Why is it that many a seeker or aspirant is unable to grasp or apperceive (have conscious perception of or comprehend) what is repeatedly told on this subject of non-duality? The main problem or obstacle is that most seekers approach this subject from a perspective of an individual. An individual who wants to 'attain' or 'gain' something like Self-Realization or Nirvana or Enlightenment. While it is understandable that at the stage of the seeker, it is natural to still identify oneself with the body and the mind, one must be prepared to leap on to the next stage of an advanced seeker- a seeker who is totally convinced and has the conviction of NOT being the body or the mind, but is still unsure as to who he or she really really IS. While, for the purpose of relative description, the language of time and process is used, there is actually no such thing as stages of a seeker. When understanding occurs, it is usually almost instantaneous. Therefore, it is imperative to approach this subject with no preconceived notions or concepts and just an open mind, so that the knowledge can percolate all the way down to the deep level of consciousness without any effort from the seeker. Just let the Knowledge flow in.
The other problem is that the seeker is unwilling is lose himself/herself. Meaning, the seeker is still hanging on to the identity that he or she is some body with a name and form. When the seeker is ready to give up everything including the identity with a name and form, then the 'Enlightenment' happens naturally and effortlessly!
Here is an analogy. What an average individual notices in a house is four walls, a roof and contents of the house. What the individual ignores is the fact that the house is actually an enclosure of space. There was space first and then in that space, four walls and the roof were built to enclose a portion of the space and then it is called 'my house'. One is so engrossed in the contents of the house that the fact that it is nothing but preexisting space is forgotten. The space inside the house is the same as the space outside the house. There are no boundaries or margins for space.
You are looking for God. You have looked everywhere outside, in the temple, church, mosque, and in the caves and mountains and all to no avail. You give up and come back home, disappointed that God could not be found despite your extensive search outside. In your state of desperation, you ask God to reveal himself as all your efforts so far have been unfruitful. At this point, God in the form of a Guru's sayings appears to you. The sayings are 'God is already in the house. All you need to do is step out of the house'. What the Guru means is that unless you vacate this house, God will not come out of hiding to occupy the house. How can God occupy the house when you are currently a resident? Nobody wants to live in a house which is already occupied (including God)! But the fact is that God is already in the house, but not visible (or perhaps in the basement?!). Once, you step out of the house and give up ownership of the house, the house automatically becomes a House of God and also very obvious. What has changed? God was already in the house and is now in the house and will be in the house. The only difference is that you have vacated the house and the rightful Owner just took over. Your search ends with you returning to the house and handing over the house to the rightful Owner. You return home to the home you never left!
What this analogy reveals is that unless you are willing to completely give up all your identities, there is no way the Truth will reveal itself (Truth being God itself). When you are willing to lose your self (the little self-your ego- note the small 's'), the True Self (note the capital 'S') will reveal itself automatically and effortlessly, for the Self( or God or whatever name you want to give IT) is already there and always there. Just like space. God is like space, without form or boundaries, and is everywhere, both inside and outside. The space inside the house will be obvious only when you empty the house of all of its contents including yourself (empty the mind of all its contents including the ego- which is nothing but the thought of being the body and the mind). When the little self (the ego) surrenders completely and without any conditions, the Real Self (or God) who is already present and all there IS, becomes obvious. No one actually attains God, or Godhood, for God is all there IS. Where is the question of a 'you' or a 'me' to attain or know God? Once 'you' have completely surrendered to God, who is there to claim " I have become Enlightened" or " I know God "?
The question is 'ARE YOU READY TO VACATE THE HOUSE?'
