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.
People are not aware of the fact that, there is no individual God can
exist, apart from consciousness, which is in the form of consciousness. Thus
the consciousness is the consciousness.
Consciousness is the true self.
If there is no consciousness, then there is no body, no ego, no
universe, no religion and no conceptual god.
People think that there must be a creator of this universe. If one
thinks physical entity or ego as self,
then there is a creator, but if one thinks the consciousness or consciousness as the Self, then there is nothing exists
other than the consciousness, which is the true self.
If one objectifies and sees a universe, then he is bound to see many
things beside himself and postulate a God, the creator. Body, God and world
rise and set together from, and into, the Self (consciousness). If God is apart
from the Self (spirit or consciousness), then He would be selfless, that is,
outside existence, that is, non-existent.
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. Advaita
does not prove that there is ONE! It proves that there is no second thing.
Theological
thinkers say God is a perfect being, but they have never known God, never
proved his existence; hence their ascription of perfection to Him is purely
self-imagined. If one has to test truth in the next world only, then there is
no proof of the existence of the next world, other than it is mentioned in the
doctrines. The doctrines truth is not ultimate truth. Scriptures are being added to from time to time. This
process will go on. There is the final authority among them? One contradicts
the other: duality reigns supreme.
Suppose
one sees God. How is he to know that He is God? His mere statement is not
enough. He must have proof; He must show that He is God.
It
is impossible to prove the existence of God by any reasoning: one can only say
"I believe. Belief is not truth. “The most rational position is that: "I do not know."
Every religion has its own idea of the god, the paradise, heaven, sin and karma. But where people have got a little thinking
capacity, they begin to disbelieve through the contradictions of various
contending orthodox claims and descriptions.
Unless
one gives up the ideas of the idea of god, heaven and hell, it is impossible
assimilate Non-dualistic or Advaitic truth. Truth must be proved here and now,
on this world, in this very life. Not in next world and next life. The idea, as the existence of personal God
heaven, hell and sin and karma are mere imagination based on the false self
(waking entity) within the false experience (waking). When waking experience itself is false then
whatever one sees, knows, believe and experiences are bound to be falsehood.
The seeker of truth has to pursue this
quest until his questions will be answered, until his problems will disappear
and his doubts will be solved. Only
through soul-centricity the truth will revealed.
Only in non-duality, where there are no
two to argue about views or to have a difference of opinion can such doubtlessness
be possible. Belief depends upon
unstable bases whereas certainty depends on proof.
