By becoming more and more
intellectual one becomes more and more intoxicated to individuality. The
intellectuality is limited to duality.
In realm of truth the intellectuality is replaced by non-dual
wisdom. There is nothing exist other
than formless non dual existence. Therefore, there is no individual to become sane or insane.
There is no second thing exists, other than consciousness. Everything is one, that is, unity in
diversity. The curiosity, urge cannot be imposed on others. it has to sprout within. One need not become
holy Shepard because the holy Shepard is within in to guide every seeker. Until
one is aiming to be a master, Guru or teacher, he will never reach his
destination. One has to share his knowledge with the fellow seeker not to make
them his followers but only direct them if they are interested to travel beyond
form, time and space. It is foolish to
impose our idea on others because everyone is not in same level of
understanding. Every one's inner work is
on.
When they are ripe enough they will understand, assimilate and realize on
their own. If they are ready and sharp
enough they will grasp it instantly and they will reach their destination with
lesser time and effort. Thus preaching, teaching is not wisdom, but by very
careful reasoning, seeker has to determine the nature of reality. Thinking in
right direction alone helps seeker determining the nature of reality.
The sugar cannot know itself its sweetness. The true self
without ignorance is without the experience of duality or illusion. Thus one
has to base on the sugar not on its sweetness. Without the sugar there is no
sweetness. Similarly without the consciousness, the three states cease to exist
as reality.
Seeker of truth is in the in the
quest of the knowledge of ever being conscious of eternality of one self , and understanding,
assimilating and realizing it
inextricably linked to the what constitute bondage and liberation.
Non-attachment for the three states
is freedom or liberation from experiencing the illusory birth, life, death and
world as reality. Love for practical life within the practical world is
bondage.
By deeper thinking and realizing the
self is not the form but self is
formless consciousness and mentally shifting the attention from the objectified
subject to the formless subject ,which is consciousness the inner most self. By
realizing the formless consciousness as the inner most self, one realizes the
consciousness alone exists the three states are mere mirage created out of
consciousness. Thus the three states
are unreal created out of consciousness, which alone is real.
The one who discriminates between the
Real and the unreal, whose focus of attention is turned away from the illusory
physical existence, who possesses calmness and who is longing for freedom from
experiencing the illusion as reality, is alone considered qualified to take
path of reason.
People who are yearning for spiritual truth will not find it through
intellectual speculation and assumption. Intellectual truth is individual
truth. Love implies duality and love is individual feelings within the
falsehood. Love is necessary and valuable in the stated of ignorance but it is
not the means to acquire wisdom. Love is
religious tool to lead life in practical world.
And Religious truth is individual truth and it is not universal truth because
the religion is based on individuality.
It becomes difficult for the orthodox
cult to accept anything else as truth other than their accepted belief, which
they hold as truth. Although all religious followers are participants alike in
the spiritual endeavour of the world, overzealous followers of each religion are not prepared
to accord equal status to other faiths and assert the superiority of their own.
Thus universal brother hood is total impossibility because it is difficult to
accept anything other than their inherited belief system.
Most of the pundits are egoic and
they try to snub others who question them.
They think they are unquestionable authority. They quote the citation from the scripters as
proof without verifying the validity.
All punditry is a great obstacle in realizing the Advaitic truth expounded
by the Sri, Sankara and Goudapada.
One finds lots of differences between
Adavita preaching and practice. There is need to bifurcate religion, concept of
god and scriptures from Adavitic philosophy to assimilate the essence of
Adavita.
Sri, Sankara says
in Brahma Sutras: that Brahman is the cause of the world, whereas in Mandukya
he denies it. This is because he says that at the lower stage of understanding,
the former teaching must be given, for people will get frightened as they
cannot understand how the world can be without a cause, but to those in a
higher stage, the truth of non-causality can be revealed.
Sri, Sankara himself has warned us
not to use ambiguous words, and to practice semantic analysis in his book
"Definition of one's own Self. [" Page 199, v.24 of "Sankara's
Selected Works]
Sri, Sankara founded his Advaita
Vedanta either on reason independent of sruti or on sruti confirmed by
reason." Sri, Sankara's commentary on the Mandukya Upanishad,
II, 1: This [the unreality of duality] is borne out by the Srutis
... But it is possible also to show the unreality of the object world even from
pure reasoning, and this second chapter is undertaken for that purpose.
Sri, Sankara himself had often said that his philosophy was based on Sruti, or
revealed scripture. This may be because Sri, Sankara addressed the
ordinary man, who finds security in the idea of causality and thus in the idea
of God—and Revelation is indispensable to prove the latter. He believed
that those of superior intelligence, have no need of this idea of divine
causality, and can therefore dispense with Sruti and arrive at the
truth of Non-Dualism by pure reason.
Non-duality does not need the support
of any Scripture or Revelation like the Veda. For it is based, not upon the
varying theological fancies, which are as numerous as the sands of the sea, but
upon reason, the common heritage of all mankind, irrespective of colour or
creed or clime.
When Upanishad itself declares:- sarvam khalvidam brahma - all this (universe) is verily Brahman.
By following back all of the relative appearances in the world, we eventually
return to that from which it is all manifest – the non-dual reality [ Chandogya Upanishad].
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.
Gaudapada says :- the merciful Veda teaches karma and upaasana to people of lower
and middling intellect, while jnana is taught to those of higher intellect.
So they clearly indicate rituals and theories are not meant for
those who are searching for the higher knowledge or wisdom.
All the orthodox Advaitins indulge and immersed themselves in
ritualistic oriented life style and preach theoretical philosophies which are
obstacle in realizing the Advaitic truth.
Many chose these orthodox scholars as their gurus. But these gurus are
good to learn the conceptual Adavaita meant for those orthodox who believe
their conduct oriented life style leads to liberation. But those who are seeking truth have to do
their own homework in order to acquire self-knowledge.
That is why in Ish Upanishads declares :-
Vidya and Avidya both are hindrances to Self-knowledge, but Vidya is even worse than Avidya. The word Vidya is used here in a special sense;
here it means worshipping gods and goddesses. 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.
Avidya is Karma and
therefore a hindrance. You perform Avidya - i.e., you
perform Agnihotra and other sacrifices. This is a roundabout way of purifying
the mind, and it is also groping in the dark. But it may not have as heavy a
toll on your time and energy as the other.
Therefore, self-realization is
necessary in order to realize the ultimate truth or god. Self-realization is real God realization.
People are ignorant and they are unaware of the reality of their true
existence. Man and his experience of universe is simply a mirage created out
of the consciousness, Consciousness is
the real Self, the real Atman, is the reality.
That is why in Mundaka
Upanishad indicates: - The rituals and the sacrifices
described in the Vedas deal with lower knowledge. The sages ignored these
rituals and went in search of higher knowledge. ... Such rituals are unsafe
rafts for crossing The sea of samsara, of birth and death. Doomed to shipwreck
are those who try to cross The sea of samsara on these poor rafts. Ignorant of
their own ignorance, yet wise In their own esteem, these deluded men Proud of
their vain learning go round and round Like the blind led by the blind.
Sri, Ramana Maharishi said:- Scriptural
knowledge is conceptual divisions invented by teachers of philosophy by their
excessive analysis. Where do all these concepts end? Why should confusion
created and then explained away? Fortunate is the man who does not lose himself
in the labyrinths of philosophy, but goes straight to the source from which
they all arise.
Ramana Maharishi
indicated the direct path to the truth, is the source from which the false
arises. Thus the source is the soul/ Ataman, which is the true self. Ataman
itself is Brahman. Thus it is necessary
to view the worldview on the base of the source, which the true self, and
formless substance and witness of the experience of diversity. Thus deeper
inquiry, analysis and reasoning on the true base, one can acquire the self
–knowledge in lesser time and effort.
The unity in diversity is possible only through self-knowledge not by
mastering the scriptural knowledge.
One has to
bifurcate the physicalized Adavaita [religious add-ons] which is meant for the mass mind set, who
are incapable inquire to verifying their inherited beliefs. But for the seekers truth, to get the pure
essence of nonduality which is based on the formless soul. The path of inquiry,
analysis and reasoning on the true base, leads one towards the nondual
destination. Therefore, there is need to
rectify the seeking base from ego base to soul base to understand, assimilate
and realize the nondual truth.
Even Ramana Maharishi also says: this self –inquiry is not the critical study of the
scriptures. When the source is reached the ego gets merged into it. The result
of self-inquiry is the cure for all the sorrows. It is the highest of all the
results. There is nothing greater then it.
It only indicates there is no necessity to study the scriptures to
acquire self-knowledge. [Page-66-practicle guide to know yourself c/e by A.R.N].
Ramana Maharishi says:-
Q by D:- Is not
necessary to study the Vedas or at least the Prasthanatraya [the Bhagavad
Gita,Dasopanishad and Brahma Sutras, all with commentaries]to ensure firm
realization?
Ramana Maharishi:-No. Do you need all that to see yourself? All that is
intellectual wealth, useful in explain doubts and difficulties if others rise
them or if you yourself encounter them in the course of thinking. But to attain
realization, all that is not necessary. You want fresh water to drink, but you
do not require all the water of the river Ganges to quench your thirst. [Page 111/112 of Practical guide to know yourself c/e by A.R.N].
This surely
indicates Sri, Ramana Maharishi’s path is independent path nothing to with the
religion and scriptures.
Even
Upanishad say:
This Ataman cannot be attained by the study of the
Vedas, or by intelligence, or by much hearing of sacred books. It is attained by him alone whom
It chooses. To such a one Ataman reveals Its own form. [Katha Upanishad Ch-II -23-P-20]
Mundaka Upanishad :-
This Ataman cannot be attained
through study of the Vedas, nor through intelligence, nor through much learning.
He who chooses Ataman—by him alone is Ataman attained. It is Ataman that
reveals to the seeker Its true nature. [ 3
–page-70 
Mundaka Upanishad Upanishads by Nikilanada]
Mundaka Upanishad Upanishads by Nikilanada]
The scriptures indicate that Ataman
is Brahman, and Brahman is ultimate truth. Therefore the soul, which is in the
form of consciousness, is ultimate truth. Thus to realize the ultimate
truth is the prime goal. A well-directed inquiry, analysis and
reasoning will lead one to his nondual destination.
Self-Realization is direct
realization of the ultimate truth or real god, in contrast with traditional
paths, which are indirect. And the other paths cannot lead to the ultimate
destination because they are based on the false self, which they hold as real
self and false experience as reality.
Until and unless one overcomes
physical shackle it is impossible to understand and assimilate the nondual
truth, which is beyond the physical existence or the universe. Consciousness itself is lord of itself though
not of the universe. And having nothing it has all.
Gaudapada quotes from the Upanishads: "There's no plurality here"; "The Lord [Atman]
through his powers appears to be many"; "Those who are attached to
creation or production or origination go to utter darkness"; "the
unborn is never reborn, for who can produce him [Atman]?”
It is only who
base on ‘I’ or ‘I AM’ as self, argue and quarrel amongst themselves. The people
who are fully aware of the fact that, the form, time and space are mere mirage
created out of consciousness have no reason to quarrel, because for them
everything is consciousness and no second thing exist other than consciousness.
