To make the mind balanced, the Truth must be brought into focus. The Truth is brought into focus when images are removed from the mind.

What is the Truth, and what are ‘images?’ The Truth is that which cannot be imagined. Images of the truth can never be the Truth. Images are ideas formed from impressions. Impressions are formed from actions performed with an interested motive. In other words, impressions (Samskaras) are formed in the mind when actions are done with ego. Ego is the idea ‘I am the doer.’ When this idea, which is also an image, is eliminated, all other images are also dissolved.

The idea that ‘I am the doer’ can never be dissolved by simply ceasing to act. Ceasing to act is the equivalent of succumbing to (surrendering to) ego. Ego can only be overcome by acting (living, working) without the idea of ego. This is the essence of Karma Yoga, and Karma Yoga is just another name for Raja Yoga, which is just another name for YOGA. Some people misconstrue Yoga as consisting of different ‘types,’ but in fact the different types of Yoga are really just different aspects of Yoga.

Yoga is the union of the mind with the divine. The ‘divine’ is that which is beyond the mind. The mind is united with the divine only when it is balanced, and it is balanced only when it is free of images. The mind is finally free of images only when ego is expelled from the mind, and ego is expelled only through the performance of action without ego.

The performance of action without ego is a process. The progression of the purification of the mind is facilitated by the practice of Yoga. The practice of Yoga means the consistent and persistent effort to balance the mind through the removal of mental states which are contrary to one’s higher nature. One’s higher nature is the Truth that one is Pure Consciousness, undistorted, immutable, indestructible and unimaginable. The Truth is one’s Essence. When the mind is purified, the Truth is ‘reflected’ in that mind and one is Enlightened.

The Enlightened One is the Self that has completely purified the mind. Enlightenment is the aim of the Game of Life. The Game of Life can only be won by becoming completely egoless, which can only be accomplished by living and working without expressing ego. Merely repressing ego will not result in egolessness. Transcendence is necessary, and transcendence means to live and work and go beyond (transcend) ego. Eventually, this work causes the complete disintegration of ego—that is, the ego ceases to be integrated with the mind (the mind/ego connection is broken). Ego still exists in the Enlightened One; it is just no longer present in the mind. When ego is no longer present in the mind, one has complete presence of mind—the mind fully reflects the light of Consciousness.

This is called the realization of Truth, which means the actualization (manifestation) of one’s real nature (Higher Nature, Soul) through the purification of the mind.

Do you want to save yourself from unnecessary pain and suffering? Then you need to do your own ‘homework.’ No one can erase your mistakes for you, no one can make you free, no one can give you salvation, and no one can take you to heaven on their shoulders. That is all a hallucination born out of ignorance of your Real Nature.

You decided on your own to play this Game, to live this Life. You knew what you were getting into before you started. Even though you have long since forgotten why you came and where you are going—even this forgetfulness is part of the drama. You will remember when the mind is clarified. You will get to where you are going when you get your self out of the way.

So, images are created by ego (the ‘power of identification’). This identifying-power is manifested when the Energy of Consciousness is channeled through the Principle of Knowledge (Mahattatwa), which is manifested from the union of Spirit (Purush, Energy of Consciousness, Atman-Soul projecting its own inherent soul-force or PRANA) with Matter (Prakriti, which in essence is simply pure nothingness).

In reality (Ultimate Reality), our images are nothing, our ego is nothing, everything is nothing. Beyond all this is THAT which is Real. When this is THAT, we are Real. Until then, we remain caught up in unreality. When what was and what will be is dissolved into now, Eternity is experienced in the moment, which is now and forever.

OM

The Self sees but does not superimpose. The Self is beyond thought but is not thoughtless. The Self is the same in everyone, but everyone is not the same Self. Every Self is unique, but the Self is not an ‘individual.’ Individuality is born out of ego, whereas the Self is unborn, ever-changeless yet ever-new (dynamic).

You, I, and everyone is the Self, but the Self is not what we think the Self to be. The Self cannot be thought in the mind. When the mind is absolutely clear, the Self is clearly reflected there, and this reflection is the experience of absolute Freedom (Moksha).

Beyond the experience of the Self as reflected in the purified mind, is the Supreme Self. The Self knows the Self (Supreme Self) by the Self alone (without the medium of the mind). This is THAT which is beyond this and that. This is SATCHITANDAND: indivisible Existence (Being), Consciousness (Awareness), Bliss (Supreme Ecstasy).

Being self-centered means the mind is preoccupied with ego, the small self. The small self, ego, is the identification of consciousness with the body and mind, and by extension, with other people, places, and things associated with the body and mind.

The identification of consciousness with the mind (and through the mind, with the body) occurs naturally. For example, when we are born we naturally begin to identify with our body and mind due to our association with them. However, it is unnatural to remain limited by our ego—in other words, it is unnatural to accept being bound by our ego (our identification with the mind, body and their various relationships and interrelationships). On the contrary, it is our true nature to be free and imageless, and if we are bound and caught up in our images it is our nature to break free.

Breaking free means breaking our images (including, especially, our self-image). When our images are broken our ego collapses—it cannot stand without the crutches of images. Hence, we need to remove our images and the only way to remove them is through the acquisition and application of Wisdom.

When the mind is energized with the light of Consciousness we become ‘light hearted’—we don’t take ourselves so seriously and don’t feel overburdened with anxiety, annoyance, and frustration.

True peace of mind can only be realized by getting out of our ego. As long as we remain in our ego we remain in bondage.

“The range of human experience is limited only by one’s imagination.”

This statement is true—but not in the way it is generally understood. So, I will reword it here: ‘Your ability to experience your Essence is limited by your images.’ If you spend your time living in your imagination, you are not experiencing reality. The reality I am referring to is the Ultimate Reality—your Essence.

People who are busy imagining things never experience what this life is really all about. Instead, they wile away their time in their images of unreality—in fact, many people live in virtual unreality (oftentimes mistakenly referred to as ‘virtual reality’).

If you think perception is reality, you are mistaken; you are living in misperception. Reality is perceived through the mechanism of the clarified mind, and the mind can only be clarified (purified) with the Wisdom of Consciousness.

Reality always remains reality irrespective of its perception by (through) the mind. The perception of Ultimate Reality is the ultimate aim of life. The perception of reality is a mental phenomenon manifested as a result of the refinement of the mind. The mind becomes more and more fine as ego is removed from it. Since ego is an element of Ignorance, it follows that ego can only be eliminated by way of the removal of Ignorance.

The elimination of ego simply means its removal from the mind. When this happens, the Universal Self is manifested in one’s life, and this manifestation is called Enlightenment. Enlightenment is the process of the removal of ego and ignorance.

As long as we are in our ego, we are lying to our Self. When ego is dropped, the mind is elevated, and this is called ‘raising consciousness.’

In order to practice negativity one has to ignore ones real nature. The nature of Consciousness is to shine. The nature of awareness is to be aware. The nature of ignorance is to ignore.

Practicing negativity means practicing ignorance–it means to ignore our real nature. When the tendency to be negative arises in the mind it must be counteracted with inspiration. Inspiration is practiced. Eventually it becomes as natural as breathing.

This doesn’t mean we will always breathe easy. Sometimes due to illness, injury or pollution breathing is a challenge. Likewise, sometimes due to traumatic experiences, past memories, and unhealthy environments the mind can become clouded with negative emotions and thoughts. These dark clouds can be dispelled with the energy of Consciousness and transformed into refreshing insights.

Every challenge is a chance to bring out the best in ourselves. Our best is the Wisdom of Consciousness projected through our good thoughts and good deeds.

When we remove the idea of separateness (EGO) created by Avidya (Ignorance), the emptiness vanishes and we experience the fullness of Consciousness. This Absolute Fulfillment is all-satisfying and there is no false feeling of loneliness, insecurity, doubt, or other hallucination remaining in the mind. Even if such false feelings arise in the mind, the conscious Self is not disturbed or moved by them. Such a human being who is firmly grounded in the Wisdom of Consciousness becomes a source of inspiration to others, and helps them create balance in their lives.

Our work in this life is to create a ‘Masterpiece.’ We are the artists of Life, and our own life is our masterpiece. We become the artists of life by mastering our own mind. When we remove our ignorance, doubt, selfishness, and egotistic habits and intentions, our mind becomes concentrated with the power of goodwill. This goodwill eradicates our ill-will, which in turn leads to our own well-being and promotes the well-being of all.

We need to shape our mind into a likeness of our True Self (Atman, Pure Consciousness). This is work, but it is not drudgery. On the contrary, it is an artistic work. The work of mental, physical, spiritual development involves the concentration (focus) and dedication (devotion) of all our energy (thought power, physical power, and spiritual power) in the expression of our Real Self.

All we need to do is to be our Self. To be our Self means to make our mind into a likeness of the Self. When the mind is filled with ego and ignorance, it presents a distorted picture of our self and the mind becomes confused. To remove the confusion the mind must be purified with the Wisdom of Consciousness. When the mind is purified with the Wisdom of Consciousness we can just be ourselves. But if we are unjust to ourselves by listening to our ego and remaining in ignorance, we cannot just be ourselves. Instead, we will be miserable.

We are miserable when we are misers and horde our good energies. On the other hand, when we utilize our energies in raising consciousness (by removing ego and ignorance), we recharge ourselves and encourage others. Eventually, our mind becomes an instrument of Light (the Wisdom of Consciousness), and when that happens we are completely fulfilled.