In this blog as elsewhere, it is pointed out that knowledge is the only method of dispelling ignorance. Ignorance is the main cause of suffering as pointed out by all the ancient sages; Ignorance of the fact that one is not an individual, or the 'I-thought'. Accepting the false belief that one is an individual entity with some substance and independent nature, an entity with a center in the body or the mind, is the cause of all suffering. However, if after a thorough and sincere inquiry, one comes to the conclusion that there is no entity here with a center whatsoever, one becomes free from this suffering. There is no longer any suffering as there is no entity for the suffering to latch onto. However, repeated enforcement of this understanding is required, as years of conditioning of the mind results in repeated emergence of this false belief of an individual.
Often with the advent of the knowledge of one's True Nature, there may be pride in the same. This pride is an obstacle. One must ask as to who can claim to have knowledge. It immediately becomes clear that there is no entity here that can claim ownership of any knowledge. All there is, is the ever present Knowing. In the absence of any entity, where is the question of ownership of either knowledge or ignorance. Knowledge and ignorance are both at the level of the mind. Whereas, what you really, really are is beyond the mind. Hence, one must put aside all pride, even the pride of having seen through this ignorance of who we are. Giving up this pride of having the knowledge is a significant obstacle to overcome and many are stuck at this level. With pride comes the emergence of the ego with a vengeance.
In my Absolute state, I am one without any pride, any question of knowledge or ignorance. I am beyond both knowledge and ignorance, where there is no knowing-ness or absence of knowing-ness. I remain as THAT, the Absolute.
