There are several ways in which the Truth can be communicated to the seeker. For those of you who are new to the teachings of Advaita Vedanta, it may perhaps be beneficial to familiarize yourself with them before trying to understand the matter being discussed below. While it is absolutely true that no practice or sadhana is really necessary for Self Realization, for most of the seekers, a level of mental preparedness is essential to grasp the pointers to the Truth. There are several methods to improve the one pointedness or focus of the mind on only one object so as to filter out all unnecessary distractions for the mind. This one pointedness or determination of the mind is essential for the arrow of the pointer to strike the target. These methods would again depend on the nature of the mind of the seeker and level of maturity of the seeker. The methods include prayer, meditation, chanting (japa) or breath control (pranayama). It is beyond the scope of today's discussion to address all these methods and the reader is advised to inquire about the same in the many exhaustive works of Vedanta already available.
This discussion is regarding the pointers from the Guru when the seeker asks the Guru about the Ultimate Truth. This is true of seekers who have perhaps already exhausted all other avenues of reaching the Ultimate goal and have come to the Guru in desperation and hope to be finally liberated. Generally, depending on the level of maturity of the mind of the seeker, the Jnani (Realized one) will try to point him/her to the Truth. The Jnani can know, based on the questions that the seeker asks as well as the responses or answers to questions from the seeker, as to the level of maturity of the seeker. There are basically two methods of communication in this world. One is through the medium of silence and the other is through the medium of language and words or gestures, and the second is through silence. For most of you readers, the first method may seem a bit strange as to be even mentioned. Since, we are addressing this matter in the state of duality, remember that opposites or dyads are the nature of duality. What is silence without sound and what is sound without silence?
The Guru/ Jnani may decide to convey the message through silence or the look of Grace. Bhagawan Ramana Maharshi is a well known for using this method of conveying the Truth. It is a powerful method with immediate results for the mature seeker who is ready. To give an analogy, if the wood is dry and ready, a spark is all it takes for it to burn immediately. On the other hand, if the wood is only partially dry, it takes a little while for it to catch the fire and may need several attempts to light it. A wood that is still wet, will need more time for it to dry before the spark can even attempt to get it to burn. In the same way, the state of mind will determine if the pointer from the Guru will achieve immediate results or if more time is needed. In the method of silence, all it needs is for the Guru to look into the eyes of the seeker and the seeker is no more. The seeker becomes one with the Guru and the message gets through.
The other method of communication is through the medium of words or language. Since most seekers are immersed in this state of duality and language is the medium of duality (the speaker and the listener), this method is likely to work for the majority. Shree Nisargadatta Maharaj is an example of a Jnani who exploited this method of communication. After all, it does not matter how the message gets through to the seeker, the goal of the Guru is to make sure that it gets through. Even if the message from the Guru does not light the fire right away, in due course of time it will. The words of the Guru will never go to waste on the ears of a sincere and determined seeker. It is just a matter of time before the seed shall sprout, as the Maharaj used to say.
Showing posts with label Sadhana. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sadhana. Show all posts
Sunday, January 27, 2013
Saturday, June 2, 2012
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.
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.
Sunday, March 4, 2012
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!
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!
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?
Thursday, May 5, 2011
To Do or Not to Do, That is the Question
There is somewhat of a paradox in all of this teaching. Sometimes, the Teacher or Guru will say 'do this' and at other times will contradict himself in saying 'don't do this'. The student or seeker gets confused and wonders what is the right thing to do. The student then asks the Guru a question for clarification and the Guru tells him/her, " don't do either and just keep quiet". That makes the student even more confused. Is this a ploy on part of the Guru to keep the student constantly confused and therefore be a disciple forever? Obviously, NOT! The true Guru has only the interest of the student in his mind. He wants the student to Understand what He is pointing to with the greatest of ease. Then why is it that there are so many contradictory messages coming from the same Guru? The reason is simple enough. Depending on the mental development of the questioner (the seeker), the Guru gives the appropriate answer which is tailored only to the needs of the questioner. Just as there infinite expressions of the same Truth, there are infinite number of pointers to the only Truth.
For one who has still got a strong belief in being an entity with a body and mind (which is true for all seekers), there will always be a question of what exactly must one do to attain Enlightenment or Self-Realization. For such a seeker, despite all assurances by the Guru that one already is what one is seeking, there are still many questions and doubts persisting. For such a seeker, it is essential to do some form of spiritual practice (sadhana) to get the mind to be able to focus one-pointedly at the core of the Teaching. The sadhana or practice can be in the form of japa (mental chanting of a mantra or the Lord's name), dhyana or meditation, bhajan (praise of the Lord in the form of a song), or pranayama (control of the breath) or study of the scriptures. This practice is essential for many a seeker to calm the mind down enough to be able to grasp the gist or essence of what is being pointed to.
When a seeker has reached the level of mental maturity or if he/she is initially so inclined even without any spiritual practice (sadhana), then the very essence of the Teaching from the Guru reaches its mark, like an arrow hits the bulls-eye. Once the pointers from the Teacher are very clear to the seeker, the seeker then pursues an investigation (vichara) or more appropriately an investigation into the source of his own self (atma vichara). By pursuing such a course of investigation, the seeker Realizes the Truth or the Self (the REAL SELF). On Realizing the Self, the seeker disappears or merges into the Self. As the seeker disappears, who is there to ask any questions and who is there to have any doubts? No seeker, no questions, no doubts, no answers needed. Just the Self, shining in its own Glory.
If such a Person (one who has Realized the Self) is then asked by a seeker "what should I do to get to where you are?", the Person will answer quite appropriately " there is nothing to be done by anyone for All is One and One is All. Who or what is there to do anything? Just Be as you ARE."
For one who is mentally prepared to receive the Final Answer to all questions and doubts, the message from the Guru will be the sword that will kill the questioner or the seeker itself. But, as long as one holds on to the imaginary entity called "me" and cherishes the survival of this entity, the Final Answer will not be acceptable. He or she will play the game of Advaita entertainment- a game of asking a million questions- what if and why this or why not that- and in the end wonder what is the Truth.
Each one of you who is reading this message knows exactly where you stand in terms of your search for the Truth. Based on your stand, you will get the answer to the question " Should I or should I not do spiritual practice (sadhana)?".
May God bless you.
For one who has still got a strong belief in being an entity with a body and mind (which is true for all seekers), there will always be a question of what exactly must one do to attain Enlightenment or Self-Realization. For such a seeker, despite all assurances by the Guru that one already is what one is seeking, there are still many questions and doubts persisting. For such a seeker, it is essential to do some form of spiritual practice (sadhana) to get the mind to be able to focus one-pointedly at the core of the Teaching. The sadhana or practice can be in the form of japa (mental chanting of a mantra or the Lord's name), dhyana or meditation, bhajan (praise of the Lord in the form of a song), or pranayama (control of the breath) or study of the scriptures. This practice is essential for many a seeker to calm the mind down enough to be able to grasp the gist or essence of what is being pointed to.
When a seeker has reached the level of mental maturity or if he/she is initially so inclined even without any spiritual practice (sadhana), then the very essence of the Teaching from the Guru reaches its mark, like an arrow hits the bulls-eye. Once the pointers from the Teacher are very clear to the seeker, the seeker then pursues an investigation (vichara) or more appropriately an investigation into the source of his own self (atma vichara). By pursuing such a course of investigation, the seeker Realizes the Truth or the Self (the REAL SELF). On Realizing the Self, the seeker disappears or merges into the Self. As the seeker disappears, who is there to ask any questions and who is there to have any doubts? No seeker, no questions, no doubts, no answers needed. Just the Self, shining in its own Glory.
If such a Person (one who has Realized the Self) is then asked by a seeker "what should I do to get to where you are?", the Person will answer quite appropriately " there is nothing to be done by anyone for All is One and One is All. Who or what is there to do anything? Just Be as you ARE."
For one who is mentally prepared to receive the Final Answer to all questions and doubts, the message from the Guru will be the sword that will kill the questioner or the seeker itself. But, as long as one holds on to the imaginary entity called "me" and cherishes the survival of this entity, the Final Answer will not be acceptable. He or she will play the game of Advaita entertainment- a game of asking a million questions- what if and why this or why not that- and in the end wonder what is the Truth.
Each one of you who is reading this message knows exactly where you stand in terms of your search for the Truth. Based on your stand, you will get the answer to the question " Should I or should I not do spiritual practice (sadhana)?".
May God bless you.
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