This spiritual teaching uses the metaphor of ego-consciousness as an upside-down glass submerged in the ocean. The water (consciousness) within the glass is really the same as all the water outside the glass, but it sees itself as separate because it is looking through the barrier of the glass. This causes one to identify with a small, isolated sense of self instead of the infinite ocean of being. Ultimately, you are invited to stop identifying with the contents inside the “glass” and instead realize you are, and have always been—the ocean itself.

© Sounds True Inc. Episodes: © 2026 Michael A. Singer. All Rights Reserved.

The purpose of life is for divine consciousness to merge back into unity through the expression and experience of its interaction with form. Human suffering arises when we resist this process of evolution and demand that the outside world match our personal desires and fears, rather than learning from the reality of the present moment as it unfolds. Enlightenment is the natural outcome of letting go and merging with the unfolding reality, serving the divine rather than the egoic self.

© Sounds True Inc. Episodes: © 2026 Michael A. Singer. All Rights Reserved.

True spiritual growth naturally evolves from a disciplined practice into a spontaneous art, where life is experienced and expressed without inner resistance. For example, working off one’s karma is actually done within, by releasing stored impressions that we formed by resisting past experiences. These impressions block the natural flow of energy (Shakti) within us. Liberation is found by learning to relax through discomfort, letting go of past impressions, and ceasing to use the outer world to manage our inner wounds. This becomes the sacred art of spirituality.

© Sounds True Inc. Episodes: © 2026 Michael A. Singer. All Rights Reserved.