Absent of duality is emptiness. Emptiness is not Self-Awareness or Brahmic-Awareness. Duality or mind rises from emptiness and dissolves as emptiness(soul or consciousness). Thus, emptiness is nothing but soul or consciousness, the innermost self. The nature of the soul is emptiness or non-duality. Self-awareness or Brahmic-Awareness is awareness of the non-dual nature of the soul(consciousness) in the midst of duality(waking) .
One has to grow from the inside out. None can teach him, none can
make him spiritual. There is no other guru but his own soul.”
Self-Knowledge or Atma Gnana or Brahma
Gnana cannot be attained by one who is without strength or earnestness or
without the receptiveness and courage to accept the truth and reject the
untruth. If a serious seeker strives sincerely by means of inquiry, analysis
and soul-centric reasoning, he will be able to realize it.
It is only seekers sincerity and
earnestness in his spiritual pursuit, the knowledge started revealing on its
own. Anyone who has humility and
patience and is sincere and ready to drop their accumulated dross and receptive
to accept the truth will enter non-dual Self-Awareness when his conviction
becomes firm.
Sage Sri, Sankara was criticized for his views
on Maya (illusion) without understanding him. He said that (1) Brahman (the Self) is real (2) the universe is unreal, and (3) Brahman is the
universe. He did not stop at the second because the third explains the other
two. It signifies that the universe is real if perceived as the ‘Self’ and
unreal if perceived as apart from the Self. Hence Maya or illusion and
reality are one and the same.
The realists criticize the concept of
illusion without understanding it. He said that
(1) Consciousness
[the Self] is real
(2) The universe or mind is unreal, and
(3) Consciousness is the mind or universe, because universe or mind
is mere illusion created out of consciousness.
One need not stop at the second because the
third explains the other two. It signifies that the universe is real if
perceived as the Self [consciousness] and unreal if perceived as apart from the
Self (consciousness). Hence illusion and
reality are one and the same because both are one in essence. Realizing the
essence, which is consciousness as the innermost Self, is Self-Realization or
Truth- Realization of GOD- Realization. Thus Sage, Sri, Sankara‘s declaration is
rational truth, scientific truth and also ultimate truth.
In Self-Awareness the
witness and witnessed are one in essence. That essence is consciousness. There
is no second thing exists other than consciousness.
Soul or
consciousness is our innermost self is the witness that experiences the action,
the actor, and the world of separate things. It is like a light that
illuminates everything in a theatre, revealing the master of ceremonies, the
guests, and the dancers with complete impartiality. Even when they all depart,
the light shines to reveal their absence.
What is not consciousness
(formless) in the experience of diversity (waking)? The waking and the dream cease to exist
without consciousness. The seeker,
seeking and his destination all are one
in essence.
