If mind is illusion then what is reality. What is it that is aware of the mind, which comes and goes? One has to have understanding of how these three states exist. One has to be aware of the fact that, the physical existence is mere mirage , which appears as waking or dream and disappears as deep sleep. It is wrong to conclude there is no existence at all, because the formless substance and witness of the mirage prevails eternally. The substance and witness are one in essence. The essence is the soul or spirit or consciousness.
The idea of "nothing exists" beyond the physical existence comes from a understanding based on the physical self. Only when one discovers the fact that self is not physical but it is formless spirit , then one becomes aware the true existence is not physical but it is non-dual. Because one understands existence in a limited, one-sided way, that is on the physical base , it becomes difficult understand the reality. Soul or consciousness , the innermost Self is one with everything.
It was incorrect to say that the self is finite, but it is also incorrect to say that the self is infinite. Because self is finite on the physical point of view and self is infinite on ultimate point of view. One should not to hold on to views about whether the self is this or that, because the physical existence is mere mirage created out of single stuff. The individual self is false and only the formless witness of the three states, is the true self. Understanding the self requires going beyond physical existence or universe or mind.
The individual
experience within the dream is reality with in the dream. Therefore waking
reality is also is reality within the waking. This waking is parallel dream and
dream is parallel waking. Only when self-wakes up in waking the dream becomes
unreal. When the self, consciously wakes up in its formless non-dual true nature
in the midst of waking experience then all the three states are mere mirage
created out of its formless non-dual true nature.
The form
time and space within the dream are falsehood when waking takes place.
Similarly the form, time and space of the waking are also falsehood when wisdom
dawns. The wisdom dawns only when one realize the self is neither the waking
entity nor the dream entity. Thus it is erroneous to judge and reason and
conclude the ultimate truth on the base of waking entity and waking world
because waking experience itself is illusion.
Suppose
you were holding the same view in the dream, all your experiences and views are
reality within the dream. The dream becomes unreal when waking takes place.
Similarly the waking becomes unreal when you become aware the fact that, the
self is not an individual. Thus whatever
individual experiences experienced within the waking is as unreal as dream.
Till one thinks body as body and world as
world it is impossible to grasp non-dual truth, because his views and judgments
are bases on physical self with the physical existence. The individuality is reality with the waking
experience but the waking experience itself is false hood. Thus holding the
view as an individual within the false experience is erroneous on the ultimate
point of view. The waking is parallel dream
and dream is parallel waking experience.
In waking the universe comes: in deep sleep the waking goes. In waking is one born; in
waking one dies.
In waking one lives, in Waking one suffers. In Waking one earns,
in Waking one enjoys. In Waking is one truthful or lies like a liar. In Waking
one reflects on Virtue and Sin. In Waking do one lands in Heaven and Hell. In
Waking is one happy, in Waking in sorrow. In Waking does one lose the
distinctions of caste and creed. In Waking is one wise; in Waking is one
unwise.
In Waking one has an urge to know the truth. In Waking one is in
the illusion; in Waking is one shadowed by Doubts and confusion, in waking one
thinks of reincarnation and rebirth. In
waking one thinks that he is born in this world and world existed prior to him.
In waking one is in ignorance of the true self, which is consciousness. If one
spots out the true self within the three states, one realizes the way to
freedom.
One is in action in Waking. In Waking one is bound by form, time
and space. Waking is in the form of mind. Mind appears and disappears as waking
or dream. If there is no mind then there
is no waking or dream. Waking or dream is born out of ignorance of the true
self. Getting rid of the ignorance through wisdom is the way to the release. In Waking or dream,
one follows the Writ of habit. Waking or dream is a chronic malady; but within
it also is its remedy.
The formless soul or consciousness, the innermost self is not perceptible
to the senses. It is perceived by Reason. It is not perceptible as a thing with
form and attributes. To those whose attention is fixed on the body and the
world, it is very difficult to attain Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma
Gnana. It is also very difficult for them to see the consciousness as self. The
attention towards the universe (mind) should be lessened by realizing the self
is not the body. The attention has to be focused on the formless substance and
witness of the universe [mind] should be increased. So long as the attention is
directed towards the universe, the experience of birth, life and death will
prevail as reality. But when the attention is directed towards the formless
substance and witness of the mind, the ignorance vanishes and the sense of
reality of the duality will disappear. Then there is unity in diversity.
