Ekam sat - One Consciousness

Consciousness (Brahman, Sat, Chit, Ananda, Chaitanya) is one and only one. I, through my mind and intelligence can be aware of Consciousness. But there are so many people with their individual minds.  They too must be feeling Consciousness. So, it is possible that there are as many Consciousness as there are minds!

I feel I have a body. others too feel the same. This is an experience. Same applies to mind. Each one of us have mind. There are as many minds as there are people. All of us different body and mind. We have emotions, sentiments, pain, hunger, happiness etc. each of us are different.

Therefore, it is fine to say that there are as many consciousness as there are people.

But Advaita Vedanta asks the question again. Why do you think that there is more than one consciousness? What is the rationale?

There are different bodies and different minds.  There is a reason for that. This is it comes from identity. Each one of us is essentially identified to our personal body and individual mind. This comes from attachment. And this is the mundane experience. 

This identity with one’s own body and mind is reflected on Consciousness. This is why it can be known as false perception. One applies the same bodily identity to Consciousness.

Arjuna asks Shri Krishna (in the Gita), which makes an easy path? The path of pure Advaita or dualistic Bhakti?

To tread the path of non-dual approach, the course of Pure Advaita by an embodied soul is tough, indeed. 

How? One easily carries the bodily and mental identity inside the temple of pure Advaita. 

So, who may walk the path of Advaita? Since all beings are embodied. All are attached to body and mind.

Answer is simple. It is a fact that all of us are embodied beings. We have attachment. Through practice of Yoga, meditation etc. one can systematically loosen the grip of attachment and identity.  Once esoteric practices lead to detachment, one Consciousness reveals itself in full glory. Otherwise, an impure soul, who is not fully baked in the fire of Tapas, and thus did not burn out the identity, will certainly smuggle in the ego, physical identity etc. inside the abode of Brahman!

‘I am Brahman!’  What does this mean?  Mundane self, unpolished and the same sullied personality?

Pure Brahman, please! No trash allowed.

It is just like a screen on which all kinds of films are screened. Be it romantic, horror, musical or whatever. For different films, there are no different screens needed. One and the same screen serves the purpose for all.    

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