You Are Not Book.indb - Stephen H. Wolinsky Ph. D.

8 / You Are Not
There is only THAT SUBSTANCE; however, upon its
contraction or condensing, the illusion of differentiation
occurs and, hence, we get what we could call consciousness.
It is this contraction of THAT SUBSTANCE, which forms
consciousness and which gives the illusory appearance of
separation, and that there are two or more substances of
which this alleged universe is made of. However, there is only
THAT UNDERLYING SAME SUBSTANCE.
THAT SUBSTANCE appears to become differentiated
consciousness and weaves a web of separation called “I” and
a world. And it is out of this spider’s web and the power of
condensation (in Sanskrit, called Maya), which forms the
great illusion. And it is this “power” of illusion, which, like
a spider, weaves a web out of itself (its urine). The power
of condensation (which is still THE SUBSTANCE), weaves
a web made from THE SUBTANCE that forms the concept
called consciousness from within itself. And it is this web of
consciousness that makes us believe in a “my” consciousness, a
“your” consciousness, and in separation, war, peace, and divisions—
when, in reality, it is only THE SAME SUBSTANCE.
Simply put, ultimately, there is ONLY THAT UNDERLYING
ONE SUBSTANCE.
Thus consciousness, and even the concept called “my” consciousness,
is formed and is still made of THE SUBSTANCE
and as such, it forms I AM and the veils of consciousness,
thus solidifying the illusion of two or more substances, even
though it is still made of THAT ONE SAME SUBSTANCE.
This, in archetypal terms, is often depicted as Siva, an
archetypal yogi sitting on Mount Kailas meditating (the
spider), consciousness (the web), and Maya the power of
condensation that holds the web together. “I” spent much
time with a teacher, Baba Prakashananda, who once said to
me, “Consciousness, Shakti is Maya.” In other words, consciousness
is condensed “from” THE SUBSTANCE; but in its