When your True Nature is supposed to be so perfect why is it that you feel imperfect? This is a very common question that arises in the mind of the seeker. To answer that question it is important to qualify what is imperfect. Well, a person may say that his or her life is "perfect the way it is right now". In that case, what is the need for searching for any perfection? That is a valid way of thinking and it is perhaps true for some persons to make that statement with a fair amount of certainty in what they are saying at that moment. The question is for how long can one be certain of the status of the current environment that makes one say that it is "perfect as it is right now"? A small calamity may change one's circumstances in a dramatic way and then would it be possible to say that his or her life is "perfect the way it is right now"?
As long as there are desires of the mind, or the body, or the intellect, there is bound to be imperfection. There is imperfection, as long as there is a need for more knowledge, need for more material wealth, need to be loved, need to be appreciated, need to be accepted, need for recognition, need to add or remove something from what is. Imperfection is the lack of satisfaction with the current status or what is or the lack of certainty of satisfaction of the current status continuing into the future. Nothing in this material world is permanent and all is subject to change, like it or not.
Imperfection is the very nature of one's individual identity or ego (jeeva). Imperfections are associated with the material envelopments of your True Nature i.e. the body-mind-intellect. When identified with the body-mind-intellect, you are no longer your True Nature. In your state of Perfection, i.e. your True Nature, you no longer have any association with the material envelopments. There are no needs to be fulfilled, there are no desires to be met, and there is nothing that can be added or removed. Yes, that is perfection.
Showing posts with label True Nature. Show all posts
Showing posts with label True Nature. Show all posts
Thursday, April 30, 2015
Wednesday, December 25, 2013
One Without Doubt
On the path to the Truth one may be considered to pass through various stages. In reality, no such stages exist, as you have always been, will be and can be none other than the Absolute. Such descriptions are therefore relative in nature and should be considered as such. The seeker (mumukshu) is the earliest stage when one is interested in knowing the Truth and one who is willing to listen to the Master or Guru with keen interest. The Aspirant is one who has absorbed the teachings of the Guru and is adept in putting the teachings into practice. The Aspirant has intuitive knowledge and experience of the Truth or Self. The one who is well established in the Truth and has merged with the Absolute is the Sage or the Accomplished.
The Sage or the Accomplished has merged his identity with the Absolute. The Sage has banished all doubt about the nature of the Truth or his True Nature. The Sage is unmovable in his conviction about his True Nature. The difference between an Aspirant and the Sage is the complete absence of doubt in the Sage. When the Aspirant becomes doubt- free and has unfailing conviction, he may be recognized as a Sage.
Initially, the Aspirant may have some doubts about his experience of the Self or the nature of the Truth as heard from the Guru. But, upon continued contemplation (nidhidhyasana) on his True Nature, the Aspirant becomes doubt-free. Knowledge with doubt is false knowledge. Spiritual action carried out with doubt will not succeed in getting the seeker to his goal. Devotion with doubt is useless to the seeker and is a sign of a false devotee (Bhakta). Spiritual life with doubt is utterly useless. Pilgrimages done with doubt are useless and serve to only increase the doubt. Living with doubt, gaining spiritual knowledge with doubt, and listening to the Guru with doubt are all useless and unlikely to result in achieving the spiritual goal of Liberation (mukti). All greatness achieved by one with doubt is useless.
It is ridiculous for one with doubt to boast about his knowledge of the scriptures for such talk is rudderless and only amounts to meaningless babbling. The one with doubt knows well that there is no satisfaction in this type of false knowledge and is indeed actually miserable in his own bondage.
True Knowledge is free of all doubt and is conviction itself. So, how does one overcome doubt? Doubt can be overcome by continuous contemplation on the nature of one's own True Self. Doubt is overcome by complete faith in the Guru. Doubt is overcome by continuous discrimination between the true and the false. Doubt is overcome by complete surrender to the Guru. Body identification leads to sustenance of doubt. One who is thoroughly convinced that he is indeed the Supreme Self is indeed the Sage. What attributes can you give to the Sage who has no form and has merged with the Absolute?
The Sage or the Accomplished has merged his identity with the Absolute. The Sage has banished all doubt about the nature of the Truth or his True Nature. The Sage is unmovable in his conviction about his True Nature. The difference between an Aspirant and the Sage is the complete absence of doubt in the Sage. When the Aspirant becomes doubt- free and has unfailing conviction, he may be recognized as a Sage.
Initially, the Aspirant may have some doubts about his experience of the Self or the nature of the Truth as heard from the Guru. But, upon continued contemplation (nidhidhyasana) on his True Nature, the Aspirant becomes doubt-free. Knowledge with doubt is false knowledge. Spiritual action carried out with doubt will not succeed in getting the seeker to his goal. Devotion with doubt is useless to the seeker and is a sign of a false devotee (Bhakta). Spiritual life with doubt is utterly useless. Pilgrimages done with doubt are useless and serve to only increase the doubt. Living with doubt, gaining spiritual knowledge with doubt, and listening to the Guru with doubt are all useless and unlikely to result in achieving the spiritual goal of Liberation (mukti). All greatness achieved by one with doubt is useless.
It is ridiculous for one with doubt to boast about his knowledge of the scriptures for such talk is rudderless and only amounts to meaningless babbling. The one with doubt knows well that there is no satisfaction in this type of false knowledge and is indeed actually miserable in his own bondage.
True Knowledge is free of all doubt and is conviction itself. So, how does one overcome doubt? Doubt can be overcome by continuous contemplation on the nature of one's own True Self. Doubt is overcome by complete faith in the Guru. Doubt is overcome by continuous discrimination between the true and the false. Doubt is overcome by complete surrender to the Guru. Body identification leads to sustenance of doubt. One who is thoroughly convinced that he is indeed the Supreme Self is indeed the Sage. What attributes can you give to the Sage who has no form and has merged with the Absolute?
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Time to Wake Up
You think you are awake right now, isn't it? You argue that this is the waking state. No argument there unless and until you really inquire into your Real Identity. Upon careful inquiry you will come to the conclusion that you are actually not awake. This is the primary dream state or primary illusion state. The 'I am' is the primary illusion or dream state. This illusory state gives one the impression of being, being an entity. This 'I am' latches on to various thoughts and establishes various identities. Thus the confusion of one's True Nature. Yet, it is through this primary dream state that one can establish one's own True Nature and Realize the falseness of this state that one calls the "waking state" and become free.
The dream one gets in sleep is the secondary dream state. Often, the secondary dream results in images and events related to the primary dream state. Then, there is the deep sleep state or dreamless sleep. All these states come and go. YOU(the REAL You) are none of these states. YOU are the one who is AWARE of these states. You remain still and are AWARE of the movement or absence of movement in all these states. Is it not time for you to actually WAKE UP?
The dream one gets in sleep is the secondary dream state. Often, the secondary dream results in images and events related to the primary dream state. Then, there is the deep sleep state or dreamless sleep. All these states come and go. YOU(the REAL You) are none of these states. YOU are the one who is AWARE of these states. You remain still and are AWARE of the movement or absence of movement in all these states. Is it not time for you to actually WAKE UP?
Saturday, April 28, 2012
Anchor the Mind to Its Source
The mind is both the source of joy and sorrow. Since the seeker associates himself or herself to be an entity with a mind, the entity goes up and down with the mind. Hence, the feeling of being happy or sad. This problem of ups and downs is the reason most seek out an answer. Everyone wants to be only happy and who would not? There are two ways to go about figuring out how to get out of this mess. The best way is to disregard the mind and investigate the entity ("me"). The other way is to investigate the mind itself and realize its nature, its functioning and source.
A lot of spiritual practices will encourage one to control the mind. Mind is nothing but a bundle of thoughts. It is not an objective entity. One who has tried to control the mind will be able to testify how difficult this can be. Instead, would it not be a lot easier if the seeking entity (called "me") SEES the falseness of itself and disengages from the activities of the mind? If one can come around to doing Self-Inquiry (vichara), there is no better solution than that. However, this article is for those of us for whom Self-Inquiry is not feasible or easily understood. Perhaps for some, purifying the mind may be the first step towards greater and eventual goals like knowing one's own True Nature.
It is peace of mind which the seeker wants and is that not what most of us want? How can one get peace of mind? Common experience tells you that the more you try to control it the more it rebels. Meditation is certainly a temporary solution. If peace of mind, even temporary, is what you want, then meditation is not a bad answer. But what kind of meditation?
When one keeps oneself engaged in thoughts, the thoughts multiply. One gets lost in more and more thoughts. The thoughts lead one away from one's own self. However, if the mind can be turned around and gently focused on the source from where the thoughts arise, then the thoughts gradually lose their energy and subside into their source. Do not try to stop the thoughts. Just watch where they come from and be the silent witness of the thoughts. Do not get carried away into the thoughts. Always bring your attention back to the source of the thoughts. Anchoring the mind to its source brings about peace almost immediately. One falls into the state of thoughtlessness, which is your Natural State. Repeated practice of this simple meditation of bringing one's attention to the source of the thoughts will take one deeper into further insights of one's own True Nature.
A lot of spiritual practices will encourage one to control the mind. Mind is nothing but a bundle of thoughts. It is not an objective entity. One who has tried to control the mind will be able to testify how difficult this can be. Instead, would it not be a lot easier if the seeking entity (called "me") SEES the falseness of itself and disengages from the activities of the mind? If one can come around to doing Self-Inquiry (vichara), there is no better solution than that. However, this article is for those of us for whom Self-Inquiry is not feasible or easily understood. Perhaps for some, purifying the mind may be the first step towards greater and eventual goals like knowing one's own True Nature.
It is peace of mind which the seeker wants and is that not what most of us want? How can one get peace of mind? Common experience tells you that the more you try to control it the more it rebels. Meditation is certainly a temporary solution. If peace of mind, even temporary, is what you want, then meditation is not a bad answer. But what kind of meditation?
When one keeps oneself engaged in thoughts, the thoughts multiply. One gets lost in more and more thoughts. The thoughts lead one away from one's own self. However, if the mind can be turned around and gently focused on the source from where the thoughts arise, then the thoughts gradually lose their energy and subside into their source. Do not try to stop the thoughts. Just watch where they come from and be the silent witness of the thoughts. Do not get carried away into the thoughts. Always bring your attention back to the source of the thoughts. Anchoring the mind to its source brings about peace almost immediately. One falls into the state of thoughtlessness, which is your Natural State. Repeated practice of this simple meditation of bringing one's attention to the source of the thoughts will take one deeper into further insights of one's own True Nature.
Saturday, February 25, 2012
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.
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.
Thursday, December 8, 2011
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?
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?
Saturday, October 29, 2011
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.
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.
Sunday, September 4, 2011
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.
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.
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Reconciling the Truth with the Illusion
A common criticism for the philosophy of Advaita or Non-dualism is that it is not practical. Many a seeker feels that this teaching cannot reconcile with what is the perceived reality of the world. This is because, to the seeker, what is called the Illusion or the world and its activities goes on despite the assertions of the Guru that it all nothing but an illusion. When carefully probed it becomes clear that the problem is not in Advaita. On the contrary, it is obvious that the very problem lies in the seeker having not found out his True Nature. On realizing one's True Nature, the Truth remains and the Illusion remains only as an illusion. The Illusion does not disappear for the so called "me' since the "me' and the illusion are one and the same. The "me" is part of the illusion. One cannot be a part of the illusion and see the illusion for what it is. Just like a person who is sleeping cannot tell you that he is sleeping well. The seeker wants to maintain his identity while investigating into the nature of the Truth. How can the seeker realize the Truth with this condition of maintaining a separate identity? Only when the feeling "me' as being a separate entity with independence subsides does the Truth become apparent and obvious immediately. Yet, there is actually no one to claim observance or realization of the Truth. Truth is not an object to be realized. Truth is itself the grounds or the substratum upon which all of manifestation arises. Because it is difficult to put Truth into words for communication, one has to rely on commonly used words in language to point to the Truth. Yet the word is not the thing and this must be borne in mind when investigating into the nature of Truth. The question of reconciling Truth with the Illusion can only arise for a seeker who has not fully Realized the Truth. For upon Realization, there is no one to put forward any questions. The seeker has merged in the Truth. Only Truth remains.
May be this analogy will help in understanding your True Nature. A wave is nothing but the water of the ocean with a form. In reality, the wave is nothing but water. The ocean is nothing but water. When a wave has merged into the ocean, it is nothing but the ocean itself. Can a wave that has merged in the water of the ocean ever make claims to being a wave? Can the wave that has merged in the ocean and can never be apart from the ocean, have any identity now? In the same way, a wave which Realizes its own True Nature as being only the ocean (or the water of the ocean), can calmly relax being a wave without worrying about its future and its own impending destruction as a form. The wave on Knowing its own True Self does not get destroyed as a form immediately but continues on its journey as a wave. Such a Realized Wave can tell other non-realized waves that they are in reality just the water of the ocean. Such a Realized Wave can tell other non-realized waves that they did not choose to be born as a wave and they have no control on when the form as a wave will subside. The wave form has appeared on the surface of the ocean and will spontaneously merge back into the ocean when its time is up. The non-realized waves, assuming themselves to be forms with different shapes and sizes, have overlooked the fact that they are after all nothing but the water of the ocean in reality. The non-realized waves have falsely taken the form to be the reality and ignored their true nature which is water. Such a Realized Wave can tell other non-realized waves not to worry about themselves or their future of possibly being relentlessly thrown against a rock or destroyed otherwise against their will. Such a Realized Wave can tell other non-realized waves that they are not apart from the ocean in any way and have never ever been apart from the ocean. In fact, the ocean is the substratum of their existence as a wave. In fact, the waves all arise and subside into the ocean. The ocean remains as it always has been, unchanged as a body of water.
Your True Nature or your True Self is like the water, the water at the bottom of the ocean, Still and Peaceful and undisturbed by the world of activities and turmoil which is apparent on the surface. Be Your Self.
May be this analogy will help in understanding your True Nature. A wave is nothing but the water of the ocean with a form. In reality, the wave is nothing but water. The ocean is nothing but water. When a wave has merged into the ocean, it is nothing but the ocean itself. Can a wave that has merged in the water of the ocean ever make claims to being a wave? Can the wave that has merged in the ocean and can never be apart from the ocean, have any identity now? In the same way, a wave which Realizes its own True Nature as being only the ocean (or the water of the ocean), can calmly relax being a wave without worrying about its future and its own impending destruction as a form. The wave on Knowing its own True Self does not get destroyed as a form immediately but continues on its journey as a wave. Such a Realized Wave can tell other non-realized waves that they are in reality just the water of the ocean. Such a Realized Wave can tell other non-realized waves that they did not choose to be born as a wave and they have no control on when the form as a wave will subside. The wave form has appeared on the surface of the ocean and will spontaneously merge back into the ocean when its time is up. The non-realized waves, assuming themselves to be forms with different shapes and sizes, have overlooked the fact that they are after all nothing but the water of the ocean in reality. The non-realized waves have falsely taken the form to be the reality and ignored their true nature which is water. Such a Realized Wave can tell other non-realized waves not to worry about themselves or their future of possibly being relentlessly thrown against a rock or destroyed otherwise against their will. Such a Realized Wave can tell other non-realized waves that they are not apart from the ocean in any way and have never ever been apart from the ocean. In fact, the ocean is the substratum of their existence as a wave. In fact, the waves all arise and subside into the ocean. The ocean remains as it always has been, unchanged as a body of water.
Your True Nature or your True Self is like the water, the water at the bottom of the ocean, Still and Peaceful and undisturbed by the world of activities and turmoil which is apparent on the surface. Be Your Self.
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Caught up in the Words
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.
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.
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
"Who am I?" is Not a Mantra
Seeker: You say that I am the consciousness and not the body. Should I keep repeating "I am the consciousness" or should I keep saying to myself " Who am I"?
Advaitin: There are many paths to the essentially path-less Truth. If you have complete and earnest faith in the sayings of the Guru, then nothing else need be done other than accepting his/her sayings. With this acceptance comes automatic surrender of the ego. With the surrender of the ego, the Truth shines forth spontaneously. Do not forget that the Truth is self-shining and always present. It is only the ignorance of the ego-mind that hides or covers up the obvious Truth. Once the ego has surrendered completely and wholly to the Guru, then nothing else need be done. The Grace takes over from where the seeker has full faith in the teachings of the Guru.
However, many a seeker will not be satisfied with the above methodology. The ego being so heavily conditioned over the years, a lot of questions and doubts keep popping up in the mind. For such a seeker, self inquiry is the only way to sort out the false from the Truth. One can only know objectively the false. You can only know what you are not. The Truth is known only as an intuitive knowledge. Questioning "who am I" is not a mantra to be repeated endlessly. It is a process of elimination of the false- the elimination of what you are not! Once, all the false has been eliminated, the Truth is laid bare. It is like removing the contamination from cloudy water and immediately the reflection of your self is visible in the pure water. Once the mind has been cleared of all impurities (the false identifications and false concepts), the Truth/ Self shines in it spontaneously. Once the Knowledge is clearly apperceived, where is the need to go on investigating? Once the culprit is found, the police does not keep the investigation open, does it? You know you are a man or a woman. Do you keep repeating to yourself, " I am a man" or "I am a woman"? So, where is the question of repeating " I am the consciousness" to yourself? Such repetition is nothing but another form of mental conditioning. It defeats the whole purpose which is to destroy mental conditioning and mental concepts. Yes, an apparent process of continued self- investigation must be continued until firm conviction of the nature of the Self is established and the realization of one's True Nature is firm.
In the absence of any concepts, you ARE. Stay as you ARE.
Advaitin: There are many paths to the essentially path-less Truth. If you have complete and earnest faith in the sayings of the Guru, then nothing else need be done other than accepting his/her sayings. With this acceptance comes automatic surrender of the ego. With the surrender of the ego, the Truth shines forth spontaneously. Do not forget that the Truth is self-shining and always present. It is only the ignorance of the ego-mind that hides or covers up the obvious Truth. Once the ego has surrendered completely and wholly to the Guru, then nothing else need be done. The Grace takes over from where the seeker has full faith in the teachings of the Guru.
However, many a seeker will not be satisfied with the above methodology. The ego being so heavily conditioned over the years, a lot of questions and doubts keep popping up in the mind. For such a seeker, self inquiry is the only way to sort out the false from the Truth. One can only know objectively the false. You can only know what you are not. The Truth is known only as an intuitive knowledge. Questioning "who am I" is not a mantra to be repeated endlessly. It is a process of elimination of the false- the elimination of what you are not! Once, all the false has been eliminated, the Truth is laid bare. It is like removing the contamination from cloudy water and immediately the reflection of your self is visible in the pure water. Once the mind has been cleared of all impurities (the false identifications and false concepts), the Truth/ Self shines in it spontaneously. Once the Knowledge is clearly apperceived, where is the need to go on investigating? Once the culprit is found, the police does not keep the investigation open, does it? You know you are a man or a woman. Do you keep repeating to yourself, " I am a man" or "I am a woman"? So, where is the question of repeating " I am the consciousness" to yourself? Such repetition is nothing but another form of mental conditioning. It defeats the whole purpose which is to destroy mental conditioning and mental concepts. Yes, an apparent process of continued self- investigation must be continued until firm conviction of the nature of the Self is established and the realization of one's True Nature is firm.
In the absence of any concepts, you ARE. Stay as you ARE.
Friday, January 28, 2011
God is the breath of all breath- Kabir
O servant, where dost thou seek Me?
Lo! I am beside thee.
I am neither in temple nor in mosque: I am neither in Kaaba nor
in Kailash:
Neither am I in rites and ceremonies, nor in Yoga and
renunciation.
If thou art a true seeker, thou shalt at once see Me: thou shalt
meet Me in a moment of time.
Kabîr says, "O Sadhu! God is the breath of all breath."
Kabir was a Saint and a weaver by occupation born in 1440 A.D. in medieval India. His poems are an expression of the simplicity of non-traditional Advaitic teachings. In this poem, he extols the simplicity of SEEING your True Nature. He emphasizes the fact that discovery of your True Nature is not in the acts of renunciation or yoga or some ritual or ceremony. For a true seeker, the Truth is at NO distance from your own self. There is no involvement of time in discovering your True Nature. True devotion is the hallmark of a true seeker.
Lo! I am beside thee.
I am neither in temple nor in mosque: I am neither in Kaaba nor
in Kailash:
Neither am I in rites and ceremonies, nor in Yoga and
renunciation.
If thou art a true seeker, thou shalt at once see Me: thou shalt
meet Me in a moment of time.
Kabîr says, "O Sadhu! God is the breath of all breath."
Kabir was a Saint and a weaver by occupation born in 1440 A.D. in medieval India. His poems are an expression of the simplicity of non-traditional Advaitic teachings. In this poem, he extols the simplicity of SEEING your True Nature. He emphasizes the fact that discovery of your True Nature is not in the acts of renunciation or yoga or some ritual or ceremony. For a true seeker, the Truth is at NO distance from your own self. There is no involvement of time in discovering your True Nature. True devotion is the hallmark of a true seeker.
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
The Simple Truth of It All
You want to know your True Nature and hence it is assumed you are reading this message. Is that enough? Reading this blog or any message on Advaita or Vedanta literature is certainly not enough. People spend hours reading and discussing this subject without ever LISTENING to the message therein. After listening, the next step is to follow the pointers. Yes, there is a feeling of peace and calmness on reading these messages and literature or on discussing this subject. But are you really getting anything out of it other than mental entertainment? Be honest with your own self. Is it not true that once you are immersed back in your work or other activity, the feeling of happiness or peace that was present when reading or discussing Advaita or spirituality, passes away just as quickly. You are then left longing for the same feeling once again. That is called suffering- when you are longing for something or some feeling that you do not have currently and are constantly longing for or are in search of it. What does that tell you? That no state is eternal as all states are changing. Why are you still running after some "state" which you hope to achieve at some future time and place? Why not Realize that you are THAT STATELESS STATE- your TRUE NATURE- and you are ALREADY THAT. Would that not make more sense than running around in circles chasing any transient state ( for all states are transient)?
So, what is the solution to all this suffering? It is utterly simple. Simple when one makes a sincere, honest and concerted effort and yet extremely difficult if one is not sincere and does not have the desire to do so. All it needs is for you to inquire into your own self. Inquire into who is this "I" (the ego). Where did this "I" come from? Obviously, this "I" was not there in my sleep and there was no suffering or longing in my sleep. Now that there is an "I" in my waking state, I am suffering. You have to do the work of inquiry for no one else can do it for you. Upon inquiry you must have the firm conviction, that in fact, the "I" (the ego) does not have any independent existence nor does it have any substance. It is but a thought only (the I-thought). Unless and until one does this investigation into one's own self, all other efforts are entirely futile. Just try it and see how simple this whole process is. For there is nothing new to be gained here. Only the false has to be removed to reveal the REALITY which is already there.
Once this TRUTH is realized, then by all means do whatever you like including discussions about it or writing about it (like this author!).
So, what is the solution to all this suffering? It is utterly simple. Simple when one makes a sincere, honest and concerted effort and yet extremely difficult if one is not sincere and does not have the desire to do so. All it needs is for you to inquire into your own self. Inquire into who is this "I" (the ego). Where did this "I" come from? Obviously, this "I" was not there in my sleep and there was no suffering or longing in my sleep. Now that there is an "I" in my waking state, I am suffering. You have to do the work of inquiry for no one else can do it for you. Upon inquiry you must have the firm conviction, that in fact, the "I" (the ego) does not have any independent existence nor does it have any substance. It is but a thought only (the I-thought). Unless and until one does this investigation into one's own self, all other efforts are entirely futile. Just try it and see how simple this whole process is. For there is nothing new to be gained here. Only the false has to be removed to reveal the REALITY which is already there.
Once this TRUTH is realized, then by all means do whatever you like including discussions about it or writing about it (like this author!).
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Jnana versus Bhakti- Knowledge versus Devotion
Eventually, there are two ways to Self-Realization- if that term can be used in the first place. The path could be Jnana (Knowledge) or Bhakti (Surrender). Let us assume for matter of this discussion that there is an entity called "me", who wants to know what is the way or path to Self Realization.
A person who is a true Bhakta (devotee of God), eventually reaches a state of complete surrender to God. The Bhakta has given up all and says that there is nothing that he does, can do or ever done without God. He surrenders himself completely to God, including the idea of being a separate individual. In surrendering his ego, or the sense of a "me", he Realizes his True Nature to be none other than the God that he is praying to. So, eventually, the Knowledge dawns on the Bhakta.
The one who embarks on the path of Self Enquiry or Jnana, continuously questions the validity and existence of this sense of "me" or the ego or "I-thought". When the Realization dawns on him/her, the sense of a "me" vanishes. There is only the Self and no question of a "me' apart from the Self. That is, he Realizes his True Nature to be none other than the Self.
The end result of both paths is the same. Therefore, Bhakti and Jnana are one and the same. The one who has surrendered to Jnana is a true Bhakta.
A person who is a true Bhakta (devotee of God), eventually reaches a state of complete surrender to God. The Bhakta has given up all and says that there is nothing that he does, can do or ever done without God. He surrenders himself completely to God, including the idea of being a separate individual. In surrendering his ego, or the sense of a "me", he Realizes his True Nature to be none other than the God that he is praying to. So, eventually, the Knowledge dawns on the Bhakta.
The one who embarks on the path of Self Enquiry or Jnana, continuously questions the validity and existence of this sense of "me" or the ego or "I-thought". When the Realization dawns on him/her, the sense of a "me" vanishes. There is only the Self and no question of a "me' apart from the Self. That is, he Realizes his True Nature to be none other than the Self.
The end result of both paths is the same. Therefore, Bhakti and Jnana are one and the same. The one who has surrendered to Jnana is a true Bhakta.
Saturday, July 10, 2010
The Goal of Desire is to be Desireless
The goal of every desire is to be desireless. Let us study this statement closely. When there is a desire, the mind is agitated and cannot focus on anything else other than the desire itself. For instance, if one wants to drink a cup of coffee, the thoughts are constantly on how to get the cup of coffee. The thoughts lead to actions that will fulfill the desire. One thought leads to another and the goal is to get the cup of coffee and consume it. Till the desire is fulfilled or replaced by another desire, it will constantly occupy the focus of attention of the mind. Once the cup of coffee is in the hand and a sip of it is consumed, then there is contentment. Yes, the contentment or happiness may be fleeting but it is there because the desire was fulfilled. In that moment of happiness, there is no desire or there is desirelessness (only until another desire arises!). Therefore, it can be concluded that desirelessness is equal to happiness and vice versa. The goal of every desire is to lead up to this desirelessness (happiness or contentment), which is our True Nature. One experiences this state of happiness or desirelessness every day, but the mind interprets the happiness to be due to the attainment of the object of desire and not to the fact that for that fleeting moment there are no desires (or desirelessness). Because of the misinterpretation of this state of happiness, the mind is constantly chasing desires thereby resulting in a state of constant seeking. The mind gives the impression that someday or sometime, there will be no further desires to be fulfilled and then there will be contentment.
But, desirelessness is actually our True Nature and it is present right here and right now. It is a state of peace and contentment. Once, one realizes that the state of desirelessness is indeed one's True Nature, the seeking stops immediately. It is just a matter of Understanding which leads one to Realization.
But, desirelessness is actually our True Nature and it is present right here and right now. It is a state of peace and contentment. Once, one realizes that the state of desirelessness is indeed one's True Nature, the seeking stops immediately. It is just a matter of Understanding which leads one to Realization.
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