A Nondual Glimpse into the Subatomic
Imagine the possibility that at the peak of a nondual spiritual awakening, one isn’t just transcending ego or dissolving into pure awareness, but rather experiencing reality through the lens of something far more fundamental—protons. At the atomic level, protons form the foundation of matter, existing in ways vastly different from the neurons in our brains that craft our everyday subjective experience. Could it be that, during these rare moments of deep spiritual clarity, we temporarily shift from a neuron-based perception of reality to a protonic one?
The shift in perspective would bring forth a different kind of existence, where individuality dissolves, time collapses, and the illusion of separateness vanishes.
The Dissolution of “I”
Neurons construct a coherent sense of identity by organizing sensory inputs into patterns, creating a central “I.” Through this mechanism, the brain establishes continuity and the illusion of a permanent self. But a proton does not know identity or individuality. It exists as part of an immense, interconnected field. From the proton’s perspective, there is no self, no sense of “me” in opposition to “you.” Instead, it exists as a singular element within the cosmic whole. In a nondual peak experience, this dissolution of the self may reflect this protonic existence—a seamless, boundaryless flow of being, where the concept of a separate identity loses all relevance.
Timeless Existence
Neurons are bound to time. They record memories, anticipate the future, and interpret the present. Protons, however, operate under quantum principles that defy conventional time. From their perspective, time doesn’t unfold linearly; it is a single, unified field. During a moment of spiritual awakening, this same timeless awareness emerges—a deep sense that past, present, and future collapse into one singular “now.” Time stops being a narrative. Instead, reality feels like an eternal, ever-present moment that holds all existence within it.
Pure Potentiality
Neurons interpret and categorize, giving rise to the stories we tell about the world. But protons, existing at the subatomic level, represent pure potential, the very foundation of existence. They hold the energy that gives rise to all forms. The stories that neurons build—about self, others, and the world—are absent in this state. What remains is the raw potential of existence, unfiltered and unshaped by thought. In the height of nondual awareness, this experience of pure potential may become apparent, where all matter and form dissolve into pure energy, existing as potential rather than fixed entities.
No Hierarchies, No Differentiation
The brain categorizes experiences and assigns them different values. Pain is distinguished from pleasure, joy from sorrow, and a hierarchy is built between different experiences. Protons, on the other hand, do not differentiate. Whether part of a planet, a star, or a human being, a proton participates equally in the existence of all things. This sense of non-hierarchical experience might reflect the nondual understanding that all things are one, equal in their existence. No experience is better or worse, no being more or less valuable.
Infinite Connectivity
Neurons require specific pathways to communicate; their connections are complex but ultimately limited. Protons, on the other hand, participate in the quantum field where everything is connected instantaneously. Boundaries blur. In a nondual spiritual experience, this sense of oneness, where the boundaries between self and other, subject and object, dissolve into an infinite web of interconnectedness, may arise. You might no longer feel separate from the universe but instead intimately connected to all things, an undivided expression of a single, infinite whole.
Formless Awareness
Neurons are structured, creating thoughts, patterns, and concepts. Protons, however, represent formless awareness—a raw, energetic existence that doesn’t interpret, categorize, or judge. During a nondual awakening, the mind may quiet down, and this formless awareness emerges. It is an experience of pure being, where thought, form, and identity are absent. You simply exist, boundlessly aware, free from the structures that typically govern perception.
The Dance of Creation
To experience life from the perspective of protons would be to witness the ceaseless dance of energy, where form and formlessness, potential and manifestation, are in constant interplay. The cosmic drama plays out, not as a set of discrete events, but as a unified process, where creation and dissolution are happening simultaneously. There would be no clinging to experiences or stories, no attachment to the idea of a permanent self or rigid boundaries. Reality itself would be perceived as a seamless unfolding—a symphony of being, where everything exists as one, moving in perfect harmony.
Such a shift in perception, from neurons to protons, might just offer us a glimpse into the true nature of reality—an infinite, undivided whole, timeless, and filled with limitless potential.
Morgan O. Smith
Yinnergy Meditation, Spiritual Life Coaching & My Book, Bodhi in the Brain…Available Now!
Morgan O. Smith 