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.
Showing posts with label Faith. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Faith. Show all posts
Thursday, April 26, 2012
Saturday, December 31, 2011
No Pathway To Heaven
It is true that most if not all people hold the idea of a Heaven and hell. An After life, so to speak. The sad thing is that they have not figured out about this current life! Yet, it is amazing to see the amount of discussion and literature on After life and Heaven or hell. This is indeed part of the amazing story, the story created by the power of Maya (illusion). Maya tries to draw you more and more into the illusion and you willingly fall for it. You are in this free fall of confusion and suffering and all you pray for is to go to heaven one day. A Heaven, where you hope you will eventually become free from all this suffering created by this manifestation. A picture of Heaven has been instilled in your mind by various sources and now there is something to look forward to. Ah!, a place of utter happiness, which will be an escape from this miserable world. Yet, you have no evidence or knowledge of Heaven. You are eager to know about this Heaven. This is the beacon of hope for you. A hope that will you keep your mind distracted from the present circumstances. You may ask yourself "but what is wrong with hope?". After all, you have been told by many spiritual leaders that hope is your best bet to end this present cycle of suffering and misery.
With this idea in mind, you go about your frustrating life. One fine day, you wonder if this is all a false hope. You are now very desperate to find out about this whole story of life and after life? What about the NOW? What can I do about now, this very life? You are now very eager to KNOW your own self and the relationship between your self and the world and Heaven and all else. And you start praying for an answer. An answer to know who you are and what is this life and what exactly is Heaven and who is God. If indeed the desire to KNOW is sincere and honest, then out of nowhere the Guru appears. There is an ancient saying in the East- 'when the student is ready-the teacher appears'. This saying is very true and those who have had this experience will testify to the same.
The Guru gives you the knowledge about your own self. He says that you must first know your self and then you shall know everything. But, but,....what about.....?, you have so many questions. The Guru asks you to remain attentive to your own self, this undeniable feeling of being, this undeniable sense of presence, this undeniable knowingness, this undeniable knowledge that you are. You trust your Guru for you have complete and unshakeable faith in the Guru. You do exactly as He says. You trust the words of the Guru. You have the CONVICTION in the words of the Guru. For the Guru has come to you and has taken the trouble to find you, that is the least you can do for the Guru. Faith and conviction is all He is asking for.
Nothing more needs to be done. Just CONVICTION in the Guru. Then suddenly in a flash, you Realize your True Nature, your own Self. With this Realization, everything becomes CLEAR. Everything unravels. All the questions fall away. You Realize that you are NOT an entity called "me". Never have been. Indeed, you are the Pure Awareness in which everything appears. Everything, including Heaven. Appearances have no reality. Pure Awareness is the only Reality. You have always been and always will be the Pure Awareness. Pure Awareness IS. There is no question of a heaven or hell or afterlife. You have Realized that Heaven is WITHIN YOU. Where is the question of a pathway to Heaven? And more importantly, TO WHOM?
The author pays homage to the Guru who is in ALL.
With this idea in mind, you go about your frustrating life. One fine day, you wonder if this is all a false hope. You are now very desperate to find out about this whole story of life and after life? What about the NOW? What can I do about now, this very life? You are now very eager to KNOW your own self and the relationship between your self and the world and Heaven and all else. And you start praying for an answer. An answer to know who you are and what is this life and what exactly is Heaven and who is God. If indeed the desire to KNOW is sincere and honest, then out of nowhere the Guru appears. There is an ancient saying in the East- 'when the student is ready-the teacher appears'. This saying is very true and those who have had this experience will testify to the same.
The Guru gives you the knowledge about your own self. He says that you must first know your self and then you shall know everything. But, but,....what about.....?, you have so many questions. The Guru asks you to remain attentive to your own self, this undeniable feeling of being, this undeniable sense of presence, this undeniable knowingness, this undeniable knowledge that you are. You trust your Guru for you have complete and unshakeable faith in the Guru. You do exactly as He says. You trust the words of the Guru. You have the CONVICTION in the words of the Guru. For the Guru has come to you and has taken the trouble to find you, that is the least you can do for the Guru. Faith and conviction is all He is asking for.
Nothing more needs to be done. Just CONVICTION in the Guru. Then suddenly in a flash, you Realize your True Nature, your own Self. With this Realization, everything becomes CLEAR. Everything unravels. All the questions fall away. You Realize that you are NOT an entity called "me". Never have been. Indeed, you are the Pure Awareness in which everything appears. Everything, including Heaven. Appearances have no reality. Pure Awareness is the only Reality. You have always been and always will be the Pure Awareness. Pure Awareness IS. There is no question of a heaven or hell or afterlife. You have Realized that Heaven is WITHIN YOU. Where is the question of a pathway to Heaven? And more importantly, TO WHOM?
The author pays homage to the Guru who is in ALL.
Friday, August 12, 2011
Nothing is Simpler than Seeing one's own Self
It is indeed amazing how a Guru can show the clearest and easiest path to Liberation and yet the seeker (or more appropriately 'the ego') will refuse to see the clarity and simplicity of the message. Contrary to what many of you readers may be thinking, it is not necessary to blindly accept what the Guru is saying. Instead, it is imperative that you must question and analyze the teachings and sayings of the Guru and come to your own conclusion. This process is called inquiry into the Self. However, it is this author's opinion that complete and unquestioned faith in the Guru is the essential ingredient in the successful culmination of one's effort to attain liberation. Nothing could be simpler than SEEING one's own Self.
As Bhagavan Ramana Maharshi said - " When rightly considered, nothing will be more wonderful and laughable than one's toiling very much through some sadhana(spiritual practice) to attain Self in the same manner as one toils to attain other objects, even though one really ever remains as the non-dual Self".
If one listens carefully to the above (Shravana) and then cogitates over this simple teaching (Manana) and meditates on the nature of one's own Self or internalizes one's conceptual understanding as a fact (Nidhidhyasana), then one merges with the Guru, which is Self Realization or Liberation. Ramana Maharishi started out by clearly saying "when rightly considered....." and hence He implies inquiry and questioning the very methodology i.e. sadhana or practice, by the seeker. However, upon careful and complete inquiry, there is no doubt that one will arrive at the conclusion that it is utterly ridiculous for one to perform any kind of sadhana to BE what one already IS!! There is only ONE without a second and hence the concept of being any thing other than THAT ONE is nothing other than a concept. A concept is not real. Only THAT is the Reality. Why don't you investigate and SEE for your self?
As Bhagavan Ramana Maharshi said - " When rightly considered, nothing will be more wonderful and laughable than one's toiling very much through some sadhana(spiritual practice) to attain Self in the same manner as one toils to attain other objects, even though one really ever remains as the non-dual Self".
If one listens carefully to the above (Shravana) and then cogitates over this simple teaching (Manana) and meditates on the nature of one's own Self or internalizes one's conceptual understanding as a fact (Nidhidhyasana), then one merges with the Guru, which is Self Realization or Liberation. Ramana Maharishi started out by clearly saying "when rightly considered....." and hence He implies inquiry and questioning the very methodology i.e. sadhana or practice, by the seeker. However, upon careful and complete inquiry, there is no doubt that one will arrive at the conclusion that it is utterly ridiculous for one to perform any kind of sadhana to BE what one already IS!! There is only ONE without a second and hence the concept of being any thing other than THAT ONE is nothing other than a concept. A concept is not real. Only THAT is the Reality. Why don't you investigate and SEE for your self?
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Faith-the Link Between Man and God
This is a story that this author recently came across and wanted to share with you all. It goes as follows:
An atheist Professor of Philosophy speaks to his class on the problem science has with God, The Almighty.
He asks one of his new students to stand and.....
Prof: So you believe in God?
Student: Absolutely, sir.
Prof: Is God good?
Student: Sure.
Prof: Is God all-powerful?
Studen: Yes.
Prof: My brother died of cancer even though he prayed to God to heal him. Most of us would attempt to help others who are ill. But God didn't. How is this God good then? Hmm?
(Student is silent.)
Prof :You can't answer, can you? Let's start again, young fella. Is God good?
Student:Yes.
Prof: Is Satan good?
Student: No.
Prof: Where does Satan come from?
Student: From...God.. .
Prof: That's right. Tell me son, is there evil in this world?
Student:Yes.
Prof: Evil is everywhere, isn't it? And God did make everything. Correct?
Student: Yes.
Prof: So who created evil?
(Student does not answer.)
Prof: Is there sickness? Immorality? Hatred? Ugliness? All these terrible things exist in the world, don't they?
Student: Yes, sir.
Prof: So, who created them?
(Student has no answer.)
Prof: Science says you have 5 senses you use to identify and observe the world around you. Tell me, son...Have you ever seen God?
Student: No, sir.
Prof: Tell us if you have ever heard your God?
Student: No, sir.
Prof: Have you ever felt your God, tasted your God, smelt your God? Have you ever had any sensory perception of God for that matter?
Student: No, sir. I'm afraid I haven't.
Prof: Yet you still believe in Him?
Student:Yes.
Prof: According to empirical, testable, demonstrable protocol, science says your GOD doesn't exist. What do you say to that, son?
Student: Nothing. I only have my faith.
Prof: Yes. Faith. And that is the problem science has.
Student: Professor, is there such a thing as heat?
Prof: Yes.
Student: And is there such a thing as cold?
Prof: Yes.
Student: No sir. There isn't.
(The lecture theatre becomes very quiet with this turn of events.)
Student: Sir, you can have lots of heat, even more heat, superheat, mega heat, white heat, a little heat or no heat. But we don't have anything called cold. We can hit 458 degrees below zero which is no heat, but we can't go any further after that. There is no such thing as cold . Cold is only a word we use to describe the absence of heat. We cannot measure cold. Heat is energy. Cold is not the opposite of heat, sir, just the absence of it.
(There is pin-drop silence in the lecture theatre.)
Student: What about darkness, Professor? Is there such a thing as darkness?
Prof: Yes. What is night if there isn't darkness?
Student :You're wrong again, sir. Darkness is the absence of something. You can have low light, normal light, bright light, flashing light....But if you have no light constantly, you have nothing and it's called darkness, isn't it? In reality, darkness isn't. If it were you would be able to make darkness darker, wouldn't you?
Prof: So what is the point you are making, young man?
Student: Sir, my point is that your philosophical premise is flawed.
Prof: Flawed? Can you explain how?
Student: Sir, you are working on the premise of duality. You argue there is life and then there is death, a good God and a bad God. You are viewing the concept of God as something finite, something we can measure. Sir, science can't even explain a thought. It uses electricity and magnetism, but has never seen, much less fully understood either one. To view death as the opposite of life is to be ignorant
of the fact that death cannot exist as a substantive thing. Death is not the opposite of life: just the absence of it. Now tell me, Professor. Do you teach your students that they evolved from a
monkey?
Prof: If you are referring to the natural evolutionary process, yes, of course, I do.
Student: Have you ever observed evolution with your own eyes, sir?
(The Professor shakes his head with a smile, beginning to realize where the
argument is going.)
Student: Since no one has ever observed the process of evolution at work and cannot even prove that this process is an on-going endeavor, are you not teaching your opinion, sir? Are you not a scientist but a preacher?
(The class is in an uproar by now.)
Student: Is there anyone in the class who has ever seen the Professor's brain?
(The class breaks out into laughter.)
Student: Is there anyone here who has ever heard the Professor's brain, felt it, touched or smelt it? No one appears to have done so. So, according to the established rules of empirical, stable, demonstrable protocol, science says that you have no brain, sir. With all due respect, sir, how do we then trust your lectures, sir?
(The room is silent.. The professor stares at the student, his face
unfathomable. )
Prof: I guess you'll have to take them on faith, son.
Student: That is it, sir... The link between man and God is FAITH. That is all that keeps things moving & alive.
This is a true story, and the student was none other than.........Swami Vivekananda.
An atheist Professor of Philosophy speaks to his class on the problem science has with God, The Almighty.
He asks one of his new students to stand and.....
Prof: So you believe in God?
Student: Absolutely, sir.
Prof: Is God good?
Student: Sure.
Prof: Is God all-powerful?
Studen: Yes.
Prof: My brother died of cancer even though he prayed to God to heal him. Most of us would attempt to help others who are ill. But God didn't. How is this God good then? Hmm?
(Student is silent.)
Prof :You can't answer, can you? Let's start again, young fella. Is God good?
Student:Yes.
Prof: Is Satan good?
Student: No.
Prof: Where does Satan come from?
Student: From...God.. .
Prof: That's right. Tell me son, is there evil in this world?
Student:Yes.
Prof: Evil is everywhere, isn't it? And God did make everything. Correct?
Student: Yes.
Prof: So who created evil?
(Student does not answer.)
Prof: Is there sickness? Immorality? Hatred? Ugliness? All these terrible things exist in the world, don't they?
Student: Yes, sir.
Prof: So, who created them?
(Student has no answer.)
Prof: Science says you have 5 senses you use to identify and observe the world around you. Tell me, son...Have you ever seen God?
Student: No, sir.
Prof: Tell us if you have ever heard your God?
Student: No, sir.
Prof: Have you ever felt your God, tasted your God, smelt your God? Have you ever had any sensory perception of God for that matter?
Student: No, sir. I'm afraid I haven't.
Prof: Yet you still believe in Him?
Student:Yes.
Prof: According to empirical, testable, demonstrable protocol, science says your GOD doesn't exist. What do you say to that, son?
Student: Nothing. I only have my faith.
Prof: Yes. Faith. And that is the problem science has.
Student: Professor, is there such a thing as heat?
Prof: Yes.
Student: And is there such a thing as cold?
Prof: Yes.
Student: No sir. There isn't.
(The lecture theatre becomes very quiet with this turn of events.)
Student: Sir, you can have lots of heat, even more heat, superheat, mega heat, white heat, a little heat or no heat. But we don't have anything called cold. We can hit 458 degrees below zero which is no heat, but we can't go any further after that. There is no such thing as cold . Cold is only a word we use to describe the absence of heat. We cannot measure cold. Heat is energy. Cold is not the opposite of heat, sir, just the absence of it.
(There is pin-drop silence in the lecture theatre.)
Student: What about darkness, Professor? Is there such a thing as darkness?
Prof: Yes. What is night if there isn't darkness?
Student :You're wrong again, sir. Darkness is the absence of something. You can have low light, normal light, bright light, flashing light....But if you have no light constantly, you have nothing and it's called darkness, isn't it? In reality, darkness isn't. If it were you would be able to make darkness darker, wouldn't you?
Prof: So what is the point you are making, young man?
Student: Sir, my point is that your philosophical premise is flawed.
Prof: Flawed? Can you explain how?
Student: Sir, you are working on the premise of duality. You argue there is life and then there is death, a good God and a bad God. You are viewing the concept of God as something finite, something we can measure. Sir, science can't even explain a thought. It uses electricity and magnetism, but has never seen, much less fully understood either one. To view death as the opposite of life is to be ignorant
of the fact that death cannot exist as a substantive thing. Death is not the opposite of life: just the absence of it. Now tell me, Professor. Do you teach your students that they evolved from a
monkey?
Prof: If you are referring to the natural evolutionary process, yes, of course, I do.
Student: Have you ever observed evolution with your own eyes, sir?
(The Professor shakes his head with a smile, beginning to realize where the
argument is going.)
Student: Since no one has ever observed the process of evolution at work and cannot even prove that this process is an on-going endeavor, are you not teaching your opinion, sir? Are you not a scientist but a preacher?
(The class is in an uproar by now.)
Student: Is there anyone in the class who has ever seen the Professor's brain?
(The class breaks out into laughter.)
Student: Is there anyone here who has ever heard the Professor's brain, felt it, touched or smelt it? No one appears to have done so. So, according to the established rules of empirical, stable, demonstrable protocol, science says that you have no brain, sir. With all due respect, sir, how do we then trust your lectures, sir?
(The room is silent.. The professor stares at the student, his face
unfathomable. )
Prof: I guess you'll have to take them on faith, son.
Student: That is it, sir... The link between man and God is FAITH. That is all that keeps things moving & alive.
This is a true story, and the student was none other than.........Swami Vivekananda.
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Faith in the Guru
A seeker must have complete faith in the sayings and teachings of the Guru. The Guru may sound incomprehensible at times and the mind of the seeker may have doubts about the teachings. In fact, it is not uncommon for the Guru to contradict himself/herself quite often. This can create confusion in the mind of the seeker. But, realize that the Guru is trying to quell any doubts in the mind of the seeker from all angles. The Guru wants to ensure that the ego (seeker) has no chance of escape from the sword of the Guru. The seeker must not take the contradictions in the teachings as a sign of lack of knowledge on part of the Guru. The Guru, if addressing multiple seekers, has to present different types of pointers to the Truth to different seekers depending on their mental conditioning. Hence, the numerous pointers to the one and only Truth.
Having complete faith in the Guru is extremely essential to realize the Truth. In fact, complete and unconditional surrender to the Guru is absolutely a must for one to realize the Truth. On listening to the Guru, the most common error on part of the seeker is trying to conceptualize the teachings. On the other hand, when one surrenders completely to the Guru, all conceptualizing ends and the mind and the intellect having surrendered, the subtle intuitive powers take over and reveal the Truth. On listening to the Guru, one cannot intellectually comprehend the Truth. However, on surrendering one's mind and intellect at the feet of the Guru, something clicks at an intuitive level and suddenly the Truth, which was always present but not obvious, becomes obvious.
Remember, the words of the Guru are final. Have no doubt about that. The Guru is not an individual or an entity. The Guru is none other than your Self.
Having complete faith in the Guru is extremely essential to realize the Truth. In fact, complete and unconditional surrender to the Guru is absolutely a must for one to realize the Truth. On listening to the Guru, the most common error on part of the seeker is trying to conceptualize the teachings. On the other hand, when one surrenders completely to the Guru, all conceptualizing ends and the mind and the intellect having surrendered, the subtle intuitive powers take over and reveal the Truth. On listening to the Guru, one cannot intellectually comprehend the Truth. However, on surrendering one's mind and intellect at the feet of the Guru, something clicks at an intuitive level and suddenly the Truth, which was always present but not obvious, becomes obvious.
Remember, the words of the Guru are final. Have no doubt about that. The Guru is not an individual or an entity. The Guru is none other than your Self.
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