In
ancient times people were simply curious sought some knowledge of the
sun and stars; but in modern mind set have brains, they are ready to
inquire and reason, and acquire knowledge of the self.” they begin with a
doubt and finally clear all the doubt and realize the reality.
In the confusing multiplicity of doctrines, each has his own theory, he does not have time to think and inquire if it be
true. Yet doubt is the fist step to knowledge for the thoughtful. On
the other hand, seeker of truth must never be satisfied with mere
skepticism, have the hope that one’s doubt will be solved, and go
forward. Reason tells one what is good and what is bad, what should be
followed and what let alone.
Seeker should pursue this quest until
all his questions will be answered, until his doubts and confusions will
disappear and solved.
- How does he know that scriptures are true?
The sages, seer or prophets might have been mistaken. To accept these
scriptures without verification and proper reasoning is to possess the slave mentality.
That is why Buddha said :-
No one saves us but ourselves.
No one can and no one may.
We ourselves must walk the path.
-Buddha
Buddha said :-
Do not believe a spiritual teaching just because:-
1. it is repeatedly recited,
2. it is written in a scripture,
3. it was handed from guru to disciple,
4. everyone around you believes it,
5. it has supernatural qualities,
6. it fits my beliefs anyway,
7. it sounds rational to me,
8. it is taught by a respectable person,
9. it was said to be the truth by the teacher,
10. one must defend it or fight for it.
That is why Sri, Sankara indicates in (VC):-
56. Neither by Yoga, nor by Sankhya, nor by work, nor by learning, but
by the realisation of one's identity with Brahman is Liberation
possible, and by no other means.
58. Loud speech consisting of a
shower of words, the skill in expounding the Scriptures, and likewise
erudition - these merely bring on a little personal enjoyment to the
scholar, but are no good for Liberation.
59. The study of the
Scriptures is useless so long as the highest Truth is unknown, and it is
equally useless when the highest Truth has already been known.
60. The Scriptures consisting of many words are a dense forest which
merely causes the mind to ramble. Hence men of wisdom should earnestly
set about knowing the true nature of the Self.
Self-Realization
is direct realization of the ultimate truth or Brahman, 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(ego
or waking entity), which they hold as real self and false
experience(waking) as reality.
Only when one is able to
overcomes physical shackle (mind or waking or universe)than only it is possible to understand and assimilate the non-dual truth, which is
beyond the experience of form, time and space. Soul or Consciousness
itself is lord of itself though not of the universe. And having nothing
it has all.
