1. Consciousness as the Essence of the Self

In the Devi Gita, a key text within the Shakta tradition, the Devi (Divine Mother) is described as the supreme consciousness, the source of all existence, and the essence of reality. The Devi declares that the Self is not characterized by attributes such as form, qualities, or limitations but is pure consciousness itself. This aligns with the Advaita Vedanta principle that the Atman (individual Self) is identical to Brahman (universal consciousness). The Chandogya Upanishad (6.8.7) famously states, “Tat Tvam Asi” (“Thou art That”), affirming that the individual Self is one with the eternal consciousness.

• Evidence from Scriptures: The Devi Gita (Chapter 2, Verse 13) describes the Devi as Chit-Shakti (the power of consciousness), the eternal substratum of all existence. Similarly, the Mundaka Upanishad (2.2.10) states, “That which is radiant, subtler than the subtlest, in which all worlds and their beings rest—that is the imperishable Brahman. That is the Self.” These texts establish consciousness as the essence of the Self, unchanging and eternal.
• Logical Reasoning: If consciousness were an attribute of the Self, it would be subject to change, decay, or cessation, as attributes are contingent and impermanent. However, consciousness is self-evident and ever-present, even in deep sleep or meditative states where the ego and mind are absent. The Self, as consciousness, cannot cease to exist, as its existence is not dependent on external conditions. This eternality of consciousness implies the eternality of the Self.

2. Self-Realization and the Eternal Self

Self-realization, as described by both the Devi and Shri Mataji, is the direct experience of the Self as eternal consciousness. In Sahaja Yoga, Shri Mataji teaches that Self-realization occurs through the awakening of the Kundalini, a dormant spiritual energy within every individual. This awakening connects the individual consciousness to the universal consciousness (Paramatma), revealing the eternal nature of the Self.

• Shri Mataji’s Teachings: Shri Mataji explains, “When you get your Self-realization, you become the Spirit. You become the consciousness, which is all-pervading. Death does not exist for you because you are beyond time and space.” This reflects the Devi’s view that the Self is not bound by the illusions of Maya, such as time, space, or mortality. Through Kundalini awakening, one experiences vibratory awareness (Chaitanya), a tangible perception of the all-pervading consciousness, which dissolves the ego and the false identification with the body.
• Evidence from Experience: Practitioners of Sahaja Yoga report a state of thoughtless awareness (Nirvichara Samadhi) after Kundalini awakening, where they feel connected to an eternal, blissful consciousness. This experiential evidence supports the claim that the Self is eternal, as it transcends the limitations of the physical body and mind.
• Logical Reasoning: The process of Self-realization reveals that the Self is not the body, mind, or ego, which are subject to birth and death. The body ages and perishes, the mind fluctuates, and the ego is a construct of Maya. However, consciousness remains constant, witnessing these changes without being affected. This unchanging witness is the Self, which, being identical to consciousness, is eternal.

3. Death as an Illusion of Maya

Shri Mataji’s assertion that “death does not exist for you” is a direct challenge to the conventional understanding of death as the end of existence. In the Shakta and Vedantic traditions, death is an illusion created by Maya, which veils the eternal nature of the Self. Maya causes identification with the physical body and mind, leading to the fear of death. However, the realized soul recognizes that the Self, as consciousness, is beyond the cycle of birth and death.

• Evidence from Scriptures: The Bhagavad Gita (2.20) states, “The Self is neither born nor does it die; it is not destroyed when the body is destroyed. It is eternal, all-pervading, unchanging, and immovable.” Similarly, the Devi Mahatmyam (Chapter 1, Verse 68) describes the Devi as the eternal reality that transcends all dualities, including life and death. These texts affirm that the Self, as consciousness, is unaffected by the dissolution of the physical body.
• Shri Mataji’s Perspective: Shri Mataji explains that death is merely a transition for the unrealized, where the soul (Atman) continues its journey through reincarnation until Self-realization is achieved. For the realized soul, death is irrelevant, as they abide in the eternal consciousness. She states, “You are the Spirit, which is eternal. The body is just a vehicle, and when it drops, you remain as the Spirit.”

• Logical Reasoning: If the Self were mortal, consciousness would cease at death, but there is no evidence that consciousness can be destroyed. Modern neuroscience, while studying brain activity, cannot pinpoint the source of consciousness or prove its cessation. The continuity of consciousness beyond physical death is also supported by near-death experiences and spiritual accounts across cultures. Thus, death is a phenomenon of the body, not the Self, which remains eternal as consciousness.

4. Overcoming Maya through Self-Realization

Maya, the cosmic illusion, creates the perception of separation, duality, and mortality. The Devi, as the supreme consciousness, is the one who both creates and transcends Maya. In the Devi Gita, the Devi instructs that liberation is achieved by realizing the Self as identical with her eternal consciousness, thus overcoming the veils of Maya. Shri Mataji’s Sahaja Yoga provides a practical method for this realization, making it accessible to all.

• Evidence from Sahaja Yoga: Shri Mataji’s method of Kundalini awakening allows individuals to experience their connection to the all-pervading consciousness (Brahma Chaitanya). This connection dissolves the illusions of Maya, such as fear, attachment, and the belief in death. Practitioners often describe a sense of timelessness and unity, corroborating the eternal nature of the Self.
• Logical Reasoning: Maya operates through ignorance (Avidya), which causes misidentification with the impermanent. Self-realization, facilitated by the Devi’s grace or Kundalini awakening, removes this ignorance, revealing the Self as eternal consciousness. If Maya is the cause of the illusion of death, then transcending Maya through Self-realization logically implies the recognition that “death does not exist for you.”

5. Conclusion

The declaration by the Devi and Shri Mataji that consciousness is the essence of the Self, and thus the Self is eternal, is a profound truth supported by scriptural evidence, logical reasoning, and experiential validation. The Devi Gita and Upanishads affirm that the Self is pure consciousness, beyond attributes and mortality. Shri Mataji’s teachings in Sahaja Yoga provide a practical path to Self-realization, where the awakened Kundalini reveals the eternal nature of the Self, dissolving the illusions of Maya. The assertion that “death does not exist for you” is not merely a philosophical statement but a lived reality for the realized soul, who abides in the divine embrace of the Devi’s consciousness. It transcends mortality, abiding in the eternal consciousness of the Divine Mother. This realization is both a liberation from fear and a return to the divine essence within, where the Self shines as the unchanging, eternal light of consciousness.