At the heart of it there seems to be an presence watching what goes on in the mind -  or more to the point - "watching what manifests as Mind" as perception builds up a construct which is noticed by awareness; the perceived  becoming consciousness only after the acceptance of perceptions' reality occurs. Previous to consciousness it is direct perception of consciousness which is awareness, not consciousness.

This is the state which is referred to in the AJATA doctrine: (the doctrine of NO-BECOMING) as "The Turiya State." 

Guadapada Gita States:

Quote:

10. In the matter of the eradication of sorrows, it is the Inexhaustible Non-dual One - the Lord - who rules. Turiya is known as the all-pervading source of all that is.

End quote.

Until the Cosmic Consciousness is attained it appears that the witness of the play of perception exists within the boundaries of the physical self or Universe because there can be no knowledge of "I-ness or existence of "I" without the existence of a representative "I" (as long as there is a concept of "I"). So that the body appears to be the Self within which the perception is happening; Yet there is always one within who refers to whatever is conceived as the self -- as itself..... This is where the subtle "I" or Ego/Soul/Jiva enters the picture.

This Jiva, This Soul-ego is the "I" within us which refers to the Self known as "I the golfer", "i the mechanic", "i the doctor, the yogi or house-wife etc, with such and such attributes. Yet the referrer is not the golfer etc.. 

The referrer is "The I who knows Me-The-Golfer etc." The referrer is the I who ceases to exist once referral ceases. This is The Ego. It is The Subtle "I" or Mental body as Sri Aurobindo calls it. Imagine -- "I-without-a-definition!

As long as the infinite awareness refers to "any self with attributes" as its Self, there will be a duality of consciousness/awareness. As long as a concept of Self exists, so does the illusion of Cosmos hold sway over awareness, because with the existence of the duality, Cosmos exists to support the manifestation caused by the Omnipresent Consciousness having referred to an individual something as the whole self.

All those other "I's" have attributes, but the subtle I itself has none (which means it does not exist in reality) yet in order to exist it refers to the self with attributes and says that is ME!..... and the collection of all those I's is known as the Cosmic I.. because in the end the consciousness expands to become the Cosmos itself. yet the Ego refers to that Cosmos as Self, instead of seeing that it (the ego and because of that the Cosmos too) does not exist.

The whole thing is that the Ego or individual lives in a Universe that is Unique to it, yet when The Cosmic Consciousness is attained all universes are dissolved into an endless Cosmos. Which make it (the ego) think it has attained enlightenment when all that has occurred is a revelation of the true nature of the Cosmic Ego or body of God.. We should not be interested in the body of god but in the actual consciousness of god out of which the cosmos arises.

The process of the realization of the Cosmic Consciousness is a process of continuous expansion of awareness and knowledge brought about by the gradual orientation of mind toward Unity-Consciousness. So that in the moment that the weight of understanding brings about the transcendence of its belief in personal and physical individuality, the ego or self consciousness (in order to continue to exist) - produces an stupendous effigy of godhead or archetypal being that is representative of the knowledge that ego has attained. This is what is referred to as Bhairava. He who is full of all

The Vijnana-Bhairava Tantra  States:

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Bhairava and Bhairavî, lovingly united in the same knowledge, left the undifferentiated state so their dialog may enlighten all beings. 

They left Unity-Consciousness ............ They only came into existence at the moment the question of identity arose.

1. Bhairava’s Shakti, Bhairavî, said: 

O God, who manifests the universe and makes light of this manifestation, you are none else than my Self. I have received the teachings of the Trika which is the quintessence of all the scriptures. However, I still have some doubts. 

In this verse it is clear that she says he is none other than herself...

2-4. O God, from the standpoint of absolute reality, what is the essential nature of Bhairava? Does it reside in the energy of the phonemes? In the realization of Bhairava’s essential nature? In a particular mantra? In the three Shakti? In the presence of the mantra which lives in every word? In the power of the mantra present in each particle of the universe? Does it reside in the chakras? In the sound Ha? Or is it only the Shakti? 

She is asking him what is his essential nature.

5-6. That of which all is composed, is it born out of both immanent and transcendent energy, or only out of immanent energy? If it were the product of transcendent energy only, then transcendence itself would have no object. Transcendence cannot be differentiated in sounds and particles for its undivided nature cannot be expressed in the many. 

Realization would have no reason, the Cosmic manifestation of being would be meaningless. Yet without the foundation of non-existence the transcendent could not transcend, because there could be nothing to transcend... Shakti being his non-existence gives rise to his transcendence. Just as the acceptance of the nonexistence of the subtle "I" gives rise to the transcendence of this World. So he transcends non-existence by existing as the source of existence.

7-10. O Lord, may your grace do away with my doubts! 

Excellent! Your questions, O Beloved, are the essence of the Tantras. I will reveal to you a secret teaching. All that is perceived as a composed form of the sphere of Bhairava must be considered as phantasmagoria, magical illusion, a ghost city hanging in the sky. Such a description only aims to drive those who fall prey to illusion and mundane activity towards contemplation. Such teachings are meant for those who are interested in rituals and external practices and stuck in duality. 

We are concerned with how the delusion of the existence of the Cosmos occurs so that it can be transcended.

11-13. From an absolute standpoint, Bhairava is not associated with letters, nor with phonemes (syllables), nor with the three Shakti, nor with breaking through the chakras, nor with any other belief, and Shakti does not constitute his essence. All these concepts taught in the scriptures are aimed at those whose mind is still too immature to grasp the supreme reality. They are mere appetizers meant to spur aspirants toward ethical behavior and spiritual practice so that they can realize some day that the ultimate nature of Bhairava is not separate from their own Self. 

14-17. Mystical ecstasy isn’t subject to dualistic thought, it is completely free from any notion of location, space or time. This truth can only be touched by experience. It can only be reached by those entirely freed from duality and ego, and firmly, fully established in the consciousness of the Self. This state of Bhairava is filled with the pure bliss of unity between tantrika and the universe. Only this state is the Shakti. In the reality of one’s own nature thus recognized, containing the entire universe, one reaches the highest sphere. Who then could be worshipped? Who then could be fulfilled by this worship? Only this condition recognized as supreme is the great Goddess.

end quote.

God arises with the birth of the Cosmos yet in himself that God Transcends the Cosmos. Yet extreme trouble results from not knowing the nature of the true self.

So then who transcends what in which place? After realization who is it that arises newly enlightened? No-one, nothing........ He only exists then. It is not a case of the yogi becoming god or of the consciousness becoming god either, but it is a case of the Consciousness transcending itself... Transcending that which causes Consciousness's Consciousness is The True Self". While the Cosmic Self is the Body of the Atman Only, causing consciousness's awareness of existence.

Bhairava is the Consciousness......... in himself he does not appear, nor does his Shakti (manifesting power) who is called Bhairavi.... because both are one in The Turiya State.

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