The
waking experience is an illusion on the standpoint of the soul, the innermost
self. The soul, which is present in the
form of consciousness, is real and the waking experience is the product of
ignorance. The unchanging consciousness appears as the changing waking
experience through illusion. Illusion is a mysterious indescribable power of
the Atman or soul which hides the real and manifests itself as the unreal:
illusion is not real, because it vanishes when one acquires Self-knowledge or
Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana. It is not unreal also, because it exists till
wisdom dawns. The superimposition of the waking on consciousness is due to
ignorance.
In
the realm of truth the three states are one in essence. That essence is
consciousness. Thus self is consciousness. Thus our body including our
experience of the world is consciousness. The whole universe which contains us
is mere illusion created out of consciousness. Realizing the formless soul (consciousness),
the innermost self as real self leads to self-awareness in the midst of
duality.
Satyam-Jnanam-Anantam-Anandam are not separate attributes. They form the
very essence of Brahman. Brahman cannot be described, because description
implies distinction. Brahman cannot be distinguished from any other than He.
The
objective world-the world of names and forms-has no independent existence. The
Atman alone has real existence. The world is only phenomenal.
Sage Sri, Sankara was the exponent of the Kevala Advaita
philosophy. His teachings can be summed up in the following words:-
Brahma Satyam Jagat Mithya,
Jeevo Brahmaiva Na Aparah
Brahman
alone is real, this world is unreal; the Jiva is identical with Brahman.
Sage Sri, Sankara said :- Just as
the snake is superimposed on the rope, this world and this body are
superimposed on Brahman or the soul, the innermost self. If one gets knowledge
of the rope, the illusion of the snake will vanish. Even so, if he gets
knowledge of Brahman, the illusion of the body and the world will vanish.
The snake is only an idea: it disappears
on inquiry but deeper self-search reveals the fact that, the rope is also an idea and its reality
will be exposed when wisdom dawns. There is neither snake nor the rope in
reality because from ultimate standpoint the duality is mere mirage created out
of consciousness.
Consciousness is the root element of the universe. From consciousness
the universe comes into existence. In the consciousness the universe resides.
And into the consciousness the universe is dissolved. Consciousness is the parent of all that is
there is. The consciousness is the only reality, and the universe to but an
illusory manifestation.
The Veda serves
only as the starting point. What one has to learn from Veda must be understood
through the exercise of reason, as far as reason might go. And what one has
understood must be realized in one’s life.
It is not
that one should pore over the ancient scriptures. There is no need to study first then realize.
One has to realize first then only he will know ‘what is truth’ and ‘what is
untruth’.
