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Question with boldness even the existence of a God; because, if there be one, he must more approve of the homage of reason, than that of blindfolded fear." :~ Thomas Jefferson
The world in which you exist is made out of the
Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness. From the standpoint of
the Soul, the universe in which you exist is merely an illusion. Without the
illusion, God alone exists.
Do not search for the God
in the world in which you exist. God is not an entity or identity within the
world in which you exist. God is the cause of the world in which you exist and
God is uncaused.
You will not find the real
God in the world in which you exist because God is prior to the world in which
you exist. The world in which you exist hides the God, which is the Soul. The
Soul is present in the form of consciousness.
Religious believers say doubt is a precipice on the way to God. But doubting the existence of God and trying to know the truth is the starting point of the pursuit of truth.
He who is freed from all the doubts and confusions by deeper inquiry, analysis, and reasoning reach the non-dual destination. The Seeker has to follow the footprints of the Gnani and advance with care by means of such mental trekking; he will reach the source.
The journey of reason brings joy to those who dare to accept the truth and drop the untruth mentally.
The religious scholars say there is a need for a precise understanding of the concepts of ancient Knowledge like Veda and its offshoots must be attempted by constant comparison with developments in Science and Science should seek new vistas from ancient Knowledge.
Remember:~
When the Upanishads suggest that:~
Katha Upanishad:~ This Atman cannot be attained by the study of the Vedas, or by intelligence, or by much hearing of sacred books. It is attained by him alone whom It chooses. To such a one Atman reveals Its own form. (Ch-II -23-P-20)
Mundaka Upanishad:~ This Atman cannot be attained through the study of the Vedas, nor through intelligence, nor through much learning. He who chooses Atman—by him alone is Atman attained. It is Atman that reveals to the seeker Its true nature. (3 –page-70 Mundaka Upanishad- Upanishads by Nikilanada)
The above passages further prove that: Self-Knowledge cannot be attained by the study of the Vedas and intellectual understanding or by bookish knowledge. Therefore, there is no use in studying the Vedas and other scriptures in order to acquire non-dual wisdom. That is why Buddha rejected the scriptures, and even Sri, Sankara indicated that the truth lies beyond religion, the concept of god, and the scriptures.
Thus, the truth is beyond physicality. One has to discover, grasp and assimilate it only by deeper thinking through inquiry, analysis, and reasoning on the true base. There is no need for scriptures in pursuit of the truth because the scriptures themselves suggest the truth lies beyond the knowledge of scriptures.
That is why Sage Sankara says:~ VC-56. Neither by Yoga nor by Sankhya nor by work nor by learning, but by the realization 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 that merely causes the mind to ramble. Hence, men of wisdom should earnestly set about knowing the true nature of the Self.
61. For one who has been bitten by the serpent of Ignorance, the only remedy is the knowledge of Brahman. Of what avail are the Vedas and (other) Scriptures, Mantras (sacred formulae), and medicines to such a one?
62. A disease does not leave off if one simply utters the name of the medicine, without taking it; (similarly) without direct realization one cannot be liberated by the mere utterance of the word Brahman.
63. Without causing the objective universe to vanish and without knowing the truth of the Self, how is one to achieve Liberation by the mere utterance of the word Brahman? — It would result merely in an effort of speech.
64. Without killing one’s enemies, and possessing oneself of the splendor of the entire surrounding region, one cannot claim to be an emperor by merely saying, ‘I am an emperor’.
65. As a treasure hidden underground requires (for its extraction) competent instruction, excavation, the removal of stones and other such things lying above it and (finally) grasping, but never comes out by being (merely) called out by name, so the transparent Truth of the self, which is hidden by Maya and its effects, is to be attained through the instructions of a knower of Brahman, followed by reflection, meditation and so forth, but not through perverted arguments.
66. Therefore the wise should, as in the case of disease and the like, personally strive by all the means in their power to be free from the bondage of repeated births and deaths.
67. The question that thou hast asked today is excellent, approved by those versed in the Scriptures, aphoristic, pregnant with meaning, and fit to be known by the seekers after Liberation.
One could go on and on, but the point is that the Upanishads approach the Supreme immutable truth in multiple ways and try to articulate the manifest and unmanifest aspects of the Brahman.
For those that are deluded, the multiple points of view may amount to contradictory perceptions but Upanishads are the epitome of an attempted understanding of the immortal, immutable Brahman by mortals caught in the dynamism of this universe.:~Santthosh Kumaar
