Consciousness – The Ultimate Reality

The Mechanics of Being: Consciousness, Mind, Body, and Soul

By Mukadam Olaitan Ajetunmobi

Who are you? Are you the body? The mind? The soul? Or something beyond?

To truly understand human existence, we must break down its fundamental mechanics. According to Sadhguru, the human system is a complex interplay of consciousness, mind, body, and soul—each functioning at different levels, yet deeply interconnected.

Most people live trapped within their bodies and minds, unaware of the vast intelligence beyond. But once we understand the mechanics of our being, we gain the power to transcend limitations and experience life in its highest dimension.

Let’s explore the structure of human existence and how each layer functions.

1. Consciousness – The Ultimate Reality

Consciousness is the source of everything—the boundless, all-pervading intelligence that exists beyond the mind and body. It is not something you "have"; it is what you are.

In yogic science, consciousness is referred to as "Chit"—a limitless intelligence that does not belong to you or me, but is the very fabric of existence itself. It is not personal, it is universal.

Think of it like electricity: if there is a bulb, a fan, and a heater, they all function differently, but the same electricity powers them. Similarly, different minds and bodies function in their own unique ways, but they are all powered by the same universal consciousness.

Most people are unaware of this because they live identified with their bodies and minds. But the deeper reality is that you are simply an expression of this vast intelligence.

Key Insight: You are not the body, not the mind—you are the field of awareness that contains both.

2. The Mind – The Processing Tool

The mind is not a singular entity; it is a complex mechanism with different functions. Sadhguru breaks it down into four fundamental components:

1. Manas (Memory): The storehouse of all experiences, knowledge, and impressions.

2. Buddhi (Intellect): The analytical, logical, and decision-making part.

3. Ahankara (Identity): The sense of "I"—whatever you identify with shapes your reality.

4. Chitta (Pure Intelligence): The deepest layer, beyond thought, connected to the universal intelligence.

Your mind is meant to be a tool for perception and understanding, but most people get trapped in it. Instead of using the mind consciously, they become enslaved by thoughts, emotions, and past experiences.

The secret to mastery is to step beyond the thinking process and tap into the deeper intelligence of Chitta, which is untouched by the noise of memory and conditioning.

Key Insight: Your mind is a tool, not your master. Learn to observe it, not get lost in it.

3. The Body – A Vehicle for Experience

Your body is a temporary structure—a complex biological mechanism designed to serve as an instrument for experience. Every cell in your body carries millions of years of evolutionary memory, allowing it to function without conscious thought.

Sadhguru often says, "Your body is just an accumulation of food," meaning it is constantly renewed through what you consume. While the body is a crucial part of your existence, identifying with it too deeply leads to suffering.

Example: Imagine identifying so strongly with your car that you panic every time it gets a scratch. Similarly, if you think you are the body, you will constantly fear aging, sickness, and death.

When you understand that the body is just a temporary vehicle, you stop being enslaved by its needs and fears. Instead, you use it as an instrument for deeper experience and exploration.

Key Insight: You are not the body; the body is your temporary home—take care of it, but don’t be owned by it.

4. The Soul – A Misunderstood Concept

Many people misunderstand the word "soul." In reality, what we call "soul" is simply an individual spark of consciousness—not separate from the whole, but momentarily experiencing itself in a limited way.

In yogic science, there is no separate "soul" floating inside you. Rather, there is one consciousness manifesting in different forms. Your existence is like a wave on the ocean—momentarily rising and falling, but never separate from the whole.

If you experience yourself as an individual, it is because of your identification with the mind and body. The moment you transcend these, you experience yourself as part of the vast oneness of existence.

Key Insight: You are not a separate "soul"—you are a drop of the infinite ocean of consciousness.

How to Align These Dimensions for Higher Living

The key to mastering life is to align these four dimensions in a way that leads to clarity, joy, and boundless experience. Here’s how:

1. Expand Your Consciousness

• Shift from intellectual understanding to direct experience.

• Practice meditation, stillness, and inner observation.

• Let go of rigid beliefs and experience reality as it is.

2. Master the Mind

• Observe thoughts without being trapped by them.

• Drop past conditioning and experience life afresh.

• Use intellect wisely, but don’t let it limit you.

3. Use the Body Consciously

• Keep the body in peak condition through movement and proper diet.

• Treat the body as an instrument, not your identity.

• Align body energies with higher consciousness through yoga and breathwork.

4. Realize You Are Not Separate

• Drop the illusion of "I" and experience the interconnectedness of all things.

• Move beyond ego and live in a state of inclusiveness.

• Shift from personal identity to universal awareness.

Final Thought: You Are Not Limited

Most people live life trapped in their body and mind, unaware that they are far greater than both.

Once you realize that you are pure consciousness, not just a body or a mind, you gain access to freedom, joy, and infinite possibilities. You stop living reactively and start living consciously.

The mechanics of your being—consciousness, mind, body, and soul—are not separate things; they are different expressions of the same intelligence. Understanding this is the key to living a life of fulfillment, clarity, and boundless joy.

Who you are is not the body. Who you are is not the mind. Who you are is beyond both. You are the infinite consciousness experiencing itself in human form.

👉 Are you ready to go beyond the body and mind, and experience who you truly are?