Author, Philosopher, Spiritual Teacher, A Lead Facilitator at Sacred Media's Integral Mastery Academy, Founder of Yinnergy Meditation/Neurofeedback, Bodhi Mental Care & Wellness, Co-founder of KeMor Centre for Innovative Development
Most understand Turiya as the silent witness beyond waking, dreaming, and deep sleep. It is often considered the empty observer, untouched by the movements of mind, body, and experience. This perspective, though true, is not the full picture. The notion of an “empty witness” can still carry a subtle duality—a sense of something separate, detached, and standing apart from what it observes. Yet, Turiya is not merely a state one enters or a refuge from illusion; it is the foundation of all states and, ultimately, the realization that there was never an “other” to witness.
The empty witness is not just within the individual who reaches the fourth state of consciousness. That would suggest an inside and an outside, a seer and a seen. Turiya dissolves that illusion. It is not simply the background of experience but the existence of experience itself, witnessing its unfolding as everything.
To say that Turiya is merely an untouched observer is to misunderstand its nature. This assumption can lead to a false dichotomy, where one believes that ultimate truth lies in detachment alone. However, this view neglects the profound insight that the so-called witness is not separate from the world it observes. There is no distance between observer and observed, no boundary where witnessing begins or ends. It is all Turiya.
This recognition dismantles the very scaffolding of selfhood. The one who thought they were the observer disappears into the realization that the witnessing presence is not housed within them—it is existence itself, seeing, knowing, and being all things simultaneously.
What changes when this is seen? The sense of a separate self dissolves, revealing that awareness is not confined to a particular point of view. The wind moving through the trees, the laughter of a child, the pulse of the universe—all of it is the same knowing, the same presence. There is no need to “enter” Turiya because nothing has ever been outside of it.
This is not an experience to be gained, not a state to be reached. It is what has always been. The seeker who longed to discover it was never apart from it. The effort to grasp it was the very movement of Turiya exploring itself. There is only this, endlessly revealing itself to itself, never absent, never other than what is.
Morgan O. Smith
Yinnergy Meditation/Neurofeedback, Spiritual Life Coaching & My Book, Bodhi in the Brain…Available Now!
The essence of all existence is an unfathomable neutrality, a foundation so vast that it transcends any concept of preference or partiality. This is not neutrality as we often think of it—detached or indifferent. Instead, it is a boundless openness, a ground of all being that sustains every polarity without attachment, holding every experience with equal clarity and freedom.
This ground embraces love and hate, joy and sorrow, light and dark, as expressions of the same indivisible essence. Nothing is held above or below, no experience or thought has a special claim. Everything arises and dissolves within this vast, unbiased awareness, like reflections gliding across the surface of a mirror, leaving no trace. Here, neutrality is not passive; it’s a profoundly active openness that allows life to unfold freely, a space so complete that all opposites find balance within it.
This neutral foundation of existence does not negate meaning; it infuses it. It is a profound wholeness, a sacred void where everything originates and to which everything eventually returns. It stands as the unseen field that holds all form and formlessness, thoughts and emotions, without claiming any of it. In this state, neutrality serves as the ultimate witness, sustaining everything without grasping onto any one thing. It’s a presence beyond judgment and division, embodying a completeness so vast that every duality dissolves into simplicity.
This neutrality is not about avoiding experiences or escaping emotions. It invites us to embrace every part of our humanity from a place of non-attachment. By resting in this foundation, we move beyond the pull of opposites and experience life from a pure, undivided presence. This is a call to find peace in the silent core of our being, where all distinctions fade and what remains is simple, limitless awareness—a ground that supports everything yet belongs to no one.
This ground of all is as transparent awareness, a presence that allows each moment to appear and dissolve like a shadow passing across a reflective surface. Here, neutrality doesn’t signify passive indifference but a clear and open awareness that supports all while holding nothing. This awareness flows through life itself, revealing each experience without the constructs of “good” or “bad,” allowing us to rest in the fullness of each moment.
True neutrality becomes the fertile emptiness from which all forms arise. It stands as a foundation where every possibility finds birth, an ocean that welcomes all waves without preference. It invites us to move beyond the struggle of opposites and see existence as the unfolding of infinite potential, unbounded and free.
This neutrality is a silent equilibrium, a quiet intelligence that witnesses every movement without push or pull. Love, hate, pleasure, and pain are like ripples on a still pond, gliding across its depth without disturbing its essence. This neutrality sees each moment as whole, complete, just as it is, and allows us to embrace life with the same clarity.
This is neutrality as a sacred void, a ground where all things find origin and return. Love and hate are no longer seen as opposites but as movements within one unified field. This ground invites us to move beyond human concepts and to touch the truth that knows itself as all things and no thing, where neutrality is not an absence but a fullness that contains all, untouched and unclaimed.
This foundation of existence offers a radical inclusion without possession, like sunlight illuminating both beauty and decay with equal openness. It holds everything as expressions of the same essence, welcoming every experience without attachment. In this space, there is no need to hold onto or push away; everything is allowed its place within a boundless, unified presence.
Ultimately, this neutrality dissolves the concept of self as a separate entity, revealing that what we think of as “self” is simply a part of the vast awareness that holds all distinctions. It is not bound to any position or side; it reflects everything, belonging to nothing.
Neutrality with a capital “N” exists beyond the need for definition or division. Presence alone becomes the essence, untouched by any impulse to define or claim. This neutrality invites us to a silence beyond words, a silence so complete it holds every polarity within itself, requiring no opposition or resolution.
In embracing this ground of all being, we find a whole love, a neutrality that does not reject or cling to any side. This is neutrality as the very fabric of existence—not a love that prefers but a love that sees no separation. It is an invitation to experience life from a place of pure awareness, free from dualities, beyond distinctions and labels, resting in the simple, infinite presence of being.
Morgan O. Smith
Yinnergy Meditation, Spiritual Life Coaching & My Book, Bodhi in the Brain…Available Now!
In the realm of spiritual exploration, the concepts of Nirguna Brahman and Saguna Brahman offer profound insights into the nature of existence and the essence of reality. At the heart of this journey is understanding absolute monism and its manifestations through various dimensions of being.
Absolute Monism: The Unchanging Reality
Absolute Monism posits that there is a singular, omnipresent source from which everything emanates. This source, often called Nirguna Brahman, lacks qualities or attributes. It transcends all forms and distinctions beyond the dualities of hot and cold, good and evil, or masculine and feminine. This state has no concept of time, space, or location. It is the purest form of potentiality, embodying existence and nonexistence, and serves as the ground of all being.
Nirguna Brahman: The Formless Absolute
Nirguna Brahman is the ultimate reality without form or qualities. It represents the infinite potentiality that precedes all manifestations. In this state, distinctions such as up or down, north, west, east, south, inside or outside, and time or space dissolve into a singular, undifferentiated whole. This formless absolute is the source from which all probable and improbable possibilities arise.
Saguna Brahman: The Manifestation of Qualities
From the infinite potentiality of Nirguna Brahman emerges Saguna Brahman, the aspect of the divine with qualities. This is where evolution, shape, and form come into play. It encompasses all persons, places, and things, embodying the diverse polarities that characterize the physical and metaphysical realms. Through Saguna Brahman, the infinite takes on finite forms, giving rise to the rich diversity of existence.
The Path to Advaita: Non-Dual Awareness
The journey from Nirguna to Saguna Brahman is a transition from the formless to the form. However, the ultimate realization in this journey is Advaita, the recognition of non-duality. Advaita reveals the underlying oneness of all existence, where distinctions between self and other, subject and object, dissolve. It is an awareness that transcends the dualities of Saguna Brahman, bringing one back to the infinite potentiality of Nirguna Brahman.
Exploring Other Realms and Frequencies
In the context of Advaita, other realms and frequencies are understood as different expressions of the same underlying reality. Matter and consciousness are seen as different frequencies of the same essence. This holistic perspective invites us to explore the interconnectedness of all things, recognizing the unity within the diversity.
Para Brahman: Beyond the Beyond
Beyond both Nirguna and Saguna Brahman lies Para Brahman, the supreme reality that encompasses and transcends all. It is the ultimate source of all that is and does not exist beyond all concepts and categories. Para Brahman is the final frontier of spiritual exploration, inviting us to surrender to the mystery of the absolute.
Morgan O. Smith
Yinnergy Meditation, Spiritual Life Coaching & My Book, Bodhi in the Brain…Available Now!
Exploring Turiyatita and Absolute Monism in Advaita Vedanta
In the spiritual landscape of Advaita Vedanta, the concept of nonduality transcends the mere absence of distinctions—it ushers us into the realm of Absolute Monism, or Turiyatita—the state of “the one without a second.” This profound philosophical framework challenges our everyday perceptions, urging us to look beyond the apparent separateness of the world.
Nonduality in this context does not imply a simplistic erasure of distinctions, but a deeper recognition that all forms and phenomena arise from the same underlying reality. This reality is not one of many, but a singular existence that pervades all, without an other or a second to stand beside it.
The journey to understanding Turiyatita involves peeling back the layers of illusion that fabricate duality within our experiences. Common perceptions of separation between self and other, observer and observed, are seen as just that—perceptions. These are not absolute truths but conditioned responses to the world. The realization of Turiyatita invites a shift from these conditioned views towards a holistic awareness, where dualities merge into a singular, expansive consciousness.
This path to enlightenment challenges the seeker to transcend the intellectual and embrace a lived experience of oneness. It is not about negating diversity but understanding the underlying unity that makes diversity possible. By recognizing the unity underlying all diversity, one does not lose the uniqueness of individual expressions; rather, one gains an appreciation of how these expressions emerge from the same source.
The implications of this understanding are vast and transformative. Embracing Turiyatita can lead to profound peace, as conflicts often stem from perceptions of separation. When one sees all beings and things as extensions of the same infinite reality, compassion and empathy flow naturally.
Advaita Vedanta’s discourse on nonduality and Turiyatita thus offers not just a philosophical stance, but a practical guide to living more harmoniously within the apparent complexities of the world. It beckons us to experience life from a place where the oneness of existence becomes not only a concept but a living reality.
Morgan O. Smith
Yinnergy Meditation, Spiritual Life Coaching & My Book, Bodhi in the Brain…Available Now!
Nonduality transcends mere philosophy. At its core, it embodies the direct encounter with the ultimate reality, which paradoxically, isn’t an experience in the conventional sense. The philosophy that arises around nonduality is intriguing, as it invites one to engage with a deeper form of wisdom. Yet, it’s crucial to acknowledge that this philosophical engagement is inherently prone to misinterpretation.
Consider the nature of thought itself. The very act of thinking about nonduality alters its essence. The subtle beauty and profound truth of nonduality are such that they evade the grasp of mental conception. To speak of nonduality is to risk distorting its pure form, as words are a tool of duality, crafted to delineate and differentiate.
Acting on nonduality further complicates its expression. Every action taken in the name of understanding or demonstrating nonduality carries the imprint of individual interpretation, thus never fully encapsulating its truest form. This is why nonduality cannot be pinned down as a mere philosophy or concept. It is beyond the intellectual and the tangible; it is the space where all dualistic perceptions dissolve.
However, this does not diminish the value of discussing and exploring nonduality. Each exploration, each dialogue, though imperfect, is a step toward the vast, uncharted expanse of understanding. It is in these explorations that we create space for insights to arise, even within the confines of our conceptual frameworks.
Ultimately, the pursuit of nonduality isn’t about attaining something or reaching a conclusion. It’s about the continual process of unlearning the layers of dualistic conditioning that obscure our true nature. It’s about resting in the spaciousness where true wisdom resides, beyond the reach of conventional thought and speech.
This journey invites you to experience the world afresh, beyond the confines of the dualistic mind. It beckons you to live in the wonder of the immediate and the real, where the essence of nonduality resides—not as a concept to be grasped, but as a reality to be lived.
Morgan O. Smith
Yinnergy Meditation, Spiritual Life Coaching & My Book, Bodhi in the Brain…Available Now!
Exploring the Indivisible Reality from Multiple Perspectives
The quest to understand Brahman is a journey into the heart of existence itself, a pursuit that has intrigued philosophers, sages, and seekers for millennia. In the vast expanse of Hindu philosophy, Brahman is the ultimate reality, the fabric of all that exists and beyond. It is both immanent and transcendent, the core of our being and the cosmos. This exploration of Brahman from various perspectives—gross, subtle, causal, and nondual—invites us to expand our minds beyond the limits of ordinary perception. **From the Gross Perspective: Brahman as the World**
When we look at Brahman from the gross perspective, we see the universe in all its material splendour. Here, Brahman is not an abstract concept but the physical universe that we interact with through our senses. It is the mountains, rivers, stars, and galaxies; the dance of creation and destruction visible to the naked eye. This manifestation is known as Saguna Brahman, the form with qualities, where the Divine is seen with attributes and forms, engaged in the act of creation. **From the Subtle Perspective: Brahman as Consciousness**
Venture deeper, and we encounter the subtle perspective. Here, Brahman is the essence of consciousness that animates life. This is not the consciousness that fluctuates with our thoughts and feelings, but the pure awareness that observes, untouched and unchanging. This subtle Brahman also referred to as Nirguna Brahman, is without qualities, where God is not limited by any attributes. It is the silent witness to the play of the universe, the inner light that illuminates our experiences.
**From the Causal Perspective: Brahman as the Source**
Moving into the causal perspective, we touch on the very source of existence. Brahman here is the unseen cause behind everything—the seed from which the tree of the universe grows. This aspect of Brahman is deeply mysterious, for it is the origin of time, space, and causality itself. It is Avidya, ignorance, not in the sense of lack of knowledge, but as the primal forgetfulness that makes us perceive duality in the nondual. **From the Nondual Perspective: Brahman as the One without a Second**
Finally, from the nondual perspective, Brahman is realized as the one without a second—Advaita. It is not a deity, not an entity, not even a ‘thing’ that can be comprehended by the intellect. It is the underlying oneness that pervades all dualities, where the seeker and the sought merge. In this view, the individual self (Atman) and the universal self (Brahman) are the same. All distinctions between creator and creation dissolve, revealing that there is nothing but Brahman—pure existence, consciousness, and bliss (Sat-Chit-Ananda).
This journey through the perspectives of Brahman reflects the layered depths of our existence. From the tangible reality of our day-to-day lives to the deepest spiritual realization, Brahman remains the unchanging truth. Each perspective is a step closer to the ultimate truth, leading us from the outward expressions of divinity to the profound inner revelation that we are, in essence, the infinite Brahman.
To understand Brahman is to expand our awareness across the spectrum of existence. The gross perspective roots us in our environment, the subtle unfolds the inner cosmos, the causal leads us to the primal source, and the nondual reveals our true infinite nature. In contemplating these perspectives, we may find that the journey to understand Brahman is not a journey outward but a profound voyage within, to the very core of who we are.
Morgan O. Smith
Yinnergy Meditation & My Book, Bodhi in the Brain…Available Now!
Morgan O. Smith 