Sage Sri, Sankara says:
- Whatever thing
remains eternal is true, and whatever is non-eternal is untrue. Since the world
is created and destroyed, it is not true.
Truth is the thing
which is unchanging. Since the world is changing, it is not true.
Whatever is
independent of space and time is true, and whatever has space and time in
itself is untrue.
Just as one sees
dreams in sleep, he sees a kind of super-dream when he is waking. The world is
compared to this conscious dream.
The world is
believed to be a superimposition of the Brahman. Superimposition cannot be
true.
On the other hand, Sage
Sri, Sankara claims that the world is
not absolutely false. It appears false only when compared to Brahman. In the
pragmatic state, the world is completely true—which occurs as long as we are
under the influence of Maya. The world cannot be both true and false at the
same time; hence Sage Sri, Sankara has classified the world as indescribable.
The following points suggest that according to Sage Sri, Sankara, the world is
not false (Sage Sri, Sankara himself gave most of the arguments)
- If the world were false,
then with the liberation of the first human being, the world would have
been annihilated. However, the world continues to exist even if a human
attains liberation.
- Sage Sri, Sankara believes
in Karma, or good actions. This is a feature of this world. So the world
cannot be false.
- The Supreme Reality Brahman
is the basis of this world. The world is like its reflection. Hence the
world cannot be totally false.
- False is something which is
ascribed to non-existent things, like Sky-lotus. The world is a logical
thing which is perceived by our senses.
Consider a
scientific logic. A pen is placed in front of a mirror. One can see its
reflection. To our eyes, the image of the pen is perceived. Now, what should
the image be called? It cannot be true, because it is an image. The truth is
the pen. It cannot be false, because it is seen by our eyes.
The whole practical world has to be resolutely weighed, and accurately, observed in pursuit of truth by seeker of truth. He must find answers for:-
What is this world?
What is I?
Why the 'I' present only when universe or Waking is present?
Deeper self-search is a necessary foundation. The Yogi who looks only inside and ignores the world throws away part of the materials needed to find ultimate truth or Brahman.
Without knowing the nature of the mind, it is impossible to know truth. the mind is in the form of universe. the universe appears as waking or dream. What is the use of trying to find one’s inner self before one understands the world that confronts him.
If one does not analyze three states which appear and disappears, the experience of duality, one is only drawing on his imaginations. Then he says “The self is like this, or like that." but it will be only his mental construction.
First one must inquire into the nature of the physical body that is matter. Second one must inquire into the nature of the mind or universe,which is also is matter and realize the fact that the whole Waking experience which contains the person and the world is mind. And mind itself is matter. and the substance of the mind is Spirit or consciousness.
Analyze the three states and realize the fact that , the witness of the three states which appear and disappears in succession is apart but the witness is within the three states as its formless substance.
Look at the three states because in every thing there is consciousness as their formless substance and witness. Seeker should not avoid the three states in their inquiry.
Keen powers of observation are desirable and will help, not hinder one’s pursuit of truth. Seeker has to take experiences as they come to him, and he should not run away from the worldly life in ascetic fear or shyness of them.
To say they are Illusion without first examining them and inquiring into them thoroughly is to delude one’s self. This universe is common to everyone; therefore one must begin his inquiry with it and not flee.
It is only after one has inquired into the nature of the objective world and realizes the fact that the world and its perceiver are within the Waking experience, that one should inquire into who is the knower of the Waking experience. If, however one inquires into the knower before the inquiry into the universe, then it is mere mysticism. What is the world? Must proceed” What is ‘I?” in pursuit of truth.
Yoga has its place rather than its value and that its value is for a certain type of mind. Yoga will give steadiness of mind, education of mind, but never Truth because it ignores the external world.
One cannot live without the physical world; it is the basis of one’s life, so it must be the starting point of one’s inquiry. Things, not imaginations, must be the seekers material.
