The scriptures have been passed down by hearing from one
generation to the next. They were written down only relatively late. So, no one
would know whether to rely on the times they give. Also, a lot depends on the
translation. Each 'Shloka' (sanskrit verse) is open to many layers of
interpretation.
Non-duality has no place for an individualized God or anything
supernatural. The Soul, which is
present in the form of consciousness, is the innermost self, which pervades in
everything and everywhere in all the three states. When wisdom dawns one becomes aware of the
fact that the soul is the innermost self and the soul or consciousness
witnesses all the three states. The witness and witnessed are one is
essence.
All the name and form has no value from ultimate standpoint,
because all the names and forms are mere mirage created out of
consciousness. Consciousness alone is
real and eternal. Thus formless soul or consciousness, the innermost self, is
ultimate truth or Brahman. Nothing higher than that can be, when there is unity
in diversity.
That universal unity is
what Buddha, Sri, Sankara and Sri, Goudpada discovered by investigating the depth of
dimension of the mind, which is present in the form of universe. They realized
this ultimate truth and enlightened. They achieved Gnana or Bodhi, the
Self-Knowledge of Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana.
The consciousness is not
limited to the waking entity and the waking world because it pervades all the
three states.
By inquiring “WHO AM ‘I’?”
, which is limited the waking entity will yield only half truth, because it exposed only the unreal nature of
the form and fails to expose the unreality of the time and space. Thus ‘WHO AM I? Inquiry will not yield full
truth. Without taking all the three
states into account, it is impossible
to realize the ultimate truth of Brahman.
Many People who are stuck with” WHO AM ‘I’? and ‘I AM THAT are
unaware of the fact that, their journey
in incomplete. ‘WHO AM ‘I’ and “I AM THAT’ are only stages, they have to go
much beyond WHO AM ‘I’? and ‘I AM THAT’ .
When self is not waking
entity and waking experience is false experience than what is the use of
assuming of the ‘Self ‘without the form without realizing what ‘self ‘is in
actuality. One has to realize the self
is within the form, time and space but self is without the form, time and
space. The form, time and space are one
in essence. That essence is consciousness. Consciousness is the innermost self. On the standpoint of the innermost self, the
form, time and space are mere illusion. Therefore, perfect understanding is
needed to realize ‘what is what’ to know ‘what is truth ‘and ‘what is
illusion’. Simply intellectually speculating saying ‘I AM THIS’ or ‘I AM THAT’
is not Self-Knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana.
That
is why 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.
However, only when it agrees with your experience and reason, and when it is conducive to the good and gain of oneself and all others, then one should accept the teachings, and live up to them."
....Buddha.
The seeker of truth is one who is ready
verify and has courage to accept and reject the truth when he finds out what is
truth and what is untruth. The meek will stick to their inherited conditioning
remain experiencing duality as reality.
