Happiness, Contentment and Suffering

Let us look at some basic issues afflicting mankind. Mankind is in constant search of happiness, not realizing that it is transient. Transient happiness will eventually lead to suffering. What he is really looking for is contentment, but doesn't know it. As a result there is suffering and this is what leads to continued seeking. In a question and answer format, let us now define some of these terms for further clarity. Yes, this may seem very basic to some advanced seekers and students of Advaita Vedanta. However, for most others it is an essential beginning step to inquiry into one's own identity. 

What is the difference between happiness and contentment? 

Happiness is a transient state of mind, an emotion that one experiences for a short period of time only. One mistakenly associates happiness to external objects. However, on careful analysis it becomes evident that happiness is experienced when the ego disappears and the mind is submerged in its Source. Happiness arises when a particular desire gets fulfilled and hence leaves one in a momentary state of desireless-ness. However, it is fleeting as another desire arises immediately. As a result, there is a (mistaken) impression that it is the object of desire that resulted in the happiness. This leads man to desire more of the same object thinking that more will lead to greater happiness. However, common sense experience tells one that more of the same object does not lead to more happiness. For example, you have a desire to eat ice cream and you eat one scoop and feel happy. You then think, maybe if I eat some more I will be more happy or satisfied. However, the second scoop and more scoops do not result in that and eventually you know what happens! 

On the other hand, contentment is a state of mind where there is peace. Not happiness, but peace. This happens when the mind realizes that the glass is already full. Nothing needs to be added or removed from the glass. Nothing needs to change. Everything is perfect as it IS. Hence, there is no pursuit of anything including pursuit of happiness. One is seeking nothing. One is wanting nothing. One does feel the need to discard anything. One does not say, " I don't like this" or "I like this". It is the perfect place to be. In fact, it is by Being that one finds contentment. Not being this or that. Just BEING!

Why does one want to be content?

Without realizing it, one wants to be content because it is his Natural State. Every one wants to be happy - permanently. It is the one desire of mankind that is common to everyone. However, as noted above, one doesn't know how to go about achieving the so called "permanent happiness". He equates it to something that can be "achieved" like everything else in life. Something that can be achieved through effort in the world of objects out there. As a result, one enters this never ending maze or matrix of chasing one object after the other, none of which result in the goal of "permanent happiness". As a result, one is constantly suffering. One thinks that there is something out there that will result in "complete satisfaction" and there will be no further desires. But, is it not a foolish desire to seek permanent happiness in a world of changing objects?  Permanence by its very definition means " no change".  What one really wants is "contentment". Not knowing this results in suffering. 

What is suffering?

Suffering is the state of mind, where one is not satisfied with what is. It is a state where one feels inadequate or incomplete. There is a feeling that something is missing and somehow if that missing thing or object or whatever can be obtained it would result in completeness or a state of "permanent happiness". Suffering is a main reason for one to search or seek in the first place. Almost always, one does not know what exactly they are seeking. They don't know what it is that is missing in their life. They have already earned a lot of wealth, a great name or fame, professional or career fulfillment, prosperity, good family, good health, a wonderful car and house, and great many awards and recognition. And YET, there is some inexplicable thing that is missing in life. The feeling of emptiness in the midst of plenty!! Everyone of us experiences this.

Why is this suffering created by the Creator? If He loves everybody, then why does He create suffering?

If the Creator or the Supreme did not create suffering, how else will mankind even bother to think about HIM? It is through the creation of suffering, that the Creator draws our attention towards HIM. After all, HE wants everyone of us to be content because HE loves us. If one has all that he or she needs (and there is no suffering) why would he or she even bother to seek HIM out? Suffering results in seeking. A confused man seeks an end to the suffering in the world of objects out there and hopes to bring an end to the suffering. He thinks that perhaps if I have more money, or fame, or greater achievement I will be complete and will not have to seek any more. Others may try to end the seeking through alcohol, drugs or relationships. 

So, who can say that they are not suffering? Only the one who no longer has to seek anything, anywhere or through any means, can experience an end to suffering. 

End to suffering = contentment with what IS. 

So, how does one go about starting to bring an end to suffering?

Simple question begs a simple answer. Remember that the One who Created suffering is the only One who can end it. All HE asks is for you to remember Him - always. Now that may seem easy, but is it? No! Why? Because, man is confused about his identity. All his life, he has pretended to be somebody or someone. He started out thinking he is a child, a son, a daughter.  Then he thought - "I am a student". Later, he took on the identity of his profession - " I am a doctor", or " I am an engineer" etc. Later still, he took on the identity of a lover, a husband, a father, a father-in-law, a grandfather, an old man etc. In fact, in a single day, he wears different identity hats. In fact, when asked he may happily accept all of the identities as himself or herself. "What is wrong with taking all the identities?" - he asks. The answer to that question is for the person to ask himself or herself this question - " Which of these identities wants an end to the suffering?" or "Which of these identities wants permanent happiness so that there is no more seeking of happiness?". A very sensible question, isn't it? For example - if a Computer Programmer asks a question regarding the code he is wanting to write. If instead of getting an answer to that question, someone comes along and gives him this response - "you should spend more time with your family instead of writing code." What?!! Makes no sense, doesn't it? Well, he gave him an answer as if he was asking him a question from the viewpoint of a husband or householder. 

A wise man may ask - "But wait, what if there is a permanent, unchanging identity behind all these identities? What if I have been confused about my identity all along?".

Where does the Guru come in all of this?

When a desperate, suffering man, after looking everywhere, seeking in all corners of the world, and finding no relief from suffering, and finally with sheer devotion and surrender asks the Creator for help, then the Guru is sent in to guide the suffering man with answers that would eventually bring an end to suffering. It is said that "When the student is ready, the Guru comes to the student". When the suffering seeker places complete faith in the teachings of the Guru, and surrenders fully to the Guru, the Guru who is all compassionate bestows the Knowledge upon the suffering seeker and thus brings about an end to the suffering. 

It is obvious that it is only when one surrenders the ego, which is the mind, to the Guru that one gets the ultimate Knowledge of one's own identity. Hanging on to one's ego and identity as a person and then making effort to find contentment is bound to result in failure. Giving up one's identity as a person ( knowing the ego is a ghost and non-existent) and surrendering completely in favor of the Guru is the easiest way to achieve contentment, which is nothing other than JUST BEING.

The Guru and Creator are one and the same. 

No Effort Is Needed To Be

 We all start the journey of seeking thinking we are the body with a mind. Hence, the idea of the Self or Guru appears to be something or some entity apart from "me" ( the body-mind entity). However, with the aid of the Guru, we begin the inquiry into the Source of the "me" or "mine". Initially, the inquiry may require periods of meditation wherein the meditator is sitting in one position and concentrating on an objective Guru or God. With practice, however, the separation between the meditator and the object of meditation gradually diminishes. At one point, the meditator and the object of meditation become one. There is complete surrender of the meditator to the Guru. This means there is no longer any hint of ego left. Only the one-ness prevails. 

When there is no meditator or doer, who is it that is making the effort? There is just this beingness without any duality. Is it not obvious that effortlessly the beingness IS. What effort is needed to BE? And by whom? 

As Shri Ramana Maharshi once said - 

Do not meditate - BE.

Do not think that you are - BE.

Don't think about being - you ARE.

Understanding Non-Duality From Standpoint of Duality

One of the most perplexing things is to try to understand non-duality or advaita, from the viewpoint of duality.  Let us explore this a bit more in detail.

All communication via language, writing etc. happens in the sphere of duality. There is a subject -i.e. me, who understands the object explained in a language that I understand. This is true for all aspects of knowledge including the arts, literature, sciences and common every day communication. It is based on developing certain concepts of language communication. When someone says the word "water" in the English language, the person hearing it or reading it understands that the word refers to a colorless, clear liquid. The mind translates the word into a conceptual understanding of the meaning of the word heard or read.

The very nature of communication implies the existence of a subject, "I" - which implies identification with a body and a name- trying to explain an object using concepts and ideas. The problem arises when the teacher of non-duality tries to explain an abstract idea of non-duality to another body-name identity using the same principles of communication as explained above. Non-duality encompasses all of duality and non-duality. So, how does one go about trying to wrap the so called head around it?

The main problem is the seeker who tries to understand Non-duality while still maintaining his or her identity as an individual. The seeker tries to maintain his identity as a separate individual and tries to attain or obtain non-duality. Do you realize the paradox of the situation? There can be no duality in non-duality. No question of a subject and an object. No question of a "me" attaining. No question of a "me" understanding the ONE essence that is everything.  Just this ONE without a second.

As long as the seeker refuses to let go of his continued misidentification with the body-mind entity, he or she will never get around to understanding the simplicity being explained in advaita or non-duality. The seeker wants to take credit for having finally "Understood". Presumably also wanting credit for the many hours and years of meditation and spiritual process involved to reach the understanding. Do you see the paradox here?

It helps to get back to the very basics of advaita teaching. First comes the sense of presence, or consciousness or sense of beingness. Prior to everything else. Every thing, including the concept of individuality and the subsequent dualism, and all other concepts come only because of the sense of presence. No presence - no things, no concepts, no you. Think about it for a moment.  Are you currently present or not? There is no way you can deny your presence at this very moment. All thoughts including the thought "I am" can only arise if you are present. Now, if somehow your thoughts would cease (if only for a moment), would you stop being present or stop existing? Try it. You will know the answer. Did you disappear?

However, if you were asked to explain your experience in that moment of thoughtlessness, you would come up with a blank. That is because you are trying to explain that sense of presence or consciousness or beingness, with concepts and words. Concepts and words are an expression in duality. When presented with this nonconceptual awareness or sense of presence, the mind draws a blank. Hence, the seeker who identifying with the mind, tries to comprehend this sense of presence, fails miserably.

As a result, the seeker falsely believes that there is a process or doing involved in trying to get to this 'sense of presence'. The frustrated seeker says " I know I am present but surely there must be something wrong I am doing as I cannot conceptualize this presence or beingness". The mind can go around and around in circles or get lost in a maze of concepts trying to grasp non-duality. The seeker remains in a state of seeking as a result of trying to conceptualize the nonconceptual.

So, what is the way out? - asks the seeker. It is quite simple. Don't try to conceptualize the nonconceptual. Realize that only consciousness understands consciousness and in doing so transcends consciousness. There is no individual here to take credit.

Realize that there is no alternative presence apart from this presence - which is evident right here and right now. Don't fall prey to the endless games and tricks that the mind plays. There is no future time that you will be present than this very moment. Watch the mind and realize that you are not the mind but the silent, unchanging witness of the mind.

JUST STOP. In doing so, you ARE. Got it?

Your Attitude and Identity Matters in Spiritual Pursuit

In the pursuit of Enlightenment or spiritual practice, whatever you may want to call it, your attitude and your identity matters. You currently identify yourself with the body and the mind. However, you may intellectually understand that you are also the spirit or the Self. At different times, you identify with different aspects of your self. You may at times identify with the body and yet at other times get carried away by the thoughts and identify with the mind and yet at other times on introspection, briefly identify with the deeper aspect of your being.

As an analogy, let us look to the famous Indian Epic called the Ramayana. In it, the character, Rama, who represents the eternal Self, has a monkey-assistant, named Hanuman, who represents the mind (or intellect). In the story, at one point, Rama asks Hanuman, "How do you regard me?". And, Hanuman replies, "when I regard myself as the body, I am your servant; when I regard myself as the soul, I am part of you; but when I regard myself as the Universal Self, I am one with you."

The message from this anecdote is that your approach to spirituality or search for the Self or God, is entirely dependent on your attitude of who you identify yourself with. Or, who you believe yourself to be.  If you identify yourself with the body and mind, then the Self is someone else. There is duality in this instance. More like the subject and object relationship in which you are the subject and Self or God is the object. In the story above, in the first two instances of how Hanuman relates himself to Rama, there is a distinct separation between himself and the object of his reverence, Rama. In the first two instances, Hanuman relates to Rama as either a servant or a part of Rama, but in the third instance, he SEES himself as no different from Rama (Self).

Depending on your attitude about who you think yourself to be determines how you approach spirituality. If you consider yourself to be a separate individual, separate from God or Self, then the path of Bhakti or devotion is what you actually end up pursuing.  Although, you as a soul are not different from God or Self, you feel you are and hence you suffer.  It is just an imagination that you are separate but yet you believe it to be true. In this instance, you long to be one with God or Self and you sing songs of praise of God or Self. You repeat the name of God or Mantra (or Japa) to avoid getting distracted from the thought of God.  You meditate on God or Self in an effort to close the gap between your imagined identity as a separate self, and God. As an analogy, if a wave thinks itself to be separate from the Ocean, it prays to the Ocean to reveal itself for it longs to be one with the Ocean at some time. This is despite the fact that it has never been separate from the Ocean to begin with. Or like the rays of the Sun are no different from the Sun, and yet if the ray feels or thinks of itself as a distinct entity, it longs to be one with the Sun. In the same way you believe yourself to be a separate entity and in desperation pray, meditate, sing bhajans, do japa, in the hope that one day God will reveal Himself to you.  At long last, the clouds of your self imposed ego clear, and the clear Light of the Self shines through in all its glory, and you exclaim in joy " I am the Self and I have never been anything but the Self".

On the other hand, you may be told by your Guru that you are none other than the Self, and because of your complete faith, trust and conviction in the teachings of the Guru you accept His words as such. Or else, you analyze and question the teachings of the Guru and reach the conclusion through direct experience of being the clear Awareness without attributes. You arrive at the conviction that the Guru is indeed correct in saying that you are the SELF and have never been anything but the SELF. This is the path of Jnana or Knowledge.

If Only I could Kill My Ego

As you may be aware by reading through the Advaita literature, that a lot of advice is given on how it is important to kill the ego as the means of Self Realization. Let us look at this topic in our discussion today. The ego is nothing but the "I-thought" or the idea of being an individual. In fact, the ego and the mind are one and the same. Why? The first thought which is the basis of all other thoughts is the thought- "I". When the first person, I, arises, all other thoughts arise and are all linked to this primary thought - "I". Therefore, it is essential to decipher the source of this very first thought, or the "I- thought" as the way to realizing one's True Nature or Self Realization as it is called. The ego is the first person, the I, or the individual that one believes oneself to be. The ego makes one believe that he or she is a separate entity with substance and its own independent existence.

The very idea that you being the ego, will somehow go about and kill the ego is itself ludicrous.  There is no doubt that the ego trying to kill itself would be a futile exercise since it would be similar to suicide, though not physically. Well, that is not the goal of Self Realization, certainly!  If all who have Realized their Self would be dead, then there should have been no one to pass on this Knowledge to others? As Ramana Maharshi has said, the ego trying to kill the ego is similar to a thief pretending to be the policeman and wanting to catch the thief. There can be nothing more ridiculous. But, despite this very obvious statement, many a seeker still wants to be deluded into believing that somehow the ego can be controlled or killed.  Because of this misunderstanding, the seeker will try to somehow seek out a method (or sadhana) to do so. After going around in circles, as would be not surprising considering the very nature of the goal in mind, the seeker becomes frustrated and helpless. Many others will say that Advaita teaching is impractical and still others may say that it is a fatalistic philosophy.  Unfortunately, many a seeker has been led astray because of misunderstanding of the teachings.

This statement about the ego needs clarification for many. The ego cannot and should not be sought out for destruction in some way. Instead, it is essential for one to find out if the ego has any existence apart from the consciousness.  Does the ego have any substance or independent nature apart from consciousness? Is it not true that you have to be conscious to know you exist as an individual? In this realm of consciousness, the idea of being a first person- "I", arises. This "I" is nothing but the thought- I, or the ego. A thought has no substance. Look for it and SEE for yourself.  A thought has no substance and has no independent existence apart from consciousness.  When there are no thoughts including the "I-thought", you still exist. Try it and see. Stop all thoughts even for a moment. You do not fall apart.

When sincerely inquired into, the ego is like a ghost. It vanishes like the ghost which never existed in the first place. And yet, there is no denying that there is awareness or the sense of being without being this or that. This stillness, which is pure beingness, is experienced by all when the "I-thought" subsides, however transient it may be. So, the question finally arises, why and how would you want to kill something that doesn't exist?  Why kill the ego when it is unreal and has no existence apart from consciousness? Why not instead investigate and find out the nature of the ego and realize that it is like a ghost? How can you kill a ghost?  So, give up the idea of killing the ego or the mind, and instead focus on inquiring into the nature of the ego or the mind.

Mind In, Mind Out

The mind, which is nothing but a bundle of thoughts, is the window to perceive the world outside. But, the mind is not what perceives the world. It is only a window.  The one who perceives the world is behind the window, so to speak. The consciousness "I am" is the cause for the perception of the world. No consciousness, no world.  Simple.

When the mind is focused or turned outwards, it perceives the world of objects. In fact, objectification is through the mind only. The sense organs are the conduit for the mind to objectify the world outside. The mind creates the false identity of being a person, a "me".  A false entity that believes itself to be the 'seer', the subject. Because of the belief in this false entity, one goes about thinking that it is "me" who is actually perceiving, seeing, hearing, thinking, talking, etc. Now, you may notice the word 'thinking' is in italics. That is because the false subject "me" is nothing but a thought. No thoughts, no "me". Yet, despite the absence of a "me", the perceiving goes on none the less. Only, there is no one (no "me") claiming to do the perceiving. This is obvious proof that the "me" is NOT the one who is doing the perceiving.  The world appears to be, only as long as the mind is turned outward i.e. towards the sense objects.

To know who you really, really are, it is essential to turn the mind inwards. In this case, the mind is turned away from the sense objects to the source of the mind itself. The easiest way to do so is Self-Inquiry. On asking the question "Who am I?", the mind subsides into its source. The source is consciousness. When the mind is turned inwards, there is no mind left. Only consciousness prevails. The mind has submerged itself into its source, i.e. consciousness.  There is just this Being, being Itself. Just being is bliss.

The path to bliss is simple. Just turn the mind inward to its Source.  

Dead and Gone-Part 2

Often the entity or person that is supposedly dead is also the one that you loved very much. For instance, and just for instance as an example, it could be one of your parents.  Sorry for this rather stark analogy but it serves the purpose of Awakening you. You loved your mother a lot when she was alive.  For all your life, you assumed your mother was the body that she represented. You saw that same body change continuously just like yours. The change could be called deterioration of the body.  Perhaps, the change in the body was minimal and the so called 'death' came suddenly. In any case, the object of your love suddenly seemed to have vanished into thin air. Precisely, into thin air.  For, if indeed she was the body, the body was still there after the so called 'death'.  So, you may ask "where did my mother go?".

If you pause to think over this carefully, you may wonder who was it that was your mother? She certainly could not be the body for it is lying there in an inert condition and refusing to respond to any stimuli from the external world.  Despite your crying for her, she refuses to respond. You are in dismay, for the object of your love, the body, is suddenly refusing to respond to your show of emotion and love.  So, who is it that you loved if not the body? Who is it that you called "mom" and where is she now?

In some cultures and traditions, the dead body is cremated leaving behind the ashes. After all the body is merely a product of the five elements (earth, water, fire, air and space) and all that is left now is the ashes i.e carbon, which is a product of the earth. Is it possible that all along you were loving this carbon ash? Certainly not!  Is it not the entity (or non-entity to be more precise) that animated your mother's body that you actually loved? THAT which is responsible for the animation of your "mother's body", would that not be the same for "your body"?  THAT which gives rise to the sense "I am" to your mother, would that not be the same for "your body"?  Now that your mother is "dead", she no longer has the Knowledge of Being i.e. she is no longer able to say "I am" or for that matter "I am not" either.   So, all along what you thought you loved (as a personality i.e. your mother) was none other than that I AM(the Beingness), which is also WHO YOU ARE (I AM). So, in fact you were loving your own Self all along except that you viewed that body as someone else i.e. your mother. You had failed to see the substratum that animated the gross body.  You had failed to see the Beingness- the same Beingness which animates "your body". Call IT by whatever name or label you want, but there should be no doubt that what you loved all along was none other than your own Self.

So, you can see that pondering over concepts like birth and death can open up avenues to know your True Nature. Now that you Know, keep meditating on that Beingness.

Just This Ordinary Awareness

This essay is meant to dispel any misconceptions one may still have about what is being pointed to in advaita teachings. The teaching is actually very simple.  Unfortunately, because of the conditioning of the mind, various concepts are created by the mind. Thereby, the simplicity of the teaching gets covered by various concepts which lead to further concepts and one gets lost in the jungle of concepts.  There is no doubt that this very author in an attempt to clarify one concept may have unwillingly and unwittingly created many more and perhaps contributed to the confusion of many a seeker. One has to get back to the basics and stay there and ponder over the teachings carefully and repeatedly to Realize the Truth.

Who YOU really, really ARE is THIS SIMPLE ORDINARY AWARENESS. Yes, indeed it is that simple! Then why is it that everyone cannot understand what is being pointed to? Simply because most readers and seekers are trying to approach this with a very strongly established identity with the body and mind. An identity of being someone, of being so and so.  If only one could somehow let go and simply dive deep into the source of the mind, without worrying about losing themselves or gaining anything from this adventure, then one would easily Realize the simplicity of Truth.  While, this may seem to many like one is being given the run around, it is not so.  It is not because of a lack in what the Guru has to say to the student that the student did not get it. On the contrary, it is merely because the student's mind would not accept on face value what the Guru was trying to convey.

So, while you are seated at your computer or where ever you are at this moment, stop and take a moment to LISTEN to the pointers.  Do not get lost in the words! Instead, ponder over the MEANING of the words. Clear the mind of all concepts, right now. Answer the questions which you yourself must pose to yourself. Do not give up until you get an answer.

OK. Right now, can you say for sure that you are aware of sitting and looking at this material? Can you deny the fact that you are aware of both your existence and the fact that you are awake? Did someone have to give you that knowledge or information?  Is it not self effulgent. You KNOW you ARE. You are AWARE of being. Did you do something to be aware? Is it not spontaneous?  Even without a thought you KNOW you ARE.  This ordinary AWARENESS cannot be questioned. It is PRESENT - or should we say it is PRESENCE itself. Thoughts give one the feeling of movement because of identifying oneself with the thoughts.  But, in reality, this Awareness is not moving. It is Still.  What can one say about Awareness when one identifies with the Awareness? Any attempt to say or think anything is a movement and movement is mind. All one can say is that one is aware of thinking.  So, it is ineffable. Can one even begin to try to assign a beginning to this Awareness? Not at all, since time is an appearance in this Awareness.

In deep sleep when there are no thoughts, can you deny that you ARE?  In fact, you can say nothing in that state of deep sleep.  One can only say or think something in the waking state.  You cannot deny the fact that there is Awareness in deep sleep as you can testify to your being asleep when there is wakefulness in the morning. It becomes evident that all of this discussion and pondering is actually just a play of the mind. In fact, in the absence of the mind, there is just Awareness. There is no such thing as mind.  It is only a matter of the mind to come to this conclusion. That is it.

Yes, it is as simple as this. The problem is that most readers and seekers will not have complete and unequivocal faith in the words of the Guru and therefore keep floundering around in the world of spirituality, collecting and analyzing more and more concepts. Eventually, the seeker is lost in the world of concepts. Concepts which create various classifications and systems of Self Realization, and concepts which create more and more methodologies of attaining Realization. One teacher may say do this, while another teacher may point to another method and yet another teacher may point in a totally different direction or method of achieving Nirvana or Salvation or Liberation or whatever other word that comes to mind. The more you seek, the more you get lost in the concepts. What is wrong with just BEING?

Yet, all along, THAT (GOD) one has been searching for has been a constant Companion. A Companion who has never left you even for a moment. Not only that, there is nothing more obvious than Awareness. No method. No technique. No teachings. No Do-er, no doing and nothing to be done. Just BE AS YOU ALREADY ARE.

Stairway To Heaven

Whenever there is a mention of the word 'Heaven', all types of conceptual images arise. The fact is that most if not all have no clue what Heaven is or would be. The general conception is that it is a place of eternal happiness and bliss. A place where all your wishes get fulfilled and there shall be no more needs or wants. Indeed a mystical and perhaps mythical place. Most people look up towards the sky to indicate that there is a Heaven somewhere up there or out there. The strange truth is that Heaven is right here and available right now. Yes. That is the plain and simple truth. IT can only be experienced while you are alive. While you still have the feeling or sense of being, the sense "I am".

Heaven is not up there or somewhere out there. Neither do you have to climb up the stairway. On the contrary, one has to climb down the stairway from where you came from. Yes. From where you first started. On going down the stairs, one has to go backwards. Backwards all the way to the beginning. Your beginning. Only when one tries can this stairway be descended. So, why don't you step down and start going back?

At the end of the stairway is a tiny little trap door. The label on the trap door says "I AM". You are now afraid to step in through the trap door for you know not what lies beyond. Do not be afraid. Remember we are heading back to where you came from. From where this whole journey began in the first place. Will you please step in through the trap door. Yes, despite your objections, you will easily fit in through the door.

Once you have stepped through, you enter a dimensionless area of lightless light and soundless sound. An area of stillness of which you are still aware. There is only a feeling of beingness.  You may feel you are in Heaven but actually you are not. This feels like Heaven, you may say. But do not be fooled. It is Heaven and yet it is not.  You want to dwell here for a long long time. It is peaceful, blissful and totally silent. You keep falling through this area unaware of where you will go next. It is almost an endless abyss.

As one falls further into the abyss, at one point you have actually exited out of the area of beingness, and now there is complete absence of any sense of beingness. In this deepest depths of abyss, you have dissolved completely.  There is no question of being or no being. This is the region beyond awareness or no awareness. Indescribable. This is your True resting place, your Home, which you never ever left in the first place. All of the rest is just an imagination. An illusion.  If so, who is it that wants to descend down the stairway to Heaven?

Don't Worry, Be Happy

Are we all not familiar with the statement ' Don't worry, be happy'?  Yet, are you really, really happy? And then, what exactly is happiness you may say.  Obviously, to each individual the definition of happiness will be different and vary with the conditions and multiple factors. In short, the underlying equation can be summed up as happiness is present when the wants of a person are met. However, in your observation of the world around you, would you agree that when the wants of a person are met there is happiness? Obviously, not.  For when a particular want has been satisfied, there is soon another want or need.  Suppose, you want a really nice big house and you recently won the lottery and actually end up buying a nice big house of your choice, would that be the end of your suffering? Maybe so, for a short period of time. Thereafter, you are back to square one. Which is wanting something else and still suffering as a result thereof.  It soon becomes obvious that searching for permanent or unchanging happiness in this world of changing objects and conditions and environment is futile, since one has no control whatsoever over these changing world. Next, the wants and needs are infinite, including wanting happiness (which in itself is a need and want). Yes, you may portray an image of happiness and contentment, and on asking some people may actually say that they are happy. What they mean is that they are happy at present but cannot testify to that fact at a later time or date. For the one who says he is happy today may have a major tragedy befall him and there goes his state of happiness.


It becomes obvious that no state is permanent or eternal. All states including the state of happiness are transient. So, that brings us back to the question of what exactly do you mean by 'Don't worry, be happy'?  It depends on how you interpret it. The statement itself would have to be split up into two separate statements.

First, let us discuss the statement 'Don't worry' since it seems to precede the next statement of 'be happy'.  Perhaps, not worrying may be a prerequisite to being happy?!! Can you ever be eternally worry free? Not likely. At the least even a very happy person will eventually worry about his pending death and the pain and suffering associated with death. So, how can you be free of worry?  Firstly, worry is nothing but a thought.  A thought that arises spontaneously.  And since you identify yourself with the thoughts you take ownership of the thoughts (worries included). There is no way anyone can be free of worry as long as there is association of one's identity with the body and the mind. In the mind, the thoughts are endless and constantly welling up one after the other. Even if one meditates, there is no question that as soon as one finishes the session of meditation and returns to the surrounding environment, there will be multiple thoughts and as a result worries of some nature or the other.  Anyone who has practiced meditation and yoga would testify to the extreme difficulty and virtual impossibility of permanently controlling thoughts. And that is because thoughts will continue to arise based on vasanas (the only English word that comes close to describing this is "impressions"). To avoid diversion, we will not go into the discussion of vasanas for now. The only way out is for one to inquire into 'who is worrying?'. That brings us back to establishing your real identity. Once it becomes clear that the thoughts are not who you are, then the question of worry does not arise. Since, worries are nothing but thoughts, as soon as one realizes that he or she is not thoughts but one who is aware of thoughts, the worries automatically cease. Therefore, Knowledge remains your only hope. Knowledge of who you really, really are. Once established in this Knowledge of your True Identity, although thoughts may arise, there is no association with them, leaving you to revel in the peaceful oneness with your own self.



Now, we will discuss the other half of the statement "be happy". Actually, when the first part of the statement is clarified and one becomes established in one's own True Nature, the second part is automatic.  Once you stop worrying, where is the question of worrying about being happy?  There is no question of one being eternally happy. One is automatically happy being one's own self. Just Being is being happy. As soon as you be someone, then there are all sorts of states of mind to which you are attached. That is because, being this or that or someone involves being associated with the thoughts or the mind. Happiness is your True Nature. There is no question of a "me" being eternally happy. As soon as there is a "me" (an entity with a name and form, a someone), there are all sorts of emotions that this "me" can attach itself to and hence the happiness is also transient.  Remember, being me is unhappiness. Just being is happiness.

First, Know Your Self

What you think is not who you are.  And yet, you believe in what you think. Although, these thoughts are constantly changing you still place total belief in these thoughts. Strange, isn't it? Any one who has given any attention to the analysis of who they are, is sure to be surprised with the answer.

Let us suppose you are currently this body that you think you are, since you are absolutely convinced about it. When this body was "born", you had no such claim. In fact, you had no such claim for about 18 months or longer into your infancy.  Then, because of your parents repeatedly addressing you as the body, you began to understand that your parents mean the body when they address you by a name. You were therefore "born" nameless and without identity. Then an identity with the body was established by your parents. You, who had no name and yet were existing, were given a name.  You got the knowledge, ' I am so and so'.  Armed with this knowledge, you established that since you were this "I" (the first person), everyone else was separate from you and different and therefore called "him, her, them" (second, third persons). Armed with this knowledge, you labeled everyone else also with names and gave them an identity based on their form or body.  This gradually got ingrained into you to the point that you gave this full credibility. You believed in being a body with a name, separate from others and the rest of the world.

Add to this, as the days became years and encounters with the society increased, you were given even more information about your identity. Not only did you now have a name and a body, but also multiple identities depending on what one was talking about. For instance, if there was a discussion on religion, and if someone asked you "what are you?', you immediately replied " I am a Christian" or " I am a Hindu"  or what ever you were TOLD you were by your parents and society.  If the discussion was about your job, your answer could be " I am an engineer" or " I am a businessman" or what ever identity you assumed relative to your job.  To some you are the 'Manager' or the 'Engineer' and to others you may be 'Dad' or 'Mom' and yet to others you may be 'Son' or 'Daughter'.  Your current identity is always relative to the others and it keeps on changing.  You get the gist of where this is going. So, depending on how long this mental conditioning has been going on, and the older you are the more the mental conditioning, you would have assumed multiples of identities.  The more knowledge you accumulated, the more complex became the maze of identities. YOU ARE LOST! You are confused.  You are insecure in your maze of identities. You don't know who you really, really are. You are unable to pinpoint one single identity as being your self.

All this while, you FORGOT your original identity, which was just being you, without a name or an identity. How happy, innocent and contented you looked when you were in that state of just Being!  If you ever doubt what is being said here, just look at the face of a one month old infant and you will realize what is being pointed you.

You perhaps came to this website or blog thinking you will be given even more knowledge about spirituality or some such stuff. Of what use is more knowledge if you don't know who you are? Is it not important to know on what foundation a building is standing before building on more floors or stories on top of the building? Do you know your foundation?  And can you see the foundation without removing the existing floors?  Why not remove or discard all existing knowledge of yourself and settle down to what you started with?

Don't just assume identities based on what your were told. LOOK and SEE what you were at the beginning.  REALIZE that you are formless and nameless to begin with and always.  Do not get carried away by the added layers of knowledge.  Go back to what you always have been. DON'T BE THIS OR THAT. JUST BE.

Don't Go Chasing Experiences

The experience is what the seeker hopes will give him/her realization of the Truth. Unfortunately, this myth has been perpetuated by misinterpretation of the teachings of the ancient texts on Advaita.  Strange as it may seem, only one who has Realized can truly understand the message of these ancient texts without misinterpretation. While the purpose of these texts or teachings is to point a seeker towards the Truth of who they are, the paradox is that the real meaning cannot be grasped until the seeker Realizes the Truth.

Most seekers are chasing experiences throughout their spiritual journey. They have been told or somehow come to the conclusion that Self Realization is some sort of everlasting ecstatic experience where once and for all the world as it is ceases to exist. This cannot be farther from the truth of it.  One must realize that all experiences have a beginning and must therefore have an end. What begins and ends cannot be the Truth for the Truth is eternal and that implies no beginning and no end.  After the so called ecstatic experience ends, the experiencer, which in this case is the seeker, goes back to the same mundane state or field of mundane experiences and ends up being disappointed.  Remember, what comes and goes is not Real. Then what is Real? Obviously, any experience cannot be real for all experiences must have a beginning.

The object of experience can exist only if there is an experiencer.  There must be experiencing for there to be an experienced. There must be experiencing for there to be an experiencer. The only common factor is experiencing. One must focus the mind on the experiencer.  As soon as the experiencer is realized to be a false entity, the object of experience disappears and all that remains is experiencing. Experiencing is always in the present.  It is always here and now.  There is no experiencer or experienced, only experiencing. Experiencing is the manifestation of Consciousness and is only in the realm of Consciousness. Being is experiencing, without an experiencer or experienced.

So, would you still chase experiences knowing that it is a futile effort? Stop it, right here and now. Just BE.

Transcending Consciousness-Part 1

The consciousness is your friend, as well as paradoxically, your enemy if you do not transcend it. It is doorway to the Absolute (the Parabrahman- para meaning prior to or beyond). Right now the only connection you have to the Absolute is the consciousness. This consciousness is the source of all manifestation. As long as the physical body is nourished, the consciousness will continue to function through that body.  When the body "dies", the consciousness merges with the universal consciousness and the body which is made up of the elements merges with the elements (water, air, earth, etc.). This consciousness is the source of the thought "I am".  With this knowledge that you are (the knowingness- I am) you are able to say " I have knowledge".   Based on this basic or primary knowledge that you exist, you are able to build all other mental concepts. And on these concepts, you want to build yet another concept of the Absolute or Parabrahman or whatever else you want to label THAT.  However, you have ignored the primary concept of the knowledge that you are and instead have been chasing useless concepts.  This Knowledge (that I am) has no name (namam) or form (roopam).  Being formless and abstract, you have ignored this primary knowledge or knowingness or consciousness. This message 'I am' (consciousness) is the gateway or the door to the Absolute. The consciousness is your friend as hanging on to it will lead you to its source, which is the Absolute. The Absolute is beyond any words or mental concepts.  Therefore, all that you can know is only in the realm of consciousness. Realize that!

Everything that is consumed or exhausted is unreal- meaning, not permanent. While consciousness is a reflection of the Absolute, it is unreal in the sense that it can manifest only through a body. If the body is not maintained and nourished, then the consciousness can no longer function through it. Since this body will eventually be exhausted, the consciousness itself is not going to last forever.  But, it is all that is available to you. It is the source of all knowledge.

Therefore, after knowing the consciousness, one must not stop there and realize that the REAL YOU are PRIOR TO CONSCIOUSNESS.  Many a seeker will stop at the level of consciousness and assume that the manifestation is real.  Being grounded in consciousness, one is falsely led to believe that the world and the universe is real.  Therefore, the statement that "the consciousness can be your enemy". To be in one's True State, one must discard even this consciousness as unreal and transcend it.

Once one fully understands the nature of consciousness, it is imperative to realize that you are not just the consciousness.  The consciousness is the gateway or the doorway to the Absolute.  You are at the boundary between consciousness and no-consciousness.  Leaving consciousness behind, one is in the Natural State or the Absolute.  You are THAT which is prior to consciousness.  Having said that, consciousness is all that you have to express any kind of knowledge. Even this writing is because of consciousness and in consciousness. And because of consciousness, it is being read and comprehended by consciousness itself. In fact, all of this is happening in consciousness. There is no one (no entity) doing anything.   Therefore, everything is consciousness. The content of consciousness is consciousness. 

You are the KNOWER OF CONSCIOUSNESS. Since the Absolute is beyond any words, only pointers can be used to describe your True Nature, which is the Absolute.  The word THAT is only a pointer to your Natural or True State.

Why Self-Inquiry?

Why must I inquire into my own self? The reason is because you have taken your self to be an entity that is limited to the body and mind. An entity that is born and will die.  An entity that assumes ownership of actions. An entity that believes itself to be the do-er of actions. An entity that believes it has feelings and emotions. An entity that believes that the present is not good enough and that someday or sometime in the future, it will achieve a state of peace or happiness or some state better than the present. An entity that hopes for a better day. An entity that is suffering and pining for a better mental state.

As long as there is a BELIEF in this entity, which you call 'me' or 'I' (the first person) there will no doubt be suffering.  The false belief in this self centered entity is the cause of all suffering.

There are essentially two main ways in which this false belief can come crumbling down. One, is the sincere and complete faith and belief in the sayings of the Sages or the Guru. The Sages have repeatedly said over the ages that "the REAL YOU are not the body nor the mind".  With sheer devotion to your Guru or the Sage, and if the mind is pure enough, just this LISTENING is enough and the false 'I' will immediately vanish. However, for the majority of seekers, due to years and years of mental conditioning and the strong belief in an entity called 'me', many questions persist which prevent him/her from executing the sheer devotion needed to accept the Guru's sayings. In such cases, where the belief in the entity 'me' is very strong, it becomes necessary to investigate, inquire, as to who is this 'me'. This investigation or inquiry by a 'me' into the nature of 'me' is called Self-inquiry (or Self-enquiry if you are British or from the Commonwealth!). With this inquiry, all one is doing is convincing oneself that there is really no-thing or no-one or no-entity called 'me'. It is all just a thought. It is the prime thought or the root thought (the 'I-thought') to which all other thoughts are attached. On proving the falseness of this prime thought (the 'I-thought' or the 'me') the other thoughts have nothing to hold on to and they gradually fall away, leaving only the PURE BEING to shine through effortlessly.