To better illustrate this process, we can identify several key layers, leaving the intermediate stages for personal revelations that unfold along one’s individual journey.

At this level, a person identifies with their physical body and social roles. They perceive themselves through their feelings, thoughts, and reactions, which define their reality. The Ego is linked to a sense of separation, fear, and lack, creating barriers and perceiving the world as a hostile place. In this state, the individual sees themselves as a "Self" limited by time, space, and circumstances. This layer reflects a state of emotional entrapment, where fear, anger, anxiety, and doubt prevail.

As awareness of the mind and emotions develops, a person begins to realize that they are more than just their physical body. Their perception expands. The mind becomes aware of itself, and the person starts to observe their thoughts, feelings, and reactions. However, at this stage, they are still inclined toward analysis and logic, while emotions play a dual role: they can be both a driving force and an obstacle. Here, the person begins to ask themselves questions about their identity: “Who am I?” and “What do I want?”, as they attempt to decipher the meaning of life.

When a person transcends egoistic desires and the limitations of the mind, space is created for intuition and connection with the soul. They begin to recognize their unity with the world, perceiving the hidden harmony of life. This layer reveals the power of unconditional love and inner peace. The individual experiences themselves as a flow of energy, where reality becomes a reflection of inner beliefs. At this level, one realizes that the world exists within them.

Releasing attachment to the personality and external judgments, one begins to sense their Higher Self – an infinite, multidimensional being of light, transcending time and space. At this level, a person perceives reality as their own creation, rather than something external to be perceived or judged. The Higher Self is not confined by thoughts and emotions; it is free, creative, and enjoys every moment. Here, one realizes their inseparable connection with the world and all its parts, experiencing acceptance, clarity, and harmony. In this state, the individual and the world become one.

Upon reaching the final layer, the individual realizes that the entire matryoshka is an expression of the One Source. The Absolute is a state of complete union, where there are no divisions, distinctions, or ego. It is pure consciousness, eternal and boundless, formless yet present in every particle of existence. In this state, one sees that everything sought was always within them, and that they themselves are the Absolute. The need for searching disappears, as all that is necessary is already present. This is a state of absolute freedom, happiness, and peace.

∞

The journey from the Ego to the Absolute is a nonlinear process, representing a continuous and multifaceted journey where each layer of consciousness gradually unfolds and dissolves, liberating the individual from the limitations and boundaries imposed by the external world. In the process of self-discovery, one dives deeper into the essence of their "I", returning to the primordial source from which their true essence emanates. The concept of the matryoshka symbolizes this gradual revelation of the inner whole, where each layer is not a separate part, but an expression of unity, unfolding with each step inward, into the infinite understanding of one’s multidimensionality and connection with the world.