No Time for Realization

The idea of being a separate and independent entity called "me" is the reason why one thinks that some effort and action is required for Self Realization. In reality, the Self is already Realized. You know you are, right now and right here. Yet, this simple fact is ignored by almost all seekers since they have invested so heavily in the idea of a separate entity.  They strongly believe that some form of tapas or ritualistic action or path would have to be followed to experience the state of the Self. The concept of time is an essential element in the concept of karma. On careful analysis of one's own True Nature, it becomes evident that time is but a concept.

Come to think of it, if that Real State of Self is to be experienced at some point in the future through some path, it should exist now as much as it should in the future.  The fact that you say you cannot experience the Self now would amount to saying that the Self is non-existent at one time and existent at another time. Since the Real State should be present at all times (the past, present and future), the very idea of the Self not being experienced now but at some point in the future would negate Its Reality. A  state which comes at one point of time and goes away at another point of time cannot be the Final or Real State since that would not be eternal and unchanging.  However blissful the state may be, it cannot be Eternal if it is only experienced intermittently or at some point of time.  The Real and Eternal State of the Self just IS. It always IS. There is no question of coming and going for the Self. The very thought that the natural state of the Self has been lost and therefore will be found through tapas is false.

So, you may ask, what must the seeker do in that case?  We come back to square one as to 'who is the seeker who wants to know the Self?'.  It is not a question of knowing the Self.  On the contrary, it is a question of knowing the real identity of the seeker, the "me". The seeker has only to establish the falsehood of being a seeker. Through careful inquiry and discrimination of the Real from the false, the seeker must realize that he/she is a non-entity. The Self which is self shining will be self evident, as soon as the false "me" is removed.

As Ramana Maharshi once said, "After understanding theoretically that the Self is non-dual, and after staggering again and again in one's efforts to attain the practical experience of the real Self, when finally one's mental efforts subside, the knowledge which then shines in the heart is the nature of that Reality."

Absolutely Effortless

You want to know the Self. You want Self-Realization. You have been told by many a Guru and through literature that Self-Realization can be attained by anyone and everyone. All it needs is a certain practice or ritual to be performed by you on a regular basis. Simple, you have been told. Well, if it is that simple then why have you not got it as yet, you wonder. You have tried it all, be it Yoga, Pranayama, Meditation, Mantra Chanting, Kirtans, Spiritual Seminars, Spiritual Books, Bhajans, and still you are suffering.  You begin to question  "Is Advaita Vedanta a philosophy only, with no practical value?". 

Contrary to the conclusion you may have reached, the Guru has actually told you repeatedly that you ARE already what you are seeking. So, you cannot fault the Guru for making it amply simple and clear. It is obvious, that the one to burden the entire blame would be you - the seeker. The Guru has told you that you can never know the Self objectively. Yet, you insist on knowing the Self objectively. The Guru has told you that you cannot become what you already ARE. Yet, you insist on some action or path that will somehow lead you to your own Self.  To become something other than what you already are.  You believe that you have to DO something to GET something.  Does that not sound ridiculous on your part to keep on insisting on a method or practice (sadhana) when the Guru keeps pointing you in the opposite direction. All actions and practices (sadhana)will lead you away from your Self.  The very idea of doing some action or practice is due to the mental conditioning since childhood that to achieve anything one must put in effort and act accordingly. All actions are generally done with the intention of getting results or fruits of the action.  Even the spiritual action or spiritual practice or sadhana.  This desire to attain something which you believe you do not already have, is the so called suffering.  You feel incomplete and hence you believe there is a need to act or do some practice to become complete and put an end to the suffering. Now, it is easy for some teacher to say "act without caring about the results", but you very well know that it is next to impossible to comply with that statement. Don't fool yourself otherwise.

Is there really anything you can do? Well, are we not back to square one with that question? Well, yes, there is a practice which is actually not a practice as such. It is a way of denying reality to something which is false. It is way of realizing the false as false. There is nothing you can do or have done to attain the Self. The Self is already realized.  You already KNOW YOU ARE.  The only way to Self Realization  or Understanding is to do Self Inquiry. By the action of Self-Inquiry, the one who is in the wrong belief of being an entity doing the action ceases to exist as an entity. The Self which is self effulgent, self shining, and self evident continues being so as always and Realization is nothing other than the seeker ceasing to continue in the false belief of being a separate entity. Although, to the seeker, there is apparent action and practice being performed, as soon as the Clarity of Seeing becomes evident, such a question does not arise anymore. You (as a seeker) are just as false as the appearance of the world that you believe in. All action is just as illusory as the world itself.

You have never done anything and will never do anything. You always have been and always will be solid, non moving, action-less, silent witness to the appearance which is constantly changing and moving and seemingly acting. The one who thinks is doing any sadhana (practice) is false and must realize the falseness of itself.  Being as you are is absolutely effortless.