Tag: True Self

Ego Death Is Not a Metaphor

Ego death is often spoken about casually, yet nothing about it is casual. It is not a poetic phrase, nor a dramatic exaggeration. Something very specific occurs—precise, unmistakable, and irreversible at the level of insight.

This is not a biological event. The body remains alive. The brain continues to function. Memory does not disappear. Consciousness does not black out. What vanishes is the internal reference point that says, this is me. The structure that once organized experience around a personal center dissolves, and with it goes the assumption of separation.

No negotiation happens here. No partial surrender. No internal debate. Doubt does not survive the moment. The mind does not ask whether this is real. Verification becomes unnecessary because the one who would seek confirmation is no longer present.

Psychological death may sound abstract until it happens. When it does, the body reacts as though an actual death is occurring. Survival instincts flare. Meaning collapses. Familiar orientation fails. Yet awareness remains clear—perhaps clearer than it has ever been. This clarity is what distinguishes ego death from unconsciousness. Awareness does not dim. It expands beyond the need for identity.

Enlightenment does not occur after ego death. Enlightenment is what is revealed when the ego can no longer interfere. The ego cannot be refined into truth. It cannot be educated into realization. It must fall away entirely, because it is structurally incapable of holding what is uncovered.

At the causal level of realization, identity no longer rests in form, personality, history, or narrative. Cause and effect are no longer observed from the outside. They are known as oneself. Everything that arises is recognized as both originating from and resolving into the same source. Nothing stands apart. Nothing is accidental. Agency is no longer personal, yet responsibility is absolute.

Deeper still, even causality dissolves. Distinctions between origin and outcome lose meaning. What remains is not many things connected, but a single indivisible reality. This is what Advaita Vedanta names Absolute Monism; not a belief, not a concept, but a lived recognition.

Time no longer appears linear. Past, present, and future are not sequential events but simultaneous expressions. Every occurrence, across all scales and dimensions, is apprehended as one movement without edges. Beginning and ending collapse into the same point. Eternity ceases to be a duration and reveals itself as immediacy.

The ego cannot survive this recognition. It was never meant to. The ego exists to navigate relativity, not to comprehend totality. Asking it to grasp nonduality is like asking a shadow to contain light. The moment the ego loosens its grip, what remains is not annihilation, but the recognition that life and death were never opposites.

Ego death feels final because it ends the search forever. Nothing remains to achieve. Nothing remains to defend. What is discovered was never acquired. It was always present, waiting for the interference to stop.

This is why enlightenment is never uncertain. Anyone still asking whether it happened is still standing outside the threshold. When it occurs, the questioner disappears, and only knowing remains; silent, complete, and beyond reversal.

Morgan O. Smith

AI for Wellness and Spirituality Summit

February 9 & 10, 2026

https://aiforwellnessandspirituality.com/mosm

When I Say Full Awakening…

This Is What I Mean

Many speak of awakening, yet far fewer comprehend its fullness. I’ve encountered every kind—emotional, spiritual, philosophical, mystical. Each unveils a layer, each reveals a depth. But what I call full awakening—what I live as full awakening—is something few ever point toward, and fewer still embody.

It is not about personal clarity. Not about peace of mind, a better life, or even union with a divine presence. Those are steps, glimpses, fragments. Full awakening is not a state within experience. It is the collapse of all distinction between state and experiencer.

This isn’t about finding your place in the cosmos—it’s about the disappearance of place, cosmos, and self as separate notions. When I say full awakening, I am referring to the direct knowing that everything—absolutely everything—is a singularity.

Existence and nonexistence. Subject and object. The smallest subatomic flicker and the sweep of galactic spirals. Civilizations long past and unborn futures. Every religion, every philosophy. All thoughts. All acts. Every realm, every reality, every god.

The seen and the unseen. The formed and the formless. That which is birthed, that which dies, and that which never entered the cycle. All technologies. All intelligences. All contradictions and confirmations. All questions and every possible answer.

Not merely connected. Not even interdependent.

Indistinct. Inseparable. One.

That realization is not metaphorical. It is not poetic. It is not conceptual. It is total. It devours every duality and even the idea of devouring. It consumes the witness, the process of witnessing, and that which is witnessed—leaving no remainder.

So when another speaks of full awakening, I listen with care. Because unless it includes everything I’ve said—and also what they say—it’s not the same thing. The paradox, of course, is that what I’m pointing to also includes that divergence. It embraces even what appears to deny it.

Full awakening is not a peak. It is not an event. It is the vanishing of all altitude and time. It is not even a realization. It is what remains when all realizations dissolve.

One. Not a oneness made of parts. Not a whole made of pieces. Not harmony, not unity. Just One.

And that One is not separate from what you are.

Morgan O. Smith

Get Your Free Copy of My Book, Bodhi in the Brain!

https://subscribepage.io/oTSZQu

Beyond Illusion

Discovering the Space Between

The mind creates identities and builds a sense of self out of thoughts, emotions, and past experiences. These constructs shape beliefs around who you think you are and who you think you aren’t. This entire narrative, though compelling, is merely a distortion. It presents itself as reality but, in truth, is nothing more than an intricate mental creation. We become confined by these polarities, oscillating between two extremes—what we accept and what we reject about ourselves.

These boundaries, however, do not define the core of who you are. The sense of self emerges as a reflection against what we perceive as the ‘other.’ You’re not merely the collection of traits you cherish, nor are you the shadow aspects you struggle to suppress. By engaging with either, you remain caught in a dualistic view that blinds you to your deeper essence.

The challenge, then, is to neither grasp onto one identity nor to strive to become its opposite, but to look at the liminal space between. This uncharted territory holds the key to your True Self. Neither glorified nor condemned, this space is untouched by labels. It eludes all attempts to be defined. When you gaze into that emptiness, you come face-to-face with your origin—the point where being meets non-being, and you witness the dissolution of the false dichotomy between ‘I am this’ and ‘I am not that.’

Finding this space requires surrendering the tendency to categorize. Allow awareness to rest on the edges of thought, where opposites fade into one another. This subtle recognition can shift perception, making you aware of a silent presence that underlies all identifications. It’s a sense of being that defies expression yet is undeniably real. Here, you aren’t bound by limitations, nor are you an idealized version of yourself.

This presence is what mystics have pointed to throughout the ages—a place beyond words and mental constructs. It’s here that the True Self emerges, not as a separate entity, but as the unconditioned awareness that holds both the ‘you’ and the ‘not you.’ Let this realization transform the way you see yourself and others, dissolving barriers until all that remains is a boundless, indivisible field of consciousness.

Morgan O. Smith

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

https://linktr.ee/morganosmith

The Paradox of a Spiritually Enlightened Peak Experience

Imagine being pushed from a plane mid-flight, without a parachute. There’s no time to think, no time to brace yourself for impact. You are hurtling through the sky, weightless, untethered, and completely vulnerable. Fear may grip you momentarily, but something unexpected happens. You hit the ground—yet not only do you survive, but you rise and walk away unscathed, untouched by the experience as if the fall was merely an illusion.

This analogy comes close to capturing the essence of a fully spiritually enlightened peak experience. It is both terrifying and liberating, a moment where everything you thought you knew is shattered, yet something deeper emerges untouched. It’s not the kind of experience that fits neatly into the confines of logic or the safety of intellectual understanding. It pulls you beyond those limits, forcing you to confront the raw truth of existence in ways you hadn’t anticipated.

During such an experience, there’s no parachute to cushion the ego’s fall. The self—the constructed identity you’ve held onto for so long—dissolves, leaving nothing to cling to. Everything you believe about who you are, what reality is, and how life works evaporates in a moment of pure awareness. But instead of devastation, there is a strange sense of freedom. You realize the ground you thought you were plummeting toward was never real, to begin with.

What’s remarkable about this peak state is how it feels after. There’s a profound sense of survival, not in the physical sense, but at the level of awareness. You walk away from the experience unscathed because the true self, the part of you that is beyond mind and body, was never at risk. The fall, the impact, and the survival all exist within the realm of the illusion, but the awareness that experiences it all remains whole and untouched.

This awakening doesn’t come gently; it forces a reckoning with reality. But through that reckoning, you realize that what is truly real cannot be harmed. The body, the ego, the mind—all of these can be torn apart by life’s challenges and transformations. But the awareness that witnesses the fall? That remains pure and intact.

Living after such an experience brings with it a lightness, a profound sense of detachment that doesn’t arise from apathy but from clarity. You’ve seen through the illusion of the fall, and now, you move through life knowing that no matter what happens, the essence of who you are remains untouched. There’s nothing left to fear, no more clinging to the safety of the mind’s constructions.

This is the gift of spiritual enlightenment: not just the revelation that you can survive the fall, but the deeper realization that there was never anything to fall from in the first place.

Morgan O. Smith

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

https://linktr.ee/morganosmith

The Elusive Blind Spot of Enlightenment

A paradox begins to unfold from the moment consciousness takes form and you are born into this world. Enlightenment, often considered the pinnacle of spiritual realization, simultaneously becomes a blind spot. It’s not that enlightenment is absent; rather, it exists so close to you that it evades your direct perception. The act of becoming a being—separate from the whole—creates the veil obscuring what was never lost.

Most people search for this elusive state, hoping to grasp it through teachings, practices, and philosophies. Yet, the search itself can deepen the sense of separation, reinforcing the idea that enlightenment is something external to be found. But what if enlightenment was never something you needed to find? What if it was something you simply needed to stop resisting?

Human existence is an exquisite contradiction. On one hand, the moment you identify as an individual, you begin to experience duality—subject and object, self and other. On the other hand, this identification simultaneously masks the realization that you are already one with everything. Enlightenment is not an external destination; it is the underlying reality that permeates your existence.

The blind spot isn’t due to a lack of spiritual capacity or effort, but the mind’s incessant clinging to the notion of self. The moment you try to achieve enlightenment as a personal goal, it slips further away, like trying to catch a shadow. Perhaps the real journey is not about seeking, but about unlearning. The simplicity of just being, without striving, can often be the most profound realization of all.

What happens when you stop searching? What if you allow yourself to see that enlightenment is not a peak experience to attain, but the constant, ever-present background of awareness that you are, and always have been? This blind spot only remains as long as there is an effort to overcome it. Let go of that effort, and what reveals itself has been present all along—your original nature.

The key lies in the willingness to let go of the need for enlightenment, to surrender the very idea that you are separate from it. Only then does the blind spot dissolve, and the reality of your true self, free from all constructs, comes into clear view.

Morgan O. Smith

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

https://linktr.ee/morganosmith

The Paradox of the False Self

The “I” is the false self, but this false self is also true. It just doesn’t know it yet. This realization reveals that our perceived separateness is an illusion, guiding us toward the truth of our inherent unity.

Understanding the False Self
The false self, often identified as the ego, is the aspect of our identity constructed from our experiences, beliefs, and societal conditioning. It is the mask we wear, the persona we present to the world. While it serves a functional role in navigating daily life, it is not our ultimate truth.

The Hidden Truth
Within this false self lies a hidden truth. The ego, though seemingly separate, is an expression of the same source that underlies all existence. The journey of self-realization involves peeling away the layers of this constructed identity to uncover the true self—the essence that connects us all.

The Illusion of Separateness
Our perception of being distinct individuals creates the illusion of separateness. This belief in separateness fosters division, conflict, and a sense of isolation. However, when we begin to see through the false self, we recognize that these divisions are illusory. Beneath the surface, we are all interconnected.

Toward Inherent Unity
Realizing the paradox that the false self is also true propels us toward the recognition of our inherent unity. This understanding dissolves the boundaries that the ego creates, allowing us to experience a deeper connection with ourselves and others. We move from a mindset of “me versus you” to one of “us” and “we.”

Living with Awareness
Living with this awareness transforms our approach to life. We become more compassionate, understanding, and empathetic, seeing others as reflections of ourselves. This shift in perception fosters a sense of peace and harmony, as we align with the deeper truth of our shared existence.

The journey of recognizing the false self as also true is a profound step toward spiritual awakening. It illuminates the path to our inherent unity, guiding us to live with greater authenticity and connection. By embracing this paradox, we uncover the deeper reality that binds us all.

Morgan O. Smith

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

https://linktr.ee/morganosmith

Essence and Existence

The Unseen Unity

In the labyrinth of existence, we often perceive ourselves as isolated entities navigating a myriad of external circumstances. Yet, beneath this surface, lies an essential truth: wherever essence is, you are. And wherever you are, only essence remains. This statement is not merely a poetic abstraction but a profound reflection on the nature of reality and our place within it.

Essence, in this context, refers to the fundamental nature of existence. It is the unchanging, underlying reality that permeates all forms and phenomena. It is the substratum of being, the silent witness to all experiences, and the ultimate source from which everything arises and to which everything returns. We begin to see the world through a different lens when we recognize that essence is our true nature.

Our usual mode of perception is dualistic. We see ourselves as separate from the world, creating a dichotomy between self and other, subject and object. This dualistic perception leads to a sense of isolation and disconnection, fueling a continuous search for meaning and fulfillment in the external world. However, when we shift our awareness to the essence, we realize this separation is illusory.

Wherever essence is, you are. This means that our true identity is not confined to the physical body or the individual mind. It is the essence itself, which is infinite and boundless. This essence is present in every moment, in every experience, and every being. It transcends the limitations of time and space, uniting all existence in a seamless whole.

And wherever you are, only essence remains. This implies that in the ultimate analysis, all distinctions and differences dissolve into the unity of essence. The various forms and phenomena we perceive are simply expressions of this one essence. When we look beyond the surface appearances, we see that everything is interconnected and interdependent, arising from and returning to the same source.

This understanding has profound implications for our daily lives. It invites us to shift our focus from the transient to the eternal, from the superficial to the profound. By recognizing our true nature as essence, we can experience a sense of peace and fulfillment that is not dependent on external circumstances. We become more compassionate and empathetic, seeing ourselves in others and others in ourselves.

Moreover, this recognition of essence can transform our relationship with the world. We begin to see the divine in everything and everyone, honouring the sacredness of all existence. This shift in perception fosters a sense of reverence and gratitude, leading to more harmonious and sustainable ways of living.

In essence, recognizing the unity of essence and existence is a journey of awakening. It is a shift from the fragmented perception of the ego to the holistic vision of the true self. It is an invitation to live in alignment with the deeper reality of our being, experiencing the boundless joy and freedom that comes from knowing that wherever essence is, you are. And wherever you are, only essence remains.

Morgan O. Smith

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

https://linktr.ee/morganosmith

The Illusion of the Ego

Beyond the Needle in the Haystack

In the vast expanse of human experience, the personal ego often feels like the defining core of our identity. We navigate the world through its lens, believing it to be the essence of who we are. Yet, in the grand scheme of existence, this ego is but a minuscule fragment—a needle in a haystack compared to the vast, boundless nature of our true self.

To truly understand this, we must first explore the nature of the ego. The ego is the part of our consciousness that deals with individuality and separateness. It thrives on comparisons, achievements, and the ceaseless chatter of the mind. It is the voice that says, “I am this” or “I am that,” constantly defining and limiting our experience of reality.

However, as we delve deeper into spiritual inquiry and self-exploration, we encounter moments where the ego’s hold weakens. These are moments of pure being, where the sense of separation dissolves, and we touch upon a more expansive consciousness. This consciousness is our true nature—vast, interconnected, and free from the constraints of the ego.

Imagine the ego as a single grain of sand on the shore of a limitless ocean. While the grain is real and tangible, it is insignificant when compared to the infinite expanse of the ocean. Similarly, our ego, with all its desires, fears, and identities, is but a small aspect of our true, boundless self.


In these moments of expanded awareness, we realize that we are not merely the sum of our thoughts, emotions, and experiences. We are the awareness in which all these arise and dissolve. This realization brings a profound sense of freedom and peace, as we no longer identify with the transient aspects of our existence.

The journey to this realization is not always straightforward. It requires a willingness to question our deeply held beliefs and to look beyond the surface of our everyday experiences. Meditation, self-inquiry, and contemplative practices can be invaluable tools on this path. They help us to quiet the mind and to see beyond the illusions created by the ego.

As we progress, we begin to live more from this place of expanded awareness. Our actions become less driven by egoic desires and more aligned with a deeper sense of purpose and connection. We see ourselves not as isolated individuals but as integral parts of a larger whole. This shift in perspective transforms our relationships, our work, and our approach to life itself.


In essence, recognizing the ego as a mere needle in the haystack of our true self is an invitation to embrace a more profound and expansive understanding of who we are. It is a call to awaken to our true nature and to live from that place of boundless awareness and interconnectedness.

Morgan O. Smith

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

https://linktr.ee/morganosmith

Beyond the Surface

Transcending the Illusions of Separation to Realize the Ultimate Self

In our multifaceted world, we often define ourselves and others through superficial layers—race, ethnicity, class, gender, and the like. These categorizations, while providing a semblance of identity and belonging, only scratch the surface of our existence. To fully embrace the essence of what it means to be human—and more so, to be a part of this vast universe—we must look deeper.

Consider the notion that what we perceive as differences are merely illusory, a play of forms and shapes, orchestrated on the surface of a much deeper, interconnected reality. This reality is not bound by the constructs that typically define our lives. It is beyond separateness and individuality, and even beyond the distinctions we draw between subjective experience and objective reality.

At the core of all existence lies the Ultimate Self, the ‘I AM That I AM’—a state of being that transcends all layers of diversity and division. This is not a self that can be easily defined by the languages of separation or difference. It is the foundational essence from which all life arises and to which it returns. It is in realizing this fundamental truth that we find true unity and connection.

To reach this profound understanding, one must embark on a journey of inner exploration, shedding layers of conditioned perceptions and societal labels. This journey is not about negating diversity or the richness it brings to our human experience; rather, it’s about seeing diversity as a beautiful expression of the One that pervades all.

As we delve into this realization, we begin to see that every being, every system, material or immaterial, is interwoven into a single, expansive web of existence. This vision of nonduality does not diminish our personal experiences but enriches them, offering a vantage point where we can see the interconnectedness of all life forms.

This perspective invites us to act with greater compassion and understanding, acknowledging that the essence we share is far more profound than the differences that appear to divide us. It challenges us to live with a sense of deep responsibility—not just towards other humans but towards all forms of life, recognizing that we are caretakers of the same shared reality.

As we navigate through our daily lives, let us strive to embody this awareness, to look beyond the immediate appearances and connect with the Ultimate Self in each other. In doing so, we not only transcend the illusory boundaries of race, ethnicity, and gender but also open ourselves to a more holistic and fulfilling experience of life itself.

Morgan O. Smith

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

https://linktr.ee/morganosmith

The Divine Fraud

The Hidden Reality Behind Spiritual Leaders

In the realm of spirituality, there exists a profound paradox. We often elevate spiritual gurus, admiring them from afar, or aspiring to emulate them. However, there’s a hidden truth behind these figures, one that challenges our conventional understanding of enlightenment and spiritual wisdom.

At the heart of this paradox lies the notion that these spiritual leaders are not entirely what they appear to be. Rather than being purely enlightened beings, they are, in fact, individuals who have reached a heightened state of awareness but choose to present themselves in a manner that is palatable to the masses. This disguise is not a deception borne out of malice, but rather a necessary adaptation. It stems from the understanding that the true nature of their enlightenment is beyond the grasp of the average individual, whose comprehension is bounded by societal norms and limited perspectives.

These spiritual figures have embraced a role – a caricature of what society accepts as ‘divine’. They mirror the layman’s archetype of enlightenment, embodying concepts of goodness, truth, and beauty that are digestible and appealing to the general public. This role-playing is not a sign of their failure to embody true enlightenment, but rather a testament to their deep understanding of the human psyche and the limitations of societal acceptance.


In this grand act, the enlightened beings find joy. They are not shackled by their roles but rather play them with purpose and hope. Their ultimate aspiration is not to perpetuate the illusion but to guide others to a realization – that enlightenment is not about fitting into a preconceived mould of divinity, but about understanding and transcending the limitations of our perceptions.

The divine fraud, thus, is not a deceit but a necessary guise. It is a bridge between the incomprehensible realm of true enlightenment and the tangible world in which we live. The hope is that one day, each of us will see beyond this facade, not with a sense of betrayal, but with an understanding that enlightenment is a deeply personal journey, one that transcends the need for external validation and societal acceptance.


In conclusion, the journey toward spiritual enlightenment is not about emulating a perceived ideal but about realizing the limitations of our understanding. It is about peeling back the layers of societal norms and personal biases to uncover a truth that is uniquely our own. As we navigate this path, we must remember that the spiritual guides we look up to are not just torchbearers of enlightenment but also skilled actors playing a role necessary for our journey.

Morgan O. Smith

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

https://linktr.ee/morganosmith