Yoga Vasistha paints consciousness with a palette of striking metaphors, each one cracking open a doorway into the nature of mind and reality.

1. Ocean and Waves
   Consciousness is likened to an infinite ocean, its surface rippled by waves of thought and perception. Just as individual waves arise and subside without ever leaving the underlying water, thoughts and emotions emerge and dissolve within the ever-present awareness.

2. Space and Pots
   Imagine countless clay pots scattered across a yard, each containing the same limitless space. The divided space inside is no different from the vast expanse beyond. Similarly, individual minds appear bounded yet are nothing but fragments of one unbounded consciousness.

3. Dream Theater
   Waking life and dreams are woven from the same fabric. Just as actors on a stage play roles without losing their true identity, the waking world is a grand performance projected by pure awareness. Recent advances in VR headsets echo this ancient insight—what feels real can still be a crafted illusion.

4. Snake and Rope
   In dim light, a rope may be mistaken for a snake—fear and reality get tangled. Once dawn breaks, the rope stands revealed. This classic metaphor shows how misperception paints the world, dissolving upon clear insight into consciousness.

5. City of Nine Gates
   The human body is portrayed as a walled city with nine gates (five senses, four internal openings). Consciousness surveys events at these gateways but remains untouched, like a silent ruler observing marketplace bustle from a palace.

6. River Merging into Sea
   Individual streams flow into a vast sea, losing their names and forms yet enriching the ocean’s depth. Each mind, upon final awakening, merges back into the universal current of consciousness.

These rich images still resonate today, especially in conversations around quantum physics and digital simulations. They remind that behind every vivid illusion, there’s a silent, unfathomable ground—ever ready to be rediscovered.