Absolutely Effortless

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

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

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

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

Nobody, Somebody and Everybody

To begin with you are a nobody, a no-body. This nobody gave rise to the feeling of being somebody or rather this body. Actually, it is the nobody getting confused and thinking it is somebody.  With the notion of being a somebody,  this same nobody which was the essence of peace and bliss, started suffering. Because the notion of being somebody meant being separate from other bodies, it started feeling insecure and vulnerable. As a somebody, it felt alienated in this world of other bodies, which it assumed are not itself since they appear to be separate from this body. This somebody became the embodiment of suffering. This somebody started searching for an answer, an answer to the end of suffering. Thereby started the search and this somebody became a seeker.

At some point in time, this somebody was told by a Guru (who also appeared to be somebody but was established as a no-body) that the True Nature of this somebody was actually nobody.  "All along, you have been nobody but you have falsely believed yourself to be somebody and hence you have been suffering", were the words of the Guru. This somebody started meditating on what the Guru had told. In a fraction of a second, suddenly and without any effort on part of anybody, this somebody suddenly Realized that actually everybody is nobody and just because they think they are somebody, they feel that they are independent and separate from other bodies and hence the suffering.  As soon as somebody Realizes that they are nobody, then the suffering stops, and the seeking stops, for the seeker is the sought. 

It becomes clear to this somebody, that there is nothing to be sought and all that is necessary to put an end to this suffering is to establish the false identity of this somebody. Everybody arises from and subsides into nobody.  Therefore, nobody is the source of everybody. Nobody is also the source of everything since one has to be somebody to perceive the world of things as objects. 

Just SEE that you are no-body and stop pretending to be some-body.

(Maybe this clarification will help some readers. No-body = Consciousness. Some-body= Ego or Jeeva or body-mind entity called "me". Every-body= all Jeevas.)

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.

Despicable Me

Most will read this blog and other such material on Advaita and wonder "what does it have which will benefit me?". Well, before you begin to read any further, let it be clear that there is nothing here that will benefit you. In fact, be warned that the more you read and digest what is being said here, the more likely is it that it will result in you losing all that you valued so far. The one thing that most people value is their identity with the body and mind- the "me".  Just try insulting someone and you will get an immediate taste of what is being pointed to! Or how about if someone insults you.

As a result of the belief of being the body, one caters to the body and become a slave of the desires of the body. They become a slave to the demands of the mind.  As is obvious, the mind can be a dominating and ruthless master. The "me" that is being pointed to here is the identity of being an individual. One may call it the ego, if they wish.

This individual identity is the well established feeling of being this body and this mind. Since early childhood, this has been ingrained into one's psyche by family, school and society. So strong is this individual identity that despite being convinced that one is neither the body nor the mind, the identity still persists for almost all but the very rare few.  The three pillars of faith, devotion and surrender to the Guru are absolutely essential, in the opinion of this author, to dispel this idea of being the body and the mind i.e. an individual.  Without the three pillars of faith, devotion and surrender to the Guru, this despicable "me" is not willing to give up the battle.

By constant inquiry into the nature of one's own self (vichara) and with the support of the three pillars, the despicable "me" will eventually subside.  With the subsidence of the "me", one is in one's own Natural State which is beyond any description but always available to all. It is just a matter of seeing the false as false. The "me" is a false entity and should simply be recognized as such.  Otherwise, this despicable "me" will make one dance to its tune. Hopefully the one reading this is that rare one to realize the false as false.

For God's Sake

The message that is published in this blog is nothing new. The same message has been dished out by thousands, if not millions, of mystics and ordinary people from all around the globe over the past many many centuries. This is not a message restricted to a few cultures, religions or race or geographical location.  The message has come out spontaneously in all who have made the simple effort to look within. It may have been spoken in many different languages but the language of love for God is the same.  Just so that one does not get the impression that Advaita is from the East, this author has selected some poems and brief excerpts from the Western mystics who have spoken the same message of Non-duality or Advaita.  For those of us who have an unquenchable thirst to know God and be in union with God, these simple and succinct messages will hit the message home.  These are not messages from  individuals. These are messages from Consciousness as there is nothing apart from Consciousness.

This is just a small sampling of some of the poems and brief messages out there. The earnest seeker will understand the simplicity and bluntness of these messages.

GOD WHOSE LOVE AND JOY

God, whose love and joy
are present everywhere,
can't come to visit you
unless you aren't there.

          --Angelus Silesius


GOD IS A PURE NO-THING


God is a pure no-thing
concealed in the now and here:
the less you reach for him,
the more he will appear.

       --Angelus Silesius


EFFORTLESSLY


Effortlessly,
Love flows from God into man,
Like a bird
Who rivers the air
Without moving her wings.
Thus we move in His world
One in body and soul,
Though outwardly separate in form.
As the Source strikes the note,
Humanity sings--
The Holy Spirit is our harpist,
And all the stings
Which are touched in Love
Must sound.

       -- Mechtild of Magdeburg


THE SUM OF PERFECTION


Creation forgotten,
Creator only known,
Attention turned inward
In love with the Beloved alone.

      --Saint John of the Cross


UNSOPHISTICATED TEACHERS SAY


Unsophisticated teachers say that God is pure being.
He is as high above being as the highest angel is above a gnat.
I would be speaking as incorrectly in calling God a being,
as if I called the sun pale or black.
God is neither this nor that.

          --Meister Eckhart


AND THEREFORE I AM UNBORN


And therefore I am unborn, and
in the manner in which I am unborn
I can never die.

In my birth all things were
born
and I was the cause of myself
and of all things; and
if I would have wished it,
I would not be nor would all other things be.
And if I did not exist,
"God" would also not exist.
That God is "God",
of that I am a cause;
if I did not exist, God too
would not be "God".
There is no need
to understand
this.


          --Meister Eckhart       



YOU WHO WANT


You who want
knowledge,
seek the Oneness
within

There you
will find
the clean mirror
already waiting.

        --Hadewijch II
     

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.  

The Vanity of Chasing Experiences

All through our lives we assume we have to collect pleasant experiences.  We give so much importance to experiences that it seems to define our entire life.  Do we not hear people commenting on how a dead person had a rough life or that a dead person had a great life. Have you ever given it a thought? All your life you have been falsely assuming that you are collecting experiences, experiences of all kinds, good and bad. Since, early childhood, one is constantly chasing pleasant experiences or out of curiosity some form of unique or different experience.  It is not uncommon for one to state "my wish is to experience that before I die". Whether it is seeing some geographical place on earth, or to taste some unique food, or to enjoy a joyride in the amusement park, or some mind altering substance, or any other form of experience.

Even in the spiritual field, people are constantly chasing experiences. They travel all over the world to meet some Guru or teacher, to see if they can learn the secret of "reaching higher levels of consciousness".  In meditation, they may experience a "blue light" or "feeling of bliss" and then they want to replicate that pleasant experience all the time. Sooner or later, they get frustrated because of the inability to maintain that pleasant experience.  Nature hopes you will learn the vanity of chasing experiences from this frustration and actually question this whole business of experiencing. Sadly, the opposite is more likely to happen. One is more likely to get even more desperate for pleasant experiences. Is it not amazing?

Based on memory, one can feel as if they actually relive the experience.  One gets the false sense of collecting all the experiences in a sort of bag which one feels will be treasured for ever. One can often hear people saying "you must experience this -man, it is awesome".  Hearing this, one desperately wants to replicate that same pleasant experience that his or her friend had.  Despite all efforts, all experiences are transitory and vanish just as fast, leaving one longing for more (depending on the type of experience). Obviously, one does not want bad experiences!  The mind always chases pleasant experiences and shuns painful experiences. The result? One is constantly in search of an everlasting pleasant experience.  One becomes a slave of the mind.

You hear of some great spiritual teacher who at least in the photos, looks like a picture of bliss.  You wonder if the teacher has some secret that allows him to be in state of bliss.  Maybe, if you can follow his advice and do some sadhana (practice), you may, just may be able to reach that "higher level of consciousness" that he is talking about and permanently experience that state of bliss.  Really? You can see how easy it is to fall into the trap of chasing pleasant experiences.

Can you really take your experiences with you when you "die"?  What happens to all your experiences when you die?  Do they remain somewhere? Is not an experience transitory in itself? Are you not dissatisfied with the transitory, the false, the unreal?  Is there any value in anything that is not eternal or permanent?  Is it not the eternal or permanent or REAL that you are actually in search of? Don't you want the REAL?

What happens to all the pleasant experiences that you had in your dream last night? Poof! Vanished as soon as you woke up.  So, would you really chase experiences in the waking state, if you realized that they are just as transitory as the experiences in a dream?  If, on realizing that the waking state is nothing but a prolonged dream, would you give the experiences in the waking state any value? Just like in a dream would they not vanish on Awakening? 

Would it not be preferable to be AWAKENED from this dream world rather than continue to chase false experiences in this dream world?  THINK, INVESTIGATE AND WAKE UP!