Exploring the Nature of Consciousness: The Journey from Thoughts to the Observer

1. Are You Your Thoughts or the Observer?

The sun, a spark of awareness, illuminates the world with grace, bringing life to every space.

On my journey of exploring consciousness, I experienced a transition from gradual realisation to sudden awakening. Initially, I vaguely sensed the existence of the "observer," but it took a long period of inner transformation to truly understand and accept this perspective.

During this process, I was drawn to certain classic books. Although reading them was not always smooth, I felt an undeniable pull to continue. At the same time, I engaged in painting, documenting life, and studying art therapy. Many of my artworks at the time were simply assignments, but months later, when I reviewed all my pieces and read my own interpretations, I experienced a sudden shift in understanding.

I was astonished to discover that when watching the same movie under different mental states, the paintings I created were entirely different, with contrasting emotional tones. If not for my own awareness, it would have been impossible to tell they were based on the same film. This made me realise that I was constantly wearing “coloured glasses,” and what I perceived was not the actual reality.

At that moment, I discovered the identity of the “observer.” I started to recognise its position—not within the story but as the background of all stories.

2. The Outer World is a Mirror of the Inner Self

When you start realising that the world is a projection of your inner state, the emotional response can be both exhilarating and overwhelming. This realisation means that the source of everything is not external but within “me.” The events I encounter and the people I meet are all reflections of my inner beliefs and emotions.

Example:

• When I am at peace, the stories I experience feel warm and reassuring.

• When I am anxious, everything appears hostile, and even the smallest details can trigger tension.

Practice: Try observing your world throughout the day. Notice how your emotions shape your reality. When you become aware of a certain emotional state, observe if the external world also changes accordingly.

3. “Inner Truth” is More Important Than “External Identity”

A child waking up, climbing up the hill, slowly immerses in the state of being.

The identities assigned to us by society are external constructs, while consciousness is our true essence. Are we willing to explore our inner world rather than focusing solely on the external?

This transformation does not happen abruptly; it unfolds slowly and quietly. Sometimes, we forget that we are the “observer” and become immersed in the story. But with practice, when emotional turbulence arises, we start to remember—our true self is not within the story.

Each time we recognise this, we return to a state of peace and clarity.

4. Practice: Immersing in Pure “Being”

1. Find a quiet space and close your eyes.

2. Observe the flow of your thoughts without judgment.

3. Notice that the “thinking self” and the “self observing the thoughts” are different.

4. Allow yourself to enter a state of “pure presence”—without defining, explaining, or analysing, just experiencing.

Art Practices: An Invitation to Draw, Paint, and Observe

• Emotion Mapping:

  After a meditation session, use colours and abstract forms to express how your mind and body feel in that moment. Let your intuition guide the composition.

  
  

• Sound to Colour Experiment:

  Sit in a quiet place and listen to the sounds around you. Try translating the sounds into colours or shapes on paper, allowing the act of listening to influence your artistic expression.

When you start recognising that your consciousness is more real than your identity, you embark on a true journey of inner exploration. The next step is to learn how to stabilise this awareness and genuinely begin the path of inner cultivation.

Reflection: “If I no longer cling to my external identity, what would my inner world look like?”