The truth is beyond all philosophy. When we realize all
our accumulation of knowledge from outer sources is inadequate and useless in
quenching our spiritual thirst, we will start our inner [mental] journey on our
own. The journey is full of obstacles
because we have to drop all the accumulated dross and all the conditioning
[samskaras] to cross the ocean of duality or samsara.
As one indulges in deeper self-search he will know
somewhere he is going wrong, and it is for him to overcome
the entire obstacle on his own by knowing what is obstructing his realization. The greatest hindrance is mixing religion, god,
scriptures, and yogic theories and intellectual speculations and logical conclusions.
Moreover, attachment to scriptures, personal god and religious code of conduct
keeps one permanently in the grip of duality.
The Upanishads declare:-
Katha
Upanishad 1:2:23 The Soul cannot be realized through
hearing scholarly explanation of the discourses, not even by the intellect.
Katha Upanishad 1:3:6
“Through the knowledge of the Soul, God, one is
pure and clean constantly.” Neither by reading the book, nor by taking a bath
at holy place has one become pure. Inner purity is possible when one remains in
constant touch with the Soul. Constant Soul-Consciousness is the real purity.
Kena
Upanishad 2:4
When it is known through every state of cognition,
it is rightly known, for (by such knowledge) one attains life eternal. Through
one's own self one gains power and through wisdom one gains immortality.
Kena
Upanishad 2:5
If
here one knows it, then there is truth, and if here one knows it not, there is
a great loss. Hence, seeing the Real in all beings, wise men become immortal on
departing from this world.
Mundaka
Upanishad 1:2:8
“Remaining in the fold of ignorance and thinking “we are extremely wise
and learned,” the fools with boastful nature ramble about like the blind led by
the blind alone.”
Mundaka
Upanishad 3:2:3
“The weak and timid cannot realize the Self. Self-Realization is not
possible through intellect or hearing spiritual discourse. One who welcomes God
in every activity, through a thorough controlled and disciplined life, to him
also the Soul is revealed."
Mundaka
Upanishad 3:2:3
The
Soul cannot be realized by the weak and timid.
RIG VEDA: - The famous utterance of Upanishad that
Brahman cannot be attained by duality is in RV (5.12.2). The idea that Brahman
cannot be attained by mere action or effort is in RV (8.70.3) and (5.48.5);
Brahman cannot be approached by thought (RV.1.170.1 or Kena U., 1.3). [RV=RIG
VEDA].
As
indicated in ISH
Upanishads: - By worshipping gods and
goddesses you will go after death to the world of gods and goddesses. But will
that help you? The time you spend there is wasted, because if you were not
there you could have spent that time moving forward towards Self-knowledge, which
is your goal. In the world of gods and goddesses you cannot do that, and thus
you go deeper and deeper into darkness.
It
clearly indicates that:-If the human goal is to acquire Self-Knowledge then why
one has to indulge in rituals and glorifying the conceptual gods, goddesses and
gurus to go in to deeper darkness. Instead
spend that time moving forward towards Self-knowledge, which is one’s
prime goal.
The scriptures and theories and teaching
based on the ego are not the yardstick. Using them as yardstick to understand
and assimilate the truth will lead one towards pursuit of arguments. Seeker of
truth has to discover on his own, the truth of his true existence by inquiring
“what is mind?” and “what is substance of the mind?” and move forward.
The wisdom consists in
knowing the truth, that everything [mind or physical existence] is
consciousness. Freedom [truth] is always there yet one does not know it. But to those whose reason is turned away from
physicality and who have attained the serenity of the soul/self [consciousness]
are quite near to the ultimate truth.
