There is only one Mind

In Vedanta, it is usually explained that there are individual minds or many minds. The analogy most commonly used is that of one sun reflecting on the ocean causes the appearance of many suns. While this analogy is useful for beginners, it is still a premature way of viewing the nature of the mind. 

 

If there is only one consciousness, how can there be many minds? We only mention ‘individual minds’ to account for all individual perspectives since we cannot deny each perspective within the domain of maya. And so this term ‘individual minds’ is what most teachers will use to explain Vedanta, either intentionally to suit their audience or simply because they are not realized and are stuck using traditional concepts, unaware of the deeper meaning behind them.

 

The brutal truth is that are no separate individual minds. Separation is an illusion. When viveka or the power of spiritual discrimination begins to pierce through the illusion during samadhi, it is intuitively known that the mind is just one and is shared across all. This doesn’t mean that there is one mind with many individual minds inside it. It means there is only one mind and one perspective.…and also a superposition of all other infinite perspectives happening simultaneously. In other words, consciousness knows all perspectives at once; since only the present moment exists. 

 

What I’m experiencing in my own awareness is the same awareness that is experiencing something different from someone else’s own perspective. This means awareness is experiencing both versions at the same time, yet each version is mutually independent as they do not interact with each other.  From your perspective, this version is all there is, and everything that appears to be separate from itself is non-existent. Though, this truth also applies to all other perspectives as well.

 

Note: When we say awareness is experiencing something, it doesn’t imply that awareness is actually “experiencing” something.  Rather, it is witnessing something which then causes the illusion of experiencing since it now erroneously identifies with a body and mind that experiences.

 

In summary, all infinite perspectives are in a superposition (non-locally). There are no individual minds locally scattered across time and space (since there is no time and space). This means what you’re conscious of in this exact moment is all that exists right now, while everything else you’re unconscious of (such as objects behind you) and all other perspectives is non-existent, i.e. it’s not really there. In fact, nothing is in front of you either (even when you’re conscious of it) since everything is just an appearance happening within singular awareness.

 

Considering only our view exists in the grand scheme of things, this doesn’t mean we should deny anyone else’s experience. Because this truth also holds from their perspective as well! But as far as we’re concerned, we should do whatever it takes to liberate ourselves from this dream since we only experience one perspective.  And from our own perspective, this perspective is all that exists. Once we are liberated, the mind disappears and so all illusions such as time, space and ‘all other infinite perspectives’, ceases with it simultaneously.

 

Explaining the nature of the mind this way will help you give less credit to the illusions of time and space and will inevitably expand and deepen your awareness if you keep this knowledge firm in your back pocket as you continue experiencing life, knowing that everything is just a happening within singular awareness.

 

When awareness deepens, you may negate the experiencer and realize that you are actually non-involved and detached awareness. Here, you will intuitively know that this awareness is all there is, i.e. there is only one. This turiya is the exact same presence that underlies all other perspectives. But again, since there is no space and time, don’t think of turiya as presence scattered across time and space pervading all bodies. It is just singular awareness that witnesses only one perspective as far as it’s concerned, though it is actually witnessing infinite perspectives all at once.  Given each are non-interactive, it can only hold a formal existence. 

 

If there is only one turiya (as stated explicitly in the scriptures), then how is it that it only underlies a singular appearance (i.e. only being conscious of your own perspective) when turiya is held either intermittently or permanently via jnani samadhi? Why not know every single perspective it underlies, if this turiya is also underlying all other perspectives as well? This is hidden proof that there exists only one mind and that all perspectives are in a superposition while being independent from each-other, yet exists within the same awareness.

 

Multiplicity, therefore, lies only in the illusion of there being many different perspectives in this one singular mind.

 

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