Upanishads say "He who thinks he knows, does not
know." This means that to know anything implies a second, an object of
knowledge, hence duality, i.e. no Gnana.
One thinks there is mind when he
has thoughts, but when thoughts are not considered different from the
consciousness, which is the true self, then where is the division into, waking,
dream and deep sleep etc.
Void implies to duality: the universe may not exist but the thought of the second is there. If one knows there is Void (emptiness or nothingness), then there is something there to be known and know. They are or have become consciousness
Since people use their accepted truth as yardstick, they
will not be able know what we say. They think they have mastered the whole Advaith
philosophy or some teaching of great master but they will not be able to
realize the non-dual truth. Such
people are like stagnant water collected in the pond, which stinks of their
accumulated dross. They block the new knowledge to come in. Very few like you are fortunate to go to the
ultimate end and realize it.
Discovering truth is one thing and Understanding and
assimilating is another thing and realizing it is yet another thing.
The non-dual truth is very easy but very difficult to
assimilate and realize it. The one who realizes the fact that, body and the
universe are created out of consciousness, and then there is nothing else to
know. By knowing and realizing this truth there is
unity in diversity. There is no second thing exists other then consciousness.
The diversity is mere mirage created out of consciousness.
Since, they are stuck with the idea that the body is made
of flesh, bone and blood and universe is of the matter, they will be unable to
accept their birth, life, death and world as illusion. By accepting the illusion as reality they will
remain judging the worldview on the base of birth entity. Whereas, the true self is not the birth
entity but it is the formless substance and witness (consciousness) of the
illusory birth, life, death and world. For one who is aware of the consciousness as
self, is also aware of the fact that, birth, life, death and world are mere
illusion created out of consciousness.
Consciousness can never be destroyed, but it resolves back
to its formless non-dual true nature. Nothing is beyond or higher than the
consciousness. – Mind and the soul [consciousness] are essentially one, as are
the ocean and the waves. As long as illusion exists the separation exists. As
long as separation exists duality will prevail as reality. So long the
ignorance prevail, the birth, life, death and the world will remain as reality.
But when one awaken into reality, all the reality of illusion cease forever.
Neither by Yoga, nor by scriptural studies, nor by action,
nor by learning, but only by the realization of one's identity with
consciousness freedom is possible, and by no other means.
Lectures consisting of a shower of ornamental words, the
skill in expounding the Scriptures or intellectual theories, and likewise
erudition - these merely bring on a little personal enjoyment to the scholar,
but are no good for freedom.
The study of the Scriptures is useless so long as the
highest Truth is unknown, and it is equally useless when the highest Truth has
already been known.
The Scriptures consisting of many words are a dense forest
which merely causes the mind to ramble. Hence one should earnestly set about
knowing the true nature of the Self, which is consciousness.
Most seekers have accepted some philosophy as truth or some
teaching as truth. Just by studying teachings of Sri, Ramana Maharishi and Sri, Nisargadutta Maharajah Self-Knowledge or Brahma Gnana will not arise , but one has to do his own home work and find the obstacles in their teaching, which blocks him from realizing the ultimate truth or Brahman.
The ultimate truth or Brahman is easier without any teaching. Mostly people are sentimentally and emotionally get involved with their teachings and blindly accept whatever said in those teaching and refuse to verify the facts. This sheepish mentality is greatest obstacle in pursuit of truth, because it makes one more and more egocentric, not soul centric.
The ultimate truth or Brahman is easier without any teaching. Mostly people are sentimentally and emotionally get involved with their teachings and blindly accept whatever said in those teaching and refuse to verify the facts. This sheepish mentality is greatest obstacle in pursuit of truth, because it makes one more and more egocentric, not soul centric.
In the scriptures, it says that the world is both real and
unreal. It is real because it is a manifestation of consciousness, but is
unreal, in the sense, that it is not absolute and eternal like consciousness
itself.
Most of the teachers and thinkers approach was more practical, and they have stuck with the reality of the world, they took it as real.