Often one gets caught up in all the words to describe the Absolute. This leaves one wondering as to why he/she cannot continuously experience what is being pointed to as Bliss, Stillness, Peace etc. Unfortunately, this can lead one to utter frustration and desperation in the search for the Truth. Simply put, the Truth is already here and always now. What one needs to do is to simply stop identifying one's self with the body. All one needs is to have the intuitive and deep Understanding of what is being pointed to and remove the false identification with the body.
This could not have been put more simply than by Bhagavan Ramana Maharshi who stated: "The means prescribed for securing the spiritual end, such as charity, penance, sacrifice, dharma (virtuous conduct), yoga, bhakti (devotion) and the end itself described variously as Heaven, Supreme Object, Peace, Truth, Grace, The Quiescent State, Deathless Death, True Knowledge, Renunciation, Moksha (liberation) and Bliss, are all nothing but being free from the obsession that the body is the Self. Give up regarding yourself as this despicable body and realize your Real Nature, which is one of Eternal Bliss."
Ramana Maharshi continues by saying "Seeking to know thyself while still anxious about the welfare of the body is like attempting to cross a stream with the aid of a crocodile for a raft".
What more can this author add to this utterly simple message from the Maharshi? The author remains eternally grateful to Ramana Maharshi.
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Friday, May 20, 2011
Renouncing Maya/ Illusion
The seeker often asks "what after Realization?". Will Maya (Illusion) still persist? While a long discourse could be given to expand on this question, this author feels that the words of Saint Kabir are more to the point in this matter. Perhaps the reader will agree.
Tell me, Brother, how can I renounce Maya?
When I gave up the tying of ribbons, still I tied my garment
about me:
When I gave up tying my garment, still I covered my body in its
folds.
So, when I give up passion, I see that anger remains;
And when I renounce anger, greed is with me still;
And when greed is vanquished, pride and vain and glory remain;
When the mind is detached and casts Maya away, still it clings to
the latter.
Kabîr says, "Listen to me, dear Sadhu! the true path is rarely
found."
-Saint Kabir
Tell me, Brother, how can I renounce Maya?
When I gave up the tying of ribbons, still I tied my garment
about me:
When I gave up tying my garment, still I covered my body in its
folds.
So, when I give up passion, I see that anger remains;
And when I renounce anger, greed is with me still;
And when greed is vanquished, pride and vain and glory remain;
When the mind is detached and casts Maya away, still it clings to
the latter.
Kabîr says, "Listen to me, dear Sadhu! the true path is rarely
found."
-Saint Kabir
Thursday, May 5, 2011
To Do or Not to Do, That is the Question
There is somewhat of a paradox in all of this teaching. Sometimes, the Teacher or Guru will say 'do this' and at other times will contradict himself in saying 'don't do this'. The student or seeker gets confused and wonders what is the right thing to do. The student then asks the Guru a question for clarification and the Guru tells him/her, " don't do either and just keep quiet". That makes the student even more confused. Is this a ploy on part of the Guru to keep the student constantly confused and therefore be a disciple forever? Obviously, NOT! The true Guru has only the interest of the student in his mind. He wants the student to Understand what He is pointing to with the greatest of ease. Then why is it that there are so many contradictory messages coming from the same Guru? The reason is simple enough. Depending on the mental development of the questioner (the seeker), the Guru gives the appropriate answer which is tailored only to the needs of the questioner. Just as there infinite expressions of the same Truth, there are infinite number of pointers to the only Truth.
For one who has still got a strong belief in being an entity with a body and mind (which is true for all seekers), there will always be a question of what exactly must one do to attain Enlightenment or Self-Realization. For such a seeker, despite all assurances by the Guru that one already is what one is seeking, there are still many questions and doubts persisting. For such a seeker, it is essential to do some form of spiritual practice (sadhana) to get the mind to be able to focus one-pointedly at the core of the Teaching. The sadhana or practice can be in the form of japa (mental chanting of a mantra or the Lord's name), dhyana or meditation, bhajan (praise of the Lord in the form of a song), or pranayama (control of the breath) or study of the scriptures. This practice is essential for many a seeker to calm the mind down enough to be able to grasp the gist or essence of what is being pointed to.
When a seeker has reached the level of mental maturity or if he/she is initially so inclined even without any spiritual practice (sadhana), then the very essence of the Teaching from the Guru reaches its mark, like an arrow hits the bulls-eye. Once the pointers from the Teacher are very clear to the seeker, the seeker then pursues an investigation (vichara) or more appropriately an investigation into the source of his own self (atma vichara). By pursuing such a course of investigation, the seeker Realizes the Truth or the Self (the REAL SELF). On Realizing the Self, the seeker disappears or merges into the Self. As the seeker disappears, who is there to ask any questions and who is there to have any doubts? No seeker, no questions, no doubts, no answers needed. Just the Self, shining in its own Glory.
If such a Person (one who has Realized the Self) is then asked by a seeker "what should I do to get to where you are?", the Person will answer quite appropriately " there is nothing to be done by anyone for All is One and One is All. Who or what is there to do anything? Just Be as you ARE."
For one who is mentally prepared to receive the Final Answer to all questions and doubts, the message from the Guru will be the sword that will kill the questioner or the seeker itself. But, as long as one holds on to the imaginary entity called "me" and cherishes the survival of this entity, the Final Answer will not be acceptable. He or she will play the game of Advaita entertainment- a game of asking a million questions- what if and why this or why not that- and in the end wonder what is the Truth.
Each one of you who is reading this message knows exactly where you stand in terms of your search for the Truth. Based on your stand, you will get the answer to the question " Should I or should I not do spiritual practice (sadhana)?".
May God bless you.
For one who has still got a strong belief in being an entity with a body and mind (which is true for all seekers), there will always be a question of what exactly must one do to attain Enlightenment or Self-Realization. For such a seeker, despite all assurances by the Guru that one already is what one is seeking, there are still many questions and doubts persisting. For such a seeker, it is essential to do some form of spiritual practice (sadhana) to get the mind to be able to focus one-pointedly at the core of the Teaching. The sadhana or practice can be in the form of japa (mental chanting of a mantra or the Lord's name), dhyana or meditation, bhajan (praise of the Lord in the form of a song), or pranayama (control of the breath) or study of the scriptures. This practice is essential for many a seeker to calm the mind down enough to be able to grasp the gist or essence of what is being pointed to.
When a seeker has reached the level of mental maturity or if he/she is initially so inclined even without any spiritual practice (sadhana), then the very essence of the Teaching from the Guru reaches its mark, like an arrow hits the bulls-eye. Once the pointers from the Teacher are very clear to the seeker, the seeker then pursues an investigation (vichara) or more appropriately an investigation into the source of his own self (atma vichara). By pursuing such a course of investigation, the seeker Realizes the Truth or the Self (the REAL SELF). On Realizing the Self, the seeker disappears or merges into the Self. As the seeker disappears, who is there to ask any questions and who is there to have any doubts? No seeker, no questions, no doubts, no answers needed. Just the Self, shining in its own Glory.
If such a Person (one who has Realized the Self) is then asked by a seeker "what should I do to get to where you are?", the Person will answer quite appropriately " there is nothing to be done by anyone for All is One and One is All. Who or what is there to do anything? Just Be as you ARE."
For one who is mentally prepared to receive the Final Answer to all questions and doubts, the message from the Guru will be the sword that will kill the questioner or the seeker itself. But, as long as one holds on to the imaginary entity called "me" and cherishes the survival of this entity, the Final Answer will not be acceptable. He or she will play the game of Advaita entertainment- a game of asking a million questions- what if and why this or why not that- and in the end wonder what is the Truth.
Each one of you who is reading this message knows exactly where you stand in terms of your search for the Truth. Based on your stand, you will get the answer to the question " Should I or should I not do spiritual practice (sadhana)?".
May God bless you.
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