Ashtavakra Gita page
224:- It
is not the absence of buddhi that can grasp Advaita but the man who possesses
the highest intellect. Brains are necessary. Such a man, by merely hearing the
truth mentioned will know it.
Self
–knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana is meant for those who are in search for the reality of their true
existence. In pursuit of truth one need not go detail about the physical body
and the world, but one has to know the unreal nature of mind in which the
physical body and the world exists. The physical existence is dependent on
mind, if mind is there the physical existence is there. Absent of mind is
absent of physical existence. Therefore there is need to understand what is the
mind, in pursuit of truth.
The
deeper inquiry, analysis and reasoning reveal the fact that, the self is not
physical but it is the formless soul (consciousness or spirit) . If self is not physical then what is the use of
searching and trying to understand and assimilate the truth on physical base.
Therefore there is a need to rectify the reasoning base from physical to the
spirit base, in order to understand and assimilate the Self-Knowledge. All the
doubts and confusion will disappear as one learns to view and judge and reason
on the base of the soul, which is in the form of consciousness. The soul is the
innermost self.
Reasoning on the base of the soul as self helps to the self-examine, to test how near to
the wisdom the seeker has approached,
what progress has been already been made in this regard and what still remains
to be accomplished. It sets a criterion of self-judgment.
The seeker can lead an active life without involving himself in religion,
god glorification, or studying scriptures and yogic practice nor indulge in
Atheism.
Intense urge of knowing the truth of true existence through perfect
understanding by using reason on the base of the soul, the innermost self. It requires natural
capacity to understand. Pursuit o truth is not for those who want anything less
than truth.
Liberation is not in next life or next world but right here, in this very
life, right now in this present experience itself. Seeker may grasp the non-dual
truth at any time, at any age if he has matured enough and receptive to receive
it.
Mind or ’I’ is myth. Mind is in the form of universe. Universe appears as waking or dream; the individual experiences within
the waking or dream is ever changing with form, shape, color, and activities. Waking
or dream experience disappears and becomes absolute and formless and non-dual in deep sleep .
The truth of that which becomes dual [form] and non-dual [formless] has to be
analyzed to unfold the mystery of the mind.
By Analyzing the three states one becomes aware of the fact that, the
witness of the three states is not physical but it is the formless soul or spirit. Inquiry,
analysis and Reasoning will lead the Seeking Mind towards the source , which the
formless witness and substance of the three states. When the Seeking Mind
becomes fully aware of the fact that, soul is the formless substance and
witness of the mind or universe , which appears as waking or dream and disappears as deep
sleep then he becomes aware of the fact that, the mind is mere myth. The soul
is the cause of all causes and it itself is uncaused.
Soul is the source from where Mind or universe rises and subsides. Thus, it becomes
aware that the mind or ’I’ is an illusion on the standpoint of the formless source.
Deeper self-search reveals:- inquiry is not a set of question and answers. It is
analyzing every doubt and confusion and solving the doubts by discriminating
between the dual and non-dual experiences, and coming to firm conclusion and
conviction of the ultimate truth or Brahman.
The formless witness(Soul) alone exists when the waking and dream experiences
subsides. The Waking and dream has
subsided as deep sleep. The knower of the three states is apart and eternal.
The formless witness is nothing to with individual experiences such as birth, life and
death, because it is not an entity or identity within the waking or dream. The witness is within the three states as their formless substance and it is apart
from the three states as their formless witness. On the standpoint of the
formless substance and witness the three states are unreal, because the
formless substance and witness are one in essence. Hence there is no second
thing exists other than the soul or spirit or consciousness, hence it is non-dual.
