Session three continues...
Upanishads presents a profound Truth that is universal, limitless, immutable, incorporeal, all pervading consciousness called Brahman or the Self in each of us. This Self has no name, form, shape or color, no description whatsoever i.e. without attributes. The names and forms that we use are for our own understanding. This Self is beyond senses. The Self is Existence- Knowledge-Bliss. Self knowledge is the central theme of Upanishads, essence of liberation. The Upanishads make it incumbent on the guru to teach spiritual wisdom to a worthy or qualified disciple and the disciple practices reflection with meditation resulting in realization. At this point he is able to see all beings in himself and himself in all beings.
By realizing the 'deathless Self' in each of us one can overcome death and attain moksha. Those who leave this world without realizing this Self knowledge go from death to death, over and over again until they experience it. The heart in each of us is the temple where the Lord shines. Self knowledge expresses itself when we serve with the spirit of selfless service to all living beings. Love is the outcome of Oneness of existence. When not used for Self knowledge, wealth and prosperity breeds delusion. Intellectual knowledge alone when does not pursue towards Self knowledge creates egotism. When science and technology is not used for Self knowledge, we are deeper into destruction.
We say so much about Self knowledge? What is Self knowledge?
I heard in Wayne Dyer's presentation that in one of the philosophy class, the teacher gave an exam to his students. He had only one question on the test paper for 100 points which was 'Who are you?'
What is the catch? He had caveats in the next page. He knew the students would flip the page to see more...The second page said 'you cannot include your name or your parents name, your city, your qualification, your possessions, your relatives. None of these labels are valid answers. These are mere labels. Now write the answer to the question. You can write as many pages as you want'. The answer to this question is what Upanishad leads us to discover..
Can you try answering this question?
'Who am I? Who am I?' Take a notebook and write this question in the entire page. See if you can answer the question. Meditate upon it. Stay focused and do not let other thoughts disturb you. Get the answer to 'Who am I?'
Remember this BMI - Body, Mind and Intellect. You are not this body. When you say, 'my hand' 'my mind' who is that says 'my'. You are not this mind. Can you observe your thoughts? If yes, then you are separate from the mind. Then who are you? You are not the intellect. Who makes the decisions in situations that you encounter? The more you question on these terms you will notice that you are the witness watching this body act. The 'Self' in you called Atman gives the power for the body to animate. This Atman is the same in the microcosmic level as Brahman at the macro cosmic level. They are not different from each other. Therefore focus on the 'Self' in you, everything else outside of you is temporary. Sri Ramakrishna says, 'enter into your inner chamber'
This Atman in encased and bound in this corporeal frame and is called jivatman or jiva. It can be said that there is only one Atman or Brahman and many jivas all inclusive from single celled amoeba to human.
Brahman or the Atman is nirguna Brahman is without attributes, and nirakara, without forms and is therefore incapable of description except by the process of elimination. 'Nay -iti' Baja Govindam explains it in detail.
Brahman, associated with maya, also the cause is saguna Brahman, also called Isvara. This Isvara is responsible for creation, preservation and dissolution. Isvara is GOD (Generator, Operator, Destroyer), has a form and describable. The effect is the jagat, entire world, all inclusive.
Though Brahman is the permanent substratum of this universe and Atman is our nature, we cannot ignore this world in which we live. For all practical purposes it is very real to us. Even struggles to gain moksha have to take place only here. Therefore let us find out how the world came into being.
In the beginning, Brahman alone existed, also called Atman and 'sat'. 'Sat' means something that exists in all periods of time, past, present and future.
Brahman then created the five elements out of himself- Space, Air, Fire, Water and Earth. These are the panca mahaboothas. A permutation combination of these five elements has resulted in this world. The best text that explains this concept is Atma Bodha, published by Chinmaya mission.
Even after emerging out of Brahman, the world continues to be in him and will merge in Him at the time pralaya, dissolution. Dissolution is different from destruction, because dissolution leads to recreation...
Silence until next session..
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The author of this article is a Life Coach, Changing Agent, Motivational Speaker, Professional Writer, dedicated to make a difference in other's lives. All my writings are from my direct experiences in my life.
The author is also deeply interested in spiritual studies with focus on Advaita and believes our life is the consequences of our own actions and that the spiritual study is the way for inner peace. We are on this earth to realize that all is ONE and that ONE is in all.
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