Ultimate truth or Brahman cannot be known by intuition but it can be
grasped from the reason based on the true self. Therefore, there is a need to
know first the self is not physical but the formless consciousness. Then start
reasoning on the base of the formless consciousness, all the clouds and
confusion starts clearing on its own and finally one will have no confusion left to say the
illusion as whole is spirit.
One knows everything within the waking experience is consciousness
because the waking experience itself is mere mirage created out of
consciousness. The physical apparatus is absent in deep sleep, so one
cannot know anything by intuition, because there is no duality in deep sleep.
This proves that the duality is present only in waking or dream. And also
it proves that if there be such a faculty as intuition it must be limited
to the physical self.
In Panchadashi:-Atman
The is the witness-consciousness that experiences the action, the actor, and
the world of separate things. It is like a light that illuminates everything in
a theatre, revealing the master of ceremonies, the guests, and the dancers with
complete impartiality. Even when they all depart, the light shines to reveal
their absence.
The attainment of truth happens only when one realizes the mind and the soul are one in essence. And there is no second thing exists other then the spirit because the experience of diversity (universe or waking or mind) is created out of spirit.
The virtue and love is part of the the illusion. In reality nothing exists other then the non-dual spirit. The virtue implies duality. Until the duality remains as reality, there is no unity in diversity. Therefore there is no need to know what you are but one has to know what the truth is, because the true Self is not physical but formless Spirit. the spirit is in form of consciousness. soul , the innermost self is without any gender. Realizing self is neither the waking entity nor the self is dream entity but the self is formless Soul . on the stand point of the formless soul, the innermost self , the universe( physical existence or waking ) is mere mirage. Soul or Consciousness is real and eternal and all else is mere mirage created out of consciousness.
Self-Knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana
is necessary to know the fact that, the universe, which appears is in the form
of mind and disappears as nothingness (formless) is mere mirage created out of
nothingness, which is consciousness. Thus the consciousness is the source and
witness of the universe or mind, which comes and goes. Thus it is necessary to
know the formless witness of the three states in order to know the fact that,
the true self is apart and free from the mirage ,which is in the form of birth,
life, death and the universe. Therefore, it is necessary for the seeker to make
sure how the three states are mirage.
The body and the world are reality within the waking experience but the waking
experience is mere illusion, same way as the dream body and the dream world
were reality within the dream. The dream becomes unreal when the waking takes
place; similarly the waking experience becomes unreal when the non-dual wisdom
dawns.
Q: could you please explain a bit more on Paramatma vs Atma vs Jivatma
Sometimes I seem not to be able to get my mind around that one.
A:-As one goes deeper self-search , he becomes aware of the fact that, the self is not physical but it is the formless soul or spirit. The soul is the innermost self. The soul is present in the form of consciousness. Due to ignorance one judges and reasons on the base of waking entity or ego,which is the false self within the false experience. Thus the reasoning base has to be rectified from form base to formless base in order realize the the three state ,which comes and goes are unreal and the formless witness of the coming and going of the three states is real and eternal. The soul or consciousness is the formless witness of the coming and going of the three states. Thus one has to becomes aware of the existence of the formless witness ,which is apart from the three states. Without becoming aware of the existence of the formless witness of the three states, it is impossible to acquire Self-Knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana.
Through soul-centric reasoning one realizes the fact that , whatever seen, known, believed and experienced on the base of physical self is mere illusion. Within the illusion we are bifurcating it Jivatma, Atma and Parmatama, but on the ultimate stand point, the illusion is made of single stuff . that single stuff is consciousness. Consciousness(soul or spirit) .
When the is soul identified with physical body it is ego/physical self/Jivatma. When the soul is identified with body+world--it is mind. When one investigates the mind, he become aware of the fact that the substance of the mind is spirit. Thus the whole diversity[mind] is created out of single stuff ,which is Soul or Consciousness.
One has to realize the fact that, the self is soul (consciousness or spirit). the formless soul is our true identity. Soul or consciousness is ultimate truth or Brahman or Paramataman.
When one realizes the self is formless soul(consciousness or spirit) , how any second thing can exist, other then the contagiousness or spirit or soul. Therefore, the soul or consciousness itself is ultimate truth or Brahman or Parmatman or Christ or Emptiness.
It is better use less words and try to understand the ultimate truth. There is no need of Paramatms vs Atma vs Jivatma doctrine. Seeker has to just drop all accumulated dross. It is impossible to find and realize the truth via religion and scriptural study. Even Upanishads conform this.
Katha Upanishad:
This Atman cannot be attained by the study of the Vedas, or by intelligence, or by much hearing of sacred books. It is attained by him alone whom It chooses. To such a one Atman reveals Its own form. (Katha Upanishad Ch-II -23-P-20)
Mundaka Upanishad :-This Atman cannot be attained through study of the Vedas, nor through intelligence, nor through much learning. He who chooses Atman—by him alone is Atman attained. It is Atman that reveals to the seeker Its true nature.(3–page-70Mundaka Upanishad Upanishads by Nikilanada)
When the Upanishads says: the human goal is to acquire Self-Knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana and they indicate the personal gods, scriptures, worship and rituals are not the means to Self –Knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana, then why anyone should indulge in it.
The religion, concept of individualized god and scriptures are greatest obstacle to realize non-dual truth or self-realization, because they are based on false self. The seeker of truth has to search the ultimate truth without losing himself in the labyrinths of philosophy, through deeper, inquiry, analysis and reasoning and assimilate and realize it.
It is much easier to understand and assimilate, when one tries to verify the facts on his own. We have only the mind, in which I, you and others and the whole universe exists. If there is no mind then ‘I’, you and others and the whole universe ceases to exist.
All that scriptures will not allow you to think beyond the mind. The mind appears and disappears as waking or dream. There is no mind in deep sleep. The deep sleep is unconsciousness of the self. The nature of the soul or consciousness is like deep sleep. When we consciously become aware of the nature of the soul, the innermost self through wisdom , in the midst of waking ( universe or duality), is Self -Realization. Self -Realization is Truth -Realization. Truth realization is God -Realization. Therefore, analyzing the Mind(Matter) and No mind(spirit necessary in order to unfold the mystery of the mind or illusion.
Until one understand what mind really is, he will not be able to assimilate non-dualistic or Advaitic truth. Consciousness is the essence of the mind and consciousness is the soul. the soul is the innermost self not the waking entity(ego). Considering the waking entity as self is cause of the egocentricity.
Consciousness cannot be divided into fragments, and Consciousness is the innermost self self . Consciousness is enduring, and existing in everything and everywhere in all the the three states.
Thoughts, ideas, experiences and feelings, are part of the illusion. The nature of illusion is constant change, and in this sense are to be regarded as unreal. The illusion covers and hides the Consciousness. The illusion seems to be reality on base of the ego or waking entity,which is false self within the false experience.
In non-duality there is no' two', there is only 'one'. It is only illusion and on the base of waking entity or ego ,which is the cause of to view everything as separate from him. This fact is discovered through deeper self-search. when one becomes aware the self is not physical but it is formless spirit then the fallacy of three states is exposed. in realm of truth there is no second thing exists other then the spirit. thus whatever exist as universe is mere mirage created out of consciousness. thus consciousness alone is real and eternal.
Self- Knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana is necessary in order to realize what is what. To understand and assimilate the non-duality and acquire Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana one has to know what is mind, because this knowledge and realization is beyond the mind.
All the three states are mental. In order to know something beyond the mental states, one needs to analyze the three states. To comprehend the mind and what is beyond it, one has to rise above it, to the source beyond it.
Consciousness is
the innermost Self. Consciousness is within this universe but it is not of this
universe. It is in this universe, but not of this universe means it is the
formless substance and witness of the universe, which is in the form of the
mind (I). The mind (I) appears as waking or dream and disappears as deep sleep.
The self who is in the form of consciousness is the formless knower of the
mind, which comes and goes. Consciousness is above; it is transcendental
to all the miseries, which are inevitable in this illusory universe.
Therefore, there is a need to realize the fact that, the mind, which is in the
form of universe is mere mirage created out consciousness. Thus,
the birth, life, death and world are mere mirage on the stand point of the
consciousness, which is the true self. Only on the base of physical self the
universe is reality. Thus the Self is within the universe but it is
without the universe.
Only a Gnani alone can actually create the awareness of the truth. He can
enliven and illuminate others to get out of this ignorance by being
transcendental to the illusory birth, life, death and the universe. Gnani tries
to guide the seekers get rid of the inherited ignorance and, rise above the
egocentric concepts, be in this universe, but not of this universe, be in tune
with the consciousness, which is his true identity and the ultimate
truth.
The soul is the innermost self. the soul is present in the form of consciousness. There is only consciousness. The mind,which is present in the form universe is within the soul or consciousness. The universe is nothing but consciousness because it is made out of consciousness. Thus consciousness alone is real and eternal. No second thing exists other than consciousness. Hence it is non-dual.
Mind is the whole universe,which includes every person, animal, plant and tree, everything animate and inanimate . The consciousness manifests in and through myriads of forms, all forms being inseparable part of it.
The three states are are only illusion. Ignorance is cause of experiencing the duality as reality. in duality ,which is mere illusion . Within the illusion one thinks he is an individual separate from the world.
Because of ignorance, one has the firm conviction that, he is an individuate born in this world and world existed prior to him . this conviction makes him believe his experience of birth,life,death and the world as reality. thus his judgment is based on the birth- entity ,which is not the self, because the self is birthless because it is formless. That is why, there is so much misunderstanding, disagreement and clashes of egos on the subject of truth. Everyone considers himself as individual separate from the world. And the world existed prior to him and he is born in it. till this conviction is there he will not be able to grasp the non-dualistic or Advaitic truth.
Everyone is deeply engrossed in the worldly life believing the birth, life and death as reality. This attitude leads to being trapped in the prison of illusory physicality. Where there is duality there is always misunderstandings, disagreements, burden and bondage. Only by realizing the non-dual truth sets one free from experiencing the duality as reality.
Whether one agrees or disagrees, the truth remains truth eternally. The consciousness pervades in all the three states as their formless substance and witness. Soul is in the form of consciousness, but in illusion it becomes mind, which contains man and his experience of the world. Within the mind the man and his experience becomes reality because mind is considered as physical entity and one thinks mind is within the physical body, whereas the the physical body and the world are within the the mind. This aspect has to be rectified before indulging in pursuit of truth.
The division in consciousness creates illusory separation, but when the formless substance of the illusion is traced then one becomes aware the diversity is mere mirage created out of the consciousness. Therefore, there is no second thing exists other then the consciousness.
The body and the world are not apart from the consciousness , because they both are one in essence. Thus ,body and the world are mere illusion created out of consciousness . Till one thinks the waking entity or ego is the self , he remains experiencing the illusion or duality as reality. Till one thinks duality as reality it is impossible to realize the non-dualistic or Advaitic truth.
Most God men or Swamis seems to be very sincere. Everyone speaks about great things and their lives, but their lives are with full of controversies. The trouble is that most people who come from the west have a very innocent, very trusting, and they are unaware that, in India, diverse beliefs and theories is considered as spirituality.
The dollar conscious guru focus his attention more on the western crowd and he makes them emotionally involved with him, naturally they get involved with him. Most people get attracted to tantric sex, with a promise of reaching super- consciousness. Deeper self-search revels the fact that, the self is not physical, but it is formless spirit , then how can one reach the super- consciousness on the base of false self.
The seeker of truth has to realize the fact that, the religion and yoga are not spirituality, because religion and yoga are built on physical foundation therefore, it is not the means to acquire self-knowledge.
Even the Advaita Master, Sri, Sankara' gave religious, ritual or dogmatic instruction to the mass but pure philosophy only to the few who could rise to it. Hence the interpretation of his writings by commentators is often confusing because they mix up the two viewpoints. Thus they may assert that ritual is a means of realizing Brahman, which is absurd.
In commentary to "Brahma Sutras Sage Sri, Sankara writes:- "The highest beatitude is not to be attained by Yoga."(Sacred Books of East Series page 298 Vol.1.) And he also says Samadhi is the same as sleep(p.312). ---this indicates that yoga is not the means to self realization. And yogic Samadhi is not non dual wisdom.
Religion is parrot-like, but to the Western seekers it seems to be a tremendous revelation -- when some one quotes parable from the scriptures Because for the West, spirituality is a foreign affair, just as for the East, science is a foreign affair.
Yajurved says:
Translation 1. They enter darkness, those who worship natural things (for example air, water, sun, moon, animals, fire, stone, etc).
They sink deeper in darkness those who worship sambhuti. (Sambhuti means created things, for example table, chair, idol etc.) (Yajurved 40:9)
Translation 2. "Deep into shade of blinding gloom fall asambhuti's worshippers. They sink to darkness deeper yet who on sambhuti are intent." [Yajurveda Samhita by Ralph T. H. Giffith pg 538] Translation 3. "They are enveloped in darkness, in other words, are steeped in ignorance and sunk in the greatest depths of misery who worship the uncreated, eternal prakrti -- the material cause of the world -- in place of the All-pervading God, But those who worship visible things born of the prakrti, such as the earth, trees, bodies (human and the like) in place of God are enveloped in still greater darkness, in other words, they are extremely foolish, fall into an awful hell of pain and sorrow, and suffer terribly for a long time." [Yajur Veda 40:9.]
So, YajurVedaindicates that:-
They sink deeper in darkness those who worship sambhuti. (Sambhuti means created things, for example table, chair, idol etc(Yajurved 40:9)
Those who worship visible things born of the prakrti, such as the earth, trees, bodies (human and the like) in place of God are enveloped in still greater darkness, in other words, they are extremely foolish, fall into an awful hell of pain and sorrow, and suffer terribly for a long time."[Yajur Veda 40:9.]
The religion of the Veda knows no idols
Max Müller says:- "The religion of the Veda knows no idols; the worship of idols in India is a secondary formation, a degradation of the more primitive worship of ideal gods."
Therefore, there was no individual god or temples and worships in Vedic religion, which exited prior to Buddhism. Thus the individualized gods and temples must have been built later on, when the worships of idol were introduced. Thus the Vedic religion which existed in the past was free from idol and nature worship and idol worshiping rituals.
Thus, the present days worship of individual gods, created things, nature and human are against Vedic teachings, and it looks like it has been fabricated and introduced by priest craft. Since it, has passed on from one generation to the next it is hard for the people to believe the truth of their own religion, because they have sentimentally and emotionally involved in it and they refuse to accept anything else other then their inherited beliefs.
Looking at the increasing number of fake god men and gurus and their scandals, it is high time for the truth seekers, who are capable of thinking must do deeper research and know the fact that, their inherited religious belief is mixed and messed up in the past and people are made to believe that it is their duty to protect their religion and their belief and tradition, which is the hotchpotch ideology and not the real non- dual philosophy. The ultimate truth lies beyond all religion, scriptures beliefs and philosophies.
It is impossible to find and realize the truth via religion and scriptural study. Even Upanishads conform this.
This Atman cannot be attained by the study of the Vedas, or by intelligence, or by much hearing of sacred books.It is attained by him alone whom It chooses. To such a one Atman reveals Its own form. (Katha UpanishadCh-II -23-P-20)
Mundaka Upanishad :-
This Atman cannot be attained through study of the Vedas, nor through intelligence, nor through much learning. He who chooses Atman—by him alone is Atman attained. It is Atman that reveals to the seeker Its true nature.(3 –page-70Mundaka UpanishadUpanishads by Nikilanada)
When the Upanishad says: the human goal is to acquire Self-Knowledge and they indicate the personal gods, scriptures, worship and rituals are not the means to Self –Knowledge, then why anyone should indulge in it. The religion, concept of individualized god and scriptures are greatest obstacle to realize non-dual truth or self-realization, because they are based on false self. The seeker of truth has to search the ultimate truth without losing himself in the labyrinths of philosophy, through deeper, inquiry, analysis and reasoning and assimilate and realize it.
Miracles are part of the duality. Without duality miracles are impossible. Miracles makes one remain in the prison of physicality. Miracle man is neither a mystic nor a Gnani, just an ordinary magician. This miracle based god men are hypocrites because they know nothing of ultimate truth. They declares themselves as great Gnanis. They build multispecialty hospitals in the name of serving people, it means they do not have power to cure people without the hospitals. All their concern to people and good work has to be appreciated and they deserve to be glorified for their noble deeds, but not for their miracle power. In the realm of truth miracles are part of the illusion.
People go and seek god men , to fulfilment of their desire and dreams thinking he has the power to fulfil all his desire . people think he can produce things out of air, he can do anything, so a deep affinity happens immediately. That's why thousands of people around these god men waiting with their begging bowl ,without realizing the fact that, the god men himself is the beggar ,who accepts the money from everyone.
In the presence a Gnani , one will not see multitudes there, because there is no affinity because he is ordinary householder. He never claims himself a Gnani. He wears no religious robes. He never speaks of god , nor he invokes anyone in the name of god and religion. He only tries to guide others. He never imposes any one to accept his thoughts. Only advanced souls will recognize him.
This religious based gurus has an appeal deep inside the mass. People think he is the right man. He is right man for those who follow the path of blind beliefs. But wrong choice for those who are seeking after the truth. No one can decide who is the right man, because people create their own deceivers, they give them the opportunity. They follow magicians, snake charmers, blind believers ,and the people with religious robes but not to the man of truth, because mass is not after truth, they are after things.
If one really seeking the truth , then he has to drop ignorance. To drop ignorance he has to drop his beliefs. Seeker has to start in pursuit of truth completely without beliefs. Seek truth with no beliefs and no accumulated knowledge. Only then, he will be able to grasp the non-dual truth; only the truth starts revealing itself. Then one becomes aware all the god men who are pretending to be Gnanis are mere pretenders. .
All kinds of frauds... but people become interested in them, thinking that here is a man of miracles. And what is the use of this miracle power from which the violence and terrorism happening around the globe cannot be stopped.
In pursuit of truth there is scope for miracles. The three state itself a miracle. Whatever is happening between the three states is miracle. It is a beauty, it is magic, but it is all spontaneous. It is not practiced, it is not rehearsed. But most people are interested in supernatural powers, healing people with supernatural powers, or creating things out of nothing, just as these God men is doing. It is so simple that any street magician can do it. In fact the more experienced street magicians can do it in a far better way, and can do many more things than he is doing.
The great magician David Blain performs all sorts of magic but he never claims himself as god. These god men perform mere magic, which they claim as miracles. Even if they perform real miracle , it cannot be accepted as truth because they are performing them within the illusion.
People are in no mood to verify the facts, they think people who talk against the god men are senile or an Atheist.
All that god men produces is things, and he gives people things, not wisdom, and they think it is great. The magicians are pretending to be a spiritual personality. It is not only a question of a single person pretending to be spiritual when he is not. The question is that he attracts thousands of people, and people who are seeking after truth, who believe that this God men of miracles may impart something to them, may lead them to the ultimate truth.
Believers are not seeker of truth. Because the truth is not belief. Belief is the greatest obstacle in pursuit of truth. Once one accepts the belief he cannot come out of the physical shackles.
The religious people wants miracles ,they are not interested in truth. They go to god men because truth is not the question there -- miracles are happening. They can hope. They think the god men , by his miracle, can take their worldly troubles away. And by his blessing they will become rich. They go to god men because he deals in things which they need. their real object is they want what they need. This miracle games has no value at all, of no spiritual value at all.
The attachments, burden and bondage of the worldly life is so intoxicating that even if one go towards seeking truth he look for miracles. If he finds a man of truth standing before him , he will not recognize him. If man of truth and god men are both present he will definitely move towards god men, and not towards man of truth, because man of truth does not perform any miracles.
People are in search of god men nor man of truth. People are impressed by miracles, because their deepest desire is for the worldly things and not for truth.
