The Alchemy of Self: From Identity to 

                                     Oneness

Philosophy: Vijay Madan

Photo: Vijay Madan

The construct of Vijay—the identity he had meticulously built over the years—was like an elaborate mosaic, composed of fragments from his life, his roles, and the narratives he had crafted around them. Each piece was shaped by the expectations of society, the influences of family, the lessons of education, and the ambitions he carried within himself. It wasn’t false, but it wasn’t the full truth either. It was a projection, a construct, a representation of who he thought he was, rather than the infinite essence of who he truly was.

The Layers of Vijay’s Construct

The Curious Child

At the heart of Vijay’s identity was the spark of curiosity he had carried since childhood. As a boy, he would lose himself in the wonders of the natural world—peering into the details of leaves, marveling at the colors of the sky, and asking endless questions about the mysteries of life. This insatiable curiosity became a defining trait of his construct, shaping him into an eternal seeker of knowledge and truth.

The Dedicated Teacher

Vijay’s role as a chemistry teacher became another cornerstone of his identity. In the classroom, he was not just a dispenser of knowledge but a performer, weaving stories and experiments to inspire his students. He took immense pride in this role, finding validation and purpose in their curiosity and success. Yet, this identity also carried weight—an unspoken pressure to always have the answers, to always be the mentor.

The Philosopher and Thinker

Vijay’s construct expanded with his fascination for philosophy. His search for meaning led him to books, debates, and meditation. He became the person others turned to for wisdom, the one who seemed to have a deeper understanding of life’s complexities. This role fed his ego in subtle ways, as he began to see himself as a guide, even as he sought to transcend the need for validation.

The Artist and Photographer

His artistic pursuits added yet another layer to his identity. Behind the camera and on the canvas, Vijay found freedom and expression. These outlets allowed him to communicate what words could not—beauty, emotion, and the interconnectedness he felt with the world. Yet, even in these moments of creation, there was a part of him that sought recognition and approval, subtly anchoring him to his construct.

The Specialist in Mental Hygiene

Vijay’s work in mental hygiene added a sense of duty to his identity. He saw himself as a healer, someone who could help others untangle their mental chaos and find clarity. While this role was deeply fulfilling, it also reinforced a subtle barrier—an “us and them” dichotomy that placed him in the position of helper and others as seekers.

The Ego and Its Attachments

Underneath all these roles was the ego—the part of Vijay that needed to define itself, to create boundaries between “me” and “the world.” The ego whispered narratives of success and failure, of who Vijay should be and who he should avoid becoming. It fed on achievements, relationships, and comparisons, crafting a self-image that was comforting yet confining.

The Illusion of the Construct

As Vijay surrendered to the universe, he began to see the fragility of this construct. He realized that every identity he had adopted—teacher, philosopher, artist, healer—was a mask, a temporary role he had played in the grand theater of life. These roles were meaningful, but they were not the entirety of who he was.

The self he had called “Vijay” was not the solid, unchanging entity he had believed it to be. It was a dynamic amalgamation of thoughts, memories, experiences, and societal labels. When he allowed these constructs to dissolve, he didn’t find a void but an expansive fullness. Without the boundaries of the ego, he felt infinite—a part of the stream, the trees, the earth, and the sky.

The Dissolution of Vijay

In that moment of surrender, Vijay experienced a profound truth: the self is not the roles we play, the achievements we accumulate, or the labels we accept. It is the awareness behind all these constructs, the silent observer that remains when everything else fades away.

This dissolution was not a rejection of his past or his identities. Rather, it was an understanding that he was more than the sum of these parts. The “Vijay” who taught chemistry, captured beauty through his lens, and pondered life’s mysteries was simply one expression of the infinite. The moment he let go of the need to cling to this construct, he found freedom, peace, and an unshakable connection with the universe.

From that point on, Vijay lived with a lightness that came from knowing he was both everything and nothing at once—a magician whose power lay in the recognition that the construct of self was never the whole story.