Sage Sri
Sankara, indicated in Bhaja Govindam
says: - [Jnana Viheena
Sarva Mathena Bajathi na Muktim janma Shatena] - one without knowledge does not obtain liberation even in a hundred
births, no matter which religious faith he follows.
Then it is no use going roundabout way, trace the Brahman which
is the formless substance and witness of the universe, which is in the form of
mind. By tracing the source of the mind
or universe one will be able to realize the Brahman.
Thus,
self-knowledge is meant only for those who have intense urge, and courage to
accept the truth with humility and reject the untruth. Since people start
comparing with their scriptural knowledge, it becomes impossible to assimilate
and realize the non-dual truth. Therefore, there is no need to
convince anyone other than our own-selves to get the firm conviction.
So they clearly indicate rituals and theories are not meant for
those who are searching for the higher knowledge or wisdom. The path of wisdom is the only means.
Self -knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana is the direct means
to the attainment of self -realization, it is necessary to keep in mind the means-end
relation. The tool that one chooses must be suitable and appropriate to the
end, which he wants to attain. It is not the case that through any tool any end
can be attained. On the contrary, what tools has to be chosen and how far it is
relevant and appropriate to the end we have in view, must be considered from
the point of view of the nature of the end which is to be attained.
The tool must be warranted by the end. In
other words, the choice of the tool as well as its suitability and
appropriateness is determined by the end. This point must be borne in mind in
understanding and assimilation of non-dual truth
Mistaking one thing for another or
superimposing the attributes of one thing on another is due to ignorance. Not
knowing the real nature of the Self which is non-dual, which is existence,
knowledge and infinitude, which is free from attributes, which is free
from activity, which is neither an agent nor an enjoyer, the ignorance
is superimposed on it.
The ignorance is cause of
experiencing the illusion as reality.
Ignorance is the root cause of our bondage. So in order to put an end to
our bondage and attain liberation from experiencing the illusion as reality,
ignorance which is the root cause has to be destroyed; and ignorance can be
destroyed only by attaining the self-knowledge, discriminating it from the
illusion. Wisdom is the means by which Self -Realization is desired to be
attained. Self-realization is the highest end of man since it destroys the root
of the ignorance, the cause of
the entire universe.
Through deeper self-search one has to eradicate the foundational
ignorance, Self -Knowledge alone is the means to the attainment of liberation
from illusion. Only Self -knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana destroys the ignorance.
