Reality vs. Apparent Experiences
Our perception of reality is shaped by an array of sensory experiences and thoughts, yet most of what we perceive is merely apparent, not real. This realization lies at the heart of understanding the difference between what is ultimate and enduring—consciousness—and what is transitory.
- Mind: Unique to each person, influenced by conditioning and experiences. It functions as a tool for interaction and understanding yet is bound to individual identity. Apparent.
- Body: Varies for each being, limited by form, time, and space, it serves as a vessel but doesn’t define the essence of one’s existence. Apparent.
- Feelings: Emotionally charged and fleeting, feelings are subjective responses to experiences. Apparent.
- Thoughts: Ever-changing mental impressions and constructs that arise and dissipate within the mind. Apparent.
The constant in this dynamic play of perception and experience is consciousness—awareness itself, which remains unchanging, true, and real.
Apparent vs. Real
Apparent experiences are those that we sense, think, or feel—each conditioned by the body, mind, or environment. This includes colors, tastes, thoughts, feelings, and even the mind itself. All these objects exist in relation to other objects; they are transient and mutable, and none are the essence of pure consciousness.
Real experiences, by contrast, stem from the infinite and unchanging nature of consciousness. This real essence is the foundation upon which the apparent exists but does not depend on any finite object for its existence.
Characteristics of Ultimate Reality
The ultimate reality transcends time, space, and material conditions. It is:
- Indivisible and Immutable: Unlike the body, mind, and experiences that change over time, ultimate reality is unfragmented and cannot change.
- Non-Objectifiable: It cannot be observed as an object; consciousness observes but cannot be observed.
- Independent and Eternal: It is unaffected by time or change, eternally existing beyond physical or mental characteristics.
- Unaffected by Gunas (Qualities): Pure consciousness is beyond the qualities (tamas, rajas, sattva) that characterize other objects.
- Blissful and Infinite: The real consciousness is a state of bliss not dependent on fleeting pleasure or sorrow.
In essence, the ultimate reality is untouched by any form of duality or limitation, remaining ever-present, ever-aware, and purely itself.
The Relationship Between Finite Objects and Infinite Reality
Finite objects—like the mind, body, thoughts, and feelings—exist within the realm of consciousness, much like waves exist on the surface of the ocean. While these waves are visible, dynamic, and constantly shifting, they are inseparable from the ocean. Similarly, all objects are inherently linked to the unchanging consciousness but do not define it.
The mind and other finite objects depend on this infinite awareness to exist and function. Without consciousness, thoughts would have no space to arise, and the body would have no vitality to sustain life. Consciousness is the foundation upon which all finite experience occurs, the light that makes perception and thought possible.
Consciousness and the Perception of Reality
How does consciousness perceive these objects if it is real and independent of the transient experiences we call apparent? The mind serves as an intermediary. Though incapable of truly grasping reality, the mind interprets experience and creates layers of perception. Consciousness, in its purest form, remains untouched and uninfluenced by these interpretations.
True awareness transcends the mind’s limitations, yet within human experience, consciousness appears to observe the dance of thoughts, sensations, and actions. This perception occurs without attachment, without judgment, and without dependence on any particular outcome or finite form.
The Ultimate Path to Truth
To recognize ultimate reality is to see through the apparent nature of mind and experience and touch the eternal, unchanging nature of awareness. It is through this understanding that one can transcend the apparent, embracing the truth of oneness and interconnectedness of all things.
The journey to realize this ultimate truth requires shedding attachments to temporary experiences and embracing a state of pure awareness. In this realization, one can exist in harmony, grounded in the infinite reality that silently observes, nourishes, and unifies all that is.
In summary, the apparent is merely a shadow of the real. The body, mind, and sensations are transient tools of interaction, whereas consciousness is the infinite source that witnesses them. To live with this awareness is to be rooted in the ultimate truth, beyond the fleeting appearances, connected to the eternal and unchanging essence that is pure awareness.
