The “Self”
is the non-dual Source of the mind or universe from where it rises and subsides. Formless soul is the substance,witness and also the source of the mind or universe. The source is also known as - Primal Energy,
Consciousness, Awareness, Plenitude, God - is Unicity, Oneness, and
Non-duality.
The soul is the innermost self and it is in the form of
consciousness. Consciousnesses without waking or dream, whole and oneness. In the cloud there is
nothing other than water, so too consciousness
is nothing other than itself. It is the absolute without a second.
The moon reflecting on water and
appearing as many, the self is just like the reflection of the moon on water
which increases with the volume of water and decreases with its reduction,
which moves when the water moves, and which differs as the water differs. The
moon seems to conform to the characteristics of water, but in reality the moon
never has these increasing or decreasing qualities. So also, from the highest
point of view, consciousness always
retains its sameness; it seems to conform to such characteristics as increase
and decrease of the limiting adjunct, owing to its entry into such an adjunct
as a universe.
Thread is drawn from cotton and is
woven into cloth. But the reality of cotton is in both of these forms, viz.,
thread and cloth. Similarly, the projections of names and forms of this
material universe on consciousness do
not alter the nature of consciousness.
It remains as it is without any change.
One can also illustrate the uniqueness of consciousness by analyzing the
phenomenon of dreams. Dream is parallel waking experience. And waking
experience is parallel. The three states are an object to the subject, which is
formless consciousness. The consciousness is the formless substance and witness
of the three states one is unaware of the subject because he considers the
waking entity as self and views and judges the three states, which is
erroneous.
The waking entity is limited to the waking experience, and the dream
entity is limited to the dream experience. In deep sleep the waking or dream
experiences are absent, thus the witness remains in its formless non-dual true
nature, but due to ignorance of the true self, which is the substance and
witness of the three states, one experiences the three states as reality. When
one becomes aware of the formless witness of the three states then one becomes
aware of the fact that, the three states are mere mirage on the standpoint of
the true self, which is consciousness.
Whatever seen, known, believed
and experienced within the waking experience is falsehood. Thus the experience of universe and birth,
life and death which are part and parcel of the waking experience are myth. Thus the Belief of God, heaven, hell, paradise, sin,
karma, rebirth, reincarnation based on the waking entity are myth.
Thus by worshiping individualized God
and following religion studying scriptures are for those who are incapable of
realizing the truth of their true existence.
