Qualification for seeker after truth are:-
1. Sound common sense which can distinguish between foolishness and wisdom.
2. Balanced mind
3. Sharp reasoning.
By reflecting on the subject repetedly the understanding becomes clearer and easier. When the mind has purged itself of ignorance, i.e. become clearer through persistent reading of F.P & IP blogs, and the truth will start revealing on its own when the mind gets matured enough and becomes receptive.
Hearing means indirect cognition of witness from a teacher/guide. Direct knowledge means: By reason and inquiry and analysis one comes to have direct knowledge.
The awareness must itself be identical with Atman --i.e. that which is capable of knowing. The ego has also to be eliminated though when one is arguing and thinking the formless witness identifies itself with ego and its functions through it. "Whatever we know is the truth"-- this is the preconception which everybody has. The first thing in pursuit of truth is to make sure that what one knows is true.
In theology everyone is entitled to his own view, i.e. what he likes; but in pursuit of truth this is not permissible. That which dupes most of people is taking satisfaction for truth. Seeker has to be aware of that which satisfies his feelings. "Felt" experience is no guide to the highest, because one’s feeling may differ from others.
Truth must be independent of one’s self; it is not to be what pleases him: all prejudices must go.
Those who talk of "I feel so and so" provide psychological and not spiritualistic reasons. Devotees seek to know God, because they seek some benefit; seeker of truth seeks to know him in truth. Steadiness of mind depends upon what one is interested in. one’s mind can be steady only on what his mind is attached to.
Things and problems concerning truth appear simple at first, and hence ordinary people speak presumptuously and glibly about it. But when one inquire he find how little he know and that they are extraordinarily complex and he is obliged to go deeper and deeper into them.
One readily takes it for granted that both he and others knows what objects are or what the universe is because he has such immense conceit. Such an easy attitude arises because he does not know the complexity of these apparently simple matters, which in turn arises because of lack of inquiry and reasoning on the true base.
A person with emotion who changes from one path or school of thought to another, he looks for novelties that appear charming to him.
