People think it is very difficult to acquire Self-Knowledge
or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana. It is
very difficult to acquire Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana because it has been
adulterated in the past with religion, yoga and theoretical philosophies. Self-knowledge
or Brahma Gnana has to be acquired carefully and gradually, through deeper
self-search.
In the past, spirituality was treated not as a
separate subject but as a part of religion, but it is not so. Religion is based
on the form (egocentric) and spirituality is based on formless (soulcentric). Therefore,
spirituality is nothing to do with religion and yoga. Thus the path of wisdom has to be bifurcated
from the path of religion and yoga and all egocentric paths and practices, in
order to remove all the obstructions which blocking the realization of ultimate
truth. Spirituality is a rational inquiry
regarding all that is known to exist.
Whatever stage one may be is he is receptive and able
to devote himself exclusively to a pursuit of the ultimate truth
or Brahman, by means of soulcentric reason leads him to non-dualistic or
Advaitic Self-Awareness
The seeker should pursue this quest until all his questions
will be answered, until his doubts and confusions will disappear and solved.
If God is to be
Almighty he must be free to change his mind. If he is changeable, He cannot be
Truth, as per my definition.
v
How does one know that he is
related to God?
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Has he seen God?
That He created the world, that he has manifested himself
is merely supposed. It may be, but how does he know?
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How does he know that the
scriptures are true?
The sages, seer or prophets might
have been mistaken. To accept these scriptures without reasoning is to possess
the slave mentality.
One should not start his pursuit of truth with the idea of
God , because he does not know whether there is a God or not. There is no
proof. If anyone mentions about God then he must prove his existence because
mere belief cannot be accepted as proof.
One need not doubt that mystics saw God. That they saw
visions may he an undeniable fact. However, the question is “Was what they saw
the Truth?" They no doubt had such vision but they never stopped to
inquire if their visions be true.
Swami Vivekananda :-
THE MASSES IN INDIA CRY TO SIXTY MILLION GODS, AND STILL DIE LIKE DOGS.
WHERE ARE THESE GODS?
Knowing this, stand up and fight! Not one step back that is the idea. ... Fight it out, whatever comes. Let the stars move from the sphere! Let the whole world stand against us! Death means only a change of garment. What of it? Thus fight! You gain nothing by becoming cowards. ... Taking a step backward, you do not avoid any misfortune. You have cried to all the gods in the world. Has misery ceased? The masses in India cry to sixty million gods, and still die like dogs. Where are these gods? ... The gods come to help you when you have succeeded. So what is the use? Die game. ... This bending the knee to superstitions, this selling yourself to your own mind does not befit you, my soul. You are infinite, deathless, birthless. Because you are infinite spirit, it does not befit you to be a slave. ... Arise! Awake! Stand up and fight! Die if you must. There is none to help you. You are the entire world. Who can help you? - Swami Vivekananda
(Delivered In San Francisco, on May 28, 1900) -The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda/Volume 1/Lectures And Discourses/The
Gita II
Spiritualists take
all the facts, science, religion, art etc. and then ask of them, which is the
truth? One collects as much evidence as possible, even contradictory, and then
proceeds to examine all of it. One is not opposed to anything, but says, "inquire,
analyze and reason on the true base, how far is it true?”
Belief in tradition and scriptures as true
leads to a path of fanaticism. Belief, believer and belief system are part of
the duality. The duality is a mere mirage from ultimate standpoint. Due to fear injected by belief system to
the avoidance of the "wrath of God," the hope of heaven or salvation,
or the imagined "end of suffering people are stuck to their inherited
beliefs.
"God" exists because
"you" exist, not vice versa. When awake to true nature this is known
immediately.
Sri, Sankara says
Atman is Brahman and everything is Brahman is scientific declaration not
religious or yogic. Sri, Sankara and Goudpada are more scientific than anyone
else in the world. Since, the real Advaitic essence is hidden it cannot be got
without the inner (mental) journey.
Goudpada says that:- The
merciful Veda teaches karma and Upasana to people of lower and middling
intellect, while Jnana is taught to those of higher intellect.
Gnana here is knowledge un-contradictable truth
or scientific truth. Thus their scientific truth of the whole not part is declared
by Sri,Sankara 1400 years back and thought only to those of higher intellect.
Thus karma and upasana, yoga and orthodoxy have to be bifurcated in order to
realize the ultimate truth or Brahman
Wisdom is for those are capable of inquiring into their own existence to know
and realize the ultimate truth or Brahman
