All divisions, which are named, are also consciousness.
There
is no need to name and create division and try to understand and
assimilate the ultimate truth. On the ultimate standpoint everything is
one. All divisions, which are named, are also consciousness. So, there
is no second thing exists other than consciousness. Consciousness is
ultimate truth or Brahman.
Many believe spirituality and
religion are considered inter connected but it is not so. Religion is
based on the false self-(ego or body) and it is limited to the false
experience [universe], while spirituality transcends race, religion,
gender, language and nationality and universe. Spirituality is pursuit
of truth.
There are many paths have come into existence in the name of Self-Realization. Every belief system believes that each human being embodies a spark of
the divine, and that fanning into the shining fire spiritual
realization is the meaning and purpose of human life. But spirituality
is not based on the belief but discovering the truth of the whole
universe and man’s existence. Religious and Yogic truth and scientific
truth are individual truth based on the false self(ego) within the
false experience. Individuality has no value in the realm of ultimate
point of view. Therefore, realization of true self is necessary in
order to realize the ultimate truth, which is free from all the
diversity, which is present in the form of universe. The universe
ceases to be real from the ultimate point of view. The ignorance is the
cause of experiencing the unreality as reality. Therefore truth
realization is necessary to unfold the mystery of the universe, which
appears to be real from the physical point of view.
Universe
is reality on the base of ego, which is the false self. It is unreal
on the stand point of the consciousness, which is the true self.
Universe is mere mirage from the ultimate point of view. Man perceives
the world within the universe; therefore his existence is limited to the
universe, which is in the form of mind.
Consciousness is
real because it is permanent, but universe, which is in the form of
mind, appears as waking or dream (duality) and disappears as deep sleep
is impermanent (non-duality). Thus mind is not absolute and eternal
like consciousness itself. People stuck with the reality of the world,
so they take it as real. Once they take their physical existence to be
real then they have accepted the false self as real self and false
universe as reality. Thus their judgment is based in the false self,
will keep them within the threshold of duality. Thus the ultimate truth
lies beyond duality.
People take the universe confronting
them as real, the experience of birth, life and death, which happens
within the universe, which they experienced as reality. When the self
is not physical but self is formless, then whatever seen, known,
believed, experienced as person within the universe is falsehood, on the
base of the formless self (witness).
The gross universe is
merged into the mental universe in the sense that when it is analyzed,
it is found to exist inseparably in and as the mind alone. All
"spiritual" planes are really mental: those who regard them as different
or higher will remain ignorant.
A Gnani is free from
experiencing the illusion (body + universe) as reality, he is fully
aware of the fact that, his body and his experience of the world as
consciousness, which is ultimate truth.
People who are incapable
to inquire and reason are tending to follow some philosophy without
verification. Therefore the more ignorant they are the easier to get
them into a religious fold. Religion is so strong and popular because it
makes no demand on the intelligence and it simply requires belief in
guru and his teachings.
It never strikes believer to doubt whether
his inherited belief system is true. They never use their reason because
they start and conclude that their belief system alone is true,
because they never question the validity of their inherited belief.
For religion one can interpret texts as he likes, in whatever way that
pleases him, he simply imagine away. The idea of god injected in the
past and inherited by people and they refuse to verify the facts,
because they think it blasphemy even to question their inherited belief
system.
In pursuit of truth the ultimate truth has to be proved, not assumed. Pundits who take scriptures for granted are not Gnanis.
Pundits teach that all is your-self, but none of them can show that
this is so, none has analyzed it scientifically, and none can prove it.
Rational proof is needed, so that one arrive at knowing truth i.e.
wisdom; punditry is mere dogma, parrotism, repetition of what they read
in scripture. Scriptures are not yardstick and scriptural truth is not
proof. Pundits take scriptures as authority. Authoritarianism merely
assumes as true what another says, but what has yet to be proved.
Pundits have to test truth in this world not in the next world. There
is no proof other than blind belief based on the scriptures, belief is
not truth. So, doctrines are not the means to realize the ultimate
truth. There is no need to follow them.
Doubts and Confusions arise
when seeker finds the scriptures and yoga are inadequate or useless to
quench his spiritual thirst. Disappointments in religion or yoga or
even science imply error or ignorance.
When serious seeker
reaches a stage with all his baggage of accumulate knowledge, then
uncertainty haunts him. Whether he is right?" Where is the certainty
that he is proceeding on right lines?" Thus doubts arise and the
inquiring spirit comes and impels to search elsewhere for truth where it
will not be possible even to have doubt. The test is therefore in
experience. And only in non-duality, where there are no two to argue
about views or to have difference of opinion can such doubtlessness be
possible. Belief depends upon unstable bases whereas certainty depends
on proof.
Seeker of truth has to get rid of his doubts through
deeper inquiry, analysis and reasoning on his own, to realize the fact
that, the self is not the form but self is formless. Thus his analysis
and reasoning has to be based on the formless not on the form. By
simply go on believing and accepting whatever said by the punditry will
not lead one towards path of wisdom. All the doubt has to be got rid of
"by the sword of Self - Knowledge." The scriptures, yoga are not
necessary if one follows the inner (formless) path. Religion and yoga
are not the means to path of wisdom.
They alone in this world
are endowed with the highest wisdom who are firm in their conviction of
the sameness and birthlessness of Atman. The ordinary man does not
understand their way. [Chapter IV — Alatasanti Prakarana 95-P-188 in
Upanishads by Nikilanada]
This passage indicates the fact that
everything is soul or consciousness or spirit. The one who views and judges the worldview
on the base of his birth or body will not realize the fact that, the man
including the world is created sustained and finally dissolves as soul or conciousness.
Thus Atman alone is, and all else is mirage.
Thus Self-Knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana is the aim of every human being. Since everyone thinks
the physical body is the self, their aim is misdirected and they focus
their attention on materiality which makes one feel the duality (waking)
as reality.