In this ever changing universe
or waking everything is subject to change, yet everything is covered by the consciousness, the innermost self. Seeker has to
practice discrimination between the subjects and object, and renounce the
object and he has to be strong in the conviction that everything in this three states is mere mirage created out of consciousness.
This world and
everything in it is constantly changing. Man exits within the world and the
world exists within the waking or dream. But that which sustains the three
states is never changes. It is always the same. That is the consciousness the
formless substance and witness of the three states. On consciousness everything
rests. It is like a movie projected on a screen. The movie changes but the
screen is constant. Similarly, the waking or dream is projected on the consciousness.
Universe is a mere
mirage. The mirage has no independent existence. It exists because of its
substance from which it is created out of, and it ceases to exist as soon as a one
becomes aware of the substance. The Mirage then dissolves into the substance
from which it is created out of. In the same way, when one knows the true self
is consciousness, the three states merges into it and one realize that subject
and object are one in essence.
To attain self-
knowledge is the goal of truth seeker. The three states then cannot taint the
true self. Atman's contact with it is merely like that of a piece of
sandalwood, which has long been under water and has thereby come to acquire a
bad odor. For a while the fragrance of the sandalwood is suppressed and the bad
odor prevails. But if the sandalwood is rubbed a little, the bad odor
disappears and the natural fragrance of the sandalwood becomes predominant. Similarly,
soul’s (consciousness) attachment to the three states is temporary. It cannot
be permanent.
Think of the true self as Soul, which is in
the form of pure Consciousness. Think intensely and constantly in this way. The
attachment one now has to the waking experience will gradually vanish.
