Hierarchy of Existence

At the heart of the Self Realization Mantra lies a profound understanding of existence itself. While it is not required to understand the underlying hierarchy in order to practice the mantra, it may be helpful to explore the fundamental layers of reality from which the mantra arises. This Hierarchy of Existence begins with the unmanifest source known as Amness, and progresses through Being, Consciousness, Awareness, and finally, Experience.

The Hierarchy of Existence

1. Amness — The unmanifest, sourceless source. Pure beingness that contains all possibilities and transcends all dualities.
2. Being — The first manifestation of Amness. When the unmanifest becomes manifest.
3. Consciousness — Arises from Being. Consciousness is the field in which the four aspects of Self exist: Iself, Allself, Godself, and Noself.
4. Awareness — The directed attention or focal point within the field of consciousness.
5. Experience — That which arises from awareness. If you’re not aware of something, you didn’t experience it, even if something happened.

This Hierarchy of Existence provides a clear map of how reality unfolds from the unmanifest source all the way into our everyday experience, offering a deeper context for the transformative power of the Self Realization Mantra.