The mind cannot be described as both real and unreal, because these two contradictory qualities cannot exist in the same substance. It must therefore be said that the mind is neither real nor unreal because it is mere mirage.
Mind is myth because it is mere mirage. ‘Universe appears to exist as real because of our ignorance of consciousness. Thus the mind, which is in the form of universe, is reality on the base of the physical self, which perceives the world as a person, within the mind.
Man and universe exist as real because of ignorance of consciousness, which is the true self. This ignorance not only covers consciousness, but it projects the universe as a reality. The universe has no reality apart from consciousness. When the knowledge of consciousness arises, the universe is seen as a mere appearance of consciousness.
Another illustration may be taken to explain this. Ornaments of different sizes and shapes are made out of one metal. Their appearance and the use for which they are meant vary, but the fact that they are all really only metal, in spite of the different appearances and uses, cannot be denied. The appearance may change, a bangle may be converted into rings, but the metal always remains as metal. Similarly, on the dawn of the knowledge of the true Self which is consciousness, though the different forms of shapes of beings, creatures, animals and things , etc., continue to be seen by the Gnani, he sees them all only as appearances of the Consciousness. Thus the perception of difference and the consequences of such perception, such as looking upon some as favorable and others as the opposite, and the consequent efforts to retain or get what is favorable and to get rid of or avoid what is not favorable, come to an end.
This is the state of freedom even in the midst of waking experience, which is freedom from experiencing duality as reality. Similarly, bondage has no real existence at all. Even when we are ignorant of consciousness and think of ourselves as limited by the body, we are really none but the infinite consciousness. Freedom is thus only the removal of the wrong identification with the body, and the world. The attainment of the state of freedom from ignorance is the goal of seeker of truth.
Ignorance or illusion is what conceals consciousness and projects the universe. It is because of this that everyone identifies himself with physical self or waking or dream and is ignorant of the truth that “self” is none other than consciousness. Illusion may be looked upon from few different standpoints.
For the ordinary worldly individual who looks upon the world as real, illusion which is the cause of the appearance of the universe is real.
For the enlightened person the self is consciousness. It is possible to discriminate between truth and untruth, if the reasoning base is rectified from waking or dream [form] to soul [formless], for the easy understanding, assimilation and realization.
Consciousness’ means ultimate truth, and ‘Mind’ stands for the universe or illusion. The purpose of pursuit of truth is the destruction of primal ignorance, which leads to the attainment of the ultimate truth. Man and universe exits within the waking or dream. Waking has waking entity and waking universe. Similarly the dream has dream entity and dream universe. And deep in sleep has neither the waking entity nor waking universe nor dream entity nor dream universe.
The freedom arises even in the midst of waking experience, which is freedom from experiencing duality as reality.
Similarly, bondage has no real existence at all. Even when we are ignorant of consciousness and think of ourselves as limited by the body, we are really none but the infinite consciousness. Freedom is thus only the removal of the wrong identification with the body, and the world. The attainment of the state of freedom from ignorance is the goal of seeker of truth. Ignorance or illusion is what conceals consciousness and projects the universe. It is because of this that everyone identifies himself with physical self or waking or dream and is ignorant of the truth that “self” is none other than consciousness. Illusion may be looked upon from few different standpoints.
For the ordinary worldly individual who looks upon the world as real, illusion which is the cause of the appearance of the universe is real.
For the enlightened person the self is consciousness. It is possible to discriminate between truth and untruth, if the reasoning base is rectified from waking or dream [form] to soul [formless], for the easy understanding, assimilation and realization.
