From the
ultimate standpoint there is neither bondage nor an illusion because there is
only oneness. There is no scope for
duality. In duality there is always bondage and urge for freedom. Just by
uttering the word ‘I’ am free no one becomes free. A disease does not leave off if one simply utters the name
of the medicine, without taking it; similarly without direct realisation one
cannot get freedom by the mere utterance of the words.—FORMLESS
PATH
Many people are not even aware what
is Atman; though knowing of it, many do not comprehend. Only few expound the
knowledge of Ataman and very rare assimilate and realize it. It is all because of their inherited
religious and social background and grooming.
There is a need to dismantle the inherited
physical structure mentally to overcome the duality. The whole physical
structure is built on the foundation of the ‘I’. Since they think the ‘I’ as
Ataman/self, it becomes difficult to grasp and assimilate and realize the
non-dualistic truth.
The ‘I’, appears and disappears as
mind (waking/dream) is impermanent, hence it is not the self. The formless
knower of the ‘I’ (waking/dream) is the true self. Since people think whatever
is propagated by the guru/yogi as ultimate truth and blindly accept it as
truth, without verifying the validity of their preaching. This blind acceptance
becomes a big hindrance in pursuit of truth. If one is seeking truth, one has
to verify the validity of any claim through inquiry, analysis and reasoning on
the true base, and accept only un -contradictable truth.
Self-knowledge when taught by an
unqualified person is not easily comprehended, because it is diversely regarded
by disputants. But when it is taught by him who has become one with Ataman,
there can remain no more doubt about It. Atman is subtler than the subtlest and
not to be known through argument
Self- Knowledge cannot be attained
by reasoning based on the ‘I’ (physical based). Atman becomes easy of
comprehension, when taught by another. One has to attain self- Knowledge right
now in this very life not in next world or next life.
Gnani, by means of concentration on
the true Self, realizes that ancient, effulgent hidden and which dwells and
pervades in everything and everywhere in all the three states as its formless
substance and witness.
The knowing the true Self is not
born; It does not die. It has not sprung from anything; nothing has sprung from
It. Birthless, eternal, everlasting and ancient, it is not killed when the body
is killed or when the world disappears. If the murderer thinks he kills and if the killed man
thinks he is killed, neither of these apprehends aright. The Self kills not,
nor is it killed.
Atman exists in smaller than the
small, greater than the great, and is hidden in the three states as its
formless substance and witness. A man who is free from viewing and judging the
worldview on the base of ‘I’ beholds the Self through Awareness and becomes free from experiencing the duality
as reality.Gnani, having realized Atman as
dwelling within impermanent states is bodiless, pervades the three states as
its formless substance and witness and permanent and eternal.
Self-knowledge cannot be acquired
by the study of the scriptures, 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.
He who has not rectified his
seeking base from the ‘I’(form) base to soul(formless) base , who does not have
the intense urge to know the non-dualistic or Advaitic truth and who is not tranquil and subdued and
whose mind is not receptive , cannot acquire Self-Knowledge . It is realized
only through inquiry, analysis and reasoning on the true base.
