The title says it all. Let's analyze this statement. Let us keep this simple and not get dragged into a metaphysical discussion. For anything to appear, there has to be someone to whom it appears. That is, the object is an appearance (or perception) in some entity's mind. When I say, I see an apple, I mean that the apple is perceived by my mind. Meaning, the apple is an "appearance" in the mind. Now, if I am in deep dreamless sleep and the apple is on the table, would I be able to perceive it? Not at all, since the mind is in abeyance in deep dreamless sleep. The apple is still there though ( but I would not know it unless I wake up- that is unless consciousness returns to the body!!)
Can the mind be there without consciousness? Not at all, for the mind is fueled by the consciousness. A dead man has no consciousness and therefore no mind and therefore cannot perceive the world. Consciousness can also be equated with the sense of presence or "I am". Therefore, without the "I am" or consciousness there is no mind and as a result thereof, no perceptions of the world of objects, emotions or thoughts is possible. So, would it not be fair to say that all that is perceived ( i.e. objects, thoughts, emotions, feelings) is an "appearance" in consciousness. Yes, the perception occurs through the sensorial apparatus called body-mind. The body is also an object that is perceived by the mind and hence would be an appearance in consciousness. It becomes clear from the above simple discussion, that what I appear to be ( this psychosomatic apparatus called body-mind) is not who I really am. Instead, the body is just an appearance in consciousness, just like the rest of the world. The body is therefore like any other object out there. Again, it is clear that what we think we are is a case of mistaken identity!!
Going further, the objects that appear cannot affect the substratum on which they appear. Let's take an example of a television. The various images appear on the television screen. The image of a raging fire does not "burn" the screen!! The image of water does not "wet" the television screen. Indeed when the images stop appearing on the screen altogether, the screen is still unaffected and remains the same. Taking this analogy, the screen is the consciousness on which the various images appear. They however do not affect consciousness and it remains "pure and untainted". In the same way, another analogy can be made about the sky being unaffected by the clouds (large, small, dark, light or whatever type of clouds). The sky remains as an unaffected and unchanging witness to the changing and moving clouds. You ARE the unchanging, unaffected witness to the changing world including the changing body and mind ( which you mistakenly call "my body and mind"!!). You cannot deny this statement if you carefully contemplate on it. You know your body and you know it has changed over the years. You know your mind and know its contents including its changing emotions, feelings, thoughts. Aha!! So, you ARE the unchanging observer or witness of the changing body and mind. Simple. Keep it simple.
