Deeper-self-search reveals the fact that, the karma theory is
meant for those who are immersed in worldly life thinking the individual life
within the particle world as reality. In path of truth the karma theory becomes
a great obstacle in realizing the truth.
When Sri, Sankara says clearly, the universe is not real. He says that
Brahman and Atman are one. The ultimate and the Absolute Truth is the Self,
which is one though appearing as many in different individuals. The individual
has no reality. Only the Self is Real; the rest, mental and physical are but
passing appearances, then it indicates the form [waking/duality/mind] is unreal the
formless is real [soul/spirit/self/FW]. Therefore, only Atman is real because
there is no second thing other than Atman.
He also clearly mentions that:
The path of religion, theory of karma, path of yoga and the path of
wisdom were intended for different classes of people. The wisdom is for the
advanced seekers of truth. It deals with the nature of the ultimate Truth and
Reality. It is meant for superior aspirants who have inner urge to know the
truth and it is not for those who are immersed in earthly desires.
Thus we have to know the fact that Buddha, Goudpada and Sri,Sankara are
not only reformers but also the greatest scientists. Since there
original thesis have been lost in the labyrinths of philosophy and
mutilated by pundits and orthodoxy, it becomes very difficult understand and
assimilate the wisdom expounded by the great masters. In addition, the
conservativeness of the orthodox scholars will not allow any research other
than playing with the words, which suits the mass mind sets, because of their
egocentric outlook.
All the add-ons have to be deleted, in order to understand and
assimilate the real fragrance of the wisdom expounded by the great masters of
Advith, but it is hurricane task. Thus, it is no use going through all
the scriptures, when there is direct path to non-dual truth. The same time
and effort can be used to reach the non-dual destination, in lesser time and
effort.
Non-duality does not need the support of any Scripture or Revelation like
the Veda. For it is based, not upon the varying theological fancies, which are
as numerous as the sands of the sea, but upon reason, the common heritage of
all mankind, irrespective of colour or creed or clime.
Seeker of truth has to know that something is inadequate in Buddhist or
Advaitic teachings to reach the non-dual destination because of the add-ons and
adulteration. Thus it becomes difficult to reach destination directed by the
Buddha, Sri, Sankara and Sri,Goudapada.
It is for the seeker to go on his own and remove the obstacle. The
greatest hindrance is mixing religion, god, scriptures, and yogic theories.
Moreover, attachment to scriptures, personal god and religious code of conduct
keeps one permanently in the grip of duality.
When the self is neither the body nor the ego, neither the
waking entity not the dream entity, then how the karma based on the false self
within the false experience can yield fruits. Therefore, karma is a religious fable.
The karma theory
is reality only for those who believe their present physical identity [ego] as
real, and world as reality. When the Sri, Sankara declares the world itself is
illusion, and Brahman is real, then what value the karma theory has when the
world is illusion, because man is part and parcel of the illusory world.
Therefore, one has to view and judge the worldview on the standpoint of Brahman
[Atman/true self] in order to overcome the duality, which he is experiencing
it as reality. The individuality is
reality within the illusory world. Therefore, all the theories created within
the illusion on the base of false entity, within the false experience, has to
be the part and parcel of the illusion.
Thus it is necessary to realize the fact that Atman is the true self
and all else is illusion, to overcome the illusory concept of cycle of birth,
life and death. Thus to understand and
assimilate Sri, Sankara’s Advitic truth, seeker
has to do his own home work
through inquiry, analysis and reasoning on the true base, without mixing
religion, scriptures, theories concept
of god and yoga.
Sri Sankara says in Aparokshanubhuti:-
88.
When the whole universe, movable and immovable, is known to be Atman, and thus
the existence of everything else is negated, where is then any room to say that
the body is Atman?
89. O enlightened one, pass your time always contemplating on Atman while you are experiencing all the results of Prarabdha; for it ill becomes you to feel distressed.
90. The theory one hears of from the scripture, that Prarabdha does not lose its hold upon one even after the origination of the knowledge of Atman, is now being refuted.
91. After the origination of the knowledge of Reality, Prarabdha verily ceases to exist, inasmuch as the body and the like become non-existent; just as a dream does not exist on waking.
92. That Karma which is done in a previous life is known as Prarabdha (which produces the present life). But such Karma cannot take the place of Prarabdha (for a man of knowledge), as he has no other birth (being free from ego).
93. Just as the body in a dream is superimposed (and therefore illusory), so is also this body. How could there be any birth of the superimposed (body), and in the absence of birth (of the body) where is the room for that (i.e., Prarabdha) at all ?
94. The Vedanta texts declare ignorance to be verily the material (cause) of the phenomenal world just as earth is of a jar. That (ignorance) being destroyed, where can the universe subsist ?
95. Just as a person out of confusion perceives only the snake leaving aside the rope, so does an ignorant person see only the phenomenal world without knowing the reality?
96. The real nature of the rope being known, the appearance of the snake no longer persists; so the substratum being known, the phenomenal world disappears completely.
97. The body also being within the phenomenal world (and therefore unreal), how could Prarabdha exist ? It is, therefore, for the understanding of the ignorant alone that the Shruti speaks of Prarabdha.
98. “And all the actions of a man perish when he realizes that (Atman) which is both the higher and the lower”. Here the clear use of the plural by the Shruti is to negate Prarabdha as well.
99. If the ignorant still arbitrarily maintain this, they will not only involve themselves into two absurdities but will also run the risk of forgoing the Vedantic conclusion. So one should accept those Shrutis alone from which proceeds true knowledge.
The above proves that the karma is reality only on the base of false
self, where one thinks body and the universes as reality. When one becomes
aware of the fact that, the true self is formless soul, then the karma becomes
part and parcel of illusion. My point is that, if one accepts
the karma theory as reality, he will never be able to come out of the
ignorance. And ignorance makes him believe the cycle of birth, life and death
as reality. Thus the freedom which one is seeking will remain
distant dream. For the one who accepts the experience of the birth life and death as reality,
Self-knowledge is impossible.
