Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Is there a power beyond the brain?






What is it that really deciding on Physical action – is it ‘I’ -consciousness or something else within the brain? Who is the "doer" of the action? Is there a power beyond the brain?
All these doubts and confusion are based on the physical self. The physical self is the false self.  To understand non-dual truth it is not possible through scientific invention in present form, which is based on physicality, because the truth lies prior to physicality.  The one which is aware of the physical existence is not physical, therefore investigating on the physical base and trying to discover, assimilate and realize the truth on laboratory condition is impossibility.  The brain and Nero science is part of the physical existence, and truth lies beyond physical existence. Thus there is a need to know what exists prior to physical existence to unfold the mystery of the true existence.
Deeper inquiry, analysis and reasoning revels the fact that the self is not physical.  The modern scientific inventions are based on physicality. 

Why You Are Not Your Brain, and Other Lessons from the Biology of Consciousness
by :
Alva Noƫ. Hill and Wang, 2009

Alva No, a University of California, Berkeley, philosopher and cognitive scientist, argues that after decades of concerted effort on the part of neuroscientists, psychologists and philosophers "only one proposition about how the brain makes us conscious ... has emerged unchallenged: we don't have a clue." The reason we have been unable to explain the neural basis of consciousness, he says, is that it does not take place in the brain. Consciousness is not something that happens inside us but something we achieve it is more like dancing than it is like the digestive process. To understand consciousness the fact that we think and feel and that a world shows up for us we need to look at a larger system of which the brain is only one element. Consciousness requires the joint operation of brain, body and world.


"You are not your brain. The brain, rather, is part of what you are."

If the brain is not the self then what is self?  Therefore, there is a need to understand and assimilate the self-knowledge through deeper inquiry, analysis and reasoning in order to unfold the mystery of the ‘I’.  
When the scriptures itself suggest that:-
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 Ataman reveals Its own form. [Katha Upanishad Ch-II -23-P-20]

This Atman cannot be attained through 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 study of the Vedas and intellectual understanding or by bookish knowledge.  Therefore, there is no use of studying the Vedas and other scriptures in order to acquire the non-dual wisdom.  That is why Buddha rejected the scriptures, and even Sri, Sankara indicated that, the truth lies beyond religion, concept of god and scriptures.  



For the same reason Raman Maharshi said fortunate are the one who do not lose themselves in the labyrinths of philosophy. Bhagwan says: Take Vedanta, for instance: it speaks of 15 pranas the names and functions of it   which the student is asked to commit memory. Will it not be sufficient if he thought only one prana does the whole work of maintaining the body? Again the antakaran is said to think, to desire, to will, to reason etc. Why all these details? Has anyone seen antakarana, or all these pranas? Do they really exist? They are conceptual divisions invented by teachers of philosophy by their excessive analysis. Where do all these concepts end? Why should confusion created and then explained away? Fortunate is the man who does not lose him self in the labyrinths of philosophy, but goes straight to the source from which they all arise. (GURU RAMANA .By S.S Cohen -vii Danger of philosophy-Page -58-59).
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.  

Monday, March 22, 2010

The Ways to Self-knowledge





Philosophy and reason will remain the most beautiful sanctuary they have always been for the s"Philosophy and reason will remain the most beautiful sanctuary they have always been for the select few-----"Einstein



"Know the true self". Knowing the true self means by inquiring, analysing and reasoning in to the nature of the mind, one has to grasp and assimilate the fact that, the self is not physical but it is the spirit. It is not possible to know the self by reading books or scriptures or hearing the sermons of great speakers or by glorifying the god men.

If the self is not physical, then it is erroneous to view and judge the truth on the physical standpoint.  Therefore, whatever seen, known, believed and experienced as a person of the world is physical standpoint.  The truth lies beyond physicality. Deeper inquiry analysis and reasoning revels the fact that the self is not physical but the spirit.  Therefore, it is necessary to learn to view and judge the physical existence, on the standpoint of the spirit/soul, which is the true self, to unfold the mystery of the mind/’I’.

Intense urge, sinerirty, seriousness silence, receptivity and humility are often the best ways to self-knowledge. Not because they offer solutions for the complexity of our lives but because they bring us in touch with our sacred centre, where truth dwells. That sacred centre may not be analysed. It is the source from where the mind rises and subsides.  The source is formless; therefore the mind is mere mirage on the standpoint of the source, which is the spirit or soul.
The source itself is the true self.  The true Self is neither bound nor free. An end to illusion! It is all groundless. For the whole of creation, though it rests in the Self, is without foundation.

Question with boldness even the existence of a God






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 blind-folded fear." --Thomas Jefferson
Religionists 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 reaches the non-dual destination. 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.

All the three states are impermanent.





All the three states are impermanent.  The formless substance and witness of the three states is real and eternal. The soul is immortal. The birth, life and death are part of the waking/dream. There is neither Heaven nor Hell nor rebirth because all these are happening within the waking/dream, which is mere mirage.  Thus the formless substance and witness of the mirage has to be grasped mentally.  


There is no scripture, revelation, creation, prophet, priest or teacher to be revered. Only the soul can be revered. Reflecting and revering on the nature of the self is the greatest worship.


There is no distinction. Everyone is equal. Distinctions like caste, race, creed, colour, gender, nationality etc. are not needed in the pursuit of truth. There is no need for priests, places of worship, long sermons etc. "Glorifying “God-men” Swamis are denounced because there is no one required in this mental journey of reason.

Sunday, March 21, 2010

If one dismentals the belief system mentally and accepts the truth derived from this mental journey of reason bring joy to those who dare



The real difference between the Gnani and ignorant in their attitude to suffering or pleasure is to be found in the Gnani’s serenity which remains unruffled in the face pain and pleasure.  Gnani is fully aware and has a conviction that the pain and pleasure is part of the mirage.  Thus the experience of pain and pleasure is passing show and the formless witness, which is the soul alone, is real.   
All the practice, penance, worships are part of the mirage, which is external.  The truth pursuit is a mental journey and it alone leads towards the Self-Realization.  People who are stuck with religion, god glorification and yoga will be not fit for the mental journey towards reality.  There is no use of running from one ashram to another in search of truth.  The seeker of truth will find the truth wherever he is because he is fully aware of the fact that, his journey towards reality is internal not external.   The seeker will gradually reach his non- dual destination if he is sincere and serious in his pursuit of truth.  
 Seeker has to realize the fact that, there is only One "Self "which is in the form of Spirit", is the Author of the three states.  Thus the physical self and its experience of the world are mere mirage on the standpoint of the true self, which is the spirit/soul.  

Soul/Self is beyond description, immanent, transcendent, eternal, formless, infinite, and it is substance and witness of the three states. If one dismentals the belief system mentally and accepts the truth derived from this mental journey of reason bring joy to those who dare.