In Panchadashi:- Atman
The is the witness-consciousness that experiences the action, the actor, and
the world of separate things. It is like a light that illuminates everything in
a theater, 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.
The
consciousness is the one Truth, and a Gnani is person who had realized the
soul,which is in the form of consciousness as self, but outwardly he views worldview on dualistic standpoint.
As a seeker one is aware of only the physical
[false] aspect of the consciousness and then by a gradual process of reasoning
to strengthen the foundations of spiritual [real] aspect of consciousness.
The
highest principle, the self of all, cannot be a Person. The waking or dream is
an individual and the sum total of all waking or dreams is the consciousness.
In the waking or dream, ignorance is predominant, but consciousness controls
illusion composed of ignorance and knowledge and independently projects this
mind, which contains the world of moving and immovable things out of itself.
But
consciousness transcends the individual and collective aspects, the waking or dream
and soul. In soul, which is in the form of consciousness there is no part. It
is for the sake of easy comprehension that parts have been imagined in It.
The waking or dream and the universe are merely mirage
created out of consciousness. That the mind consists only of name and form. It
endures only so long as there are name and form. When through inquiry, analysis
and reasoning name and form are dissolved, and then only the transcendent
consciousness prevails.
Then the separate
reality of waking or dream and the universe [mind] is felt no longer remains as
reality. Then it is realized that one is the ultimate truth. The real nature of
the mind is consciousness. When the
veil of name and form vanishes through wisdom, then that idea is simply realized
By
limiting the consciousness to the physical body one remains ignorant of the
fact that, the consciousness is, which is true self pervades in everything and
everywhere in the physical existence. By
limiting the consciousness to the physical he remains in doubts and confusion
about his own formless true existence.
Only Through inquiry, analysis and reasoning
on the formless base he has to understand, assimilate and grasp the non-dual
truth. Whatever he thinks on the base of physical self /waking or dream must be
limited to the physical existence or mind.
It
is the natural tendency of man to argue, from the base of the physical self
/waking or dream because man is product of ignorance. The truth is beyond the
physicality, therefore on has to learn to view and judge the worldview on the
base of the formless true self, in order to overcome the ignorance. It
is necessary analyze the truth on the base of the soul, in order to assimilate
the Self-knowledge.
Man
can only think of his ideal as a human being. When buffeted by sorrow in this
world of disease and death he is driven to desperation and helplessness, then
he seeks refuge with someone, relying on whom he may feel safe. But where is
that refuge to be found? The omnipresent soul, which depends on nothing else to
support it, is the only Refuge.
At
first man does not find that. When discrimination and dispassion arise in the
course of his quest for truth, he comes to know it. But in whatever way he may
progress on the path of truth, he is unconsciously awakening consciousness
within him. But there is no other means other then the path of inquiry,
analysis and reasoning.
Those
who have faith in the Personal God will not be able to grasp the non-dual truth
because they are holding on to that idea of god imagined on the base of
physical self/waking or dream. Sincere and serious seekers will come the
awakening of consciousness within. The knowledge of self is the one goal of the
truth seeker. Various ideas are the
various paths will not lead to non-dual destination. Although the real nature of
the mind is consciousness, still as he has identification consciousness with
physical body, is cause of the suffering from all sorts of doubts and
difficulties and experiences the pleasure and pain as reality.
Everything
within the waking or dream is creation of consciousness. No one can escape the
illusory experience of birth, life, death and the world until they realize their
identity with consciousness.
When
the desire for freedom becomes very strong, and along with it comes the grace
of a person of realization, then man's desire for Self -Knowledge becomes
intensified. Otherwise the mind of men given to lust and greed never inclines
that way. How should the desire to know ultimate truth arise in one who has the
hankering in his mind for the pleasures of family life, for wealth and for
fame?
He
who is prepared to renounce the ignorance will be able to grasp the non-dual
truth. Who is immersed in strong current of the duality believing it as reality
without verify the facts will never be receptive to assimilate the Self -
knowledge. He alone by the might of sword of Self-knowledge will be able to break the barriers of
illusion.
Without
wisdom, there can be no Self- Knowledge.
The wisdom can be got by getting rid of ignorance. Only through deeper
inquiry, analysis and reasoning on the base of the soul as self the ignorance
vanishes.
Neither
by spiritual practice nor by yoga nor by hearing sermons ultimate truth is
difficult to realize. Without realizing the fact that, the world is illusion,
without renunciation of ignorance , without giving up the illusion which one
believes it to be real , absolutely nothing can be accomplished in the path of
truth. Truth is not a thing anyone can snatch by a trick."
