Deeply ingrained in my own spiritual journeys, the concept that cosmic consciousness temporarily assumes form beneath the spell of maya —essentially getting entangled with our physical bodies — has taken years to truly accept, and only after studying the revered teachings of Ramana Maharshi with tenacity did the insights begin to integrate.

Understanding the vast difference between the temporary physical vessel and Spirit is liberating, and the Sri Maharishi's own eloquence beautifully illustrates this dichotomy. Ramana posits our experience of self-awareness arises from five inter-layered sheaths: the physical, vital energy (prana), mind, intellect, and pure consciousness. Each layer fuels our sense of individuality and suffering in perpetuity.

Our sense of self is thus reduced to yet another mayik projection—an ego prone to misinterpreting God’s Grace. In Advaita teachings, these seed-like subconscious inclinations (vasanas) govern our preferences, fear reactions and attachment patterns. However, non-dualistically-speaking, what’s eternal cannot be born nor die for us – we’re eternally free as unbounded consciousness prior to any ‘stirring’ in particular body or form. This key epiphany reveals the egoic mind, per False Self’s luring desires for fleeting pleasures, separation delusions, endless ‘I vs theirs’ contests.

Upon this profound base our daily spiritual practice lies: facing head-on our identity conundrum and undoing the false belief the body-mind can be who we really are while we're here on planet Earth. In essence, birth in human skin serves as an opportunity to explore ultimate Truth by recognizing and then transcending Self in three interdependent stages: dependence, inter-dependence and gradual self-reliance.

Some mystic truths initially appeal to a certain, deeper 'yesness', but subtle psychological mine fields inevitably emerge. How the universe ultimately responds to a teacher's calls can range from miraculous to painful—chilling reminders the Unfathomable may operate on a vastly distinct script than mine. Projections—fathers and mother or parental influences transferred onto wise guides onto 'father-mother' figures—yield to self-consciousness' defenses: controlling desires, craving for instant fixes of spiritual salvation, anger at perceived inadequacies or dishonesty.

My spiritual psyche was especially plagued by patterns fed by early familial experiences—searing hurts from caregivers that are in reality un-resolvable childhood grief due to un-expressable sadness and then, a need never-to-be-a-manufacturer-of-pleasure-but-receiver-of-nurture. It sounds abstract—and initially, it was — but later proved absolutely necessary for embracing life as purely mysterious adventure rather than as a personal obligation to fulfill predetermined promises, especially familial ones whose sole purpose is control via punishment-reward mechanisms no healthy human truly yearns for.

From childhood onward to adulthood: in my family, we all learned to over-control to deny imperfection. Not coincidentally, that same self-constructed reality led me to reject any hints of impermanence or even change—lest I admit pain or lose the safe illusion which said: I can predetermine how I should always feel. To dislodge those ancient false beliefs was tantamount to being born again, over-and-over—for me, a dark nook-and-crook spiritual initiation into realizing and transcending separation from the ultimate Whole.

So far so good–now I’m the big bad universe’s constant concern; prior to this—there was a limited, personally filtered view while unknowingly, dutifully carrying others spiritual containers, or trying to fit people’s views of who & what I 'should' be inside-out-into my soul. I know this now, but once I was lost forever in that blind unending cycle where everyone’s expectations echoed my own guilt-driven desperation, to finally drop all such identification feels sublime relief – untethering from a tiny, never permanently satiated false-self vessel that was pretending to hold too much water.

The sweet spots involve when awareness reveals the hidden layers within ourselves blocking love and light flow into and out of us; areas in the psyche our teachers know instinctively how to unveil. In these most sublime times, fear itself shimmers brighter than ever before—before collapsing altogether in ego's relentless defence against Reality, finally giving way to pure knowing—enlightenment-dawning, whether I call it that or Satchitananda's highest potential self.

At each of mankind’s many stages of societal evolution, enlightenment isn’t even considered normal yet (it provokes death), it just isn't. Hence to integrate spiritual growth, emotional maturity & psychological health. I'm still digesting Shri Nisargadatta's thoughts around 'stirring, form arising', of pure consciousness within the microcosmos (and its universal truth) However I am getting glimpses. that we as Self before arising into any experience what all exists or has happened or happens next is not subject to us or our consciousness nor was it 'programmed' into us via evolution–God knew what were pre-recorded experiences. Which must mean some things only possible as we move further beyond self-identification with personality etc.

I question from time to time: How long have I grappled with same mind & ego ‘distractions & addictions' or stuck traumas? My whole life so far may need breaking free of the very self and ‘spiritual journey' ego creates around our deeper realizations for peace to pour in; The less I know-Self- as unchanging Consciousness–the less Peace will ever reach within because in my ignorance I am-ness is the chaos—there is no "they" controlling fate beyond 'ours'. I used to be that person who’d read texts just like this online one thinking: Oh sure... absolutely I understand that we are pure consciousness or however they put it...And in next breath thinking about what movie I will go see while simultaneously fearing my roommate liked my new jacket better than my own. Like, what? How can anyone miss that - Self- is only a witness state?

My teachers always said that you start truly feeling one has found the most vital parts to self before anything less trivial grabs attention in physical planes –including relationships. That is true. I already carry a pocket universe’s memory and eternal promise wrapped within essence Self—invisible to false-self ego or any personality formation, while yet deeply residing as the very cause-researching essence we are, pure consciousness itself fully-attired as the Witness-State for the human ego-constriction in all its complexity.

For spiritual pupils on this uncharted road it surely wouldn't mean that much until witnessing directly those who have successfully left the gravitational pull of the ego's needs and wants due to a) a gradual understanding b) persistent inquiry like de-busk (unburden) of unnecessary identity baggage c) a gentle yet thorough teaching's loving transmission between teacher and student hearts finally, d) direct inner revelation—some call it inner-awakening.

And trust me once glimpse actual, an authentic spiritual powerful awakening —and witness the ease to then perhaps, maybe be available to and for others—then spiritual journey gets done, it’s game over - well untilthe page is turned and there appears the next chapter !

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