Tag: nonduality

Who and What Is Wearing the Ego

You Can Fully Know the Ego, or You Can Fully Know Who and What Is Wearing the Ego

The ego is a master of disguise, shaping itself to fit the roles, masks, and identities that define one’s place in the world. It is the voice narrating our experiences, the architect of our self-concept, and the filter through which we perceive reality. Yet, there comes a moment in every profound spiritual inquiry when the ego’s narrative starts to unravel, and a deeper question arises: Who is wearing the ego?

To fully know the ego is to observe its patterns, trace its motivations, and untangle its many threads. It is a deep and necessary work—this excavation of the self—but it often stops short of true liberation. Why? Because while one might understand the mechanisms of the ego, its fears, desires, and attachments, this understanding still operates within the ego’s domain. It is akin to studying a dream while remaining unaware that one is the dreamer.

The greater mystery lies beyond the ego’s web, in the silent witness observing it all. This witness is not a product of thought, nor is it bound by the limitations of identity. It is pure awareness, the unchanging presence in which the ego arises, performs, and dissolves.

To fully know who or what is wearing the ego requires a radical shift in perspective. It is not about fixing or eradicating the ego but seeing through its illusion altogether. The ego is neither enemy nor ally; it is merely a tool, a temporary garment worn by the ineffable essence of who you truly are.

This inquiry demands a willingness to surrender everything you believe about yourself, even the most cherished notions of spirituality and growth. It calls for courage to rest in the unknown, where no concepts or roles can anchor you. From this space, the ego’s dance loses its grip. The masks fall away, not because they were stripped, but because they were never truly real.

What remains is indescribable—a boundless, formless essence that cannot be confined to the limitations of egoic perception. To recognize this is to shift from being caught in the drama of the ego to embracing the freedom of the witness. This is the difference between living as the role and awakening as the wearer of all roles.

Ultimately, the choice is yours. You can spend a lifetime studying the ego, mapping its terrain, and understanding its dynamics. Or, you can turn inward, past the shadows and reflections, and discover the luminous presence wearing the ego—a presence that has been free all along.

Morgan O. Smith

Yinnergy Meditation, Spiritual Life Coaching & My Book, Bodhi in the Brain…Available Now!

https://linktr.ee/morganosmith

The Great I AM

The Great I AM Cannot Be Uttered by the Chattering Tongue

The essence of “I AM” defies articulation. Language, though beautiful, often becomes a noisy river of concepts, attempting to capture something that simply cannot be grasped. The chattering tongue thrives on duality, building walls between subject and object, speaker and listener, self and other. Yet, the Great I AM stands outside this dualistic framework, unbounded, whole, and utterly silent.

“I AM” is not a statement. It is the root of being itself, preceding thought, identity, and all constructs of the mind. To utter it is to already veil its truth. Words can point to the presence of the I AM, but they are shadows trying to explain the light. The moment you speak, it slips through the cracks of description, retreating into the stillness from which it arises.

Why, then, does the tongue chatter? It chatters because it fears the void—the stillness where the mind dissolves, and the self is no more. The ego’s survival depends on noise, distraction, and the endless creation of stories. In silence, it falters, confronted by the stark and undeniable simplicity of being.

To encounter the Great I AM is not to think about it but to dissolve into it. It is to rest in the awareness that observes the thoughts, the feelings, the words, and even the idea of “I.” This awareness has no form, no beginning or end. It is neither here nor there, neither this nor that. It is simply what is—timeless, spaceless, and unchanging.

When the tongue is still, the mind quiets, and the veil of separation thins. There, in that profound stillness, lies the Great I AM. It cannot be possessed, named, or claimed. It is the ground of all existence and yet entirely untouched by it. It is not yours or mine, yet it is undeniably the essence of what we are.

To live in the awareness of the Great I AM is to recognize that all the noise, all the chatter, is simply a dance of form arising within the formless. It is to see that even the ego, with all its stories, is just a fleeting ripple in the infinite ocean of being.

Silence does not mean the absence of sound; it means the absence of resistance. It is the acceptance of all that is, without judgment or clinging. In this silence, the Great I AM reveals itself—not as a word, a concept, or a thought, but as the ever-present reality of existence itself.

The chattering tongue will never grasp this truth, but the silent heart already knows.

Morgan O. Smith

Yinnergy Meditation, Spiritual Life Coaching & My Book, Bodhi in the Brain…Available Now!

https://linktr.ee/morganosmith

The Perfect Gift Wrapped in Mind

The body is often seen as a vessel, a biological mechanism enabling experience and action. But what if we approached it differently? What if we recognized the body as the ultimate gift—intricately wrapped in layers of mind, emotion, and perception? This perspective shifts us from treating the body as a passive object to understanding it as an intelligent instrument of the infinite.

Each sensation the body offers is a doorway. The ache in your shoulders, the flutter in your stomach, the breath moving through your chest—these aren’t merely physiological events. They are signals, invitations to become aware of the mind’s imprints and the silent intelligence that animates them. The body reveals the unseen layers of the mind, not to entangle us but to set us free.

Consider the interplay of movement and stillness. A heartbeat pulses within every moment of quietude, a reminder that even in perceived rest, life hums with activity. Similarly, the mind often overlays the body’s simplicity with stories—self-judgment, desires, and fears. Yet, beneath this mental wrapping lies pure awareness, unclouded and ever-present.

True liberation doesn’t come from rejecting the body or attempting to transcend it but from embracing its divine design. The body is where the formless meets form, where consciousness expresses itself in tangible, palpable ways. When we cease resisting its messages and begin listening with curiosity, the body transforms from an object of control into a teacher of profound wisdom.

This realization is not merely theoretical. It can be felt. Try sitting quietly and attuning to the subtleties of your breath. Notice the places where tension resides, where the body’s natural rhythms feel interrupted. With gentle attention, ask: “What is this teaching me?” Often, the mind will resist—habitually seeking distraction or interpretation. But as you remain present, something deeper emerges: an understanding that the body and mind are not separate, but two facets of the same infinite presence.

Awakening is not about leaving the body behind but about fully inhabiting it. By appreciating its perfect gift and unwrapping the layers of mind that obscure it, we find ourselves drawn closer to our true nature.

The next time you feel pain, joy, or anything in between, pause. Let the body be your guide, not just a vehicle for experience but the very expression of life’s sacred mystery.

Morgan O. Smith

Yinnergy Meditation, Spiritual Life Coaching & My Book, Bodhi in the Brain…Available Now!

https://linktr.ee/morganosmith

Heaven and Brimstone

Seeing Beauty Where None Is Expected

To see burning brimstone as beautiful gems is not a naive optimism but a profound reorientation of perception. The alchemy of consciousness transforms what is often labelled as suffering or undesirable into something sacred, even divine. The journey to this realization does not lie in escaping difficulties but fully meeting them, unguarded and undefended.

Most spend their lives seeking an idealized heaven, a utopia where pain, conflict, and discomfort are absent. Yet, what if the true heaven is not a destination but a shift in how reality is experienced? What if heaven emerges not when circumstances change, but when the mind stops resisting the circumstances it once fled?

Burning brimstone evokes images of torment, the archetypal inferno of spiritual suffering. Yet, fire has always been dual. It consumes, but it also purifies. It destroys, yet it forges. The very flames that sear can illuminate. To see gems within the fire is to recognize the transformative power hidden in every difficulty, every discomfort, every perceived flaw.

This is the paradox of awakening: the world remains the same, yet nothing is the same. The raw intensity of existence, with all its chaos and unpredictability, becomes a source of wonder. Heaven, then, is not an escape but an embrace. It is not found elsewhere but revealed here, in the present, when we are willing to see clearly.

How Do We Begin?

• Drop the Narrative: Pain and suffering often intensify because of the stories we weave around them. Without the narrative, fire is just fire. Burnt bridges are just opportunities for new paths. The mind’s interpretation makes them unbearable.

• Engage Curiosity: Rather than judging experiences, approach them with curiosity. What is this discomfort teaching? What lies beneath the surface? Gems rarely rest in plain sight; they are unearthed through inquiry.

• Surrender Control: Heaven is realized not by controlling life but by allowing life to be what it is. This surrender is not weakness; it is the strength to flow with life rather than against it.

Through these practices, what once seemed like burning brimstone—the unbearable weight of human suffering—may transform into beautiful gems. This is not a denial of the challenges but a recognition that all of existence, even the painful parts, is imbued with beauty and meaning when approached with the eyes of wisdom.

The question is not whether heaven exists but whether you are willing to see it, even amid flames.

Morgan O. Smith

Yinnergy Meditation, Spiritual Life Coaching & My Book, Bodhi in the Brain…Available Now!

https://linktr.ee/morganosmith

The Soul’s Infinite Expression

We tend to anchor our identity in the physical body, perceiving it as the centre of our existence. From birth, the body is celebrated, measured, and scrutinized, reinforcing the illusion that it defines who we are. This fixation on the body as the ultimate reality obscures a deeper truth: the physical form is merely one facet of an expansive, multidimensional soul.

Your soul expresses itself across layers of existence, many of which are beyond ordinary perception. The body serves as a temporary vessel, a focal point through which the infinite interacts with the finite. While it appears solid and tangible, the body is a fleeting projection of the soul’s boundless energy, a transient ripple in the vast ocean of your being.

The Illusion of Exclusivity

Viewing the body as the entirety of selfhood limits understanding of existence. The physical realm, with its sensory experiences, feels undeniably real. Yet, when closely examined, the body is revealed to be impermanent, constantly changing, and inseparable from the environment around it. The cells within it are born and die in a perpetual cycle, mirroring the patterns of nature. Nothing about the body is fixed—except the awareness of witnessing its fluctuations.

This awareness belongs not to the body but to the soul. The soul uses the physical form to engage with this dimension of reality, much like light passing through a prism creates a spectrum of colours. The body is one colour, but the spectrum of the soul contains infinite hues.

The Multidimensional Self

Beyond the physical, there are layers of existence where your soul expresses itself. Subtle energy fields, emotional resonances, and realms of thought and intention all flow from the same source. These facets interact with the body, shaping experiences in ways often unnoticed. A sudden intuition, a deep emotional release, or a spontaneous surge of creativity are glimpses of the soul’s reach beyond the material.

The soul is not confined by linear time or space. The body moves through time, aging and decaying, while the soul exists in a timeless state, simultaneously influencing and being influenced by multiple dimensions of reality. To recognize this is to understand that your physical form is not the limit of your being, but a doorway into the infinite.

Why the Physical Body Matters

Acknowledging the body as one facet of the soul does not diminish its importance. The physical form is the ground where spiritual experiences take shape, where the formless soul engages directly with the tangible world. Every breath, movement, and sensation is an opportunity to express the soul’s essence in a way no other dimension allows.

Honouring the body as an extension of the soul transforms the way you relate to it. Instead of obsessing over appearances or fearing its eventual decline, you begin to see the body as sacred—a fleeting but essential aspect of your journey. Caring for it becomes an act of devotion, not out of attachment, but a way to honour the soul’s choice to experience this dimension.

Living Beyond the Body’s Facade

Recognizing that the physical body is only one aspect of the self brings profound liberation. Fear of death diminishes because the soul’s existence does not hinge on the body’s survival. Identity expands beyond the physical, allowing you to live with a sense of wholeness and interconnection.

When you stop identifying solely with the body, relationships transform. You no longer see others as separate entities defined by their forms. Instead, you recognize the shared essence flowing through every individual, a unified soul expressing itself in infinite ways. This awareness fosters deep compassion and an intuitive understanding of the interconnectedness of all life.

Your physical body is not a prison or limitation; it is a reflection of your soul’s creative power. To live fully means to embrace this perspective, allowing the soul to shine through every aspect of your existence, both seen and unseen.

 Morgan O. Smith

Yinnergy Meditation, Spiritual Life Coaching & My Book, Bodhi in the Brain…Available Now!

https://linktr.ee/morganosmith

The Self You’ve Disowned

We often approach the idea of God as something external—an omniscient force watching from a distance, a transcendent creator who governs the cosmos. Yet this perspective keeps us trapped in separation, perpetually seeking something outside ourselves to fill a void or grant us salvation. What if the very concept of God points to an aspect of our being, an ultimate reflection of the self we’ve denied?

This disowned self isn’t the egoic identity that clings to its limitations. We have forgotten how to access the essence of boundless awareness, a space of infinite potential and wisdom. To disown something is to exile it from consciousness. And what has been exiled? The unconditioned self is the aspect of us that sees through the illusions of individuality and recognizes its oneness with all existence.

When we strip away the layers of attachment, fear, and identification with form, what remains? The answer is not a void in the nihilistic sense but a fertile emptiness where the fullness of life reveals itself. This is the realm where the divine resides, not as a being separate from you, but as the highest level of yourself—a self too vast, too luminous, to fit into the confines of your limited perception.

The Psychology of Disowning God

Many disown this ultimate self because embracing it requires the dissolution of the ego. We cling to roles, stories, and identities because they provide a sense of control. Yet these constructs are fragile, built on the shifting sands of impermanence. To own the highest self—the God-self—is to release the need for control, to step into the unknown with trust.

This is why the concept of God can evoke discomfort or skepticism. It forces us to confront the parts of ourselves that resist unity. The fragmented mind would rather see divinity as “out there” than face the profound responsibility of embodying it. To own the God-self is to accept that you are both the creator and the created, the ocean and the wave.

Reclaiming the Disowned Self

Reclaiming this aspect of the self is not about achieving something new. It is about remembering. This remembering begins with stillness—a radical turning inward that allows you to see the divine as the very ground of your being. It is the quiet realization that you are not a seeker in search of God; you are God, awakening to itself.

This journey requires profound courage. To reclaim the self you’ve disowned is to face the shadows you’ve avoided, to embrace the paradoxes of existence. It is to see that what you once called “God” and what you once called “self” are not separate, but one.

This realization does not inflate the ego. On the contrary, it dissolves it. When you live from the awareness of the highest self, every action becomes an expression of divine will. Compassion flows naturally because you recognize every being as another facet of the same essence. Suffering transforms into a teacher, guiding you back to wholeness.

Living from the God-Self

To live from this understanding is to inhabit life with clarity and grace. Challenges no longer feel like punishments but invitations to deepen your alignment with the divine within. Relationships are no longer transactional but become mirrors reflecting the infinite back to you. Every moment becomes sacred—not because of what it contains, but because of who you are as you experience it.

This is the ultimate paradox: God is not something you find; it is something you become by realizing you were never anything else.

Morgan O. Smith

Yinnergy Meditation, Spiritual Life Coaching & My Book, Bodhi in the Brain…Available Now!

https://linktr.ee/morganosmith

The Neutrality of Being

Beyond Preference and Bias

Human experience revolves around preferences—good versus bad, desirable versus undesirable. From a young age, we are conditioned to label moments, objects, and relationships based on our likes or dislikes, shaping a world of duality. Yet, something remarkable may begin to unfold for those who experience a profound spiritual awakening. The intensity of preferences softens, and the once-compelling narratives around right and wrong, beautiful and ugly, start to lose their grip.

This shift isn’t forced or rehearsed; it arises organically as consciousness deepens. It’s not about suppressing preferences or pretending they don’t exist. Rather, it’s about witnessing them without attachment. You might still notice that one meal tastes better than another, or that one kind of weather feels more comfortable, but the emotional charge—the bias for or against—diminishes.

This state of neutrality doesn’t negate the ability to express feelings about situations or objects. Joy, sadness, appreciation, or aversion may still arise naturally. However, the inner dialogue changes. An object once deemed essential for happiness may now appear as just an object. A situation that would have previously elicited anger or frustration may no longer hold the same power.

Neutrality is not numbness or indifference; it is the ultimate expression of freedom. When bias fades, life’s experiences are not judged as lacking or sufficient—they simply are. This perspective offers a profound sense of peace. When preferences no longer dominate the mind, the heart is free to engage with reality exactly as it unfolds.

This state isn’t something that needs to be chased or consciously cultivated. It arises as a natural byproduct of deep inner awakening. The realization that all phenomena are transient allows one to meet life with equanimity. Dualities are not eradicated but are seen for what they are—part of the play of existence, neither to be clung to nor rejected.

If you’re on the path of spiritual exploration, allow yourself to relax into the flow of awareness. Don’t try to force neutrality; simply observe the moments when it arises. Over time, you may notice that this spacious, bias-free perspective becomes less of an exception and more of your default state of being.

Morgan O. Smith

Yinnergy Meditation, Spiritual Life Coaching & My Book, Bodhi in the Brain…Available Now!

https://linktr.ee/morganosmith

The Mirage of Paradise

Why Many Turn Away From the Path

Paradise often appears as a shimmering promise on the horizon—a space of unbroken peace, eternal joy, and infinite understanding. Yet, when the steps to reach it feel many, slow, or arduous, even the most sincere seekers may find themselves questioning the journey. Why does the promise lose its lustre when effort is required? Why do we often choose comfort over truth or familiarity over freedom?

The answer lies not in paradise but in our relationship with it.

The Illusion of Arrival

The mind, conditioned by a lifetime of instant gratification and linear progress, believes paradise must be attainable within a predictable framework. When the path to enlightenment stretches beyond its comfort zone, the mind rebels. It whispers doubts, offers shortcuts, or fabricates reasons to abandon the pursuit altogether.

Yet, true awakening does not follow a predictable roadmap. It cannot be squeezed into the limited constructs of time or effort. Enlightenment is not about arriving somewhere—it is about dissolving the illusion of the one who seeks. This is the paradox that discourages many: the realization that the paradise sought is not something to be reached but something to be uncovered within.

The Fear of Letting Go

Another reason many step away from the path is the fear of surrender. Enlightenment demands more than perseverance; it requires the complete letting go of the self we believe ourselves to be. For those deeply identified with their roles, beliefs, or desires, this can feel like annihilation. What lies beyond the familiar can seem less appealing than the comfort of staying as we are.

But surrender is not a loss; it is an opening. It is stepping into the unknown with trust and willingness, allowing paradise to reveal itself not as a destination but as the ever-present reality beneath all appearances.

Walking Without Steps

Paradise cannot be reached because it is not elsewhere. It is not at the end of many steps or behind layers of effort. Those who walk away often believe the steps are external—practices, rituals, or milestones to achieve. The truth is, that the steps are inward, subtle, and immediate. They require no distance travelled, only the courage to turn within and meet the present moment fully.

Each step dissolves the illusion that there is somewhere else to go. Each step reveals that paradise was never absent. The question is not whether enlightenment is too far but whether we are willing to abandon the belief that it lies anywhere but here.

Remaining Open to the Journey

For those who feel the pull to turn back, perhaps the greatest teaching is this: paradise is not reserved for those who walk a perfect path. It embraces even the wanderer, the doubter, and the one who stumbles. The journey is not about reaching paradise but about waking up to its presence at every turn.

Instead of asking how far we have to go, ask this: What illusions am I willing to release today? What layers of resistance, fear, or expectation can I dissolve now? Every step, no matter how small, is a step into paradise itself.

Morgan O. Smith

Yinnergy Meditation, Spiritual Life Coaching & My Book, Bodhi in the Brain…Available Now!

https://linktr.ee/morganosmith

The Full Realization of Divine Grandeur

The human experience often feels like a journey through shifting sands, where clarity and certainty seem elusive. Yet, beneath the surface lies a profound truth—one so vast that it escapes the bounds of the intellect. This truth is the realization of divine grandeur, an unshakable awareness of the infinite essence that we are and have always been.

This grandeur is not something acquired; it is unveiled. It is the silent, unchanging awareness behind all fleeting moments of life. To recognize it is not to add something new to oneself but to peel back the illusions of limitation. Divine grandeur does not belong to a distant deity or a select few; it is the source and substance of all existence.

To fully realize this truth, one must transcend the conditioned mind, which is mired in stories of separation, lack, and striving. Every moment of suffering, every perceived obstacle, serves as an invitation to remember the wholeness that already is. Challenges dissolve in the light of this realization, not because they disappear, but because they are seen for what they truly are—manifestations of the same boundless essence.

This recognition does not negate the human experience; it enhances it. When the divine is seen in every face, every leaf, and every breath, life transforms into an expression of sacredness. There is no need to seek meaning, for meaning is inherent in all that is. This understanding is not an escape from the world but an embrace of it. It is to know that the divine is not found outside but radiates through all of existence.

Realizing divine grandeur does not require renouncing life. It requires living fully, and engaging with the world while remaining rooted in the unshakable awareness of one’s true nature. This balance, where the eternal meets the temporal, reveals a beauty beyond words.

The grandeur of the divine is not an object to be attained but the very essence of being. It is realized in stillness and silence, yet its echoes resound in every act of kindness, every expression of love, every moment of presence. When this truth is known—not as a concept but as an undeniable reality—life becomes a dance of infinite grace.

Morgan O. Smith

Yinnergy Meditation, Spiritual Life Coaching & My Book, Bodhi in the Brain…Available Now!

https://linktr.ee/morganosmith

Nonduality and the Integral        

Untangling Two Profound Perspectives

When people speak about nonduality, they often weave together concepts that belong to the realm of the integral perspective. The two may seem intertwined, yet their essence is profoundly distinct. Recognizing this difference can deepen our understanding of both and expand our capacity for spiritual insight.

Nonduality points directly to the ultimate truth: the indivisibility of reality. It is the recognition that all distinctions are illusory. The subject-object split dissolves, revealing a seamless unity. It is not merely a philosophical perspective but an experiential truth—a recognition that transcends intellectual grasping. Nonduality is the realization that there is no “two,” only “one,” and even that word dissolves into silence.

Integral thinking, on the other hand, provides a comprehensive map of reality, embracing the complexity of human experience. It categorizes and contextualizes the subjective, objective, intersubjective, and interobjective dimensions of existence. Integral frameworks are invaluable for navigating personal and collective evolution, offering tools for harmonizing the many aspects of life.

The Key Distinction

Nonduality exists beyond frameworks, maps, or categories. It does not concern itself with the relative interplay of quadrants, stages, or states. Nonduality is the recognition that all such distinctions are themselves empty—useful only until their utility is seen through.

Integral thinking is rooted in relativity. It thrives on distinctions and relationships, aiming to integrate them into a cohesive understanding. It does not negate duality but works within it to foster greater awareness and wholeness. Integral thinking can support a journey toward nondual realization, but it remains distinct from the destination itself.

Why the Confusion?

The conflation arises because many seekers first encounter nonduality through conceptual frameworks, often presented in an integral context. The integral perspective’s ability to unify seemingly disparate truths can feel like a step toward nondual awareness. However, while the integral celebrates the diversity of perspectives, nonduality obliterates them, revealing a singular, indivisible presence.

The integral is a bridge; nonduality is the infinite expanse beyond the bridge. One operates within the realm of mind and relativity, while the other beckons toward the formless essence that precedes thought itself.

Moving Beyond Concepts

The beauty lies in recognizing that both have their place. Integral approaches help organize and clarify our understanding, guiding us toward greater clarity and balance in the relative world. Yet, true liberation comes when we let go of even the most exquisite maps and plunge into the direct experience of what is.

Nonduality is not something to be understood. It is what remains when all attempts at understanding fall away. To grasp this distinction is to open oneself to the ineffable—a leap that no framework can contain.

Morgan O. Smith

Yinnergy Meditation, Spiritual Life Coaching & My Book, Bodhi in the Brain…Available Now!

https://linktr.ee/morganosmith