I Want To Break Free

 Liberation or Moksha is an oft quoted term used in common literature as well as in Advaita Vedanta philosophy.  To one who is not familiar with the Advaita Vedanta philosophy, it can mean one of many things. According to the dictionary 'liberation' means "the act of setting someone free from imprisonment, slavery or oppression". Which means release from bondage of some sort.

Those who are familiar with Advaita Vedanta philosophy will recognize that liberation presupposes an individual's state of bondage.   Feeling of bondage is the direct result of the predicament of humans living in this precarious, unstable and changing world ( also called "samsara"). The human is part of the global structure of beginningless cycle of birth and death and rebirth. Bondage would therefore presuppose an endless cycle of suffering.  A suffering that begins with birth of the body-mind entity. 

Since a person has this ingrained feeling and conviction that he or she is indeed the body and the mind, some people may feel that liberation can only be possible after death.  Alternatively, one may be led to believe that an end to this suffering can only come about by a prolonged practice of some sort, whereby an "out of body experience" can be obtained. What they fail to realize however, is that no experience can last forever. All such pursuits will end in disappointment. It is the law of samsara that anything that has a beginning must end, anything that is born must die, anything that is obtained in the future will eventually be lost.  So, what then can a human do? 

Thankfully, the ancient rishis (sages) of India, had an answer to put an end to this suffering. They realized that this suffering happens due to the identification of the Ego (or Sense of "I" or Individuality) with the body-mind. As a result, an individual assumes ownership of the various experiences and nature of the body and the mind. He may say " I am short" or " I am miserable" or  "I am unhappy". He may appropriate any of the various characteristics of the body or the feelings, emotions and perceptions as his own. As a result, nothing is permanent or stable in this constantly changing world of objects, emotions and feelings and perceptions. He wants "permanent happiness" in an impermanent world. He wants "stability" in an inherently unstable world. He is looking for an end to this bondage related suffering in the world of changing objects, emotions and perceptions. He is looking in the wrong place. 

The rishis figured out that the answer for "breaking free from bondage" does not lie out there in the world, but rather it is within one's own self. It is not a question of "I want to break free", - but rather a question of "who is this 'I" that wants to break free"? Rather than turning the attention outwards to find a solution for this bondage and suffering, one should turn the attention inwards to the very subject or "I" that wants freedom or liberation from this bondage and suffering. It is ignorance that results in the perception of bondage. Ignorance is the main cause of suffering. 

Just like darkness can only be eliminated by light, the ignorance can only be eliminated by Knowledge. 

Dispel Doubts with Discrimination

As with any knowledge, doubts arise and need to be cleared routinely. Similarly, it is not uncommon for the seeker of liberation to have doubts about the teachings of Advaita or non-duality. In fact, there can be a feeling of despondency when doubts overwhelm the mind of the seeker. There is even the doubt if pursuit of Self-Knowledge is worth the effort. Especially, when statements like " It does not matter if one is knowledgeable or ignorant. Both are the same and equal" are heard or read, it makes the doubts even stronger. Why struggle for Knowledge if eventually it is all the same. At the same time, one realizes the lingering feeling of discontent and lack of peace and even if the idea of further pursuit of liberation through Knowledge is temporarily given up, one continues to seek contentment. Feeling of bondage results in discontentment. As long as there is lack of contentment, one cannot claim to be free or liberated. It is at such times that power of discrimination helps. The power of discrimination helps achieve Knowledge. Discrimination between the true and the false. Discrimination between the self and non-self. Discrimination between the gross and the subtle. Discrimination between the transient and the permanent. Discrimination between the changing and the unchanging.

Realize that work does not get done without effort. Hunger does not get satisfied without food. Liberation does not come about without Knowledge. In the same vein, if I eat, only my hunger gets satisfied and not everyone's hunger. Only if I swim, will I not drown in water. If someone else is swimming in the same body of water, it will not prevent me from drowning. In the same way, if I want liberation, I must be the one to get Self-Knowledge. It is the individual, who imagining himself to be in bondage, has to put in the effort through the power of discrimination to attain Self-Knowledge. One who has attained Self-Knowledge may then exclaim that all of humanity is already liberated. But, the fact remains that for those who feel they are in bondage, this statement does not help. Only when they who are not content, use the power of discrimination to achieve Self-Knowledge, will contentment become possible. Liberation is available to anyone and everyone who uses the power of discrimination to attain Knowledge of the Self. Just like only light can dispel darkness, only knowledge can dispel ignorance.

One who knows nothing is said to be ignorant (ajnani). One who knows everything is said to be Knowledgeable (jnani). One who has given up all knowledge after attaining it, becomes one with the Supreme (vigjnani).

Why Worship the Guru or God with Attributes

The seeker may come to the correct conclusion that Knowledge is the surest way to Self Realization. Of all the methods prescribed by the scriptures, the Path of Knowledge (jnana yoga) is the surest and shortest means of Self Realization.  You have all heard the message of Non-Duality and how the visible is not real. Having heard the message of Advaita from his Guru, the seeker comes to the correct conclusion that all that is visible or destructible or has attributes is unreal.  What surprises the disciple is when the Guru encourages and endorses the worship of the God with attributes (saguna Brahman). In fact, the Guru says that worship and devotion to God, with or without attributes (saguna or nirguna) is a must even for the disciple who has Realized, to stay established in the Knowledge of Non-Duality.

Nothing is more superior to Knowledge as you know by now. The disciple wants to know why after having experienced the Truth, should one continue along the path of Worship (Bhakti).  Having come to the realization that the Truth is without any attributes, why should one continue to worship that which has attributes? In fact, having attained the Ultimate Knowledge, why should one bother to pursue any spiritual practices at all, like worship of the Guru or God with attributes?  Why should one with Knowledge of That which is without attributes (which is the Reality), bow down to an idol or photograph or an idol of a God or Guru and accept that which is unreal?

In a previous essay, this author has discussed about devotion after realization (please refer to that essay).  Let it be clear, that there should be no doubt that the teachings of the Guru are the final authority. This is called faith and devotion to the Guru. Without this there is no hope for any seeker or disciple to attain Liberation.

Having said that, the seeker has a right to have his questions and doubts cleared. Now, please consider this carefully. Having acquired Knowledge and Realization, are you still doing things in life including your work, taking care of your family, their needs, your finances, your friends, and are you still participating in the activities of your family and society? Are you still eating meals, taking a bath, drinking water, cleaning the house, and taking care of your personal needs? If the answer is yes to all of the above questions, then why is it that you want to only exclude worship of the God with attributes? How come all other aspects of your life is accepted as real but not worship of the unreal God with attributes?

With your knowledge of discrimination, you know that all that is perceived is false, and yet you do not give up any of your activities.  You listen to and obey the orders of your boss at work, which is the same as bowing down to the boss. So, why is it that you want to give up the worship of God with attributes? What is wrong with bowing down to the photograph of a God in human form or a Guru in human form or for that matter any form including one with multiple arms and legs, or with an elephant head? Please answer this question with sincerity. Has the mortal Guru who is one with attributes,  not given you access to the Ultimate in Knowledge?  Why then would you not want to bow down to this mortal Guru? What kind of knowledge is this?

One who has pride in attaining the Knowledge and feels " I am great" does not have the True Knowledge. He is one who is still identified with the body.  Mind you, if there is no worship, there is no Knowledge (jnana). It is an indication of one who is still suffering from body-mind-identification. It is an identification of one who thinks "I am the doer".

So, never give up the worship of the Guru or the God with attributes. Start every action by remembering your God or Guru. Remember that God is the doer of all actions. By leaving all actions to a God with attributes, one slowly but surely becomes identified with That which is attribute-less and eventually realizes his True Nature, which is without any attributes whatsoever. May God bless you.

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.