for us to follow its tenets. However, if you go deeper into the centre of any religion, the message will be the same - the realization of oneness purely as an experience. It is how what the founders of all faiths wished it to be. Therefore, the essence of the message of God is not found by unquestionably following any designated religion; it becomes evident when we practice and experience its virtues in religiousness with religiosity.

Excerpt from the book "God and Beyond" by Gian Kumar.

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Who am I? – In Search of The Self

Alter your perceptions and seek -Who Am I? It is the most crucial and the substratum of the subject of Spiritualism. A lot depends on whether you consider the divine a deity or a supreme cosmic ability of energy. Only after you accept this intuitive ability from which all that we know about God and the universe will your mind be able to comprehend the meaning behind the spiritual axiom of the creator and its creation being the same and not two as ascribed in the Vedas declaring the first great saying to be Prajnanam Brahma – Intelligence is Divine.  

Discovering who we are is a journey that contributes to the growth and spiritual development toward finding inner peace and fulfillment. It's essential to explore the connection between our personality and the more expansive universe to grasp the nature of our actual reality. After recognizing one's limitations, it is necessary to concentrate on areas that need improvement. The soul containing the cosmic spirit is your guide, based on which your mind rides.

Furthermore, when you say – my body, mind, or thoughts- indicate these are yours, you are not them like you consider material objects such as my phone or my house. Body and mind belong to you; they are your instruments to use and not to be used. You will never say I am mind or thoughts; they are yours. So, who owns everything your mind erroneously claims as 'me and mine'? If you rule out everything that you presume as 'you are' from the cognitive mind, what is left is the actual owner. Now, all you need to know after this is - Who Am I?

Over millennia, understanding the Self remains mysterious despite access to spiritual knowledge. It frequently intertwines with consciousness, ego, and our sense of "I." Because there are multiple interpretations and meanings associated with this concept in science, theology, philosophy, and different religions, it becomes a subject of opinion.

Through introspection and meditation, Eastern philosophies have delved into self-knowledge, offering insights that deserve consideration. The question "Who am I?" holds significance in Hindu and Buddhist perspectives. It emphasizes the importance of self-inquiry to self-realization, transcending the ego, unlike the view of other religions that often separates creation from its creator. 

Understanding the Self's essence and connection to the cosmos is fundamental to spiritual exploration. Modern scientific explorations, particularly in Quantum Physics, resonate with ancient Vedic wisdom. The Vedas express that all existence is fundamentally unified—eternal, infinite, transcending space and time—as inseparable energy. This concept aligns with the understanding that the creator and creation are not separate entities but interconnected in the universe's vast nothingness, where unchanging eternal waves of energy exist. Essentially, you are a collection of electron clouds entangled by the principle of non-locality in Quantum Mechanics controlling the universe.

This convergence between ancient philosophies and modern scientific perspectives emphasizes the unity and interconnectedness underlying existence, transcending dualistic views and highlighting the intrinsic nonduality of all that exists from which everything in the forms of matter and consciousness appears to disappear. What eternally survives is the ultimate truth- we are all nothing but energy, where the supreme ability is the spiritual awareness from which everything becomes known, representing the creator and creation.

To sum up, being is what self-realization entails, not becoming. It marks the end of seeking, acquiring, and possessing. The truth—the radiant Self—shines forth when the seeker dissolves. It's the complete dissolution of the ego. Ultimately, self-realization reveals that there's no one to realize the Self; the Self embodies truth, knowledge, and bliss and is that boundless nondual presence in the form of being-ness or awareness. 

Therefore, self-discovery is profoundly personal and ongoing; it requires us to transcend influences and dive into who we are. Approaching this journey with a receptive mindset enables individuals to experience personal progress and self-improvement.

Gian Kumar, Ph.D. – Spiritual Author

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Who am I?

It is said that by the year 2050, we will be able to download our mind into a machine, and artificial intelligence, in turn, will be able to compute all that the mind accomplishes. Then what is it that separates us from artificial intelligence displayed by machines? It is that spiritual energy that makes our mind aware and conscious of who we are to discover the ultimate nature of our reality. 

Go within yourself; observe and explore to understand and experience the nature of your true Self and realize whatever you seek. You will fathom that you are just a part of that eternal universal aware energy that appears from nothing and disappears into nothing. The whole Universe connects us in unity and continuity, which science in Quantum Physics refers to as energy.

So, WHO AM I? One question - three words, yet so challenging to answer. From time immemorial, every curious human being, ranging from academics and scientists to philosophers and psychologists, has pondered the question, 'Who am I? Am I the body and mind or something more?' Yet, we have no concrete answer or scientific evidence concerning what I see before me in the mirror. We all exist in this world without knowing the essential nature of our being. It may be easy to know 'what' you are from the crucial physical and mental characteristics one reveals, but observing that extract or the essence of 'who you are' is another topic.   

According to Indic philosophy, breath and food sustains the body and mind. As long as the body and brain remain, both persist. What you eat affects your body and mind, and what you accumulate through information nourishes your memory. However, I am sure my physical and mental characteristics do not constitute my whole Self. They may be a part of what I am since I often keep claiming that body and mind belong to me and are simply mine.

One thing is also sure - 'I Am' is present in every thought I think, analyze, experience, and realize. It travels with my thoughts into the past, present, and future. It is because of me that my thoughts originate. So, how can I presume that the same thoughts I can see, read, observe, experience, alter, and command are the totality of me? They can be a part of me since my mind and body belong to me, but can they be the whole of me?

The above indicates that I am something beyond my sensory thoughts, limited to my five senses. They chatter randomly and remain restless until I command them to be silent. I often notice a deep, subtle voice within, telling me about my thoughts, especially when they wander. Therefore, who is this actual 'I'? Is it my thoughts or the presence of some extract witnessing my thoughts? 

I agree that the mind may be the essence of who I am, and thoughts are the media through which they are expressed and determined. However, I will never allege that "I am body, nor mind," but will always assert and say 'my body or my mind.' Because both the body and mind belong to me, I am more than the mind, but again, the question arises: who am I? Science and Spiritualism have made vigorous attempts to answer this question, but somehow and somewhere, they differ in their opinions. When it comes to pointing out its actual abstraction, it becomes challenging because there is no standard agreement for its proper definition and explanation. 

The reason is that the mind habitually accepts what is physical, measurable, and observable. It becomes challenging to convince the mind of any abstract reality that we are also subsumed under by impersonal aware energy called spirit besides the body and mind. Moreover, since I subconsciously give in to what my mind incessantly demands, I remain enslaved and bound to my mind. I am exploited by my mind, which rules and navigates my life without my participation, despite being the captain of my body and psyche. This happens because the mind remains ignorant and unconscious about itself. The mind remains clueless about this until it acquires self-knowledge from the subject of Spiritualism, declaring you are a spiritual being going through human experiences. 

This spirit is vital to physical reality, which science cannot recognize. Although the words 'to be, being, and becoming' are parts of the same existence, they have subtle differences. To 'be' is that physical Self, the presence of that being-ness is that core spirit and the 'becoming' of something is the content in a totality of what you are, which reflects its presence from your consciousness. If awakened to this knowing, a seeker begins to understand that the Self, one learns from thoughts, emotions, and memories, fades with time; what remains is that the spirit can the soul, which creates an aura of uniqueness through your consciousness. 

The body and mind appear and disappear into the infinitude of the Universe. They may be temporarily authentic for the limited period they exist because what changes constantly cannot be taken as real. The ultimate reality is the spirit - non-changing, absolute, space-less, limitless, and timeless, the substratum of all, within which everything superimposes. Being is the force of energy of that individual spirit in awareness, and becoming is the field that radiates through consciousness spiritually. Material becoming relates more to ego-consciousness, a temporary mechanical expansion, while the spiritual dimension imparts a certain evolvement and transformation from the force of its eternal aware energy. For this reason, we are considered spiritual beings going through the human experience. 

This awareness makes the mind conscious of becoming something - what you are or have evolved in the form of your consciousness. Therefore, the memory from your subconscious enables you to remember the temporary physical identity of that 'thinking self' consumed with a name and gender. Alternatively, the intensity of aware energy spontaneously without the help of memory or the intellect helps you to consciously qualify in the form of intelligence to know later all you learn from the subatomic to the stars.

Though these three components of life - body, mind, and spirit - are inherent and intrinsic to each other, being a part of the same indivisible absolute energy, they differ in their forms – gross, subtle, and core while they exist. We seriously need to ponder here the relationship between the subject in the form of spirit - 'who I am,' with the object - body and mind. Just as the object cannot be isolated from its subject, we cannot separate the spirit from the body, mind, and individualized soul. 

In other words, the potential force of aware energy within any individual being is inherently creating its field of consciousness to become something through body and mind. From the subject arises that objective, being different forms of energy, maintaining an inseparable force/field relationship with each other, and yet remain in their distinctions. Hence, this being-ness or the abstract existent, which we call the spirit, is a part of the universal aware energy seated within our mind to kick-start its psychic operations. 

The mind is more of a central processing unit functioning within a network of neural pathways through neurons in an electromagnetic-chemical field, mainly comprising thoughts derived from various brain centres. These are waves of conscious kinetic energy vibrating in different frequencies. It characterizes the movements created by the potential force of aware energy, generating a field of consciousness for its master. Human beings are the only creatures who have this prerogative and also need to become mindful of the presence of their past awareness. 

The master of these thoughts is that observation, the witness or the presence, which enables the mind to become aware and conscious. Since most of us are not mindful of the presence of this master, none of us seem to know who we are. The real 'I Am' unconsciously escapes in most cases while we live in illusions, engulfed by chaos, misery, and suffering. It remains dormant or asleep as the master of your thoughts unless the mind is alert to self-observe, self-experience, and self-realize the same. Otherwise, the mind continues to function subconsciously in lower consciousness.

This state of aware energy determines 'who you are,' from which you can evaluate your mind, body, and the Universe. It triggers your aliveness, which is sustained by breath, expanded by food, evolved by the degree of consciousness, and transformed by elevating the standards of humanity in divinity for that divineness of who and what you are – "That Art Thou."

We observe every situation with awareness, becoming conscious of every moment, analyzing every factor with intellect, and discriminating between right and wrong through intelligence. I expand and evolve beyond the cognitive thoughts of 'me and mine' to become healthy, wealthy, and wise. I am composed of aware abstract energy subsumed in an individual body and mind; we give a name and identity. Since most of us do not bother to know our actual Self as the spirit, we continue to exist, accepting and obeying unconsciously from the sub-conscious section, whatever the mind dictates, while functioning in auto mode through its memory and intellect. We remain in a vicious cycle of pleasure and pain, presuming the body and mind to be that actual Self, which it is not. 

The presence of 'I Am' confirms and validates my thoughts but remains aloof from space, time, and worldly objects. However, the moment I attach a separate name and identity to my false 'thinking self,' I enter into a mistaken persona called -ego. This altered awareness or ego goes on a roller coaster ride, where the mind separates the oneness of the spirit, relating and experiencing dualities of good and evil, positive/negative, etc., in opposites. This unconscious thinking-self gets subconsciously attached to the body and mind, creating a temporary self-consciousness, which the mind presumes is the true Self, but it is not. Unconsciously, it merges with an illusionary world of dichotomies, restlessly floating back and forth between happiness and sadness, right and wrong. 

We should understand that this false 'I Am' is not coequal to the world but is only the source of our knowledge about this imaginary world. It is away from its actual reality, despite emerging from within the force of its altered field of consciousness, and unless checked, keeps revolving randomly in ego-consciousness.

The witnessing Self or the soul represents the highest dimension of the mind, which also prevails within the realms of the mind within a limited space and time. It is that indirect subtle determinant, controller, and commander of the mind. It is the hub of that wheel on which the four spokes of the mind move in a restricted space and time, perceiving through sensory organs within its limitations of cause and effect. The four spokes, as given by our scriptures, relate to intellect, memory, ego, and consciousness. These are stabilized by the hub, meaning the actual Self exists as the individual presence or being-ness we refer to as the soul with a certain degree of awareness. The hub of intuitive awareness is beyond the cognitive mind and remains still while the spokes of this wheel rigorously swirl and engage with the physical world. A spiritual aspirant, after awakening, becomes aware and conscious of this psychic wheel and synchronizes it as one unit. 

To know and understand the actual you, who is beyond perception and impersonal, you must first understand the nature of these four dimensions. Afterwards, you must observe and witness them separately, focusing on your thoughts, speech, and actions. Your authentic Self, the soul, will emerge as the primary source of manifestation through individual quality of awareness. 

This centripetal force acting as the individual witnessing Self can attract all three - body, mind, and soul - into one absolute unit. Initially, it witnesses through the cognitive mind. However, as the mind evolves and transforms, it is supposed to dissolve and merge in totality with awareness in pure consciousness. At this final stage, the seeker realizes they are no different from the sought; there is no seeking of the Self since all that exists is eventually confined to a single unitary universal energy, the spirit comprising multiple interchangeable abilities.

Therefore, you are a part of the supreme ability of energy in the form of universal awareness covered in sheaths of physical and psychic energies, superintending and supervising through aware, conscious energy how the body and mind should expand and evolve. The state of your mind determines the 'quality' of aware energy, and your consciousness is established by the 'quantity' of its awareness. How you expand and evolve through spiritual awareness determines the transformation of your true Self. In humans' case, growth is not only in its being but in expansion, evolvement, and transformation from its being-ness. It is in that becoming something out of nothing permits humans to first become aware and then conscious of their reality.

The thinking mind is for the material world, and the intuitive, instinctive for the spiritual; both arise and retire in the mind. When both do not function in conformity, they wobble randomly without the stability of the hub. This is why most of us exist in an illusionary state of self-deception. However, when all four spokes of your mind unite into one in totality, you experience the actual Self. 

The cosmic and cognitive minds are fundamentally aware and associated with this aware energy. The cosmic mind causes the Universe to function in precision, and the latter plays in dualities, relating to things in opposites to experience what we call life. They exercise their respective minds in their style and manner, where the creator and its creation are none other than the presence of this indivisible unitary aware energy expressing diverse abilities. It would not have been possible for the mind to discover any part of the Universe if it was not acquainted with such awareness. Hence, the highest faculty amongst all forms of energies is established to absolute awareness referred to by the sages as "Para Brahman."

When atoms and molecules move randomly within the macro Universe or in the micro mind, there is entropy in destruction. However, there is creation when they are governed and regulated by this aware energy. This is how the cosmic and human minds have evolved. The Universe as the macrocosm and the human mind as the microcosm comprise aware energy from which the concept and nature of reality through perception is conceived. Therefore, without knowing such subjective experiences and their realization, one should not conclusively claim that salvation is realized only when we transcend the mind. 

One cannot ignore the mind, the vital link between the cosmos and the Self, clearly revealing that the creator and the creation are one, not two. The Self can be realized only in awareness by the participation of all three - body, mind, and spirit - as one. The spirit is that 'Transcendent' residing within, which illuminates the mind to perceive, conceive, and conceptualize its potential Self, which we call God – "Tat Tvam Asi." 

Therefore, once you know and understand 'who you are,' you shall also know that there is no more spiritual knowing after that. You are a part of that God, a potentiality, the supreme energy, and the microcosm of that universal aware energy, which subsumes all that is to be known. It exists in this infinite, eternal space without beginning or end. Not knowing 'who you are' restricts the knower from knowing the known, which keeps you helter-skelter searching for God in temples and churches. The mind will always remain in flux from its uncertainty; it expands and evolves to become something we all inwardly aspire from our aware energy. 

Therefore, 'I Am' is a part of that Universal Aware Energy, which comes and goes but leaves something behind in the minds of others for them to remember you, that individual Self, when you are no longer there. 

We all have a role to play in life, and unless we comprehend the true nature of our existence, we will never be able to transcend all those psychic illusions to realize the truth that life wishes us to know. What I leave behind - good, bad, or ugly - please keep in mind is the essence of that flowering, the becoming of something out of that exclusive being-ness. It allows me to endorse my unique signature, my individuality, while I am alive. I, while representing as a composite individual self, should make all effort to ponder deeply on this becoming, nurturing, and flowering to leave behind for others a particular fragrance, an eternal remembrance for now and forever.Excerpts taken from the book 'Spiritual Power - God And Beyond' – by Gian Kumar

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What is Spiritual Power?

Spiritual power encompasses the inner reservoir of strength, wisdom, and resilience that individuals tap into through their spiritual beliefs and practices. This power derives from a profound connection to something greater than oneself, whether it be a higher power, the universe, nature, or a transcendent realm. It offers a deep sense of purpose, meaning, and connection beyond the material world, serving as a wellspring of inspiration and guidance.

On the journey to unlock spiritual power, one seeks to attain inner peace, uncover the underlying truths of love, truth, reality, and divinity, and ultimately discover one's identity beyond the physical and mental aspects of self. The ego defines power as the ability to shape circumstances to one's advantage, exert influence over others, or even dominate them to achieve personal objectives. In contrast, spiritual power refers to the inherent intelligence that permeates all aspects of existence, from the smallest particles to the vast cosmos, responsible for cultivating and harmonizing all manifestations of life. 

Each of us possesses an infinite potential for spiritual power, waiting to be harnessed to manifest our visions and desires. This cosmic energy acts as a balancing force against our desires and emotions, providing the spiritual perspective we all need. We must remember that we are spiritual beings undergoing human experiences, and this spiritual force resides within our souls. Awakening this force empowers us to approach life holistically, with selflessness, mindfulness, and clarity, enabling us to confront any situation with strength and consistency.

Spiritual power operates beyond our cognitive limitations, manifesting as intuitive insights and eureka moments. This divine energy helps us solve seemingly incomprehensible problems with instant transparency, supporting the notion of "That art Thou." As long as we look outward for support, our power remains elusive, but turning inward allows us to realize our spiritual selves. Spiritual empowerment enhances mental clarity and leads to a profound understanding of reality.

The spirit, as described in the philosophy of Spiritualism, connects the non-dual cosmic energy of the universe with our dualistic, dual-operating minds, balancing material and spiritual perspectives. The spirit awakens the soul and settles in the mind, which science often considers the unconscious part of the mind. This awakening enables the mind to actively review, analyze, and make choices in the face of dualities like good and evil, positive and negative, and happiness and sadness.

Spiritual consciousness takes us further, guiding our ever-desiring minds from selfishness to selflessness through divine deeds. This transition leads to contentment, clarity, and constancy, allowing us to live a fulfilling and holistic life. While the human mind tends toward pessimism, greed, jealousy, egocentrism, arrogance, and manipulation, spiritual power equips us with the mental strength to be fearless, selfless, humble, and positive. It also gives us spontaneous intelligence, enabling us to craft our unique meaning and purpose. 

Despite advancements in science and many other fields, our planet's well-being remains at risk due to humanity's excessive inclination toward materialistic selfishness. Striking a proper balance between life's material and spiritual aspects is crucial for our collective harmony and the planet's health.

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What Are Thoughts? – 2

Knowing that you can observe, witness, and become aware of your thoughts conveys that you are beyond thoughts. They exist within the extent of your awareness, appearing as and when you feel connected with the world around you. Since you are apart from thoughts, you are that observer and watcher of your thoughts. 

Thoughts occur in three different stages; first, when you observe your mind at any moment, your thoughts are choice-less and instinctively spontaneous. Second, after the mind becomes aware, it becomes conscious; thoughts emerge in relativity with opposites to determine any sensation or idea. The third stage occurs when you become aware of your past awareness or consciousness, subtly guiding your subconscious mind through memory about its thought processes. 

We should remember that every form of energy requires a potential force to express its kinetic field. Awareness is the supreme energy force behind our thoughts, and consciousness is its kinetic field. Awareness provides that ability to perceive, manifesting in the mind before thoughts. It can be in a state of spontaneity, witnessing the inner self, or focusing on outer sensations through sensory perceptions. It synthesizes the information through a complex network of neural pathways passing information via neurons, making the mind conscious of operating through its cognitive abilities for its likes and dislikes.

It means that senses perceive, but aware energy configures the information our senses gather. Aware energy is present in all perceptions, inner and outer, but the intensity of this energy makes us different from one another. The mind determines its course of action purely from the intensity of its awareness. After that, if the mind is attentive, it is responsible for making the mind conscious of its perceptions. Since science is ignorant about the origin of thoughts, the philosophical exposition imparted in this article is from Spiritualism

Spiritualism is the subject, whereas spirituality aims to process the inner spirit (aware energy) through various methods to initiate self-awareness for acquiring higher consciousness so that we transcend and evolve inwardly and outwardly to become spiritual. Improving your inner awareness has been well formulated in Yoga, which incorporates methods of coordinating all three - mind, body, and soul as one composite unit.

Conscious or not, the mind is the most phenomenal instrument in which thoughts flow like a river. On either bank of this river, you have duality in opposites; in the center is awareness, your presence, managing the flow of water so that it does not overflow. Once out from their source, thoughts scatter, one thought being freshly replaced by another, constantly changing, randomly repeating, overlapping, and stimulating, becoming the fundamental cause of your mind's restlessness unless checked by the individual intensity of aware energy. It flows in auto-mode from its subconscious level without requiring direct consciousness. The mind without self-awareness is limited to its physically wanting self; it remains in subconscious awareness, attaching primarily to outer identification from its likes and dislikes.

Due to the impermanent nature, thoughts never remain constant. They keep dancing between emotions and desires emanating from memory for the future. They exist more in an apparent state, creating illusions rather than authentically revealing their existential moment. It happens because thoughts tend to react out of emotions compulsively rather than respond to any moment proactively. 

Immediate reality exists as it is now, limited to space and time. It can be a conscious perceptual reality, which differs from one moment to another, or an observable fact that is the same to all. Also, through consciousness, we create. Further, our reality emerges from the thoughts we entertain, focus on, and choose what we wish to believe. Then we also have the ultimate reality, as Vedic philosophy declares - all that exists in this Universe is one unitary non-dual unchanging reality in unity and continuity called Brahman (spirit) or absolute energy. Similarly, the ultimate God, truth, and love are in the absoluteness in everything, but despite being the same, they vary in every individual depending on their awareness level. 

The ego is an imaginary state of mind comprising nothing but 'I-thoughts' that bestow a definition of ownership on the individual. This ego is the core of the mind's cognitive thoughts, rigid and conditioned by memory, creating a false identity that appears to be stable but is not. It attaches to all that it holds dear. The subject of Spiritualism awakens you to understand the actual innate, fundamental, and essential nature of your reality. A spiritual person recognizes this apparent ego simply by becoming alert, aware, attentive, and conscious, constantly observing one's mind. It does not need to be analyzed through thoughts; it merely knows and becomes conscious.  

Knowingness and alert watching through observation become the essence rather than 'thinking-ness.' Pure conscious awareness through knowing is primal to thoughts but vanishes the moment desire and the memory of 'I Am' come to the fore, resulting in various impressions of 'me and mine.' When thoughts arise, they only revolve around 'I, me, and mine.' Absolute pure energy separates into extremes of dual opposites, not realizing that all that exists is formless waves of energy, and the synthesis of any form of energy occurs when any thesis unites with its antithesis.

The mind in material existence is not self-aware; it mechanically functions in auto mode and is hence termed subconscious. Due to living in the duality of opposites, physical existence submerges into sub or lower conscious relativity; in reality, all is but a 'Lila' (play) of that Absolute oneness to experience life. The mind remains ignorant of all egoistic thoughts and their respective actions unless you experience self-awareness. Neither this nor that of any dual factor, whether it is day or night, happiness or sadness, positive or negative, has any spiritual significance; these are all parts of the same absolute energy, which remains constant and indivisible, only separated by the mind into its two extremes.

Therefore, the mind primarily comprises thoughts in duality emerging out of that indivisible non-dual energy in absolute awareness. When thoughts flow, the mind gets activated. When the mind goes to sleep, thoughts recede, as does your consciousness, but awareness always remains awake. That is why if we sleep over a problem, there is a high chance we will have a solution the next day simply because awareness is forever awake. While asleep, the mind quietly returns to its realm of total awareness. The moment you get up, the mind is instantly aware of both the inner and the outer: the material and the spiritual, the personal thinking self, and the impersonal presence of individual aware energy overseeing both selves. 

You do not need to think to become aware. Our authentic nature is always present in that aware-conscious state of knowing. It originates spontaneously in choice-less thoughts before they are separated into duality by the memory and the intellect. The dual-operating cognitive mind subconsciously chooses either this or that from emotional desires.

Meditation is the reverse of thoughts; it sustains in a still mind. Conversely, thoughts depend upon memory support and require time before transferring and receiving data to and from the intellect. Therefore, thoughts revolve around past information about any subject, projecting them for the betterment of our future to achieve desirous goals. Meditative awareness in the stillness of the mind is dynamic; it compels the mind to focus on the present moment. The energy it consumes converges directly into the present rather than leaking into the past or future. In this manner, the mind can focus its energy on the now. 

In a meditative state, the mind becomes a prayer with intention, observation, and spontaneity. Thought, by nature, is meant more for the sake of experiencing material existence to identify, choose, and attach. It makes the mind analyze, select, and discriminate in self-interest. Therefore, in material life, desirous thoughts are the essence of your physical existence, and they are responsible for making the mind egoistic, restless, and forever demanding more and more for your selfish needs. When you balance the material and the spiritual, you shall relish success and peace of mind.

Three commonly followed meditation processes assist you in stabilizing the randomness of the subconscious thoughts. The first is Transcendental Meditation, which is more for therapy and relaxation. The second involves chanting with concentration to focus your mind and enhance your awareness of any subject. It arrests the monkey's mind and slows chattering. The third is meditative awareness, where your mind is focused and alert, observing an object with watchfulness from one moment to the next. In this case, the mind's 'thinking-ness' is replaced with a knowingness in spontaneous awareness. 

The third method is mindfulness or thoughtfulness. It insists upon being existential from one moment to the next. Focusing your mind on the present moment reduces unwanted chattering, permitting you to concentrate and contemplate whatever you wish to achieve. Your thoughts of the past and future decline, and the mind focuses on the present.

Why do we require stillness of mind in spirituality? Stillness or mindfulness in no way means stopping the mind from thinking; it merely aims at reducing the unnecessary chattering that the mind is accustomed to. If the mind is awake, we are aware of choice-less thinking in the present moment. This is because there is usually an overload of unnecessary selfish thoughts wishing to choose this or that, and with the result, hop, skip, and jump from the past, forget the present, and directly go into the future. 

Therefore, the moment you move your attention from the present, the mind goes from the absolute to a dual mode in relativity. It gets compromised, thoughts go on a roller-coaster ride of this, and that begins to chatter, multitasking on what it likes and dislikes. It randomly jumps from the past into the future; the mind's productivity decreases depending more on the outer world, with borrowed knowledge from here and there unquestioningly believing this and that, reducing self-creativity. 

As mentioned, energy tends to go into randomness or entropy if not controlled. This sort of disorder created by uncontrolled thoughts is the reason for all the conflicts, chaos, contempt, and comparisons leading to anxiety and despair that we see all around.

Therefore, in most cases, the brain, when physically awake, refuses to be silent. It keeps chattering in subconscious thoughts flashing between sensations and past awareness. Such meaningless thoughts that invade the mind deplete mental energy. They usually occur when your mind is unaware in lower consciousness, creating disorder and discomfort. Instead of using the mind as an instrument, the mind uses you. You lose control, disconnect from the nature of your true self, and bend towards negativity. Such thoughts erode the presence of the mind in random behavior, and it is in such wasteful moments that you need to take control of your thoughts and become conscious of who and what you spiritually are.

Spirituality aspires to balance the material with the spiritual, making the mind accept both poles with grace under enhanced awareness. It understands that the opposites are separate parts of unitary absolute energy. The experiences of worldly and spiritual aspects are both equally essential for fulfillment and completeness in life. 

If selfless love for all as one is a spiritual attribute, desire becomes the most dynamic feature associated with material life. The mind is nothing but desire in thoughts; if there is desire, the energy of self-interest will not let the mind be silent. Hence, thoughts are vital for material existence; for a spiritual mind, they are excess baggage – both have a definite meaning in life. However, meditative awareness under alert observation to enrich inner consciousness towards selflessness is how to be spiritual, which is desperately lacking to alter the mind from its constant desires towards selfless love.

Excerpts taken from the book – 'God and Beyond' by Gian Kumar.

Discover more insights on thoughts, awareness, and consciousness at www.giankumar.com

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What Are Thoughts?  – 1

Scientifically, when packets of light energy called photons stimulate the retina of the eyes, a chain of events takes place. Billions of neurons carrying electric signals pass on information from one to another, which the mind later represents through thoughts. When the mind responds to any stimulus, such as images from our optic nerve or sounds from our auditory nerves, it establishes a perception we experience as thought. It is unknown from where all the information originates and how the mind experiences it. It is deeply philosophical, has all the answers, and is not related to any coding from computer science, which you are about to read and decide for yourself.

There is no general agreement or fixed opinion on what a thought is or how it is created. Thought is a mental process that allows us to comprehend the world according to our emotional desires. They emerge after any information arises spontaneously from a straightforward, absolute source of aware energy, forming ideas, images, opinions, and beliefs. Originating from an ocean of awareness in and around our environment, thoughts arise like bubbles, independent of each other. 

Philosophically, when the mind is alert, you become aware; if you are attentive, you become conscious. If you are not, the mind goes into auto-mode and subconsciously passes on information via thoughts. Many articles and books expound on thoughts, yet the mystery makes it even more enjoyable. This is especially true in our case because of the supremacy of thoughts in the world of materialism and their subservience in the realm of spirituality.

A thought may be independent, bizarre, exclusive, or inclusive of external influence. Thought is energy expressed by language, a mental activity formed in words, images, notions, and feelings of past and future. It represents, interprets, and subconsciously navigates your body and mind into separatism or the oneness you belong to. In short, thoughts represent and expand your observable, existential, and experiential relationships with the inner and outer worlds through your uniqueness in consciousness. 

How you uniquely think via consciousness determines the quality of your mind. The sensory organs perceive and transfer the information to the brain, ideas develop, and you feel, and only after that do you begin to think to infer, deriving information from past knowledge projecting into the future. When combined with action, thoughts create that material realm for your thinking identity, which spans from probability to actuality, interpreting physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual experiences. 

From your thoughts, you perceive, conceive, and conceptualize consciousness, soul, God, or, for that matter, the personal world and the Universe. The mind first creates all conceptual thoughts before becoming beliefs and faith in one's reality. The culmination of your overall thoughts constructs an identity of its own, which we call an ego. It provides a sense of physical identity and a thinking mind comprising subconsciousness. 

The exciting part is that the mind needs to feel first before it can start to think; only after feeling can the mind react from memory and intellect to begin its thinking. Feeling here indicates being aware, conscious, or having a sensation. Secondly, you are not the thinker because the thinking self is a process of the mind, which has been provided with a name and is conscious only when awake. However, even during sleep, the other parts of you exist; thinking stops, but the hair keeps growing, the heart continues to beat, breathing continues, and so forth. It is that actual self of who you are, the spirit, which can check and guide your body and mind and is beyond all physicality, whereas thoughts pertain only to past/future knowledge.

A thought is one finite form of energy, limited to time, space, and cause, allowing us to experience, express, relate to, and establish all objects Mother Nature provides. However, there is also a 'sovereign' energy by which you can observe your thoughts. You will never say 'I am thoughts' - the observer 'I' always differs from your thoughts. Therefore, humans have this unique ability to observe and become aware of our thoughts. Since the duration of observation is before any thinking, observation occurs spontaneously with thoughtless thoughts. So, we are a composite unit of body, mind, and soul superimposed on a broad substratum of spiritual being-ness. 

Thinking depends entirely on the past and future, and the process involves relative thinking in opposites of this and that to determine anything. Only after you relate heat to cold can you decide on its actual feel. This means that while thinking, it is necessary to separate the absoluteness of any energy into two to determine its outcome. Life is the totality of your sum experiences living in duality, which exhibits the individual nature of 'what' you are through your relative thoughts. 

I reiterate that while observing through the presence of your aware energy, you are in a state of thoughtless thoughts, absolute, spontaneous, choiceless, and non-separated by any relative thinking. Spiritualism considers this initial stage, the presence of this observing state of your mind, to be at par with the absolute supreme ability of energy of 'who you are – That Art Thou,' referring to that state as the individual soul or 'The Witnessing Self.' This aware energy is before thoughts and beyond cognition. The rest is all a web of cause and effect, bound by time and space. Existence, in turn, is a play of life with its series of experiences, represented by thoughts, which we consider as consciousness comprising of the superconscious via the soul and conscious, subconscious thoughts via the mind.

At any moment, while the observation process is taking shape, the observer observing what is observed is one. Thoughts of awareness arising during this moment, if any, are pure, choice-less, and without any discrimination, revealing the union between the subject and its object in absolute observation. During this moment, there is no separation of energy by the mind into its duality; it is simply the primordial aware energy (subject) observing through the mind the inner or outer (object), all three connected as one. Intuitiveness, instinctiveness, and intelligence in personal creativity are the best examples of the mind's perfect and flawless assimilation. 

Therefore, during the observation process, only this being-ness is present in a state of observing. There is no presence of any individual being there, only waves of aware energy, which we can refer to as the Universal Self. There is no thinking; the mind is instantaneously in the present moment and still. 

This awareness extends and, if the mind is attentive or focused, makes the mind conscious to think in clarity, experience, choose, and infer. The process of life during this stage, from 'being' to 'becoming,' is initiated, where the mind separates this absolute energy into dual opposites to think, discriminate, and decide via the intellect to become what you are through an individual level of consciousness. 

The mind initiates its functioning based on what it feels and believes. Using thoughts, you choose between two dual factors, expand on this through the intellect, understand through intelligence, and act to experience what you desire. Even though thoughts are based upon past knowledge, your desires are embedded in the future, which is a manifestation of thoughts. Desire is the fuel for the mind. Being is to exist, and becoming is to desire. 

Thoughts imprison your spirit in memory unless you come out of it spontaneously, alert, and aware of thoughtless or choice-less thoughts by sheer observation of your environment. Come out of that cage, savor a higher state of consciousness, and the quality of your life will improve. You need not prove to others who you are - you will effortlessly evolve. This will reveal how alert, observant, aware, conscious, and awake you are. Let us go further and understand how this can be made possible. 

Thoughts are an automatic consequence of transmission from different sections of our mind. They react either emotionally by subconscious desires purely in self-interest or influenced by the degree of consciousness experientially. In the subconscious state, thoughts depend on memory, past knowledge, and the time taken for their experience in the mind functioning in auto-mode. These subconscious thoughts cannot stop independently unless the mind becomes conscious. Hence, they chatter recklessly, randomly, and repeatedly, projecting into the future based on past information. Fear is a shining example; it is only a movement of thought expressed in words, which relate to past experiences, making you anxious about the future.

However, spiritually, you can stay ahead of thoughts by watching and witnessing your mind. Witnessing or observing your thinking self is the ultimate way to enhance your consciousness. I repeat, the observer (the individual) at any given moment of observation (witness-er) observing (through the mind) any sensation, idea, or image (object) remains one. You spontaneously experience that object rather than analyzing and judging through personal thoughts of the past or future. 

In this case, action from your mind is occurring in the now through the presence of sheer awareness in any present moment. Your mind becomes dynamic and still, undistracted by thoughts, and is not wasting any time or energy brooding on the past or future.  It becomes mindful of that existential now, moving from one moment to the next, irrespective of the passage of time. This spontaneous activity by the mind is more spiritual and less material. 

Material thoughts, on the other hand, arise and revolve around an aura of physical identity. They reinforce the 'I-thought' of 'me and mine' and succeed by inducing a deep separation between you and your environment. Whether you consider yourself spiritual or worldly, if you are submerged with your name and identity, you will remain an egoistic self, immersed in selfishness, living with separated selfhood from all others. A pseudo-independent identity of a 'thinking-self' will emerge and exist. In contrast, in the actual nature of our reality, we are all one, part of a complete whole in unity and continuity in absoluteness.

I repeat thoughts that move subconsciously are in lower consciousness. They emerge more out of reasoning and intellect, which are more effective for the material world. Emotions, reasoning, and logic have their respective thoughts emerging from past knowledge, which are extracted from the memory subconsciously. Therefore, the mind does not require intuitiveness or conscious awareness for most of its functioning. It is happy being in auto-mode, carrying on its job while extracting its information from the subconscious section of the mind.

This stage of lower conscious thinking carries on, and you continue to exist in relativities of happiness and sadness, positive and negative, good or bad, etc., within your 'me and mine' according to your convenience. This continues until you become aware of and conscious of that present moment and respond proactively in nonduality.

Energy simply responds in oneness, whether it is positive or negative. How the mind pro-acts or reacts to any stimuli depends on the presence of your state of awareness. Either you permit your life to be dictated by your circumstances, emotions, and unquestioning beliefs in a compulsive reactive approach, or respond proactively, fully conscious of every moment, beyond likes and dislikes, with the presence of that inner awareness of who (spirit) you are. This absolute state of the mind is beyond all polarities in duality. 

Existence is simply in its being; it is not concerned with your psychological or cognitive mind forever trying to convince you into this or that from your likes and dislikes. You must consciously explore and create your destiny by responding to every situation, alert and observant, with complete awareness from one moment to the next.

One of the fundamental characteristics of any form of energy is to flow in entropy, as is the case with thoughts. However, humans have been gifted with this power of awareness to counter and check this reckless randomness to become aware and conscious of their thoughts, which they can operate and regulate. Our high levels of the aware, conscious mind make us human. Unlike a computer or other living creatures, a human is more aware and conscious of the outside and the inner self. Therefore, the critical factor to keep in mind is the degree of mindful awareness, which is solely responsible for the movement of our combined thoughts in the past, present, and future; these need to align for the overall welfare of our being. 

Most of your thinking operates in auto-mode, subconsciously. For this reason, there is so much inner chaos and confusion in our random thought processes. Neuroscientists declare that over 98% of thoughts function from the subconscious section. The soul is that instrument that oversees your subconscious thoughts into a proper design via awareness, provided you have the will to do so, and that too by constantly witnessing your mind, which we refer to as awakening of the soul.

Therefore, conscious or subconscious, all thoughts cannot be simply taken as electrochemical neural interactions within the brain. There is also the presence of a certain intensity of aware energy that determines, through free will, the course of its direction. Since the state of consciousness differs in every individual, no one can measure the quantum of this output. Therefore, despite what the scientists say, we should not provide a common denominator or percentage of the conscious and subconscious operations within any individual mind.

Excerpts taken from the book – 'God and Beyond' by Gian Kumar

Discover more writings on thoughts, awareness, and consciousness at www.giankumar.com

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Unveiling the Essence of the Spirit in Spirituality

In our relentless pursuit of progress in the material realm, the mysteries of life often remain unexplored. Please note this academic article is more for earnest spiritual seekers and will require multiple readings to grasp the sum and substance. We usually use terms like Spiritualism, Spiritual, Spirit, Spirituality, and Soul as if they mean the same, yet their distinct and independent meaning and understanding still eludes many. It's crucial to understand that the essence of spiritual-ness lies not in adherence to religious rituals, self-help, unquestioning beliefs, or cultural norms. It is more about pursuing spiritual knowledge for its comprehension and experience to know who and what you are within your body and mind and how to engage your soul, celebrate life, and balance material life with spiritual awareness. 

Spiritualism is the study of the spirit connected to our life, but the question arises: what is the spirit, and how does it differ from consciousness? Further, the purpose of Spiritualism is to elaborate on the presence of the oneness of the spirit in unity and continuity in all living creatures. In contrast, the purpose of religion is more to separate one community from another, trying to prove that our god is superior to the other.

The term spirit holds various interpretations, ranging from the immaterial aspect of our existence to notions of ghosts, fairies, demons, and souls. However, at its core, the spiritual spirit embodies the absolute cosmic aware energy manifested within the superconscious section of the mind. It is responsible for uniquely making every living first aware and then conscious of all that we perceive and conceive while living in life. As a result, absolute, non-dual, spontaneous, and intuitive spiritual intelligence triggers the dualistic human mind to be aware and mindful of discovering and exploring everything we know, from the microcosm to the universe's macrocosm. 

Settled in what we call the soul, the spirit is the supreme ability of energy performing as the witness, embedded in the soul enacting as the witness-er to observe any individual mind and thoughts while introspecting, checking, and guiding, resulting in making the mind aware and conscious to facilitate its quality of life.

The study of the intricacies of the human spirit is the subject of Spiritualism, and the effort applied to engaging this subject with the methods of mantra, meditation, mindfulness, experiencing selfless service, etc., is the domain of Spirituality. Transcending the mind from the state of lower or subconsciousness into a realm of being meditatively aware and conscious from moment to moment without any space and time constraints toward higher consciousness is considered spiritual. 

Consciousness, on the other hand, is being aware of oneself and one's surroundings, a flow of individual psychic energy, making every mind unique and alive, emerging from the vast ocean of the universal spirit of awareness. The human mind flows into three sections by its degree of intensity. The first section flows in subconsciousness functioning in duality, attaching to desirous thoughts in the lower or subconscious state. Secondly, we have a higher state of the conscious side, again attaching to the mind in duality to be mindful of this or that when the mind is focused and centered. Thirdly, the pure conscious nondual state spontaneously operates and is at par with total awareness. It is that superconscious state of mind, which we call the soul. 

Please remember, your mind becomes conscious of this or that in relative opposites only after it becomes aware. Therefore, beyond the veil of individual mortality, the infinite expanse of the unified ultimate nondual immortal cosmic spirit of awareness finally endures.

In the realm of Spirituality, the impersonal spirit, enclosed in the soul functioning as the ''Witnessing Self,'' in pure consciousness contrasts with the subconscious section of the mind entrenched in duality as the ego-consciousness. Amidst the tumultuous cycle of happiness and sadness, the spirit, playing the role of the witness, acts as a beacon, checks and guides the mind amidst its random chattering recklessly into this or that, while thoughts repetitively and selfishly flow here and there in entropy.

Remember, you are not a physical entity in a body or mind but the spirit of awareness as the witness in spiritual being-ness, navigating human experiences. Our body and mind are what we are as instruments for that Witness of who we are, merely to observe but not intervene. To access that truth, we must introspect and interiorize our true self, the spiritual awareness. We are that choiceless awareness because we bear witness to everything. The Universe unfolds after we observe from our body and mind to become aware. We are the subject, as a witness, and the nature of the witness is awareness. 

The spirit within bestows awareness, triggering the mind, if alert, to become aware and, if attentive, to be conscious of what it observes and perceives, culminating in an individual level of consciousness defining your uniqueness. Awakening to this reality unveils the depth of our existence beyond the confines of body and brain, developing spiritual awareness for your mind to balance the excessive emotional desires, which predominantly entraps your soul in an illusionary world of ego-consciousness. 

The Spirit, the eternal absolute nondual aware energy known in Indic scriptures as ''Para Brahman,'' fosters the universe's transient manifestations. The supreme ability of energy, the substratum on which all other temporal forms of energy superimpose, appears to disappear back into its fold. From its dormant state of dark energy waves, it awakens upon manifestation, embracing the dualities of our lives with awareness and purpose. This dance of energy, from creation preservation to its destruction in entropy to recreate again, is well described as the Dance of Shiva and Shakti, followed similarly by the Laws of Thermodynamics in Physics.

All concepts of deity, soul, reincarnation, and creation stem from the innate desire or fear for something beyond. Yet, at its core, awareness embodies the witnessing spirit comprising nothing because it is unaware of itself. Everything, governed by cause and effect, emerges from this void, ultimately returning to its source in ''Shunyata,'' zero or, in other words - nothingness.

I reiterate the soul is that superconscious section of the mind where the Spirit resides. Every mind must awaken the soul from the mundane life of living materially and intellectually, believing this and that out of borrowed knowledge in subconscious beliefs prone to constant change. It is subconsciously submerged excessively in selfishness, striving to fulfill the never-ending emotional desires of the ego mind. Consequently, realizing spiritual enlightenment remains elusive while bound by space and time constraints unless one becomes aware of the true self beyond the body and mind after comprehending who you are as the spirit transcending the illusionary play of psychological lifestyle. 

In self-realization, the illusion of ''you'' in body and mind dissipates, leaving only the eternal universal aware energy—the true essence of the spirit. You realize the futility of ego while amassing this and that, going beyond the dual living of happiness and sadness, recognizing the significance of clarity, contentment, and constancy of living a fulfilled life in its wholesomeness with peacefulness.  If you seriously wish to imbibe the true meaning of self-knowledge, embark on such a journey of self-discovery with self-awareness, delving into the depths of Spirituality to unveil the essence of the spirit within. Embrace the realization that beyond the temporary trappings of the material world lies the eternal truth of our existence—the Spirit -Namaste.

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