Practical Advaita

[smaranam]

I earnestly feel that Ramana Maharishi's questioning `Who Am I' is the easiest way to realise SELF.

It is our mind which restricts us from realising inner SELF.

....
Please read Ramana Baghavan's answers in the following website.

http://www.arunachala-ramana.org/pub...f_enquiry.html

I earnestly feel that Advaitha philosophy is greatly simplified by Ramana Maharishi.

Thanks, regards and best wishes

Thank You very very very much for this link. I am talking to Myself really, because there is only Me.

Only half-way through the prashNottar - qn-ans session I suddenly discovered myself - really , all inhibitions gone out of the window.

All Ramana Maharshi had to say is that the body includes subtle , causal everything (kArana sharira), all 5 koshas - sheaths/layers.

It was RamaN Maharshi in that blow-up picture that bestowed Grace - it was His krpA - grace,mercy, and KRSNa's krpA that the mind understood how the mind was keeping me - the Self away.

So I am NOT THIS BODY ! So where is the connection to the body ? I am Myself . This is all all all me.

[atanu]

Day and Night

The day devours night and night devours day. I had a talk with both. The Day complained bitterly of cruelty of Night, who allegedly gobbles up the Day. And Night cried bitterly "Why should I not gobble up Day? He gobbles me up at the least opportunuty". I told Day at daybreak and Night at dusk that both were Time, incarnating. Both were one. Blessing.

Om Namah Shivaya

[Kumar_Das]

Namaste atanu-ji,

I have some questions pardon me if they are harsh. But I am genuinely curious.

Practical Advaita


Preamble
A child watches ever changing forms on a glowing Neon board and is fascinated. The child knows the ever changing glow as real. When grace attends, then only the child will know that the neon board as the sub stratum is the truth.

From my understanding the moral here is that there is a similitude that is the very basis and bind of multiplicity.

There is a similitude (neon board) and there is a multiplicity(ever changing glow)

That is to say; the percieved, experienced, known may appear with distinction, but the very thing that gives rise to it(cause), the distinctions themselves(effect) are one?

Or is it that the cause remains as the cause alone, which is alone is true. And the effect an illusion?

In this example, there is the neon board, and the various multi-coloured glows. But then there is also the child.

The child is never the neon board, on the various colours, the child is always its ownself as also is the neon board. So there is a distinction being involved to identify what is what in the first place.

Even after the child realizes that the neon board despite glowing in various colours is still the same board, it still remains as its ownself, a child and the board, a board.

His Instructions
Suppose you are of the form of a beautiful flower vase. You know yourself as a beautiful thing. You have pride of your thin neck, wide middle, and tapering base. You also have pride that you are so useful; you are beautiful and help to uphold beautiful flowers. But you have fear and anxiety about your fragility and about your temporary existence. You can’t do anything to enhance your longevity; your longevity is outside your power. You are jealous of more beautiful but more fragile flower vases. You are also jealous of less beautiful but sturdier flower vases. Now suppose you know that you are the clay; the substratum that makes the pot. Now you are immortal. Your knowledge that you are a temporary form and name is your egoity. Remove the illusion of the egoity, identify yourself with the substratum and be immortal.

Yes but this like saying, we are all human beings, despite superficial phenotypic or ethinc differences. We are most similar in respect to the fact that we are all human beings.

At the end of the day, as in this hypothesis, I still will never become the more beautiful yet fragile vase or the less beautiful yet sturdier vase.

By realizing that the material that me and the other two vases are composed of are the same, simply helps me cope with my own inferiority. Nothing ever changes. I am just trying to console my unchangeable existence, which is a fact, by seeing that despite now trying to see what similarities I share with the other two vases, I can never become them or be like them. Only now I have declared the distinctions as superficial and illusory but our material nature which is the same as a fact, the only fact.

If existence under illusion is despair, and recognition of its illusory nature brings one into the state of becoming Brahman, and Brahman is Ananda. The the difference between despair and Ananda must be illusory as well. The emotion is the substratum here. And Brahman being Ananda is an illusion. Is it not so?

If, as you say, that I have become immortal. Have I attained an existence beyond that of flesh and bones? Then why do I continue with worldy existence? Why would I eventually die?

If I attain, Brahmanhood, then why am I still living in this material world and interacting with living beings? Whats the necessity? For now I am immortal. This worldy existence would be redundant and of no use. What good does it do? This was the illusory state of being that I was confined to in the first place, that forced me to be under delusion. So why I should remain here?

Suppose you work for an efficient organization under a super efficient boss. You have pride that you are doing profoundly important tasks. You also have become vain. You feel that you are indispensable. You have pride that you have fame. But you also enjoy comforts and you are fearful of losing those comforts. You are anxious about changes. According to the master plan of your organization and your super efficient boss, you are asked to relocate to Nigeria. You fear mosquitoes will finish you off in Nigeria. You lament the loss of comfort, telephones, cars, and what not. But your boss knows better. He knows that with super abundant profits from the Nigeria operation, the company will flourish and you will also. Suppose you hinder the relocation plan. The Boss will simply get rid of you and send someone else. Now suppose the organization is our universe and your super efficient boss is the all knowing Lord, the supreme. This understanding will solve all your negative mind problems. Identify with the Boss. Become one with him. Work with your soul for him. Do not work for your small, fragile, and illusory egoity.

The Boss was the very reason why I was a sub ordinate employee in the first place. If I become equal to him. Then I should be able to reverse the roles and turn him into my employee instead, couldnt I?

The Boss is the very reason that I had negative mind problems. So it is all his fault. Perhaps previously I had not known my Boss when I was having my negative mind problems. So later I realize that my negative mind problems. He still remains as the cause of my negative problems, so he is the very sadist that was the reason of my suffering. But identifying this sadist, and trying to "merge" with him. Relieves me of my suffering? Will I be able to deliver mind problems to others, as He did? Will I be able to force Him in the same position as He did to me previously?

Does Brahman ever undergo a process for it to be come Brahman, just like I? Does the Brahman at one point, not be Brahman, and under influence of something else, eventually identify itself with that something, and attain its own Brahmanhood?

If there is no distinction, then why call it as it is? Why is there a reference to "Brahman" in the first place?

Brahman is the cause of suffering, and also that which is to be attained to be relieved of suffering. Then I am the sufferer and the cured. Does Brahman ever suffer? Does it ever get cured?

If there is a difference, then will I truly ever be it?

It means that it is unique, that is why there is a name for it. For it to be called by as whatever it is.

How to identify and become one with the substratum, with the Boss -- so that you may be immortal? You will, through meditation, by enquiring into your real nature. Imagine you are a fruit. With the illusory sense of egoity that you have, you are pained that you will rot in no time. If you enquire, you will find that you have a more durable seed inside you. But that does not give you complete peace since you will worry whether the sprouts from the seed will survive? You enquire further and wonder what the power of the seed is; how it will replicate your form again? You go inside further and see that there is empty space inside the seed. The empty space is the substratum and the substratum that is empty space is Him. He is the empty space, present everywhere, present in every one, and He is one. He is indivisible, undifferentiated, unchanging and ever-present One. He has the master plan. He is in the seed and he is in you. You are Him.

Realize that the examples are approximations. I can understand a report created by me but it can never understand me. Likewise I will never understand Him fully.

Huh?

If, without realization, I am a certain way, and with realization, I become a certain way. Where is the place of this realization, when it is still contained within the illusion?

The prayer
O, Lord, you have become the greatest sage and leader of the thief. You have become joy and you have become pain. You have become Rajasic and you have become Tamasic. You are the subtle and the gross. You are the smallest and the infinite. You are the Sun and the moon and you are air, water and fire. You are the plants. You are Sat-Chit-Anand and you are the reactive anger and the subsequent sorrow. You are the fragrance, the nourishment, and the knowledge – Vidya and Avidya both. You are the eternal substratum that is one without a second.

If all that is, is simply it, despite the different states of emotion, it already is it. There is nothing particular to aim for, because there is nothing in particular it is not. So why bother? Just be as you are, whether in sorrow or in joy. You always were the substratum. Even upon enquiry, you always were the substratum, and still even not if, otherwise. So why the necessity for enquiry?

[Kumar_Das]

Namaste Satay Ji,

If Satay exists and if Atanu exists, then surely Isha exists.

These are theoretical questions, since till the final dissolution, Isha Upanishad reigns supreme. And Advaita is beyond mind. It is Turiya. One may experience it but mind will always come back.

Namo Naraayana

Agreed. Logic can only be applied for subjective reality. And not the absolute reality. You cannot apply the same logic that you do for subjective reality to the absolute reality.

The logic that we have of the Absolute, maybe put into words. But our "understanding" of the Absolute, is beyond the mental state, it is indescribable.

Very beautiful.

"that which makes the tongue speak, but cannot be spoken by the tongue, that alone is God, that which makes the mind think but cannot be thought by the mind, that alone is God, that which makes the eye see but cannot be seen by the eye, that alone is God"

God is the one, who allows us to describe, so how can we adequately describe Him?

[Kumar_Das]

Namaste!
Nice post...

I have a question...What exactly is 'lord' to an advaitin? Isn't Brhaman just energy and not a person?

I ask this not to belittle or insult advaitins but to have a better understanding of the philosophy. It is said that 'sri shamkara' is the most misunderstood acharya since most mortals like me do not grasp his ideas.

Also, as you may know, I do not identify myself as an advaitin...in fact, I am not sure where I fit in the different sects or philosophies...but since I have respect for 'all' hindu sects and philosophies I consider myself a hindu.

I am trying to study a little bit of Vendanta but most texts are beyond my mental capacity or shall we say it is due to my past karma!

From my understanding, Shri Adi Shankacharaya recognizes Monotheism/Dvaita as being true in terms of a contingent reality. What Advaita seeks is to go "beyond" that.

And yes, unfortunately, Advaita is the most misunderstood. Many claim that Shankaracharya was influenced heavily by Buddhism.

Which leads me to think, that Buddhism, is the one infact, a product of a limited intelligence way of thinking. That seeks to see according to a specific [flawed] way.

[atanu]

Namaste atanu-ji,
I have some questions pardon me if they are harsh. But I am genuinely curious.

Namaste

Please carry on. You are welcome, since this is a welcome change. I am surprised pleasantly.

From my understanding the moral here is that there is a similitude that is the very basis and bind of multiplicity.

Do you mean that since there is a road, there can be no destination?

If existence under illusion is despair, and recognition of its illusory nature brings one into the state of becoming Brahman, and Brahman is Ananda. The the difference between despair and Ananda must be illusory as well.

Then despair. No one stops you.

The Boss was the very reason why I was a sub ordinate employee in the first place. If I become equal to him. Then I should be able to reverse the roles and turn him into my employee instead, couldnt I?

The Boss is the very reason that I had negative mind problems.

No. Boss did not tell any soul to run hither thither. There is an avidyA problem, from without beginning. That problem is killed on seeing the Isha bird which does not run hither thither to eat. Scripture teaches us so and it is born by experience also.

If all that is, is simply it, despite the different states of emotion, it already is it. There is nothing particular to aim for, because there is nothing in particular it is not. So why bother? Just be as you are, whether in sorrow or in joy. You always were the substratum. Even upon enquiry, you always were the substratum, and still even not if, otherwise. So why the necessity for enquiry?

If one is as one is, in sorrow or in joy, then ideed what was the need for enquiry. But scripture does say "Enquiry into brahma is auspicious".

But if according to you it is superfluos then do not engage in it. simple.

Om Namah Shivaya

[Kumar_Das]

Surrender, Mother's Love, Sleep and Advaita Jnana

Surrender is like an infant or a child leaving all cares to Mother. It goes to Mother's lap and sleeps, knowing instinctively that Mother will drive away that disturbing fly. It knows that Mother will pour water in its mouth when thirsty. There is nothing comparable to mother's love and compassion-- not the physicality but the compassion and love. Compassion and love is there even in the way of absorption of heat of the Existence --- that we mistakenly call carnality.

Sleep is similar. One leaves all cares and goes to sleep in the lap of Mother Moola Prakriti.

However, the child grows up and forgets the meaning of surrender. And we wake up daily and forget the surrender. Chandogya U. says that man traverses the Gold Mine daily yet misses the Gold.

Advaita Jnana however makes the surrender pucca.

Om Namah Shivaya

huh? whats that word?