“The inner Self (consciousness) sees everything but is not seen by anything. It gives light to the intellect and ego but is not enlightened by them. It permeates and illuminates this entire insentient universe, but the universe does not affect or change it even to the slightest extent.

That inner Self, as the primeval spirit, eternal, ever radiant, full of infinite bliss, single, indivisible, whole and living, shines in everyone as the witnessing awareness.

That Self in its splendor, shining in the cavity of the heart as the subtle, pervasive yet un-manifest ether, illumines this universe like the sun. It is aware of the modifications of the mind and ego, of the actions of the body, sense organs and life-breath. It takes their form as fire does that of a heated ball of iron; yet it undergoes no change in doing so.

This Self is neither born nor dies, it neither grows nor decays, nor does it suffer any change. When a pot is broken the space inside it is not, and similarly, when the body dies, the Self in it remains eternal.

It is pure knowledge. It illumines Being and non-being alike and is without attributes. It is the witness of the mind in the waking, dream, and deep sleep states.”

Sri Shankaracharya - from Vivekacudamani and Drg-Drsya-Viveka

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The inner nature is bliss-filled, conscious and real or absolute, it is universal - not located in time or space, deathless, pure, unchanging, untouched by suffering, intuitively wise - the core of being.

Knowing oneself to be this essence is the goal of yoga.

You are not the mind, you are not the body: you have a mind and a body - these are tools, vehicles for experience - but the owner, the inner essence, is untouched, unchanged, by what it witnesses being experienced in the theater of the mind and body.

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Today people have little time for introspection and the mind is so constantly busy that one may scarcely catch a glimpse of this blissful inner nature, though perhaps there is a dim and distant memory of a time when there was such a connection.

Mostly, even the memory is gone. But there remains a deep unconscious craving for re-connection - a craving for the peace and happiness that was once experienced. In fact one could say that this craving is THE fundamental urge that underlies all desires.

Without access to this true inner nature, there is a tendency to identify with features of the mind, body and experience. But because these go through constant flux, this sense of identity also fluctuates along with them. This leads to a deep state of insecurity and uncertainty - and results in many types of physical and mental afflictions.

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Unlike, objects, sensations and accolades, whose pleasure-giving effect quickly wanes, the inner self as true source of all pleasure or happiness, remains an unlimited source.

Objects don't give pleasure - pleasure does not come from outside - they temporarily reduce mental stress so that the innate inner blissful nature can be experienced for a few moments.

In our ignorance, we then run after such objects and feel the pain of not having them. The inner bliss is thus covered over, obscured or distorted by day to day experience.

Just as parting clouds reveal the sun, so does the dissipation of darkness that clouds the mind reveal the inner nature.

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Happiness comes from within: daily meditation allows one to drink at the source of bliss, so that a sense of peace and clarity may pervade the day.

All human thirst, all craving, is nothing but a sublimated desire to come home... to come home to the Self.

Meditation provides the space for this reunion.

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Yoga practices are designed to reduce stresses and return the practitioner to a wholesome and natural condition.

When body and mind are in a good condition, yoga happens naturally.

Consciousness - The True Inner Nature