This is going back to the basics. Before starting on any journey, one must have an idea of where one is going to and why one is going there. Meaning, there must be definite knowledge of the destination to be reached. Once the goal is known, then the next step is to plan the journey. The next step is to find out what instruments or methods are needed to achieve or reach the goal or destination.
For instance, if one wants to go to New York from Philadelphia, one has to know the exact address of the destination in New York. One doesn't just go to New York without knowing where one is headed to in New York. Otherwise, on reaching New York, one may wander aimlessly. Once the address (the goal or destination) is known, one has a map in hand to ensure safe arrival at the destination. One has to consider using the train, a taxi or a bus to get to the destination. What does one do after arriving at the destination? Does one continue to go on the journey? Obviously, not! Having reached the destination, the map is of no use ( but one does not necessarily discard the map). The train, taxi or bus are only modes of reaching the destination. One does not hang on to these after reaching the destination. This is just an example. Of course, one can make endless arguments about this example itself and lose sight of what the example is pointing to.
Now using the above example, we can look at the journey of the Seeker. What is it that the seeker is looking for? The goal for the seeker must be very clear before one sets off on the journey. Otherwise, the seeker will get lost ( just like landing in New York without a map or the address of the destination) even if the journey is in the correct direction.
In the case of a seeker of Reality, the Reality is the goal. It should be clear to the seeker that nothing short of realizing the Reality will do. If the Reality is not realized, then the journey of the seeker continues, meaning, the seeking continues. Once, Reality is realized by the seeker, the seeking will stop. In the search for Reality, one uses the mind (just like one uses a train, taxi, or bus and the map) to reach the destination ( Reality). Once the destination (Reality) is reached, the mind, which was just a vehicle and tool to reach the destination, is of no further use or real value and is left alone ( not necessarily discarded!). Having reached Reality, the seeker realizes that he/she is itself the Reality. Therefore, there is nothing to be done or undone thereafter.
Many a seeker has no clue of what is the FINAL GOAL. Often, the seeker, in the depths of his heart and mind, is unsure of what the final destination really is. Since, the goal (Reality) itself cannot be described in any objective terms and is somewhat abstract, the seeker feels lost. Also, the seeker has this sense of insecurity that what if the status quo changes and all that he/she invested in so far is lost, then "what will happen to me and this story of me?". Meaning, the seeker still has doubts about the goal or destination. Therefore, it is of prime importance, that the goal or destination is absolutely clear before setting off on this so-called spiritual journey. Also, one has to feel comfortable with whatever happens on reaching the destination. The tools that are used to reach the destination are precisely that, just tools. These tools are of no real value once the goal or destination is reached. In the case of self-enquiry, the mind is the tool that is used to reach the destination. Once the destination is reached, the mind is realized to be just that, a tool and is of no real value. One does not have to discard the tool (mind). Just realize that the tool is not who you are.
As a result of not knowing what the final destination is, many a seeker is wandering aimlessly in the field of spirituality. The fault is not with the field of spirituality. The fault is with the seeker, who refused to plunge into the goal of finding the destination with full effort and sincerity. This is what is called a sincere and earnest seeker. When nothing else ( other than reaching the destination) matters to the seeker, the destination is easily reached. With such determination, every sincere and earnest seeker will reach the destination of Reality.
Of course, all of the above is just another pointer or analogy to help seekers on their path. On reaching the final destination of Reality, the seeker realizes that there was actually no person (or seeker) on any journey, since the Reality is what he/she already was. This statement may give rise to the feeling that since one is already the Reality, why should one even seek IT? This is where the paradox is. There is no-thing to find or reach, and yet without seeking IT, IT cannot be found. Meaning, as long as there is ignorance, one continues to ignore the Reality. This is where the Guru comes into the picture. The Guru ( in whatever form, shape, matter, or just an inner thought) tells the seeker that he/she is actually the Reality and gives the map or directions of how to find out that he/she is actually the Reality. The Guru tells the seeker that he/she is indeed the Reality and it is just a matter of ignorance, a matter of ignoring his/her true nature. The Guru tells the seeker that seeker will not add or subtract anything to get to Reality, since he/she is already the Reality. On following the directions given by the Guru, and having full faith in the Guru, the seeker reaches the so-called goal or destination without difficulty. The Guru helps dispel the ignorance that one is not the Reality.
To explain this paradox, there is yet another analogy. John thinks he has lost his bunch of keys. He feels miserable and wonders how he will ever replace all the keys. He suffers and feels anxious about the future without the keys. All kinds of miserable thoughts arise in the mind. What if this happens, what if...and so on. He searches desperately for the keys everywhere but is unable to find the keys. He looks in cabinets, drawers, under the pillow, and under the stone in front of the house, but still cannot find the keys. A passerby, seeing John's misery,asks him as to what is going on. On hearing John's story, the passerby tells him to put his hands in his trouser pockets. As soon as he puts his hands in his pockets, he feels the bunch of keys. John is ecstatic that he has found the keys and thanks the passerby profusely. Simultaneously, John also realizes that the bunch of keys were always in his pocket all this time and he was unnecessarily suffering, thinking they were lost. John realizes that the entire process of searching for the keys, and the suffering and anxiety associated with the thought that the keys were lost, was futile. But he also realizes that without seeking the keys, he would never have found it. He had just ignored the fact that the keys were in his pocket and had failed to look for it in the correct place. Thankfully, the passerby (in this case the Guru) had pointed to John to look for the keys in the correct place. The passerby (the Guru) did not find the keys for John. In fact, it was John who eventually found the keys!! The keys were nowhere other than on himself, as close to him as they could be, and not out there somewhere.
All these analogies, indicate to a seeker the simplicity of what is being pointed to. The power of ignorance is so strong, that repeated pointing may be necessary before one becomes firmly established in the knowledge that one is already the Reality.
